| Country: | NPL |
| Mahakali Highway | |
| Type: | NH |
| Route: | 66 |
| Alternate Name: | National Highway 66 |
| Map Custom: | yes |
| Map Notes: | NH66 in red |
| Length Km: | 364.94 |
| Terminus A: | Mahakali Khalanga |
| Terminus B: | Dhangadhi |
| Destinations: | Patan Municipality, Amargadhi |
| Next Type: | NH |
| Next Route: | 67 |
| Previous Type: | NH |
| Previous Route: | 65 |
| Provinces: | Sudurpashchim |
| Districts: | Kailali District, Doti District, Dadeldhura District, Baitadi District, Darchula District |
Mahakali Highway (National Highway 66, NH66) is a National Highway of Nepal located in Sudur Province. The total length of the highway is 364.932NaN2, in which 234.932NaN2 of the road has been paved.[1] [2]
Mahakali Highway formerly was a 3252NaN2 long Highway with the old number H14 connecting Dhangadhi of Kailali District (Western Terai region) to Mahakali Municipality of Darchula District (Lesser Himalayas) passing through Doti District, Dadeldhura District and Baitadi District. The road from Syaule (Dadeldhura) to Satbanj (Darchula) was built with the assistance of USA between 1967 and 1985.[3]
On the closure of roads from Darchula to India by the Indian side on various excuses, Nepal decided to extend the road from Darchula Khalanga (Headquarters) to Chhangru and Tinkar (Great Himalayas).[4] Chhangru, Tinkar and Khalanga are all inside Nepali territory, but one has to pass through Indian territory to get from Khalanga to these two villages, as there were no roads or foot trails on the Nepali side.[5] Nepal Army is working to open a track from Tusarpani to Tinkar in Darchula district. Around 92 km of dirt track—31 km in Dadeldhura, 34 km in Baitadi and 27 km in Darchula—is yet to be opened.[6]
The extension work of Mahakali Highway, NH66 (from Dattu to Tinkar) is being under Mahakali Corridor Project[7] [8]