Opportunities For India And Nepal
There have been several open borders between India and Nepal for a long time. India borders Nepal on three sides (East, West, and South). These countries are considerably similar in terms of culture and religion. Marital affairs occurred between the Nepali Terai people and those across the border after the 1950 treaty.
The open border offers both opportunities and challenges. Nepal's tourism history suggests that people used to come from India as tourists. Since there were no international airports in Nepal, people used India as a transit country to visit Nepal.
You can find a wealth of political, geographical, and cultural information about the open borders between India and Nepal online. However, very little information is available about various border checkpoints. In this blog, let's discuss these checkpoints in India and Nepal.
Many checkpoints are located along Nepal's border with India. These places offer great possibilities for harmony between people and for maximizing trade. From the tourist's perspective, it benefits both countries. For years, Indian citizens haven't been required to have a visa to enter Nepal. This has significantly contributed to Nepal's tourism industry. No wonder the largest number of visitors to Nepal is Indian after Chinese citizens.
Similarly, many Nepalese people visit India for religious or leisure travel. For example, people visit Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram, four sacred Dhams for Hindus. Indian people undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal. Therefore, the open border has reduced immigration barriers, allowing people to commute freely between the two nations.
Similarly, many Hindu pilgrims travel (Muktinath ) To Annapurna conservation in Nepal. Most pilgrims travel by plane, Helicopter, and overland by Jeep.
Does Open Border Apply While Flying From India To Kathmandu?
Yes, the open border rule applies to flight routes as well. All Indian citizens don't need a valid visa to travel to Nepal via air. Therefore, there are no differences between traveling to Nepal and traveling from Nepal, either by air or by land. All you have to do is fill in the entry and exit details. However, it is different for the other nationals. Foreigners have to get a Visa upon Arrival at the airport.
Can I Take My Private Vehicle To Cross The Border?
Private vehicles can enter both countries. The car has an Indian or Nepalese registration number and can travel freely between these countries. Before traveling to Nepal, they must get a road permit from the border check-post.
The terms and conditions differ if you want to take a vehicle registered in Nepal. You must also complete the entry registration form at the Embassy of India and provide valid bank documents.
Sunauli Border FFG9+9W5, Indo Nepal Border Trail, Siddharthanagar, Nepal, Sonauli, India
Sunauli border is one of the most popular checkpoints. To reach the Sunauli wall, travelers must travel by bus from Gorakhpur. You can either walk across the border or hire a rickshaw. Once you have crossed the border, you must get a Nepal Visa. It is available at the Nepal Immigration Office at Belaihia, Bhairahawa. The best option for travelers is to obtain a visa upon arrival in Nepal. For more information about visa services, please check our VISA INFORMATION page.
Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is near this border. Therefore, you can book the Lumbini Tour package as well. The distance from Lumbini to the two major tourist cities (Pokhara and Chitwan) is significantly shorter. Thus, you can either travel to these places or fly from Bhairahawa to Kathmandu.
Raxaul Border
Raxaul Border is another famous checkpoint. Lots of business activities take place in this post. Raxaul Border is the easiest to cross among many checkpoints between India and Nepal. If you are traveling to India or from India, visa processing is straightforward. There are immigration offices on either side. Moreover, Indian nationals don't need visas to enter Nepal. All you have to do is fill out the entry or exit forms.
The nearest tourist places from the border are Delhi and Bodhgaya on the Indian Side. On the Nepalese side, you can get to Pokhara in just 6 hours and to Kathmandu in 8 hours from Birgunj. The city of Birgunj is just about 10 minutes from the border. You will get a Cart to cross the border.
Panitanki Border is an Open border between India and Nepal
Panitanki Border is the tourist border checkpoint. It is popular with both Indian and Nepali tourists. However, other tourists entering or exiting Nepal may not be overly used to it. The primary reason behind its popularity is the city of Darjeeling. Many Nepalese people travel to this beautiful hill station.
