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Shree Antu in Ilam is famous for its sunrise views. Now, a new destination is drawing visitors eager to witness the sunset: Borabandh in Varahakshetra Municipality-6 of Sunsari, a riverside spot along the Saptakoshi that has rapidly gone viral.

The number of visitors coming to Borabandh to watch the giant waves of the Saptakoshi, the golden reflections on the river, and the spectacular view of the sun sinking behind the hills is increasing every day. Ward Chairperson of Barahakshetra-7, Kapil Acharya, said, “Just like Shree Antu attracts people for sunrise, Borabandh is now attracting visitors for sunset. It has become a new tourist hotspot in Varahakshetra.” What was once a quiet riverside hangout has surged in popularity after photos and videos of the area went viral on social media.

The biggest draw for tourists is the stunning sunset scene—an open sky, a calm river surface, and the sun slowly disappearing behind the hilltops. By late afternoon, young people, families, couples, and photography enthusiasts gather here to take photos, record videos, make TikToks, or simply sit along the riverbank. Visitors begin arriving around 3 pm, and by 5 pm the riverside is packed.

Tourists say Borabandh offers an intimate experience of nature. Sitting in a boat, playing with the river’s waves, and watching golden light shimmer across the water leaves many smiling in wordless satisfaction. The growing crowds have transformed the once-quiet Koshi banks. Hotels and restaurants have now opened in places where only a handful of people visited before.

One such business is a riverside restaurant operated by local resident Bikul Shrestha, which has quickly become one of the busiest establishments in the area. “Our daily turnover now exceeds Rs 50,000,” he said. “We serve fish, local chicken, pork, spicy dishes, and more—right on the banks of the Koshi. Tourists leave happy.” The popularity of Borabandh has boosted the local economy, created employment opportunities for youth, and increased demand for local products.

Visitors are now coming not only from Dharan, Beltar, Inaruwa, Itahari, and Biratnagar, but also from Bihar, India. With the rising number of tourists, authorities have strengthened security. Police Inspector Diwas Kunwar of the Mahendranagar Area Police Office said police have been deployed for public safety and traffic management.

The local government has also taken interest in Borabandh’s potential. Varahakshetra Mayor Ramesh Karki said, “We plan to develop Borabandh as a new tourist destination. It could become another key attraction after Koshi Tappu Wildlife Sanctuary.” Plans include systematic development with parks, walking trails, picnic areas, proper parking, and improved sanitation.

The name “Borabandh” itself has a story. During the monsoon, river erosion posed flood risks to nearby settlements. To protect the area, locals filled soil in sacks and stacked them along the riverbank to create an embankment—bora (bags) and bandh (embankment)—giving the place its name.

Work has begun on installing a Bailey bridge at Banshilaghat on the Sunkoshi River, an essential transport route linking Khotang and Udayapur. After the concrete bridge at Phoksingtar was swept away by floods, several areas in Khotang were effectively cut off, creating a “natural blockade.”

Because road conditions made vehicle movement difficult, authorities began constructing an alternative route. The Koshi Province government purchased the Bailey bridge and handed over installation responsibilities to the Physical Infrastructure Development Office, Khotang.

After the Phoksingtar bridge was destroyed, thousands of residents in southern Khotang struggled with daily travel. Reaching Udayapur became especially difficult for people from Barahapokhari, Jantedhunga, Khotehang, and Diprung Chuichumma rural municipalities, including those traveling to the district headquarters, Diktel. Once the Bailey bridge is operational, it will provide easier access to major service centers and markets such as Beltar in Udayapur, Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar, and Jhapa, according to Shalikram Banjara.

The Physical Infrastructure Development Office initiated contract procedures for the installation at an estimated cost of Rs 10m. Among the bidders, Gurukul Builders and Suppliers of Rautahat won the contract at Rs 5.7m including tax. Chief engineer Binam Dahal said all construction and installation work will be completed by mid-Mangsir, allowing the bridge to come into operation by the end of December.

The Bailey bridge will be 51.81 meters long and 4.1 meters wide. Dahal said long-term provincial and local plans aim to significantly improve southern Khotang’s connectivity to Udayapur and major Tarai cities. All necessary materials have already reached the site. Locals expect the bridge to ease daily life and bring improvements in education, health, trade, agriculture, and social activities.

