Town or village
Okhaldhunga
The hillside headquarters of Okhaldhunga district, an old bazaar town in the middle hills south of the Solu region.
रुम्जाटार
Rumjatar
A broad, flat plateau in Okhaldhunga district with a domestic airstrip, the air gateway to Okhaldhunga and the Solu hills.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Okhaldhunga, Koshi
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Rumjatar is a settlement on a broad, gently sloping plateau in Okhaldhunga district, below the district headquarters. The word 'tar' in Nepali names a flat terrace of land above a river, and Rumjatar is a good example: an unusually level shelf in otherwise steep hill country, which made it a natural site for an airstrip. The small domestic airport here has long linked Okhaldhunga and neighbouring parts of Solukhumbu with Kathmandu.
The settlement around the airstrip is a small, growing bazaar, with shops, teahouses and transport for travellers moving up to Okhaldhunga bazaar or north towards Salleri and the Solu region. Fields and orchards spread across the plateau, and the surrounding hills rise in tiers of terraces. It is a pleasant, low-key place to wait for a flight or to spend a night before heading into the hills.
Most visitors pass through rather than stay, but walks across the plateau and to its edges give wide views over the valleys, and in clear weather towards higher ranges to the north.
History and culture
Before roads reached this part of the eastern hills, the Rumjatar airstrip was one of the main ways to reach Okhaldhunga quickly; the alternative was several days on foot from the plains or from the road heads to the west. The airstrip helped bring goods, officials and health workers into the district and connected farmers with markets further afield.
Communities around Rumjatar include Rai, Magar, Chhetri, Brahmin, Newar and other families, and the plateau's farmland supports grain crops and fruit. With roads now reaching the area, the bazaar has grown as a junction between the airstrip and the routes up to Okhaldhunga and north towards the Solu region, while village life on the plateau still follows the farming calendar and the main Hindu and Kirat festivals.
Things to do in Rumjatar
Plateau walk
Walk across the plateau to its edges for views over the surrounding valleys and hills.
Bazaar stop
Use the small bazaar for tea, supplies and transport before heading into the hills.
Onward travel
Take a jeep up to Okhaldhunga bazaar or towards Salleri and the Solu trekking area.
Weather and the best time to visit Rumjatar
Weather in Rumjatar
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 dry with clear skies, the most reliable season for flights.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is dry and mild by day; morning fog can delay flights.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warm and increasingly hazy, with occasional afternoon storms.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September is wet; cloud often disrupts flights and roads are muddy.
Where to stay
Guesthouses
A few simple lodges near the airstrip; Okhaldhunga bazaar has more choice.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Fly from Kathmandu to Rumjatar when services run, or travel by road through Okhaldhunga district.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- flightKathmandu to Rumjatar by small aircraft; check current schedules, which have varied over the years.
- roadBuses and jeeps from Kathmandu reach the Okhaldhunga area over a long day of hill driving.
- jeepLocal jeeps connect Rumjatar with Okhaldhunga bazaar and roads north.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit Rumjatar.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Okhaldhunga District, Wikipedia.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Rumjatar
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 causes landslides on the hill roads around Rumjatar and up to Okhaldhunga.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Flights to small airstrips are often delayed or cancelled by cloud in the monsoon; leave spare days.
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
- Reconfirm flights the day before; small-aircraft schedules change at short notice.
- Carry cash; banking facilities are limited.
- Allow a buffer day for weather delays on any itinerary using the airstrip.
Questions about Rumjatar
What is Rumjatar?
A settlement and domestic airstrip on a flat plateau in Okhaldhunga district, eastern Nepal.
Can I fly to Rumjatar from Kathmandu?
Small aircraft have flown this route; services vary, so check with airlines before planning around a flight.
How far is Okhaldhunga bazaar from Rumjatar?
The bazaar is higher up the hill and reached by a short jeep ride; ask locally for the current travel time.
Do I need a permit?
No permit is required.
Nearby
Viewpoint
Pokali Waterfall
A tall waterfall in the forested hills of Okhaldhunga district, a popular local excursion after the monsoon.
Trek stop · 2,413 m
Phaplu
A small airstrip town near Salleri, the road head and end point for Pikey Peak and lower Solukhumbu treks.
Viewpoint · 4,065 m
Pikey Peak
A grassy 4,065 m summit in lower Solukhumbu with a long view of the eastern Himalaya, reached on a short trek through Sherpa villages.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Rumjatar Airport, Wikipedia, Okhaldhunga District, Wikipedia, Nepal Tourism Board