Birgunj

Birgunj is Nepal's most important commercial border town, located directly across from Raxaul in India. As the country's primary land port of entry, it handles the vast majority of Nepal's import and export trade.The city is home to a vibrant business community, diverse cuisines, and lively markets that blend Nepali and Indian cultures into a unique border-town character.

The city takes its name from Bir Shumsher Rana, who developed it as a border town in the 1890s. An integrated check post opened on the Nepali side in 2018 and a broad gauge rail link runs across to Raxaul, together carrying a large share of Nepal's third country trade. Birgunj is about 135km from Kathmandu on the Tribhuvan Highway, with the Parsa forest immediately north.