How to Get Nepal
Admin - Updated: November 9, 2020
Nepal has
long been the most popular places for Hindu Pilgrimage and the Hindu country in
the world, an anachronism in itself. A unique nation, over 90 percent of the population
is Hindus, with a small Buddhist and Muslim population
There are
several ways to get to Nepal, and the route you choose depends mostly on the
direction you are coming from and the availability of transportation. Most
tourists travel to Nepal by air, but since there are few international flights
to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The more distant flights to
Nepal from international locations depart from the airports of Dubai, Turkey,
Kuwait, India, China, Malaysia, Oman and many others.
Travelling
to Nepal by aeroplane
There are no
direct flights from Europe, America, South Africa and Australia to Nepal, which
can mean that a flight to Nepal must be operated as a connecting flight,
it can be a stressful
experience at times, especially when connections have long wait times. However,
there are a large number of flights from other Asian countries that can fly to
Nepal, so even if you cannot get a direct flight, you can quickly get a
connecting flight.
Flights to
Nepal are available from almost all Asian countries, with the emphasis on
flights from China and India. Nepal is a popular destination for both Indian
and Chinese, and since there are no entry requirements, especially from India,
Nepal is a comfortable place to vacation.
Suppose you
are coming to Nepal from a foreign country further away than the Middle East or
Turkey (which is now part of Europe). In that case, It is best to travel through India or
China as there are more connecting flights from these two countries than
anywhere else in Asia. However, with more than 35 different airlines connecting
more than 50 cities throughout Asia with Nepal, you have many options for your
trip to Nepal.
Travel to
Nepal by land
The overland
journey to Nepal can only be made from China, via Tibet or from India, as no
other countries are bordering Nepal.
Travelling
by land can take a long time, but it can be an exciting experience as you have
the opportunity to see many things you would not see when flying. Overland
trips, especially from China through Tibet, are worth the experience and
adventure they can provide.
From
China, through Tibet to Nepal
When travelling
from China to Nepal, one usually has to travel through the Tibetan Autonomous
Region, as this is the only part of China that borders Nepal. To get to Nepal
through Tibet, one must first make a reservation for Tibet, as no independent
travel is allowed in the region, even for those who only cross the area to get
to Nepal.
You have the
option of leaving one of Tibet's seven gateway cities when you take the train
to Lhasa and then travel to Nepal by land, or you can take a flight to Lhasa
from one of the more than a dozen airports in China.
Once you
arrive in Lhasa by plane or train, your journey across the Tibetan plateau
begins. In general, the shortest trip from Lhasa to Nepal is around seven days.
You should therefore include them in your travel plans. The advantage of a journey
across the plateau to Nepal is that you can visit and see some of the most amazing
places in the world, such as the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, Gyantse
Kumbum and even Mount Everest.
Once you
arrive at the Nepalese border crossing at Kyirong port, north of Kathmandu,
your tour ends, and your guide and driver will drop you off at the border
crossing on the Chinese side of Resuo Bridge, the border crossing to Nepal.
On the other
side, at the border post of Rasuwagadhi Fort, you can show your passport and
visa to immigration officials or, if you do not already have one, apply for the
Nepali visa upon arrival. It is a simple process for which you only need your
passport, a passport photo, a completed application form and the corresponding
fee. The visa at the border and the airport cost $25 for a 15-day visa, $30 for
a 30-day visa and $100 for a 90-day visa. All visas are now multiple-entry, so
you can travel back and forth as many times as you like for the duration of the
visa.
Once you
have passed the checkpoint, you will have to take the bus to Kathmandu, which
runs several times a day, except during the monsoon, when you may have to wait
for the next bus for some time. Buses from Rasuwagadhi Fort only go to
Kathmandu, so if your final destination is another place, you will have to
change buses in the capital of the country and take a connecting bus or a
flight to your final destination.
From
India to Nepal by land
If you are
planning to travel to Nepal by land from India, you must have an international
driver's license recognized by the Indian government or take a public bus. After
that, any international driving license or a standard UK driving license can
only be used for driving in India for a limited period. The rules on how long
you can drive in India with an international driving permit vary from state to
state but are never less than thirty days.
When travelling
overland, entry into Nepal can be made through one of the six ports of entry,
all of which have nearby railroad stations for rail travellers. For those travelling
by bus, there are always buses connecting the nearest major city to the border
crossing.
Kakarbhitta, located in the far east of Nepal,
is the main point of entry for travellers from the northwestern Indian states
of Sikkim and West Bengal. From the village on the Nepalese side of the border,
some buses regularly go to Kathmandu and other places, and the bus station is
within walking distance of the immigration office. If you want to fly to
Kathmandu, there are regular flights from Bhadrapur, about 25 kilometres from
Kakarbhitta.
Birgunj is the most popular border crossing
for travellers to go to Kathmandu, as it is only a bus trip of six to eight
hours. On the Indian side of the border is the Raxaul Central Station, which is
easily accessible from anywhere in India and is known as the main crossing
point into Nepal. Simara is 20 km from Birgunj and has an airport with flights
to Kathmandu several times a day.
Belhia, in the district of Bhairahawa in
western Nepal, is one of the most famous border crossings for Indian tourists,
as it is near the small town of Lumbini, birthplace of Gautama Buddha. Belhia,
one of the most important trade links between India and Nepal, is still more
than 280 kilometres from Kathmandu, and the daily bus takes about 9 hours.
However, flights from the local airport take only 30 minutes.
The other
three border crossings, Mohana, GaddaChauki and Jamunaha, are also open for
international tourists with on arrival visa service, but less popular due to
their remoteness. Mohana and Gadd Chauki are located in the far west of Nepal;
there are no flights to Kathmandu and buses take between 16 and 18 hours to get
there. Jamunaha, located on the Nepalese side near Nepalgunj, is a major
commercial port from India to Nepal and a popular transit point for Indian
pilgrims. From the airport of Nepalgunj, there are flights to Kathmandu that
take about 1 hour, while buses take between 12 and 14 hours to reach the
Nepalese capital.