Many travellers combine India and Nepal on one trip. The open border means crossing by road is common and straightforward, especially for Indian and Nepali citizens.
Quick answer: the most used crossings are Sunauli–Bhairahawa (for Lumbini, Pokhara and Kathmandu), Raxaul–Birgunj (for Kathmandu and Chitwan), Panitanki–Kakarbhitta (for Darjeeling, Sikkim and eastern Nepal), Rupaidiha–Nepalgunj and Banbasa–Mahendranagar in the west. Foreigners must complete immigration on both sides and can usually get a Nepal visa on arrival at major crossings.
Main crossings
| India | Nepal | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunauli (Uttar Pradesh) | Bhairahawa / Belahiya | Lumbini, Pokhara, Kathmandu |
| Raxaul (Bihar) | Birgunj | Kathmandu, Chitwan |
| Panitanki (West Bengal) | Kakarbhitta | Darjeeling, Sikkim, Ilam, Kangchenjunga |
| Rupaidiha (Uttar Pradesh) | Nepalgunj (Jamunaha) | Bardia, western Nepal |
| Banbasa (Uttarakhand) | Mahendranagar (Gaddachauki) | Shuklaphanta, far west |
For foreign travellers
- Get your Indian exit stamp and Nepal entry stamp; it's easy to walk past the offices, so look out for them.
- Bring passport photos and US dollars in cash for the Nepal visa.
- Cross during office hours.
See our Nepal visa guide.
For Indian travellers
No visa is needed; carry accepted ID. See our guide for Indian travellers.
After the border
From Bhairahawa, Lumbini is about 30–40 minutes away. See our Lumbini guide and how to get to Chitwan.