Nepal trip from India: border, documents, money and getting to Pokhara
No visa, the right ID, the best border for Pokhara, and how to pay.
Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal, but you must carry a valid Indian passport or your original voter ID card: the Embassy of India in Kathmandu lists Aadhaar, PAN cards and driving licences as not accepted for travel to Nepal. For Pokhara, the nearest border is Sunauli to Bhairahawa, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Gorakhpur, then usually 6 to 7 hours by road. Indian rupees are widely used at the fixed rate of NPR 160 for ₹100, and UPI works at shops with a Fonepay QR code. Our private car from the Sunauli border to Pokhara is NPR 16,800 (NPR 21,600 by SUV).
Documents Indians need for Nepal
Indians do not need a visa or a permit to enter Nepal. You do need proof of identity and citizenship. For flights between India and Nepal, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu accepts only two documents:
- a valid Indian passport, or
- your original voter ID card with photograph, issued by the Election Commission of India.
A downloaded or printed voter ID is not accepted. Aadhaar, PAN cards, driving licences and embassy registration are listed as not accepted for travel to Nepal, so carry your passport or voter ID for a road crossing too. Hotels in Nepal ask for it at check-in, and there are police checkpoints on the highways.
Our tip: Travelling with children? A passport is the simplest document for everyone. If a child has neither a passport nor a voter ID, check the current rule with the Embassy of India in Kathmandu or your airline before you leave.
Which border is best for Pokhara?
| Border, India / Nepal | Good for | Border to Pokhara | Our car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunauli / Belahiya (Bhairahawa) | Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Delhi | Usually 6 to 7 hours | NPR 16,800, SUV NPR 21,600 |
| Raxaul / Birgunj | Patna and Bihar, Kolkata by train | Usually 7 to 8 hours | NPR 19,200, SUV NPR 25,200 |
| Panitanki / Kakarbhitta | Siliguri, Darjeeling, Sikkim, the North-East | A very long drive; most people fly from Bhadrapur | Ask us |
| Rupaidiha / Nepalgunj | Lucknow and Bahraich | A long drive; flights from Nepalgunj | Ask us |
Car prices are ours, one way to Pokhara, per vehicle with a driver, VAT excluded.
Sunauli is the classic way in: from Gorakhpur it is about 2.5 to 3 hours to the border, and Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, is close to Bhairahawa on the Nepal side. From Bhairahawa the Siddhartha Highway climbs through Butwal and Tansen to Pokhara. Many pilgrims stop at Lumbini on the way: our car from Lumbini to Pokhara is NPR 18,000.
From Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and the south
From Delhi
Take a train or flight to Gorakhpur, then cross at Sunauli. Or fly to Kathmandu and on to Pokhara by a 25-minute flight or a 6 to 8 hour drive.
From Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh
Gorakhpur and Sunauli are the usual way; Rupaidiha to Nepalgunj is closer to Lucknow, but Nepalgunj is far from Pokhara by road.
From Patna and Bihar
Cross at Raxaul to Birgunj, then about 7 to 8 hours to Pokhara via Narayangadh, or stop a night in Chitwan on the way.
From Kolkata
Fly to Kathmandu, or take the train towards Raxaul and cross at Birgunj.
From Siliguri and the North-East
Cross at Panitanki to Kakarbhitta and fly from nearby Bhadrapur; there are domestic flights from Bhadrapur to Pokhara and Kathmandu.
From Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad
Fly to Kathmandu, then to Pokhara by air in 25 minutes or by road. See Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Indian rupees, Nepali rupees and UPI
- The rate is fixed: NPR 160 = ₹100. To turn a Nepali price into rupees, divide by 1.6: NPR 5,400 is ₹3,375.
- Many shops, hotels and taxis in Pokhara accept Indian rupees, but small shops and ticket counters prefer Nepali rupees. Change some money at a bank or money changer.
- Since 2026, Indian ₹200 and ₹500 notes issued after 9 November 2016 are allowed in Nepal, up to ₹25,000 per person in total. ₹2,000 notes are not allowed; notes of ₹100 and less were always fine.
