Port Overview 

Tatopani Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) is located in Tatopani village, Sindhupalchok, Bagmati Province, directly on Nepal’s Northern border with China, 114 km North East of Kathmandu. Tatopani and Rasuwa in Langtang are Nepal’s two main border crossing points with China. Construction of Tatopani ICD included improvement of the 112-meter-long bridge over the Bhotekoshi River and a 6.5 KM road track that connects the two countries.  

 

The entry point was closed from January 27 to March 29, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, the Araniko Highway leading to Tatopani has been frequently blocked for all traffic due to large active landslides. The road has been re-opened, but the landslide risk remains high, especially during monsoon season. 

Port website: Tatopani ICD.  

Port Location and Contact
Country	Nepal
Province or District	Bagmati Province, Sindhupalchok
Nearest Town or City  with Distance from Port	Banepa at 87 kms SW along H03
Port's Complete Name	Inland Container Depot at Tatopani
Latitude	27.92564
Longitude	85.93352
Managing Company or Port Authority	Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (Port Authority)  Trans Silk Terminal Pvt. Ltd. (Managing Company)
Management Contact Person	Anirudra Thapa (Trans Silk)  Mobile: 9851316958  Tatopani Dry Port   Larcha, Sindhupalchok, Nepal
Customs Contact Person	Dayananda KCLarcha, Sindhupalchok, Nepal  Mob: 9851137131  Phone: 011-480131
Nearest Airport and Airlines with Frequent International Arrivals/Departures	TIA at Kathmandu District.

Port Picture 

Aerial View of Tatopani ICD

 

 

International Standard Inland Container Depot at Tatopani, Sindhupalchok  Picture Source: New Spotlight Online

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

SN	Agencies related to Operation of ICD	Name
1	Multimodal Transport Operators	Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board
2	Transport Management Company	Trans Silk Terminal Pvt. Ltd
3	Customs	Tatopani Customs Office
4	Freight Forwarders	Silk, Namaste, Rewang
5	Banks	Nabil Bank
6	Quarantine	Plant, Animal and Food
7	Shipping lines	N/A
8	Customs Agent	Government licensed agents

 

For more information on port contacts, please see the following link: 4.4 Port and Waterways Companies Contact List. 

Port Performance 

Major goods imported via the checkpoint are medicines, fruits, electronic appliances, ready-made garments, and shoes. The movement of cargo happens between 10 am to 8 pm.  

• Maximum trucks: 80-100 per day  

• Daily average: 30 – 40 trucks per day 

• Average clearing time:  2 – 4 hrs/truck 

• There is rarely a backlog. All trucks are cleared daily.  

 

Congestion and in-access to the customs point can happen as a result of landslides blocking the Araniko highway, the only route to and from the Tatopani ICD. 

 

Seasonal Constraints
	Occurs	Time Frame
Rainy Season	Yes	June - September
Major Import Campaigns	Yes	August - October
Other Comments	The risk of roadblocks due to landslides remains high especially during monsoon season (June – September)

 

Handling Figures for 2023
Vessel Calls	N/A
Container Traffic (TEUs)	3362

 

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges 

Service rate declared by the operation committee of Nepal Intermodal Transportation Development Board and issued by Trans Silk Pvt. Ltd. for Tatopani ICD: Tariff – Trans Nepal Freight Services (transnepaldryport.com) 

Note: 13% VAT applicable on above-mentioned charges. 

 

Port Handling Equipment 

Equipment	Capacity	Available Numbers
Crane	25 Ton	1
Crane	20 Ton	1
Forklift	3 Ton	2

The port is also equipped with a Weigh Bridge and a Grant Crane for loading and unloading containers. 

 

Customs Guidance 

Tatopani Customs, a significant border-crossing point between Nepal and China, offers both traditional and modern, web-based clearance methods. Small goods are typically cleared using the traditional approach, while larger items and containers are processed through the internationally recognized ASYCUDA system. This port employs an automated customs clearance process via the ASYCUDA system, enabling the pre-clearance of goods. The pre-clearance procedure typically takes 1-2 business days. 
 

For more information on customs in Nepal, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.   

Terminal Information 

MULTIPURPOSE TERMINAL 

A multipurpose terminal at Tatopani ICD serves both import and export cargos. The facility has three open yards capable of storing 10 FEUs each, a warehouse measuring 40 ft x 300 ft and an open shed measuring 40 ft x 300 ft. 

GRAIN AND BULK HANDLING 

N/A 

MAIN STORAGE TERMINAL 

• Parking available for 100 trucks 

• 3 Open yards capable of accommodating 10 FEUs each. 

• 1 warehouse with an area of 1143.83 m2 

• 1 open shed with an area of 1143.83 m2 
   

Storage Type	Number of Storage Facilities	Area (m2)
Bagged Cargo	No
Refrigerated Cargo	No, but the Plug-in is available
General Cargo	1 warehouse	1143.83

Stevedoring 

N/A 

Hinterland Information 

This port is connected only by road, and goods are transported to and from this port on trucks. Several transport companies are available in this port, Silk Transport and Rewang Transport are the major trucking companies available at this border point, among them Silk has the largest fleet of vehicles. 
 

Port Security 

The port premises are secured by a compound wall. A private security firm along with the Armed Police Force (APF) provides security 24/7. 
 

Security
ISPS Compliant	No
Current ISPS Level   (Level 1 = Normal, Level 2 = Heightened, Level 3 = Exceptional)	N/A
Police Boats	No
Fire Engines	No