Nepalese and Indian people like to go to all border checkpoints. They don't need visas. However, others require you to fill out the Immigration form. The exciting part of crossing the border in this section is the long bridge. It takes about 15 minutes to cross the bridge.
The border is also a popular transit point to Bhutan from Nepal. Therefore, if you visit Bhutan, you can also choose the border.
On the Nepal side, the nearest city is Kakarvitta. You can get good hotels in the town or book a bus or van to Kathmandu or other cities.
Bhitthamore Border
The Bhittamore border is popular with religious followers. The road linking the Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur, Nepal, to India is part of the Ram – Janaki Highway. The Jaynagar-Janakpur Railway service has also made this border crossing attractive. During the pandemic, the railway service was halted. However, now it is open.
The Janaki Temple in Janakpur, India, and the Sitamarhi Temple in Sitamarhi, India (the birthplace of the goddess Sita), are famous on either side of the border. Therefore, Hindus have a special connection to this border. Moreover, many people are using the same edge due to the commencement of railway services. Immigration and visa services are similar at all borders between India and Nepal.
Rupaidiha Border
Nepalgunj is the principal city in mid-western Nepal. The Rupaidiha Border connects Nepalgunj with the Indian city. Therefore, it holds a special place among Nepalese and Indian people. This is an ideal border checkpoint for entering Nepal from India to tour the Rara, API, and Saipal areas. These places are hidden gems of Nepalese Tourism.
Nepalgunj is the hottest city in Nepal. It lies on a similar latitude to Namche Bazaar, but the temperature is entirely different. Namche Bazaar is a cold place on the Everest Base Camp Trekking trail. Most of the people living in Nepalgunj follow the Muslim religion, but there is an equal number of Hindus as well. Travelers traveling to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra also use this city as a transit point. The flight to Juphal departs from Nepalgunj Airport.
Banbasa Border
Banbasa is the border checkpoint located in Mahendranagar, far western Nepal. It is the farthest border from Kathmandu, the capital city. Try this checkpoint if you are going to the Himalayas of western Nepal. Traveling to these places is easier if you are from India.
Many Nepalese people use this border to visit places like Dehradun and Shimla. It is fascinating to know that many people speak Nepali on both sides of the border. You can book a flight to Kathmandu or take a bus. Moreover, there are a few places where you can spend a holiday.
Bardiya National Park and Api Saipal areas are tourist destinations near the Nepal side of the Banbasa border. These places are within the specific conservation area designated by the Government of Nepal. There are significantly fewer travelers in the area, so you can have peace of mind and serenity. Relish the chance to explore the majestic, unexplored places of Nepal.
Jogbani Border, also known as Biratnagar open border
Jogbani Border is also called the Biratnagar border. It is the 4th largest border between India and Nepal. A lot of imports and exports happen at this border. It is an ideal border to cross if you are searching for a visit to eastern Nepal. From this border, you can quickly get to Bhedetaar, Jhapa, Illam, Dharan, etc.
You can reach the Biratnagar airport within about 1 hour of driving from the border. There is a direct flight from Biratnagar to Kathmandu.
Visa processing is the same everywhere, and India and Nepal have open borders. For more information, contact Boundless Adventure's travel planners.
Nepal Visa Information
Indian citizens don't need to pay a visa fee to enter Nepal. However, the rest of the world requires travel documents to obtain an arrival visa at Nepal's international airport.
For other nationals, tourist visa charges are as follows: 15 Days cost 30 USD, 30 Days cost 50 USD, and 90 Days cost 125 USD.
Contact Boundless Adventure's travel planners. If you want to use the open border to travel between India and Nepal, or vice versa, we can plan it for you.
Travel Notes
If you want to go on the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, fly into Lukla Airport and continue the trek to Namche Bazaar. But on a helicopter tour, it doesn't go to Namche Bazaar. However, a one-hour flight to Mount Everest is unnecessary to reach Lukla, Namche Bazar, and Everest Base Camp.
Activities in Nepal
Nepal is a small country, but many people travel there every year. See the featured trip for more details.