Driver to Pokhara
Nov 12th, 2014 | 04:42 AM
#2
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
Anything can happen on the Prithvi Highway.
Due to the sheer number of poor and dangerous drivers, and badly maintained vehicles, a good driver is just as likely to come to grief as a bad one.
The Prithvi Highway is poorly maintained, very bad in parts, and with a hazard round every bend. It's prone to landslip, and horrendous [totally avoidable] accidents.
On our two experiences on it between Kathmandu and Pokhara, our outward trip to Pokhara took almost 11 hours due a landslide, which resulted in the longest snaking traffic jam I've ever seen, and the biggest open toilet. Our return trip was much better, but there were plenty of close calls with traffic of all shapes coming at us from the opposite direction like bats out of hell.
Choose a bus company with a proven safety record, and who know how to maintain their vehicles properly. Someone like Greenline...
http://www.greenline.com.np/intro.php
Due to the sheer number of poor and dangerous drivers, and badly maintained vehicles, a good driver is just as likely to come to grief as a bad one.
The Prithvi Highway is poorly maintained, very bad in parts, and with a hazard round every bend. It's prone to landslip, and horrendous [totally avoidable] accidents.
On our two experiences on it between Kathmandu and Pokhara, our outward trip to Pokhara took almost 11 hours due a landslide, which resulted in the longest snaking traffic jam I've ever seen, and the biggest open toilet. Our return trip was much better, but there were plenty of close calls with traffic of all shapes coming at us from the opposite direction like bats out of hell.
Choose a bus company with a proven safety record, and who know how to maintain their vehicles properly. Someone like Greenline...
http://www.greenline.com.np/intro.php
Nov 12th, 2014 | 11:09 PM
#6
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
While the Prithvi Highway is dangerous, it's also very scenic. All the tourist buses we saw were full. We made it in one piece, and now have the great memories of the experience.
If you want a relatively safe drive on the Prithvi Highway, then try the 2.5 hours from the main bus station in Pokhara Bazaar to Dumre. Ticket [on the bus] is 200 rupees.
Dumre is the dropping off point for anyone going by bus to [beautiful] Bandipur. Dumre itself is just a big uninteresting town. But Bandipur is a true living museum, and absolutely traffic free [bar the odd pushbike].
Bandipur is about 6 miles up the hill from Dumre, and can be done by public bus [50 rupees] or if there's no bus around then someone will offer you a lift for a price [about 400 rupees]. It's a bit of a scary ride, but there's very little traffic to contend with.
We stayed in Bandipur at the [inappropriately named] Bandipur Palace. Cost 1,500 rupees for a double [room only], and while the place was a bit threadbare, it was clean and we had fantastic views.
If you want a relatively safe drive on the Prithvi Highway, then try the 2.5 hours from the main bus station in Pokhara Bazaar to Dumre. Ticket [on the bus] is 200 rupees.
Dumre is the dropping off point for anyone going by bus to [beautiful] Bandipur. Dumre itself is just a big uninteresting town. But Bandipur is a true living museum, and absolutely traffic free [bar the odd pushbike].
Bandipur is about 6 miles up the hill from Dumre, and can be done by public bus [50 rupees] or if there's no bus around then someone will offer you a lift for a price [about 400 rupees]. It's a bit of a scary ride, but there's very little traffic to contend with.
We stayed in Bandipur at the [inappropriately named] Bandipur Palace. Cost 1,500 rupees for a double [room only], and while the place was a bit threadbare, it was clean and we had fantastic views.
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Nov 29th, 2014 | 09:26 AM
#8
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
Well now we're back home in Anglesey I think I owe everyone an update.
First of all I'll explain why I had decided to travel this road by bus.
Some six years ago my daughter and boyfriend took the bus journey and my daughter who normally doesn't tell me anything that will make me worry about her safety, told me that she had found the journey frightening. Maybe at that stage she never thought that I would go.
Then I read Lancaster Lad's account and that clinched it.
I had heard recently that Nepalese airlines were now banned from the EU because of maintenance shortcomings and so that was a no-no too.
Eventually I approached the hotel we were booked in in Boudha and they found us a driver. It was important that he was a safe driver and they knew this. He was very good and I felt entirely safe and comfortable with him. I asked for his details afterwards as there is clearly a lack of firsthand information here. He is from Mila Adventure Travel Company which is no doubt in Boudha.
When we returned we asked the Guest House we were staying in to get us a driver and they provided one of their employees. Again good but I did have to stop him overtaking on a blind bend.
We didn't see any accidents but we got caught up in the afternoon traffic jam up the ridge into Thangkot which was about a mile of traffic to include many many heavy Indian lorries. Several vehicles overheated and so stopped blocking the carriageway in that direction. The return journey from Pokhara to Bhaktapur took about 8 hours.
Thank you for your help.
First of all I'll explain why I had decided to travel this road by bus.
Some six years ago my daughter and boyfriend took the bus journey and my daughter who normally doesn't tell me anything that will make me worry about her safety, told me that she had found the journey frightening. Maybe at that stage she never thought that I would go.
Then I read Lancaster Lad's account and that clinched it.
I had heard recently that Nepalese airlines were now banned from the EU because of maintenance shortcomings and so that was a no-no too.
Eventually I approached the hotel we were booked in in Boudha and they found us a driver. It was important that he was a safe driver and they knew this. He was very good and I felt entirely safe and comfortable with him. I asked for his details afterwards as there is clearly a lack of firsthand information here. He is from Mila Adventure Travel Company which is no doubt in Boudha.
When we returned we asked the Guest House we were staying in to get us a driver and they provided one of their employees. Again good but I did have to stop him overtaking on a blind bend.
We didn't see any accidents but we got caught up in the afternoon traffic jam up the ridge into Thangkot which was about a mile of traffic to include many many heavy Indian lorries. Several vehicles overheated and so stopped blocking the carriageway in that direction. The return journey from Pokhara to Bhaktapur took about 8 hours.
Thank you for your help.
