The short answer
Nepal tours for Indian travellers commonly begin at a rail or road hub on the Indian side and cross at a nearby border. The main gateways are Gorakhpur and Nautanwa for the Sunauli border, Raxaul for Birgunj, Jaynagar and Muzaffarpur or Darbhanga for Janakpur, Rupaidiha and Lucknow for Nepalgunj, Varanasi and Ayodhya as pilgrim starting points, Patna for the Raxaul route, and Jogbani, Panitanki and Siliguri on the eastern side.
Choose the start by where you are going in Nepal: Lumbini and Pokhara from Sunauli, Kathmandu and Chitwan from Raxaul, Janakpur from Jaynagar, Bardia and the far west from Nepalgunj, and the east from Jogbani or Kakarbhitta. Pickup details for each place are in the pages below, and exact times should be confirmed with your operator.
Key facts
- Sunauli
- Gorakhpur, Nautanwa, Varanasi, Ayodhya
- Raxaul
- Patna, Kathmandu route
- Jaynagar
- Janakpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur
- Rupaidiha
- Nepalgunj, Lucknow, Bardia
How it works
- Name your Nepal goalLumbini, Kathmandu, Janakpur, Bardia or the east.
- Match the borderSee which border.
- Pick your Indian startRail hub near that border.
- Check documentsSee documents.
- Confirm pickupTime and place in writing.
Insider tip
Pick the border by your Nepal destination, not by your home city alone.
Avoid this
Do not choose a border only because it is closest; check the road on the Nepal side.
Related questions
Which border is busiest?
Sunauli and Raxaul are among the busiest for tourists.
Can pickup be at the border?
Usually yes; confirm the exact spot with your operator.
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More guides to explore
- Airports of NepalInternational and domestic airports with transfers.
- Domestic FlightsRoutes, aircraft, baggage, delays and booking.
- Vehicle Types and Road TransportCars, vans, buses, jeeps, taxis and bikes for each route.
- Indian Railways to NepalRailheads, border links and onward buses from India.
- All Nepal guidesBrowse every place and theme.
