EP 5: Kathmandu to Ilam Dashain Journey | Night Bus, Microbus & Auto | Dashain Rush & Food Prices |

Dashain is the biggest festival in Nepal. For people who live in Kathmandu but come from villages across the country, it is a time of rush, because everyone wants to reach home to be with family and receive blessings from elders. In this video, I travel from Kathmandu to Ilam, the eastern end of Nepal, to celebrate Dashain with my family. See the real rush on the highway, people heading to their villages, and food prices along the road. This time our journey took about 2 days by the Mugling route. Travel time can differ depending on the route and vehicle. Microbuses are also available via the BP Highway, leaving in the morning and reaching in the evening. For Dashain, we happily make the journey to respect our elders and be with our family. दशैँ नेपालीहरूको सबैभन्दा ठूलो चाड हो। काठमाडौँमा बस्ने तर गाउँघरबाट आएका मानिसहरू घर पुग्न हतारमा हुन्छन्, किनकि सबैलाई परिवारसँग बस्न र ठूलाबडाबाट टीका र आशीर्वाद थाप्न पाउनु छ। यस भिडियोमा काठमाडौँबाट पूर्वी नेपालको इलामसम्मको यात्रा, भीडभाडले भरिएको बाटो, घर फर्कने मानिस, र बाटोमा खानाको मूल्य हेर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। यसपटक हामीलाई मुग्लिङ हुँदै जाने बाटोमा करिब २ दिन लाग्यो। बाटो र गाडीअनुसार समय फरक पर्न सक्छ। बीपी राजमार्ग हुँदै बिहान हिँडेर साँझ पुग्ने माइक्रोबस सुविधा पनि उपलब्ध छ। 🚌 How we travelled: • Kathmandu → Birtamod (Jhapa): night bus. The direct night bus to Ilam was fully booked, so we took the one to Birtamod. • Birtamod → Fikkal Bazar (Ilam): microbus / EV (electric vehicle) • Fikkal Bazar → home in Suryodaya Municipality-3, Ilam: auto काठमाडौँदेखि बिर्तामोडसम्म रातको बस, बिर्तामोडदेखि फिक्कलसम्म माइक्रोबस/EV, र फिक्कलदेखि घरसम्म अटोमा यात्रा गरियो। इलाम जाने सिधा बसको टिकट पाइएन। 🍛 Food prices on the way (as told by shopkeepers, Dashain 2026): • Veg khana: Rs 250 • Chicken khana: Rs 350 • Peda at Barmajhiya: Rs 1000 per kg • Milk tea: Rs 30 per cup Prices may change by place and season. 📺 This video covers only the Dashain JOURNEY from Kathmandu to Ilam. The Dashain CELEBRATION at home (tika, family, food) will come in Episode 12. Subscribe so you don't miss it! यो भिडियोमा दसैँको घर फर्कने यात्रा मात्र छ। दसैँ मनाएको भिडियो Episode 6 मा आउँछ। 📍 Route: Lalitpur → Kalanki → Nagdhunga → Galchi → Gajuri → Malekhu → Mugling → Bharatpur → Hetauda → Lahan → Koshi Barrage → Itahari → Damak → Birtamod → Fikkal → Mehelbote (Suryodaya Municipality-3) ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:26 Leaving Nakhipot, Lalitpur 03:19 Kalanki 04:07 Nagdhunga Tunnel Road 07:36 Galchi 08:44 Gajuri 09:38 Malekhu 10:50 Manakamana Cable Car entry point 11:14 Mugling 12:11 Jugedi Bazar 13:53 Bharatpur 14:46 Hetauda 15:37 Pathlaiya Forest 15:52 Mirchaiya 16:12 Lahan 16:54 Barmajhiya 18:36 Koshi Barrage 19:18 Itahari 19:32 Biratchowk 19:54 Pathri 20:05 Damak 21:08 Dharampur 21:21 Dudhe 22:05 Surunga 23:21 Birtamod 25:10 Budhabare 25:22 Barne Tea Garden 25:33 Jhapa–Ilam Border 25:44 Jor Kalash 25:55 Kuti Danda 26:08 Hans Pokhari 26:20 Harkate Vegetable Market 26:53 Kanyam 27:37 Fikkal Bazar 29:26 Boudha Park 29:37 Boudha Dham 30:04 Rungsung Chowk 30:40 Dhungana Area 31:30 Pokhrel Chowk 32:48 Drone view of MehelBote 📌 Note: No voiceover in this video, only the original sound of the journey. Night footage is darker because it was shot on an Insta360 X4 in low light, and one short part has some noise. Thank you for understanding. 🎶 Music: YouTube Audio Library & Pixabay 📺 Episode 5 of my Nepal travel series. 👍 If you like Nepal travel videos, please like, share and subscribe to Jeevan Pokhrel. 💬 Where do you go for Dashain? Tell me in the comments! #NepalTravel #Dashain #KathmanduToIlam