Nepal's third international airport stirs: Bhairahawa eyes the Lumbini pilgrim boom

Flights & Access Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa — the gateway to Lumbini — is adding international flights, from Thai AirAsia pilgrims to Gulf… By Laxman Rawal · Jun 16, 2026 Read the full story

Nepal's third international airport has had a quiet start — but 2026 is the year it stirs to life. Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa, the gateway to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, is rolling out a plan to win back international… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

What is flying now — and next

The airport, which opened with great fanfare but struggled to attract sustained international service, is now seeing real movement. Thai AirAsia operates flights aimed largely at Buddhist pilgrims; Kuwait Airways carries the large Nepali workforce between… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Why it matters

For visitors, a working Bhairahawa airport is a genuine convenience. It puts you a short drive from Lumbini's sacred garden, spares pilgrims the long overland haul from Kathmandu, and opens a southern gateway to the country that eases pressure on the… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Kathmandu Valley Cultural Tour — 3 Days

Plan your trek NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998. From $380 Plan this trek