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.
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.
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.
Source: The Week; IANS; Tourism Info Nepal.
Cover photo: Sushant Bista via Pexels (Pexels License).
Source: The Week
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