Golden Triangle with Nepal

Experience My India's Golden Triangle with Nepal adds a whole second country to the trip: the temple-filled Kathmandu Valley, the lakeside calm of Pokhara, and the first sight of the Himalayas rising on the horizon. Nepal is a short flight from Delhi and adds about 3 to 4 days (making 9 to 11 total), private, from Rs 10,000 per person per day. It is two countries in one journey, and this page is honest about the practical detail that catches people out: the visa, which differs entirely by nationality, and how to see the great mountains without a trek.

This is the detail that trips people up, so we lead with it. Indian nationals do not need a visa or passport for Nepal — a voter ID or Aadhaar is enough (a school or college ID for children). Foreign (non-SAARC) nationals do need a visa, obtained easily as a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or as an eVisa beforehand, with a fee (roughly USD 30 for 15 days up to USD 125 for 90 days), and you should carry passport photos and some US dollars in cash to smooth the process. We confirm exactly what you need for your nationality before you travel, so there are no surprises at immigration. Always re-check the current rules close to travel, as fees and terms change.

Nepal gives your India trip a genuine second dimension: a different country, culture and landscape, all within a short flight. After the plains and monuments of the north, you get the Himalayas, a deeply layered Hindu-and-Buddhist heritage, and the warm, laid-back welcome Nepal is known for. Kathmandu is an intense, temple-dense capital; Pokhara is its serene counterpoint on a lake beneath the Annapurnas. Three to four days gives you both, and the thrill of seeing the world's highest mountains, which is why it is such a rewarding add for those with the time.

Kathmandu Valley (UNESCO sites). The sacred Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati, the great Boudhanath Stupa with its watching Buddha eyes, the hilltop Swayambhunath (the 'Monkey Temple') with valley views, and the old royal Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, and, with time, Patan and Bhaktapur. Pokhara. Nepal's calm second city on Phewa Lake, with a boat ride on the water, the Sarangkot sunrise over the Annapurna range, Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave — the gateway to the mountains. The Himalayas, without trekking. A sunrise from Nagarkot (near Kathmandu) or Sarangkot (Pokhara), or the unforgettable Everest scenic mountain flight, so you experience the great peaks even if you are not a trekker. Optional add-ons. A Chitwan jungle safari (rhinos), Lumbini (the Buddha's birthplace), or a short trek from Pokhara, if you have extra days.