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At present there are only two major roads leading out of the Kathmandu Valley. One goes northwest to Tibet, while the other leads west to Mugling and Pokhara. If you wish to travel to anywhere in the Terai or cross into India, you must first go west, then turn south at Mugling.
The highway going west from Kathmandu leaves First you have to get to [https://goo.gl/maps/axbvgkiX53MEsd5z5 Kalanki]. You can find buses from Ratna Park in the Kalanki neighborhoodcity centre for 25-30 NPR (Mar 2023). From There are also buses going in circles along the intersection of this ring road and Kalanki is on the Kathmandu ring road heresouthwestern section of it (25-30 NPR, Mar 2023). From Kalanki take a bus or microbus to Thankot for another 25 rupees and then walk for a few hundred metres to a [https://goo.gl/maps/tETYm5VqHTfhdo1SA police checkpoint]. There might be direct buses from Ratna Park to Thankot, you ask around. You can walk up hitch right after the road less than police checkpoint. It's a kilometer good idea to at least greet the policemen and show them your sign, they might find you a place where lift. If you go to Birgunj and the Indian border make a car can pull oversign Hetauda, if your destination is Pokhara write this name instead. Writing Free Lift above the name of the city is very helpful as most people understand it and taxi or bus drivers won't bother you so much.
Alternately take a bus from Ratna Park Bear in mind that the shortest road to Hetauda, the town of Chandragiri Tribhuvan Highway - NH41 (चन्द्रागिरीGoogle Maps show the old number - H02) , is in terrible condition and only paid for 50NPR which then offers an easy choice of roads South jeeps and a few private cars use it. All trucks and buses go around via Mugling and Bharatpur, so if somebody is going to Pokhara and you're heading south jump on and get off in Mugling. Similarly if you go to Pokhara and the driver says he goes to Hetaudago for it, or further West towards Pokharahe'll drop you off in Mugling which is halfway through.
Take a bus from[Ratna Park which will get you as far as Sankhu. From Sankhu make a sign for Shankharapur (शङ्खरापुर), and from there the road splits === Northeast towards Melamchi. Make sure you don't take the Northern "Piplie" road, as when you get there you'll have a hard time getting out as there's very little traffic.===
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== Hitchhiking out ==
=== West towards Pokhara, southwest to Hetauda, Birgunj by Prithvi Highway ===
This hitching spot might not be working in the near future as a new bypass of Thankot in Chandragiri municipality is being built. The beginning of the bypass will be [https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B041'18.7%22N+85%C2%B014'09.5%22E/@27.688532,85.235968,767m/data=== North East (Melamchi) ===!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d27.688532!4d85.235968 here] and that could be the new spot for finding lifts heading west and south.
Take a bus from Ratna Park which will get you as far as Sankhu. From Sankhu make a sign for Shankharapur (शङ्खरापुर), and from there the road splits towards Melamchi. Make sure you don't take the Northern "Piplie" road, as when you get there you'll have a hard time getting out as there's very little traffic.
== Buying gear ==
Thamel is full of trekking shops, but you'll find better prices and often nicer gear if you head south towards the local market place named Ason. Tarps can be found (as well as cheap roll mats) on the street named "Jagatsundar Marg", just north of Ason bazar. If you're willing to compromise and get a used sleeping bag, you can find one for as low as 1,500 NPR (12USD).
==== Boots ====
Check around Ason market for good boots. Look for full leather with a stitched sole. Don't buy any boots where you can't see the stitches as they're likely cheap fakes which are glued together. Buy leather over synthetic. A good pair of boots should be available for around 2,500 - 3,000 NPR.
== Nomadwiki & Trashwiki ==