Know the route NH17
Prithvi Highway
Naubise–Mugling–Pokhara road
The Naubise–Mugling–Pokhara highway, listed as NH17. For a trip starting in Kathmandu, the approach to Naubise is an additional part of your journey.
- Highway number
- NH17
- DoR listed length (2021)
- 173 km
Route reference: DoR national-highway list (2021)
Understanding this route
Read the 173 km register figure as Naubise to Pokhara, not Kathmandu to Pokhara. When planning a journey from the capital, include your Kathmandu approach and the final drive within Pokhara in the map estimate.
Provinces and districts
Districts along this guide’s designated route, grouped by province.
2 provinces 4 districts
- Bagmati:
- Dhading, Chitwan
- Gandaki:
- Tanahun, Kaski
Coverage sources
Compiled from DoR road-section records and SSRN district tables, including the 2020/21 network. Current province names are used. Designated corridor sections are included; nearby sightseeing detours are separate. This list does not indicate current road access.
DoR road-section registerPlaces along the route
Selected places in route order. Spacing does not represent distance.
- Naubise
- Mugling
- Pokhara
Find the highway, then choose your own start and destination.
Cities and places to explore
A few stops for your journey, with nearby detours marked separately.
- On the route
Pokhara
Pokhara pairs lakeside walks with views towards the Annapurna range. It is a natural place to pause where the Prithvi and Siddhartha routes reach the city.
Pokhara is the western endpoint; Lakeside and the old town are reached by city roads.
Explore this place - Off the highway
Bandipur
Bandipur sits on a ridge above the Marsyangdi valley. The former trading settlement is known for its Newar architecture and stone-paved bazaar.
Leave the Prithvi Highway at Dumre and take the uphill road to Bandipur.
Explore this place
Plan your journey
- Check Naubise–Mugling and Mugling–Pokhara notices separately; a report for one section may not describe the other.
- Set a realistic arrival window and leave room for breaks instead of treating the map’s estimate as a fixed timetable.
Check current road notices before travelling. Check DoR road notices.
Explore another highway
- NH41
Tribhuvan Highway
Kathmandu to Sirsiya, Birgunj
A route linking Kathmandu with the Hetauda and Birgunj side through Naubise, Palung and Bhaise. The national register identifies its designated sections as NH41.
Explore the route - NH47
Siddhartha Highway
Belahiya / Bhairahawa to Pokhara
The Belahiya–Pokhara corridor via Bhairahawa, Butwal, Bartung, Ramdi and Syangja, listed as NH47. Its southern and northern sections connect different parts of a longer journey.
Explore the route - NH01
Mahendra Highway
Kakarbhitta to Gaddachauki
Nepal’s east–west road connection, from Kakarbhitta to Gaddachauki. Use this guide to understand the corridor before choosing the section you want to travel.
Explore the route
Useful for the journey
Updated:
About the route information
Routes, numbers and listed lengths come from the Department of Roads’ March 2021 newsletter, which records the approved national-highway network. These are reference figures for designated routes, including corridor extensions. Actual journey distances and vehicle access can differ. Map results are provided by Google; this guide does not report live traffic, opening status or travel times.