Temple, monastery or heritage site
Kakrebihar
Carved stone ruins of a medieval temple complex on a forested hill beside Birendranagar.
Far Westवीरेन्द्रनगर
Birendranagar
The capital of Karnali Province, a planned town in the broad Surkhet valley and the road gateway to the Karnali hills.
This is Birendranagar in the Surkhet valley, capital of Karnali Province, often simply called Surkhet.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Oct-Mar
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Surkhet, Karnali
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Birendranagar is the main town of Surkhet district and the capital of Karnali Province. It sits in the wide, flat Surkhet valley, an inner valley of the Siwalik and Mahabharat hills north of the western Terai, and is usually just called Surkhet by travellers and bus conductors. The town was laid out as a planned settlement and named after King Birendra, so its streets are straighter and broader than those of most Nepali hill bazaars.
For most visitors Birendranagar is a transit town: it is where the road from the Terai at Kohalpur climbs into the hills, and it is the start of the Karnali Highway north to Dailekh, Kalikot, Jumla and Mugu. Surkhet airport has domestic flights, and some small aircraft continue from here to the mountain airstrips of Karnali. Banks, hospitals, government offices and a good choice of simple hotels make it the natural place to rest, change money and buy supplies before heading into the remote districts.
There is enough in and around the town for a relaxed day. Bulbule Tal, a spring-fed pond in a small park, is popular with local families; the Deuti Bajai temple is the best-known shrine in the valley; and the ruins of Kakrebihar stand on a forested hill on the edge of town. The valley floor is good for easy walks and cycling, with views of the surrounding wooded ridges.
History and culture
The Surkhet valley has been settled for a long time, and the stone temple ruins at Kakrebihar show that it lay within the sphere of the medieval Khas Malla kingdom of western Nepal. In modern times the valley was malarial and thinly settled until malaria control and planned resettlement in the second half of the twentieth century drew migrants from the surrounding hills.
Birendranagar grew as a regional administrative centre, and in 2018 it was confirmed as the capital of the newly formed Karnali Province. Its population mixes Chhetri, Brahmin, Thakuri, Magar, Dalit and Tharu communities, and people from every corner of Karnali come here for schools, hospitals and work. Dashain and Tihar are the main festivals, and fairs at Deuti Bajai and other temples draw crowds from across the valley.
Things to do in Birendranagar
Bulbule Tal
Stroll around the small spring-fed pond and its park in the town, best early in the morning or late afternoon.
Kakrebihar ruins
Walk or take a short ride to the forested hill with the carved stone remains of a medieval temple complex.
Deuti Bajai temple
Visit the town's most important temple, especially lively on festival days.
Prepare for Karnali
Use the town's banks, shops and pharmacies to stock up before travelling north on the Karnali Highway.
Weather and the best time to visit Birendranagar
Weather in Birendranagar
Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Oct-Mar
- Good month: Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are dry and clear after the monsoon, the most comfortable months in the valley.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is mild by day in the valley, with cool nights and frequent morning fog.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April warm up quickly; by May the valley floor is hot and hazy.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September is wet and humid, and landslides affect the hill roads out of the valley.
Where to stay
HotelsGuesthouses
A wide range of simple to mid-range hotels and guesthouses, mainly around the bus park and the town centre.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Drive north from Kohalpur near Nepalgunj on the Ratna Highway, or fly to Surkhet airport from Kathmandu or Nepalgunj.
Nearest hub: Nepalgunj
- roadFrom Nepalgunj or Kohalpur on the East-West Highway, buses and jeeps climb the Ratna Highway to Birendranagar in a few hours.
- roadLong-distance night and day buses link Kathmandu with Surkhet via the East-West Highway.
- flightDomestic flights serve Surkhet airport from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj; schedules vary by season.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Birendranagar or the sights in the Surkhet valley.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Nepal Tourism Board.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Birendranagar
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Landslidesmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
The hill roads out of the valley, both south towards Kohalpur and north on the Karnali Highway, are prone to monsoon landslides and delays.
Heatmoderate in a typical yearApr-Jun
The low valley floor becomes hot before the monsoon breaks; plan walks for early morning.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Banks and ATMs are reliable here; carry enough cash for the districts further north, where they are scarce.
- Leave early for the Karnali Highway, and allow spare days in the monsoon.
- The town is spread out; local buses, tempos and taxis link the bus park, airport and sights.
Questions about Birendranagar
Is Birendranagar the same as Surkhet?
Yes. Birendranagar is the town; Surkhet is the district and valley, and most people use the two names interchangeably.
How do I get to Surkhet from Nepalgunj?
Take a bus or jeep from Nepalgunj or Kohalpur up the Ratna Highway; the drive takes a few hours.
What is there to see in Birendranagar?
Bulbule Tal, the Deuti Bajai temple and the Kakrebihar ruins, plus easy walks in the valley.
Is Surkhet a good base for Rara and Jumla?
Yes. It is the start of the Karnali Highway and has flights and supplies, making it the usual staging point.
Nearby
Lake
Bulbule Tal
A small spring-fed pond and park in Birendranagar, named for the bubbles that rise through its water.
Town or village
Dailekh Bazaar
The hill bazaar headquarters of Dailekh district, close to the Shirsthan and Nabhisthan flame shrines.
National park or conservation area
Bardiya National Park
Nepal's largest lowland national park, a quieter alternative to Chitwan with tigers, rhinos, wild elephants and the Karnali river.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Birendranagar, Wikipedia, Surkhet District, Wikipedia, Karnali Highway, Wikipedia