Gujarati travellers usually want comfort, good vegetarian food and a mix of darshan and sightseeing. A classic 6–7 night trip covers Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Bhaktapur in Kathmandu, the Manakamana cable car, Pokhara's lake and Sarangkot sunrise, and a Chitwan jeep safari. Many Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels serve Gujarati or Jain-friendly vegetarian meals on request, without onion and garlic if you ask in advance. Diwali and the Gujarati New Year are the busiest times from Ahmedabad, followed by the May school holidays.
Pilgrims from Gujarat also travel to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal between May and September, either overland via Kerung or by flight and helicopter via Simikot. Rules for Indian passport holders on these routes have changed several times, so check current status before you travel. For a shorter trip, a 3-night Kathmandu break with the Everest mountain flight fits a long weekend once you reach Delhi or Mumbai. October–November and March–April offer the best weather; December–February is cold but clear.
Flying from Ahmedabad
There are no regular direct flights from Ahmedabad to Kathmandu. Most travellers connect via Delhi, with Air India, IndiGo or Nepal Airlines on the Delhi–Kathmandu leg, or via Mumbai, for a total journey of about 4–6 hours. All international flights land at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Choose a through ticket so bags are checked all the way to Kathmandu. Schedules and airlines change, so check current status before you travel.
By road from Ahmedabad
Driving from Ahmedabad to Nepal is long: about 1,500 km to the Sonauli border via Madhya Pradesh, Kanpur, Lucknow and Gorakhpur, roughly 24–28 hours at the wheel, best split over two or three days. From Sonauli, Lumbini is 30 km and Pokhara 185 km. For far-western Nepal, the Banbasa crossing is about 1,250 km away via Delhi. Most travellers fly to Delhi or Lucknow and drive only the last stretch.
By train to the border
Direct trains run from Ahmedabad to Gorakhpur in roughly 28–32 hours, and Gorakhpur is 95 km from the Sonauli border, with local trains on to Nautanwa, about 8 km from the crossing. Rail suits budget groups and pilgrims combining Nepal with Ayodhya or Varanasi.
Documents for Indian travellers
Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Adults flying from Ahmedabad must carry a valid Indian passport or Voter ID card; Aadhaar, PAN and driving licences are not accepted as travel documents. Children travel most easily on a passport, or with a photo ID showing age, and 15–18 year olds can use a school principal's identity certificate. The Kailash yatra needs a passport valid for six months. Check current status before you travel.
Tips for travellers from Ahmedabad
- Ask for Jain or no-onion, no-garlic meals when booking, so hotels can prepare in advance.
- Book Diwali and Gujarati New Year trips three months ahead, when flights via Delhi and Mumbai fill early.
- Take the Manakamana cable car on the drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara for darshan without a long climb.
- Pack warm layers from November to February, as Kathmandu mornings drop to 2–3 °C.
- Carry ₹100 notes and smaller, as larger Indian notes are not always accepted in Nepal.
