An East-West Himalayan tourist highway is a step closer to reality, with the government starting feasibility studies for the ambitious mountain road project. Minister Sunil Lamsal announced on October 13, 2026, that the first phase of studies will cover two sections: the 105 km Api Nampa-Saipal-Badimalika stretch and the 45 km Num-Pathibhara stretch.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Nepal Infrastructure Construction Company Limited and the Department of Roads for the studies. Under the agreement, the company will examine the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the project and prepare the groundwork for construction.
What the East-West Himalayan tourist highway feasibility study covers
The study will assess whether and how the highway can be built through some of Nepal’s most challenging high mountain terrain. The technical review will look at possible alignments, while the economic review will weigh costs against expected benefits. Social and environmental reviews will examine the effects on mountain communities and fragile high altitude ecosystems.
The two phase one sections sit at opposite ends of the country. The 105 km Api Nampa-Saipal-Badimalika section lies in the far west, connecting the Api Nampa and Saipal region with Badimalika, a revered pilgrimage site. The 45 km Num-Pathibhara section lies in the east, connecting toward Pathibhara, another major pilgrimage destination.
Once the study reports are ready, the government will move ahead with the infrastructure needed to connect Badimalika, Pathibhara and other tourist areas to the road network, based on the findings of the reports.
The combined 150 km of phase one studies will set the template for the rest of the corridor. If the studies confirm viable alignments, the highway could eventually run the length of Nepal’s Himalayan belt, giving the country its first continuous east to west mountain road.
A new program linking the Himalaya with tourism
The minister described the Himalayan tourist highway as a new program and an important piece of infrastructure for linking Nepal’s Himalayan region with tourism. The vision for the East-West Himalayan tourist highway is an east to west mountain road that opens remote high altitude areas to visitors while spreading tourism beyond the established trekking circuits.
In his announcement, the minister said the highway is being advanced as a new program, calling it important infrastructure for linking the Himalayan region with tourism.
Badimalika and Pathibhara are among Nepal’s most visited pilgrimage sites, drawing large numbers of domestic pilgrims each year. Better road access would make the journeys safer and shorter, and open the surrounding high country to trekkers and sightseers who currently bypass the region for lack of transport.
Building roads in the high Himalaya is among the most difficult civil engineering work in the country, with steep slopes, harsh weather and short construction seasons. Feasibility studies are the critical first step: they determine where a road can physically go, what it will cost, and how to limit damage to the environment and local communities.
Remote mountain districts currently depend on airstrips and foot trails for much of their connectivity. A road link changes the economics of everything from food supply to tourism, making it possible for visitors to reach places that today require days of walking.
The studies will also give the government a clearer picture of costs before any construction commitment is made, reducing the risk of stalled or abandoned projects in terrain where building is expensive and unforgiving.
What happens next for the East-West Himalayan tourist highway
Nepal Infrastructure Construction Company Limited will now carry out the studies and submit its reports to the Department of Roads. The Department will supervise the study process under the signed agreement. Officials will use the findings to decide on alignments for the East-West Himalayan tourist highway and move toward detailed design and construction of the sections needed to bring Badimalika, Pathibhara and surrounding tourist areas onto the road network.
Source: Minister Sunil Lamsal’s Facebook post, October 13, 2026.
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