Nepal in 2026 is safe, open and visa-free for Indian travellers — and arrivals are surging
Indian arrivals jumped about 30% year-on-year in January 2026. With no visa, no fee and direct flights from major Indian cities, here's why Nepal is firmly back on the itinerary.
At a glance
- Published
- TopicIndustry & Tourism
- Verified againstThe Week
- Treks coveredKathmandu & Pokhara Tour — 5 Days, Annapurna Base Camp Trek — 9 Days, Nepal Family Trek — 8 Days Kathmandu + Poon Hill
If you are an Indian traveller who held off on a Nepal trip after the unsettled news of late 2025, here is the clear update: Nepal is open, calm and welcoming visitors again — and Indians are returning in force. The numbers tell the story better than any reassurance could.
From the trail · Mustang
Key facts for Indian travellers
- No visa, no fee — Indians enter on a passport or Voter ID
- January 2026 Indian arrivals: about 26,624, up roughly 30% year-on-year
- India is Nepal's #1 source market — around a third of all visitors
- Direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata
The rebound is real
After a dip in late 2025, Indian travel to Nepal has bounced back strongly: January 2026 saw roughly 26,624 Indian arrivals, up about 30% on the same month a year earlier. Across 2025 as a whole, close to 292,438 Indians flew in — and that figure undercounts the reality, because huge numbers also cross overland at Sunauli, Birgunj and Kakarbhitta and never appear in air-arrival statistics.
Why Nepal is uniquely easy for Indians
No other Himalayan destination is this frictionless for Indian travellers. Under the long-standing open-border arrangement, Indian citizens need no visa, pay no entry fee, and can travel on a passport or even a Voter ID card. The Indian rupee is widely accepted, distances are short, and flights from major metros land in Kathmandu in under two hours.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa | Not required |
| Entry fee | None |
| ID accepted | Passport or Voter ID |
| Currency | Indian rupee widely accepted |
| Length of stay | No fixed limit |
What this means for you
There has rarely been a smoother time to plan a Nepal trip from India. A classic first visit pairs Kathmandu's temples with lakeside Pokhara and the Annapurna foothills — comfortable, family-friendly, and easy on the budget. Tell us your city and your dates and we will build the flights, hotels and sightseeing around a long weekend or a full week.
The trails, temples and mountains are exactly as they always were. The only thing that changed is the headlines — and those have moved on.
Updated 2026 data
India remains Nepal's number-one source market — June 2026 set an all-time record of 41,809 Indian arrivals in a single month (Nepal Tourism Board). Full entry rules: Nepal visa for Indian citizens.
Source: The Week; IANS; Tourism Info Nepal.
Cover photo: Sushant Bista via Pexels (Pexels License).
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