Nepal solves a problem most first-time international travellers don't realise they have: how do you get mountains, temples, wildlife, and an actual passport stamp without visa paperwork or a punishing flight? No visa is needed for Indian nationals — a passport, voter ID, or Aadhaar gets you across the border or through Kathmandu airport immigration. Flights from Delhi take about two hours, and September to November is the best window of the year to go, with clear Himalayan views right through the Dussehra and Diwali travel season.
Here's a complete 7-day Nepal itinerary covering Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara, along with what it costs, how to get there from Kanpur or Lucknow, and the practical details worth knowing before you book.
Why Nepal, and Why Now
Nepal's own tourism data points to March–May and September–November as the two windows with the clearest mountain views and most stable trail and road conditions; the monsoon months (June–August) bring landslide risk on hill roads. That makes right now, heading into autumn, one of the two best times of year to go — skies over the Annapurna and Everest ranges are at their clearest after the monsoon clears out, before winter fog and cold set in.
It also lines up neatly with the festival calendar. Dussehra 2026 falls on Tuesday, 20 October, and Diwali on Sunday, 8 November — both good anchors for a long-weekend or week-long trip, since Nepal is close enough from North India that you don't lose a travel day at each end the way you would flying to Southeast Asia.
7-Day Nepal Itinerary: Kathmandu, Chitwan & Pokhara
This is the route we run most often for Indian travellers — it covers the Kathmandu Valley's heritage sites, a jungle safari in Chitwan, and the lakes-and-mountains scenery of Pokhara, without feeling rushed.
Day 1 — Arrival in Kathmandu: Land at Tribhuvan International Airport, transfer to your hotel, and visit Pashupatinath Temple in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 2 — Kathmandu to Chitwan: Drive to Chitwan, stopping at Manakamana Temple en route. Check into a jungle resort; evenings here often include a Tharu cultural dance performance. Overnight in Chitwan.
Day 3 — Chitwan jungle activities: A canoe ride on the Rapti River, a stop at the Elephant Breeding Centre, and a jeep safari inside Chitwan National Park looking for one-horned rhinos, deer, and — if you're lucky — a Bengal tiger. Overnight in Chitwan.
Day 4 — Chitwan to Pokhara: A scenic drive through the hills to Pokhara. Evening free to walk around Phewa Lake and the Lakeside market. Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 5 — Pokhara sightseeing: An early drive up to Sarangkot for sunrise over the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre ranges, followed by Bindabasini Temple, the Seti River Gorge, Davis Falls, and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave. Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 6 — Pokhara to Kathmandu: Drive back to Kathmandu; evening free for shopping in Thamel. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 7 — Departure: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Prefer a shorter trip? A 5-night/6-day version that drops Chitwan and focuses on Kathmandu and Pokhara works well too, especially if wildlife safaris aren't the priority.
How Much Does a Nepal Trip Cost from India?
Nepal is genuinely one of the more affordable international trips available to Indian travellers. Expect to budget roughly ₹2,500–₹5,000 per day for mid-range stays and meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara — hotels, food, and local transport there run noticeably cheaper than in most of Southeast Asia. Multi-day treks (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit) are priced separately with guide and permit fees, and vary a fair bit by route and operator, so it's worth getting a specific quote rather than assuming a flat number.
As a reference point, AdventurePedia's own curated packages — flights excluded, hotels and transfers included — start at roughly ₹23,000 per person for a 5N/6D Kathmandu–Pokhara trip, and around ₹32,700 per person for the fuller 6N/7D version with Chitwan added in. Flights from Delhi typically add another ₹8,000–₹15,000 return depending on when you book.
How to Reach Nepal from Kanpur or Lucknow
There's no direct flight from Kanpur or Lucknow to Kathmandu, so the standard route is a connecting flight via Delhi, which takes roughly 4–5 hours door to door including the layover. From Delhi itself, it's a direct flight of about two hours to Kathmandu. Budget travellers sometimes cross overland via the Sunauli or Raxaul land borders instead, though flying is faster and more comfortable for a week-long trip.
Entry Rules and Practical Tips for 2026
No visa required: Indian nationals can enter Nepal with a valid passport, voter ID, or Aadhaar card — no visa, no advance application.
Currency rule update: Nepal lifted a decade-long restriction in mid-2026 and now accepts Indian ₹200 and ₹500 notes (the redesigned versions issued after November 2016). Older pre-2016 ₹500 notes are still not accepted, and the overall carrying limit remains ₹25,000 per person, so it's worth carrying newer notes or exchanging cash at a licensed forex counter before or on arrival.
Currency day-to-day: The Nepalese Rupee is the local currency; ATMs are widely available in Kathmandu and Pokhara, less so in Chitwan.
Altitude: Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan are all at low-to-moderate altitude, so altitude sickness isn't a concern on this itinerary — it only becomes relevant if you extend into high-altitude trekking routes.
Connectivity: Indian SIM roaming works in parts of Nepal, but a local prepaid SIM (available at the airport) is cheaper and more reliable for a week-long trip.
What to Pack for a September–November Nepal Trip
Days in Kathmandu and Pokhara are pleasantly warm in this season, but evenings and early mornings — especially the Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint — get noticeably cold, so pack a light jacket or fleece along with your regular travel clothing. A few other things worth carrying: comfortable walking shoes for temple courtyards and cobbled Lakeside streets, a reusable water bottle, sunscreen and sunglasses for the high-altitude glare at viewpoints, and a basic first-aid kit with the usual travel medicines. If your itinerary includes the Chitwan jungle safari, neutral-coloured clothing and mosquito repellent are useful for the jeep safari and canoe ride.
Nepal Travel FAQs for Indians
Do Indians need a visa for Nepal?
No — Indian nationals can enter Nepal with just a valid passport, voter ID, or Aadhaar card, with no visa required and no advance application.
Is 7 days enough for Nepal?
Yes — 7 days is enough to comfortably cover Kathmandu, a Chitwan jungle safari, and Pokhara's lakes and mountain viewpoints without a rushed schedule.
Can I visit Nepal without trekking?
Yes — Kathmandu and Pokhara are complete trips on their own, with temples, lakes, and viewpoints like Sarangkot, and don't require a multi-day trek.
What's the best time to visit Nepal for mountain views?
September to November and March to May offer the clearest Himalayan views and the most stable road and trail conditions; the June–August monsoon brings landslide risk on hill roads.
Is Nepal a good option for a Dussehra or Diwali trip?
Yes — with Dussehra falling on 20 October and Diwali on 8 November in 2026, both line up with Nepal's clearest-weather season, and the short flight time from Delhi means a week-long trip doesn't eat into your leave with travel days.
Plan Your Nepal Trip with AdventurePedia
We run this as a complete package from Kanpur — hotels, transfers, the Chitwan safari, and a day-by-day itinerary handled end to end. Browse our Nepal tour packages, including the Nepal Heritage & Himalayan Escape (5N/6D) and Nepal Wildlife & Himalayan Trails (6N/7D), or WhatsApp us at +91-9044-489-940 to build a custom itinerary around your dates.
