Nepal for Indian Travellers: No Passport, Pokhara and the Poon Hill Trek
Indian citizens need only a valid ID card to enter Nepal — here is how to plan Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Poon Hill trek in 7 to 10 days.
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Indian citizens need only a valid ID card to enter Nepal — here is how to plan Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Poon Hill trek in 7 to 10 days.
What Indian travellers need to know before they go
Indian citizens can enter Nepal with a valid Aadhaar card, passport, or voter ID. No visa is required, no fee, and the border process is quick. Indian rupees in denominations up to ₹100 are accepted widely; carry Nepalese rupees for smaller purchases and out-of-city travel.
The easiest entry is by air to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. Direct flights run from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, typically 1.5 to 2 hours. Buses from Gorakhpur and Sunauli are slower but viable for travellers coming from North India overland.
Kathmandu: what is worth your time
Pashupatinath at dawn, before tour groups arrive, is one of the most affecting religious experiences in South Asia — cremations on the ghats of the Bagmati River, sadhus in the courtyards, and a presence that most Indian temple towns have lost. Go with a local guide who can explain what you are seeing.
Boudhanath stupa (a living Tibetan Buddhist settlement) and Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple above the valley) are both worth a morning. Bhaktapur Durbar Square, 13 km east, is the best-preserved medieval city in Nepal — arrive before 10 a.m.
Pokhara and the Poon Hill trek
Pokhara is 200 km west of Kathmandu (7-hour tourist bus or 25-minute domestic flight). It sits on Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range directly overhead. The reflections at dawn on the lake are exact, and the town itself is relaxed and well set-up for trekkers.
The Poon Hill trek (the Ghorepani loop) is 3 to 4 days, requires moderate fitness, has guesthouses at every camp, and tops out at 3,210 m for a 360° Himalayan panorama. A TIMS card and ACAP permit are required — buy them in Pokhara before the trailhead at Nayapul.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can Indian citizens travel to Nepal without a passport?
Yes. A valid Aadhaar card, voter ID, or passport all work at the border. There is no visa requirement and no fee for Indian citizens.
Is the Poon Hill trek suitable for beginners?
Yes, with average fitness. The trail has guesthouses (tea houses) at every camp, the altitude tops at 3,210 m, and a local guide is helpful but not mandatory. Spend one day acclimatising in Pokhara first.
What is the best time to visit Nepal?
October to November for clear skies and mountain views. March to April for rhododendrons in bloom. Avoid June to September (monsoon, leeches on the trail) and December to January (cold, some high passes snowed in).
