Dashain Exodus Intensifies as Over 207,000 Passengers Leave Kathmandu Valley

The annual Dashain exodus is gaining momentum in Kathmandu Valley, with thousands of people leaving the federal capital for their hometowns and villages to celebrate the country’s biggest festival with family and loved ones.

The New Bus Park, the capital’s major transport hub, has seen a steady rise in passenger departures as students, employees, businesspeople and others head home for the festive season.

Pankaj Malla, General Manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., which operates the New Bus Park across 161 ropanis, told the National News Agency (RSS) that a total of 207,251 passengers departed from the bus park between October 3 and 11.

The number of passengers leaving Kathmandu fluctuated throughout the nine-day period. The highest daily departure was recorded on October 9, when 31,235 passengers left the Valley. The bus park can accommodate up to 800 buses serving both long- and short-distance routes.

Malla said 29,602 passengers departed on October 6, while another 29,380 travelled on October 11.

The New Bus Park recorded 18,729 departures on October 3, which increased to 19,530 on October 4 and 23,016 on October 5. The number reached 22,288 on October 7 and further climbed to 25,201 on October 8 before falling to 16,970 on October 10.

The festive travel surge has created additional challenges for transport operators, who are already dealing with disruptions on several major highways.

Deknath Gautam, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, said deteriorating road conditions have complicated transport operations during the Dashain rush.

He pointed to the road subsidence at Galaundi in Dhading along the Prithvi Highway on October 9, the same day advance bus ticket bookings opened, as a major disruption.

The incident obstructed vehicular movement and left some buses stranded in Kathmandu Valley, further complicating passenger management during the peak travel period.

Amid the growing rush, the Federation has urged passengers to purchase tickets before boarding buses, pay only the prescribed fares, and check the condition of vehicles before beginning their journeys.

Every year, Dashain triggers a massive movement of people from Kathmandu Valley and other urban centres toward their ancestral homes. For many, the journey is more than simply travelling home; it is a cherished opportunity to reunite with family, reconnect with relatives, and celebrate the festival together.