Town or village
Dhankuta
A tidy ridge-top town on the Koshi Highway above Dharan, and a pleasant base for the eastern hills.
हिले
Hile
A cool ridge bazaar on the Koshi Highway above Dhankuta, known for its hill food and mountain views.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Dhankuta, Koshi
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Hile is a small, busy bazaar on the Koshi Highway north of Dhankuta, set on a ridge high enough to feel distinctly cooler than the town below. It is a crossroads for the eastern hills: roads continue north to Basantapur and Terhathum, and branch towards the Arun valley, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha, so buses, jeeps and travellers pass through all day.
On clear days the ridge around Hile gives views towards the high peaks of eastern Nepal, and the surrounding slopes are covered with tea gardens, farmland and forest. Many visitors from the Terai come up for a weekend in the cool air, to walk among the tea bushes and to eat in the bazaar, which is known for hearty hill food and tongba, the warm millet brew of the eastern hills.
Hile has a mixed community that includes Rai, Limbu, Newar, Sherpa and people of Tibetan origin, and it has long been a stopping point for traders and porters on the way between the hills and the plains.
History and culture
Before the road, Hile was a walking stage on trade and trekking routes, and older trekking guides used it as a starting point for walks to the Arun valley and towards Makalu. The arrival of the Koshi Highway turned the village into a road bazaar and a market for produce from the hills.
Buddhist prayer flags and small gompas sit beside Hindu shrines, reflecting the mix of communities. Tea gardens in the Dhankuta and Hile area are part of the wider eastern tea belt that stretches through Ilam to Darjeeling.
Things to do in Hile
Tea garden walk
Walk among the tea bushes on the slopes around the bazaar.
Sunrise on the ridge
Climb to a nearby high point at dawn for the best chance of mountain views.
Try local food
Sample tongba and hill dishes in the bazaar's eateries.
Onward trips
Use Hile as a staging point for Basantapur, Gupha Pokhari or Bhojpur.
Weather and the best time to visit Hile
Weather in Hile
Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are usually clear and dry after the monsoon, with the best chance of mountain views and the Dashain and Tihar festivals.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cool and generally dry; mornings can be cold and misty, but days are often bright.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April are mild, with rhododendrons flowering on the higher ridges; haze often builds by late morning.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September is wet and green; cloud hides the views and hill roads are prone to landslides.
Where to stay
HotelsGuesthousesHomestays
Simple hotels and lodges in the bazaar, mainly for Nepali travellers, with a few homestays around.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Hile is on the Koshi Highway a short way beyond Dhankuta; buses and jeeps from Dharan pass through.
Nearest hub: Dharan
- roadFrom Dharan, take a bus or jeep up the Koshi Highway via Dhankuta to Hile, a winding hill drive of several hours.
- flightThe nearest airport with regular flights is Biratnagar, then road via Dharan.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Hile.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Nepal Tourism Board.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Hile
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
Monsoon rain from June to September brings landslides and slips on the Koshi Highway and the feeder roads around Hile, and journeys can be delayed for hours or days.
Coldlow in a typical yearDec-Feb
Winter mornings and evenings on the ridge are cold and often foggy.
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
- Carry a warm jacket even in spring and autumn; Hile is much cooler than Dharan.
- Fog often settles on the ridge in winter; mountain views are best early in the morning.
- Tongba is alcoholic; drink it slowly.
- Check road conditions before heading on to Bhojpur or the Arun valley.
Questions about Hile
Where is Hile?
On the Koshi Highway north of Dhankuta, in Dhankuta district, eastern Nepal.
What is Hile known for?
Its cool climate, tea gardens, mountain views and hill food, and as a crossroads for the eastern hills.
How far is Hile from Dharan?
It is a winding drive of several hours up the Koshi Highway via Dhankuta.
Do I need a permit?
No permit is required.
Nearby
Town or village
Pakhribas
A hill town in Dhankuta known for its long-running agricultural research centre and quiet farm landscapes.
Town or village
Basantapur
A high ridge bazaar on the Koshi Highway and the usual start for walks into the Tinjure-Milke rhododendron hills.
Town or village
Bhojpur Bazaar
The hill-top headquarters of Bhojpur district, known across Nepal for its blacksmiths and khukuri knives.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Dhankuta District, Wikipedia, Koshi Highway, Wikipedia, Nepal Tourism Board