The article is a study of roads, new towns, and socio-economic changes in a discussion of a conceptual type of entrepot community called a "gateway" and its relationship to a rural hinterland. The hinterland which author focuses attention is the Marsyangdi river valley, which channels trade through the hills districts of Lamjung and Manang and parts of Gorkha and Tanahu which are illustrated in a map. The article begins with the definition and general discussion of the gateway concept then reviews the history of trade relations and the growth, change, and decline of the gateways and nodes in the Marsyangdi hinterland. It also includes two maps related with the gateway and reviews the significance of the Newar business community of Bandipur in Tanahun district at the southern end of the hinterland. It discusses gateway communities and compares central place and gateway community hierarchies with a sketch diagram. It briefly touches the evolution of trade in the Marsyangdi hinterland. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2007-01-19)