Sunauli
From World travel guide
Sunauli (actually "Bhairawa" on the Nepali side but both are usually called Sunauli) is a small but busy town on the India-Nepal border and the most popular place for overland crossing between the two.
Contents |
Understand
Sunauli is not a place to linger. It is an important border crossing point, but there are few services and zero sights-- unless you count long lines of Indian big-rigs.
Have your paperwork ready before you arrive, Nepal visas are available on arrival but the "immgrations office" (just a table) is not overly helpful.
Get in
Buses arrive from many points in Nepal including Pokhara, Chitwan, Kathmandu, and Bhairawaha (where you can transfer to a Lumbini-bound bus). Buses do not cross the border nor is there much in the way of any sort of "conecting service." Once you cross the border on foot you will need to find buses on the other side. Buses depart on both sides usually twice a day-- dusk and dawn-- but there is nothing like a real schedule.
The closest major train station and airport is Lucknow. Buses stop there on their way from Varanasi.
Get around
There is only one main road to the town and what little there is is within a few minutes walk of the border.
Sleep
Most of the accommodations in town are geared towards truck drivers, not the nicest places and not recommeded for women travelling alone. There is one government run hotel for pilgrams. Look for the large white building on the main road. Modern rooms with bathrooms, TVs, and A/C for 1200Rs. Cheaper rooms usually go early in the day.
Eat
Options for food on the Indian side of the border are very limited and of questionable standards (with the exception of the pilgram's hotel). Eat on the Nepal side and pack extra food if possible. There is no market or groceries and even bananas or bread is hard to find.
