Changes

At present there are only two major roads leading out of the Kathmandu Valley. One goes northwest to [[Tibet]]=== West towards Pokhara, while the other leads west to [[Mugling]] and [[Pokhara]]. If you wish southwest to travel to anywhere in the Terai or cross into India, you must first go westHetauda, then turn south at Mugling.Birgunj by Prithvi Highway ===

=== West First you have to get to [https://goo.gl/maps/axbvgkiX53MEsd5z5 Kalanki]. You can find buses from Ratna Park in the city centre for 25-30 NPR (Prithvi HighwayMar 2023) ===. There are also buses going in circles along the ring road and Kalanki is on the southwestern 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, ask around. You can hitch right after the police checkpoint. It's a good idea to at least greet the policemen and show them your sign, they might find you a lift. If you go to Birgunj and the Indian border make a sign 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.

The highway Bear in mind that the shortest road to Hetauda, the Tribhuvan Highway - NH41 (Google Maps show the old number - H02), is in terrible condition and only paid for jeeps and a few private cars use it. All trucks and buses go around via Mugling and Bharatpur, so if somebody is going west from Kathmandu leaves from the Kalkani neighborhoodto Pokhara and you're heading south jump on and get off in Mugling. From the intersection of this road Similarly if you go to Pokhara and the Kathmandu ring road heredriver says he goes to Hetauda go for it, he'll drop you can walk up the road less than a kilometer and find a place where a car can pull overoff in Mugling which is halfway through.

Alternately take This hitching spot might not be working in the near future as a bus from [[Ratna Park]] to the town new bypass of [[Thankot in Chandragiri]] (चन्द्रागिरी) for 50NPR which then offers an easy choice municipality is being built. The beginning of roads South to Hetaudathe bypass will be [https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B041'18.7%22N+85%C2%B014'09.5%22E/@27.688532, or further West towards [[Pokhara]85.235968,767m/data=!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.

=== North East (Northeast towards Melamchi) ===

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 Most of the stuff on not official stores are fake with lower quality. Dont risk with your life choosing a winter traking gear ==!!! You can trust more to second-hand stuff

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).