Nepal in 2026 is safe, open and visa-free for Indian travellers. Here is what changed after the floods
Indians need no visa and pay no fee for Nepal. August arrivals fell after a record 2025 month and the floods shut the Kailash crossing. What is open now.
At a glance
- Published · updated
- TopicIndustry & Tourism
- Verified againstThe Week
- Treks coveredAnnapurna Base Camp Trek — 15 Days from Kathmandu, Kathmandu & Pokhara Tour — 5 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.
Update, 19 September 2026. August broke the run of growth. The Nepal Tourism Board counted 26,373 Indian arrivals in August 2026, 25.7% fewer than the 35,505 of August 2025, which was itself an unusually strong month. India is still Nepal’s largest market by a distance, and the country’s total for January to August is up 5.58%. The Bhote Koshi flood of 26 August destroyed the Rasuwagadhi crossing that Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims use; the rest of Nepal, including Pokhara, Everest and Annapurna, is open, and the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway has been fully open again since 17 September. The full figures are in our August arrivals report, and trek-by-trek status is on Nepal trekking conditions right now.
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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