Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway)
महेन्द्र राजमार्ग (पूर्व–पश्चिम)
Nepal's longest and most important road — the Terai spine that ties the country together east to west.
- Code
- NH01
- Length
- ≈1,028 km
- From
- Kakarbhitta (Mechi, east)
- To
- Bhimdatta / Mahendranagar (Mahakali, west)
- Opened
- Built 1960s–1990s
- Built with
- India, USSR, UK and USA
- Status
- Operational; long sections being widened to 4 lanes
- Provinces
- Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Lumbini, Sudurpashchim, Karnali
The Mahendra Highway, or East–West Highway, runs ≈1,028 km along the length of the Terai from Kakarbhitta on the eastern border to Bhimdatta in the far west. It is Nepal's single most important road, carrying the bulk of long-distance freight and passenger traffic.
Built section by section from the 1960s with help from several countries, it connects almost every Terai city and is the backbone onto which the north–south highways and feeder roads attach.
From plan to highway
- 1956
Vision adopted
An east–west highway across the Terai becomes a national goal under King Mahendra.
- 1960s
Construction begins
Work starts in sections, each backed by a different donor — India, the USSR, the UK and the USA.
- 1970s–1980s
Major sections opened
The eastern, central and western stretches are progressively completed.
- 1990s
End-to-end link
The highway is essentially complete across the whole country.
- 2010s–now
Four-laning
Busy sections are being widened, asphalted and bridged; an expressway-grade upgrade is planned.
The Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway) highlighted, from OpenStreetMap road data.
More highways
Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway) — frequently asked questions
How long is the Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway)?+
The Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway) (NH01) is approximately 1,028 km long.
Where does the Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway) go — what does it connect?+
It runs from Kakarbhitta (Mechi, east) to Bhimdatta / Mahendranagar (Mahakali, west), passing through the provinces of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Lumbini, Sudurpashchim, Karnali.
When did the Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway) open?+
Construction history: Built 1960s–1990s. It was built with assistance from India, USSR, UK and USA.
Is the Mahendra Highway (East–West Highway) open and what is it known for?+
Status: Operational; long sections being widened to 4 lanes. It is known as Nepal's longest and most important road — the Terai spine that ties the country together east to west.
Sources & data note
Length, route and dates are approximate, from the Department of Roads and standard references. The mapped route is real road geometry from OpenStreetMap, matched by highway code.