As a landlocked country, the road network is very important in Nepal. Let's be more, the primary condition of Nepal's development is the road. Roads are the cheapest and most important means of connecting the corners of the country and connecting international borders. If we look at the history of the road network in Nepal, the Tribhuvan Raj path is considered the oldest road in Nepal.
Important roads in Nepal include Mahendra Highway, Prithvi Highway, Siddharth Highway, Hulaki Highway, Kodari, and Madhya Pahari Lokmarg. Among them, in the 1960s, a highway track connecting Nepal with China was opened. The name of that highway is Araniko Highway.
Araniko Highway: Kathmandu - Kodari
Among all the roads built in Nepal, Araniko Highway can be considered a road of strategic importance. Kodari road section is a historical road especially as it is a route that can connect Nepal with the rest of the world from a second country (China) by breaking the foreign dependence of only one country (India). It is known as a very dangerous road in Nepal due to its extremely steep slopes and high hills. Landslides are more likely to occur in different sections of this road during the rainy season. This road was built with the help of China. Kodari road was made by digging or cutting high hills.
Araniko highway is the strategic road from Tripureshwar/ Maitighar in Kathmandu to Kodari/ Tatopani (Sindhupalchok) crossing in order to establish economic, cultural and political cooperation between Nepal and China and harmonious relations between the countrymen. Its total length is 112.83 km (70.11 miles). The Kodari road was built in the 1960s in collaboration with China on an older yak track. This road connects Nepal with China's Lhasa and China National Highway through the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge.
Ever since Arani's highway was built, commercial transactions have been going through the Tatopani dry port.
Major cities covered by Araniko Road are Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panchkhal, Zero Kilo, Dolalghat, Bandau, Bahrabise, Lamosanghu, and Kodari.
Araniko Road also known as Kodari Highway
Araniko road is also known as Kodari Highway. However, after the completion of this road, the Nepal government named this highway as Araniko highway. Araniko was a great architect of 13th-century Nepal. He spread the Nepali architectural system to Tibet and China. It is believed that he passed through the present Araniko road while traveling to Tibet.
Araniko highway was completed in 1967 AD. It was inaugurated in Bhaktapur in June of the same year. King Mahendra inaugurated the Kodari road with the participation of high-ranking people from both Nepal and China. Its highway code is HO3.
Promotion of Relations with Other Countries
- Alternative to Indian Border
- Import of Chinese goods at cheap prices
- Export of domestic goods to China
At that time, Araniko highway was very necessary for both Nepal and China. It is still very necessary.
After the Sino-Indian war of 1962 AD, the road from Yadong port to Kolkata port through Sikkim was closed. Therefore, the fact that China is looking for a new way to enter South Asia is made clear in Cheng Suyong's book. The result is Arani Highway.
At that time, Nepal was completely dependent on India (Even Nepal use IC). According to analysts, King Mahendra was at stake to reduce the country from excessive Indian dependence. Araniko highway is one of the many steps taken to reduce Indian dependence entirely.