Construction has generated excitement and relief in surrounding rural municipalities. Since the earlier bridge was washed away, schoolchildren, patients, and daily wage workers have all been severely affected. Once completed, the Bailey bridge will ease travel from Khotang to Tarai districts via Beltar. Local traders also expect reduced transport costs to markets in Beltar, Dharan, and Itahari.

Chief Minister Hikmat Karki said the Koshi Provincial Government has identified Banshilaghat as a key road network junction and prioritized the Bailey bridge construction to strengthen Khotang-Udayapur connectivity. The province purchased the Bailey bridge for Rs 18.7m and is advancing the project accordingly.

According to CPN-UML district member Suman Rai, the bridge will unlock new opportunities for local development. It will make it easier to transport agricultural produce, improve access to health services, reduce travel time, and increase visitor flow to southern Khotang’s tourism sites. After its completion, rural municipalities in southern Khotang will gain direct access to the East-West Highway and service centers in Madhes Province.

The 51-meter Bailey bridge at Banshilaghat will not only provide immediate relief to flood-affected residents but also mark an important step toward sustainable development, said Bajindra Bista, president of Nepali Congress Jantedhunga Rural Municipality. He said the bridge will transform transportation, trade, and livelihoods across southern Khotang as well as Aamchowk and Ram Prasad Rai Rural Municipalities in Bhojpur.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lifted restrictions on the use of high-denomination Indian rupee notes in Nepal, introducing a more flexible system for currency movement between the two countries.

The RBI amended its earlier rules under the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations 2025. Under the revised provision, Indian currency and RBI-issued notes—except notes of InRs 100 denomination and above—can now be carried to and from Nepal and Bhutan without restriction.

According to the new rules, travelers from India to Nepal or Bhutan can now carry Indian currency notes above InRs 100 denomination up to a limit of InRs 25,000. Likewise, persons traveling from Nepal or Bhutan to India are also allowed to bring high-denomination notes up to InRs 25,000.

The amendment also permits Nepali and Bhutani currency to be carried between Nepal, Bhutan, and India without restriction. However, the new provision does not apply to citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Earlier, Nepal had prohibited the use of high-denomination Indian notes within its territory. The revised rules will take effect once Nepal Rastra Bank aligns its regulations with the new RBI provision.

Officials say the updated policy will benefit tourists and migrant workers traveling between Nepal and India by easing currency-related difficulties.

Since the formation of the Sushila Karki–led government following  Sept 8–9 protests, there has been minimal engagement between Kathmandu and Beijing. In the aftermath of the GenZ protests, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song met Prime Minister Sushila Karki and other government ministers to convey Beijing’s concerns, but there have been no high-level visits between Kathmandu and Beijing. 

Typically, October, November and December see a high number of visits as part of preparations for the coming year. This time, however, not only have the visits from China declined, but overall Chinese activities have also slowed. A China watcher noted, “Beijing may be in a wait-and-see position as the political developments unfold in Nepal.”

Similarly, Beijing’s viewpoint may be that since the current government cannot take major policy decisions, it is better to wait for the new government to be formed after the elections. According to people familiar with the matter, Beijing has conveyed two messages to Nepal following the GenZ protests. First, what happened on Sept 8–9 and the political course that followed is Nepal’s internal affair. Second, China has strongly raised its security concerns due to the open involvement of some Tibetan groups in those protests.

Over the past decade, China’s political, economic and security influence in Nepal has grown, increasing Beijing’s confidence that any government in power will refrain from jeopardizing its security interests related to Tibetan activities. However, the events of September have renewed Beijing’s worries.

Thus, after the GenZ movement, Beijing is experiencing both confidence and insecurity regarding its security interests. China is now closely monitoring the activities of the Tibetan community as well as broader political developments, including cabinet formation. Beijing believes that there can be no substantial progress on the Belt and Road Initiative under the current government. For this reason, China has adopted a policy of maintaining only a working relationship with the new government, with a special emphasis on security concerns. During this period, several Chinese delegations visited Nepal to study the Genz movement and assess potential challenges to bilateral relations.