Bengali travellers have long favoured Nepal for the Puja holidays, and October is the busiest month from Kolkata, often coinciding with Dashain in Nepal. Popular choices include Kathmandu with Pokhara and Chitwan, a Pashupatinath and Manakamana pilgrimage, and the Everest mountain flight. Eastern Nepal is close to Kolkata via Siliguri: the tea gardens of Ilam, the hill temple of Pathibhara and the Kanchenjunga region are all reached from the Kakarbhitta border, and combine well with a few days in Darjeeling.
For a first visit, we suggest flying to Kathmandu and spending 6–7 nights in the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and Chitwan. Travellers who have already seen Darjeeling or Sikkim often enjoy the overland route into Ilam, with its rolling tea estates, before flying from Bhadrapur to Kathmandu. Winter, from December to February, brings clear views and lower prices, while April suits families during school holidays. Book Puja and Diwali trips three to four months ahead, as flights and hotels fill early.
Flying from Kolkata
IndiGo has operated direct Kolkata–Kathmandu flights of about 1 hour 30 minutes into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), and other carriers have served the route at times. One-stop options via Delhi take much longer. For eastern Nepal, you can also fly Kathmandu–Bhadrapur or Kathmandu–Biratnagar on domestic flights of under an hour. There are no regular flights from Kolkata to Bhairahawa. Schedules and airlines change, so check current status before you travel.
By road from Kolkata
The nearest crossing is Panitanki–Kakarbhitta, about 35 km from Siliguri and roughly 570 km from Kolkata by road, 11–13 hours. From Kakarbhitta, Ilam is about 3 hours away and Bhadrapur airport under an hour. Jogbani–Biratnagar, about 530 km from Kolkata via Purnia, is better for Biratnagar and Koshi Tappu. For central Nepal, Raxaul–Birgunj is roughly 750 km from Kolkata, followed by about 270 km and 7–9 hours to Kathmandu.
By train to the border
Overnight trains from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri (NJP) take about 10–12 hours, and NJP is about 35 km and an hour by road from the Kakarbhitta border. Trains also run from Kolkata to Jogbani for Biratnagar, and the Mithila Express runs overnight from Howrah to Raxaul for Birgunj.
Documents for Indian travellers
Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal and can enter at Kakarbhitta, Jogbani or by air with a valid passport or Voter ID card. Children under 15 should carry a passport or photo ID showing age, and 15–18 year olds without a passport an identity certificate from their school principal. Aadhaar is not accepted as a travel document for adults. Foreign companions need a Nepal visa. Check current status before you travel.
Tips for travellers from Kolkata
- Book Durga Puja and Diwali trips early, as Kolkata–Kathmandu flights and Kathmandu hotels fill fast in October.
- Combine Darjeeling with Ilam by crossing at Kakarbhitta, about an hour from Siliguri.
- Fly Bhadrapur–Kathmandu after visiting Ilam to avoid a 14–16 hour drive west.
- Avoid the overland route to Ilam from June to September, when monsoon landslides affect hill roads.
- Carry ₹100 notes and smaller, as larger Indian notes are not always accepted in Nepal.
