Kathmandu:
Direct bus services have been launched between Pokhara, a tourist hub in western Nepal, and New Delhi and Bhopal, a development expected to benefit Nepalese workers and Indian tourists.
People travelling to these destinations faced problems in the past due to lack of direct transport links.
Two Nepalese travel agencies -- Soft Excursions Tours and Travel of Bhairahawa and New Modern Era Tours and Travels of Pokhara -- recently joined hands to operate the bus services.
They said that the services have been received well by Nepalese going to India and Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation.
A bus departs from Pokhara for Delhi and simultaneously another bus leaves Delhi for Klara every day.
The bus service to Bhopal operates once a week.
Efforts were on for a daily Pokhara-Bhopal service to daily, said Ramesh Thapa, chairman of Soft Excursions Tours.
The route for the Pokhara-Delhi service passes Bhairahawa, close to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
People visit Delhi through Sunauli, which lies across the border from Bhairahawa, for various purposes such as employment, education, health treatment and business.
To reach Delhi by train, one must travel to Gorakhpur, about 100 km from the Nepal border. It is difficult to get tickets and must be booked one month in advance, ekantipur.com reported yesterday.