The Kathmandu to Pokhara highway collapsed at Krishnabhir, and how it reopened in 18 days

Breaking · Flights & Access The Prithvi Highway collapsed at Krishnabhir in Dhading on 30 August. A new track opened one-way on 13 September and to full two-way traffic on the… By Anjali Shrestha · Aug 31, 2026 Read the full story

Update, 18 September 2026 — the road is open again The Prithvi Highway reopened at Krishnabhir after 18 days. A new track about 270 metres long, cut above the collapse, opened to one-way traffic on a trial basis on 13 September and to full two-way traffic at… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

What actually gave way

The road did not slide off the hill. It sank. More than half the carriageway subsided and cracked along a stretch of about 20 metres, The Tourism Times reported on 30 August. The highway runs along a slope roughly 60 metres high above the Trishuli, and the… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

The detour runs through Gorkha

Two alternative routes have been identified, both looping through Gorkha district and rejoining the highway at Benighat. Gorkha Chief District Officer Tulsi Bahadur Shrestha is coordinating with road offices to upgrade the weak points on them while the main… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

What this means for your trek

If your trek starts in Pokhara, fly. The scheduled Kathmandu to Pokhara flight was always the faster option and it is now the dependable one; an Annapurna Base Camp trek or a Poon Hill itinerary loses nothing except the drive. If your trek starts from an… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Frequently asked questions

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Is the Kathmandu to Pokhara road open right now?

Yes. It was closed in both directions from 30 August, reopened to one-way traffic on 13 September and to full two-way traffic at 6am on 17 September, on a new track about 270 metres long above the collapse. Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

How long will the Prithvi Highway be closed?

Dhading police estimate at least a month. The Department of Roads has not published a schedule, and engineers cannot set one until the Trishuli falls far enough for them to assess the erosion. Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Can I still fly Kathmandu to Pokhara?

Yes. Domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara are operating and are unaffected by the road closure. Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Does this affect the Everest Base Camp trek?

No. Everest Base Camp itineraries fly from Kathmandu or Manthali to Lukla and do not use the Prithvi Highway. Our autumn 2026 Lukla flight guide explains that routing. Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

Is the rest of Nepal open?

Most of it, with real exceptions. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on 29 August that the country remains open to travellers and that areas outside the flood zone are functioning normally. Rasuwa and Langtang are a different matter — see our Langtang… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News Read the full story

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