- UPI works in Nepal: PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm and BHIM can pay at shops that show a Fonepay QR code. The payment is in rupees and converted for the shop.
- ATMs in Pokhara give Nepali rupees; ask your bank about charges for use abroad.
Bringing your own Indian car or bike
Indian-registered cars and bikes can enter Nepal with a customs pass (bhansar) from the Nepal customs office at the border. According to the Embassy of India, the charge is NPR 100 to 500 a day depending on the vehicle, and a vehicle may stay in Nepal for 30 days in all in a calendar year. For a day visit to the nearest town there is a day pass. Keep your registration, licence and insurance papers with you, and carry the pass at all times: police can ask to see it.
Pokhara itself is an easy drive, but the roads to Muktinath, Manang and Ghandruk are rough jeep roads. Many travellers leave the family car in Pokhara and take one of our jeeps with a mountain driver for those days.
Our pickup at the border
Send us your crossing time on WhatsApp and a driver waits on the Nepal side. One way to Pokhara, per vehicle with a driver:
| Trip | Carup to 4 people | SUV / jeepup to 6 people | Tourist van10 to 15 people | Mini bus20 to 30 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara to Sunauli / BhairahawaTransfer | NPR 16,800 | NPR 21,600 | NPR 27,600 | NPR 54,000 |
| Pokhara to BirgunjTransfer | NPR 19,200 | NPR 25,200 | NPR 32,400 | NPR 60,000 |
| Pokhara to LumbiniTransfer | NPR 18,000 | NPR 24,000 | NPR 30,000 | NPR 57,600 |
| Pokhara to KathmanduTransfer | NPR 15,600 | NPR 20,400 | NPR 26,400 | NPR 48,000 |
Guide prices in Nepali rupees, per vehicle with a driver, VAT excluded. We confirm the final price in writing before you book. All 36 routes and prices
Popular trips from Pokhara for families from India: the Muktinath yatra by jeep, the Sarangkot sunrise, a boat to the Tal Barahi temple and the places to visit in Pokhara.
Good to know
- Nepal is 15 minutes ahead of India.
- Plugs and sockets are the same as in India.
- A Nepali SIM card is cheaper than roaming; shops sell them with your ID and a photo.
- The best time for Pokhara is October to April; from June to September the monsoon brings rain and landslides on the hill roads. See the best time to visit Pokhara.
How to book
- Send us your tripYour date, pickup place, number of people and bags, on WhatsApp.
- Get a written priceWe reply with the vehicle and the price in writing.
- ConfirmA small advance, around 10 to 20 percent, may be asked for some trips. There is no online payment.
Ask on WhatsAppQuestions people ask
Do Indians need a passport or visa for Nepal?
No visa. You need a valid Indian passport or your original voter ID card with photograph from the Election Commission of India.
Is Aadhaar valid for travel to Nepal?
No. The Embassy of India in Kathmandu lists Aadhaar, PAN cards and driving licences as not accepted for travel to Nepal. Carry your passport or original voter ID.
Can I use Indian rupees in Pokhara?
Often, at the fixed rate of NPR 160 for ₹100. ₹200 and ₹500 notes issued after November 2016 are allowed up to ₹25,000 per person; ₹2,000 notes are not. UPI works at shops with a Fonepay QR.
Which border is nearest to Pokhara?
Sunauli to Bhairahawa. From the border, Pokhara is usually 6 to 7 hours by road.
How far is Pokhara from Gorakhpur?
About 2.5 to 3 hours from Gorakhpur to the Sunauli border, then usually 6 to 7 hours to Pokhara: plan a full day, or stop a night at Lumbini.
How much is a taxi from Sunauli to Pokhara?
Our private car from the Sunauli border (Bhairahawa) to Pokhara is NPR 16,800, NPR 21,600 by SUV, one way per vehicle with a driver.
Can I take my Indian car to Nepal?
Yes, with a customs pass from the border customs office: NPR 100 to 500 a day depending on the vehicle, for 30 days in all per calendar year.