Photo: Aaditya Shah / UnsplashNepal
Three old royal cities, two of Asia's great stupas and Hindu temples on the Bagmati, all within an hour of each other. No visa for Indians, and a short flight from Delhi.
The Kathmandu Valley holds seven UNESCO-listed monument zones in a bowl about 25 km across. Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur each have their own Durbar Square of pagoda temples and palace courtyards, and the valley rim gives Himalayan views on clear mornings.
For Indian travellers it's one of the easiest trips abroad: no visa, Hindi widely understood, and the Nepali rupee fixed at 1.6 to the Indian rupee. Most people combine it with Pokhara and Chitwan.
Day by day
₹9,000–15,000per person on a backpacker budget (estimate), excluding travel to get there
The Hanuman Dhoka palace courtyards, the Kumari Ghar and the bazaar lanes of Asan and Indra Chowk.
Climb to Swayambhunath for views over the valley, then spend the afternoon in Patan Durbar Square and the Patan Museum.
The ghats of Pashupatinath on the Bagmati, then an evening walk around the Boudhanath stupa with the pilgrims.
Durbar Square, the five-storey Nyatapola temple, Pottery Square and a clay pot of juju dhau (curd). Stay the night for quiet evening streets.
Sunrise over the Himalaya from Nagarkot on a clear morning, or the Chandragiri cable car, then fly out.
| Item | Backpacker | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Stay (guesthouse in Thamel or Bhaktapur) | ₹600–1,300 | ₹2,500–5,000 |
| Food | ₹400–800 | ₹1,000–1,800 |
| Local transport (bus, taxi, ride-hailing) | ₹200–500 | ₹1,200–2,500 |
| Entry fees (SAARC rates) | ₹300–700 | ₹700–1,200 |
| Typical day | ₹1,800–3,000 | ₹5,400–10,500 |
Indians pay the lower SAARC rate at heritage sites: about NPR 500 (roughly ₹310) each for Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, so carry your ID to the ticket counter. Indian rupees are widely accepted, but ₹200 and ₹500 notes are limited to ₹25,000 per person and some shops refuse them; ₹100 notes or Nepali rupees from an ATM are easier.
One of the largest stupas in the world, ringed by monasteries and rooftop cafés.
The best-preserved of the three royal cities, with car-free brick squares.
Nepal's holiest Hindu temple, on the Bagmati River.
A Durbar Square of Newar temples and one of Asia's finest museums.
No. Indian citizens need only a valid passport or an original voter ID card. Aadhaar is not accepted as a travel document for Nepal.
Yes, most hotels and shops accept them at NPR 1.60 to ₹1. You may carry ₹200 and ₹500 notes up to ₹25,000 per person, but ₹100 notes are the most widely accepted.
Four or five days covers Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur and a sunrise at Nagarkot. Add three or four days for Pokhara and two for Chitwan.
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Guide reviewed September 2026. Costs are estimates, not live prices. Check current prices, permits, weather, safety advice and schedules before you travel.
