Is Nepal in India? Where is Nepal?
Is Nepal in India? This is a common question people have about the two areas in South Asia.
It can be confusing knowing which areas belong to which countries as there are so many different countries close together in parts of Asia.
As a full-time traveller, I am here to provide the answer to your burning question of whether Nepal is in India or not.
Is Nepal in India?
To summarise this article into one sentence: No, Nepal is not in India. Nepal is an independent country with its own government, laws, economy, etc.
There are a few reasons why people may mistakenly think that Nepal is in India. Firstly, the two countries are in the same region of the world: South Asia.
In fact, Nepal borders India to the south, east and west. It’s almost surrounded. Due to the close proximity, people may believe the two countries are the same.

Another reason may be the cultural similarities. There are similarities between the two countries in language, religion and cuisine. So some people may confuse having similar cultures as being in the same country.
Lastly, there is a long history between Nepal and India relations. This leads nicely into the next section of “was Nepal ever part of India?”.
But to answer the question of the modern-day “Is Nepal in India?“, the answer is no.
Was Nepal ever part of India?
Nepal was never a part of India. It has historically strong ties with India, but the country of Nepal has never been part of India.
That being said, Nepal was heavily influenced by the British Raj which was the period of British rule in India from 1858 until 1947. Nepal was never fully colonised, but it had friendly relations with the British Raj and the British took advantage of the country due to its strategic position in the Himalayas.
In 1923, Nepal signed a treaty with Britain that defined Nepal as an independent state but allowed British India control over Nepal’s foreign affairs and defence. This was in place until Nepal gained full independence in 1947.
So although Nepal was never a part of India, it was definitely heavily influenced by the British Raj period of Indian history.
Where is Nepal?
Now that we know the answer to “Is Nepal in India?” is no, it’s important to learn where Nepal is in the world.
Nepal is a landlocked country (meaning it has no coastlines and doesn’t touch the sea) in South Asia. As we have learnt, it is bordered by India to the south, east and west. Its northern border is with China.
It’s in the Himalayas mountain region, with Mount Everest being found in Nepal, the tallest mountain in the world. There are lots of popular places to visit aside from Everest, backpacking in Kathmandu is particularly popular.
You can easily identify Nepal on a map as being the small strip of a country wedged between the two huge countries of India and China.

Being so close to Southeast Asia and having incredible hiking opportunities is a major reason why so many people backpacking Southeast Asia also add Nepal to their itinerary.
Where is India?
India is pretty easy to find on a map. It’s the country shaped almost like the continent of Africa. It’s found south of China and west of the islands of Southeast Asia.
India is the seventh largest country in the world, so it’s pretty big and therefore easy to pick out.
Its borders are shared with Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and of course, Nepal.

Is Nepal in India: FAQ
Below are some questions related to “Is Nepal in India?” along with my answers.
Nepal belongs to Nepal. It’s an independent country with its own government, laws, economy etc. Nepal doesn’t belong to anyone, it’s completely independent.
Nepal isn’t a part of India because it is an independent country. It’s likely due to the fact that the British Raj didn’t colonise Nepal and instead opted for a treaty between Nepal and British India. This allowed Nepal to remain an independent state and separate from India.
No, Nepal is not in India. Nepal is an independent country, meaning it is not part of India.
No, Nepal and India are two different countries. While they are bordering countries and share similar cultures, the two countries are not the same and they are completely independent of each other.
Nepal is in neither India nor China. Nepal is an independent country. It’s found between the two countries, with China bordering the north of Nepal and India bordering the east, south and west. But Nepal is separate from both of these countries and is completely independent.
Nepal isn’t in India. Nepal is an independent country. On a map, Nepal is the strip of land wedged between India and Nepal.
Yes, there is a border between India and Nepal. They are two different countries, and Nepal is completely independent. But India almost surrounds Nepal as it borders the east, south and western borders of Nepal.
Nepal is in Asia, the continent. India is a country in Asia, and it borders Nepal. But Nepal is in Asia, which is one of the world’s seven continents.
Nepal is in no part of India, as it is a different country. Nepal is an independent country which is separate from India. While the two countries border, Nepal is not part of India.
The Indian rupee is valid in Nepal, but the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes are not accepted in Nepal, in fact, carrying these notes is a punishable offence in Nepal. It’s also worth noting that the Indian currency is only valid using an official exchange rate.
Is Nepal in India: Conclusion
And there you have it, a complete guide to “Is Nepal in India?“. Remember, the answer is no, Nepal is not in India.
Nepal is an independent country and has never been a part of India. It does have good relations with India but has never been part of the country.
I hope you have learnt a bit about India and Nepal’s geography and all of your questions were answered, but most importantly, “Is Nepal in India?“. Once again, no, it isn’t.
