Often referred to as the trekking paradise, Nepal embraces some of the world’s best tourist attraction sites. The picturesque beauty of the Himalayas, the raw experience of jungle wildlife, active and ancient religious beliefs and rituals, anachronistic cities like Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, etc. and the famous sacred temples, this small country has everything which makes it a promising tourist destination and adventure site. In terms of architectural and structural advancements, from highways to streets, to bridges and urban planning, the nation has come a long way while retaining the strong essence of the Nepalese culture.
Here is a list of 6 famous bridges in Nepal:
1. Dodhara-Chandani Bridge
SourceThe Dodhara Chandani Bridge, which is also known as the Mahakali Bridge, is one of the longest multi-span pedestrian bridges in Nepal. The bridge has a total length of 1496.5m, and it crosses Nepal’s giant Sharda river (also known as Mahakali river). The Dodhara Chandani Bridge is located in Mahakali, Kanchanpur district. By the name of this bridge you could already guess that it connects two villages, Dodhara and Chandani which are isolated by the river in the far west of Nepal.
This suspension bridge is a sequence of four suspension pillars aided by eight steel pylons which are anchored to large anchor blocks in the river bed. Moreover, the 1.60m wide bridge deck is toughened by sturdy metal grille’s to support the passage of lightweight automobiles too. The Dodhara-Chandani Bridge may not be a popular tourist attraction site, but this architectural finesse is worth the visit.
2. Karnali Bridge
SourceThe Karnali Bridge in Nepal is an engineering artefact which was constructed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. The bridge was inaugurated six years after its construction was completed in 1994 by Late Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. This lobsided, uni tower bridge is supported by cable wires running across the entire 500m stretch of the bridge. The Karnali Bridge is situated in Mahendra Highway at Chisapani, and it traverses the whole length of the Karnali river which connects the border of Kailali district and Bardiya district.
The capital city of Kathmandu is approximately 500 Km from Karnali Bridge, and the airport of Dhangadhi is around 86 Km. The location advantage and the high architectural design makes it a popular tourist attraction from visitors across the globe.
3. Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge
SourceThis 45m long and 8m wide Friendship Bridge is a major route for trade between Kathmandu and Tibet. The Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge covers the entire stretch of the Sun Kosi river and links Kodari in Sindhupalchok district, Nepal and Zhangmu, China. On one side the bridge connects to the Arniko Rajmarg in Kodari, Sindhupalchok district which in turn links to the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu. On the other side, the Friendship bridge connects to China National highway 318, which is interlinked with Zhangmu and on to Shanghai. A road named Friendship Highway exists between Zhangmu and Lhasa.
In 2015, a severe earthquake hit the grounds of Nepal due to which the routes of this bridge were closed. It caused severe damage to the bridge as well as the trade between the two major cities, Kathmandu and Tibet. However, the Chinese government took the initiative in 2018 to restore the bridge and now from May 2019, the bridge has been opened and seen working.
4. Keladighat Bridge
SourceThe Keladighat Bridge spans the entire stretch of the Kaligandaki River and is situated in Keladighat of Syangja district. The bridge is a 166.6m long and 4.25m wide pedestrian bridge which is at the height of 25m above the Kaligandaki River. Not only pedestrians but motor vehicles and bicycles too use this bridge. The construction of the Keladighat Bridge started in late 2007, and it took seven long years to construct it.
Nepal Government invested in this project, assuming that this bridge in Nepal would facilitate the living of approximately 10,000 citizens who travel from Sankhar in Syangja district in the north to Darcha in Palpa district in the south. It would also ease the mobility of the locals who supply their farm products like fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs to the Tarai districts.
5. Sankhamul Bridge
SourceAs the name suggests the Sankhamul bridge is placed in Sankhamul. It is a pedestrian bridge which crosses the Bagmati river in Nepal. The bridge links two major cities of Nepal, Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Though the bridge is not too wide for four-wheelers to pass, it does serve its role for those pedestrian and tourists who want to travel to some famous temples in Lalitpur.
6. Narayani Bridge
SourceBuilt in the early 1980s, this marvellous bridge in Nepal was the first asymmetrical four-lane cable-stayed bridge of its kind. The architects used modern Chinese equipment and advanced technology to design this bridge. Having inculcated such advanced technology, the production cost was a mammoth INR 1 Billion. The Narayani Bridge, as suggested by the name itself, crosses the Narayani river of Nepal and is located in the central development region of Nepal. This 420m long bridge connects Chitwan and Gaindakot of Nawalparasi district and is believed to be one of the paramount commercial lifelines of the country.
The bridge is decked with vivid lights playing religious hymns that could be observed during dusk. Moreover, the Narayani Bridge inhibits a Nepalese look due to the involvement of Nepalese architects, which adds religious importance to it. Due to these architectural wonders and religious bindings, the Narayani Bridge is a famous tourist destination.
Now since you have known a lot about the top 6 bridges in Nepal, it would be much more comfortable for you to explore the endless adventures of this beautiful country. Happy journey!
