Open Borders Between India And Nepal

8 June, 2024 By Dambar Khadka

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 Nepal’s Terai people and 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 much 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 on Nepal’s Indian border. These places offer great possibilities for harmony between people and trade maximization. From the tourist’s point of view, it is beneficial for 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 maximum number of people visiting Nepal are Indians after Chinese citizens.

Similarly, many Nepalese people visit India as part of their religious or leisure tours. For example, people visit Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram, four sacred Dhams for Hindus. Indian people go on a Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal. Therefore, the open border has reduced the immigration hindrances for people to commute freely between these two nations.

Similarly, many Hindu pilgrims travel (Muktinath ) To Annapurna conservation in Nepal. Most pilgrimages 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 vice versa, either by flight or 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 India or Nepal registration numbers and can freely travel across 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 Nepalese registration vehicle. You must also fill out the entry registration form at the Embassy of India with 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 walk and cross 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 thing for travelers is getting 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 between Lumbini and two major touristic cities (Pokhara and Chitwan) is significantly less. Thus, you can travel to these places or fly to Kathmandu from Bhairahawa.

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 up 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 touristic border checkpoint. It is popular with both Indian and Nepali tourists. However, other tourists entering or exiting Nepal may not be overly used. The primary reason behind its popularity is the city of Darjeeling. Lots of Nepalese people travel to this beautiful hill station city.

Nepalese and Indian people like at all border checkpoints. They don’t need visas. However, for others, you have to fill out the Immigration form. The exciting thing about crossing the border on this section is the long bridge crossing. 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, and India is within the Ram – Janaki Highway. Jaynagar to 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 and Sitamarhi (birthplace of goddess Sita) in India 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 here and at all other borders between India and Nepal.

Rupaidiha Border

Nepalgunj is the principal city in mid-western Nepal. The Rupaidiha Border connects Nepalgunj with the city of India. Therefore, it holds a special place among Nepalese and Indian people. This is an ideal border checkpoint from India to enter Nepal for a tour of the Rara, API, and Saipal areas. These places are hidden gems of Nepalese Tourism.

Nepalgunj is the hottest city in Nepal. It lies in a similar latitudinal line 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 are 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 takes place from Nepalgunj airport.

Banbasa Border

Banbasa is the border checkpoint located in Mahendranagar, far western Nepal. It is the farthest border from the capital city of Kathmandu. 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 also go and spend a holiday.

Bardiya National Park and Api Saipal areas are tourist destinations near the Nepal side of the Banbasa border. These places are under the particular conservation area of the Nepal Government. There is a significantly lower number of 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. Lots of imports and exports happen from 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 for a visa while entering Nepal. However, the rest of the world requires travel documents to get an arrival visa at the international airport of Nepal.

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 to Nepal from India or vice versa, we can plan it for you.

Travel Notes

If you want to go to Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, fly into the Lukla Airport and Continue the trek to Namche Bazaar. But, By helicopter tour, it doesn’t go to Namche Bazar. However, a one-hour Mount Everest flight by plane is unnecessary to go to Lukla, Namche Bazar, and Everest Base Camp.

Activities in Nepal

Nepal is a small country in the world, but many people travel there every year. See the featured trip for more details.

Featured Trips

10-day Everest Trek with Helicopter Return

10-day Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return to Kathmandu is an enthralling experience at the base of the tallest structure on earth, Mt. Everest…

Quick Inquiry

11 DAYS ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK in 2025 and 2026

The 11-day Annapurna base camp trek takes you to some of Nepal’s serene destinations (2025 and 2026), where you can observe the astounding beauty of…

Quick Inquiry

The shadow of mountain on the Pokhara Lake

Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Lumbini Tour

Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Lumbini Tour includes an overall attraction of Nepal’s major touring destinations. The city of temples, the Himalayan scenery, Lakes, caves, waterfalls, jungle…

Quick Inquiry

7 days Muktinath Temple Tour

The 7-day Muktinath temple tour is the most famous holy pilgrimage tour for Buddhism and Hinduism. The Temple lies in the Mustang district and at…

Quick Inquiry

3 hours Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

For the 3-hour Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour, our chopper takes any one of 5 different routes. These routes have peculiarities. It is mandatory to…

Quick Inquiry

Dambar Khadka

Dambar Khadka, a passionate adventurer and the founder of Boundless Adventure Nepal, has spent his entire life writing about nature and Nepal's developing tourism business. Dambar's passion with nature and its different cultures began as a child in Nepal's stunning landscapes. He began writing following successful treks and expeditions across Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. Dambar Khadka created Boundless Adventure Nepal in 1992 to share the majesty of the Nepal Himalayas with the rest of the planet. As an explorer and writer, he is committed to responsible tourism and cultural connection, allowing readers and adventurers to immerse themselves in Nepal's enchantment through his works.