Talking about going to Nepal, I called many nepali travel agencies inquiring about tickets to Nepal for November. Few asked for my information, saying they would contact me within few hours. only one responded with a quote. Also, I had extensive talk with a travel agent who said going via Delhi would save only $100.00 and strongly suggested not to go through DEL. However, I checked websites like orbitz.com, kayak.com and price to Del from NYC is about $1000.00 dollars. Add $150 from DEL to KTM round trip. so for approximately $1200 you can get to Nepal, if you take the DEL route. All the quotes that I got for Nepal has been more than $1600.

The travel agent told me some horror stories like a woman was mugged in the restroom, the ticket counter person taking the passport and not giving back until you give some money, etc. Do you think these stories are true? or do you think they are just putting fear in our heart? Has anyone wondered whether the nepali travel agents are making horror stories and spreading words about bad customer service in DEL, just so that poor Nepali travellers pay 1600 to get to Nepal, that is 400-500 more than if they simply go via DEL. Some non-nepali friends of mine went to Nepal via DEL and had no complains.

For me personally, I am saving 500 bucks and going via DEL. 500 dollars is a lot of money, at least for me.

buzz

dont worry

 If you are getting that much less price then go through delhi.

Do not put important and electronic stuff in the luggage then u will be fine.

 

To save your sanity, money and energy, AVOID Delhi at all costs. You will regret it big time.

 

_x

Avoid Delhi man, 500 is too less for hassle you face in Delhi. One time during 2002 Indian immigration officer refused to believe that Nepalese people can get US visa and he kept me there for 1 hour.

Here is my experience from Delhi:

Arrived 9:30pm Delhi, immigration 11:00pm, no decent foods/cafes, taxi to hotel IRs 1200 (+ robbery), hotel IRs 7000 (because of last minute booking). I went to Thomas Cook money exchange counter and asked for his advise: he told me NOT to speak to anyone or agree to any taxi or hotel, instead stay put in airport until morning, do not sleep and get tea/biscuit from chai_wallah in morning. Fortunately I phoned up a friend (phone booth closed, so had to buy a AirTel simcard for IRs 1000), stayed at his place for the night. All for trying to save 400USD round trip. Taxi to his place and back, IRs 1500.

NEVER Delhi. It is 100 times worse than Nepal.

 

_x

I have also been in Delhi's airport but went from KTM.  Didn't experience any problem.  However, I have also heard many negative stuff about the airport and its staff.

Recently I got an email..below is the email..

"Hi All,
This is what happened when I took a flight from KTM to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport on August/15/08. Once I landed, I went to buy a at the duty free. Once I went to pay, the cashier asked me to give the passport. He took the passport and showed it to one of his colleges. He came back to me and told me that they are not allowed to sell to Nepalese Passport holders! Did you guys understand what that mean to hear in front of other international passengers? I still donʼt get it what that mean! However, I asked that guy, what is the reason behind this? He simply said that is what they have been told to say. For further information I was told to go and check with concern person at the airport. I am still in shock and I donʼt know how to react with what I had to face! Please forward this message to all our team so that they know what is going on and what needs to be done before they have to face the same situation like what I had to go through. Can our concern so called people try to find out what does that mean, Nepalese Passprt holders are not allowed to buy at the Indira Gandhi International Airport/Delhi?
"

I have travelled to KTM via Delhi once, and via Delhi to Bagdogra (INdia) once. Both the times, I have had a fine time, except for the interminable wait, and lack of any facilities (food, fun etc) in the airport.

However, coming back recently from KTM via Delhi, I saw the horrible ordeal one Nepali gentleman was put through for no reason I could comprehend. Once they find a pretext, they will start assembling folks who are strange: police, CRPs, but no knowledgeable immigrant expert in the airport. They just don't listen to you.

The ground staff of the airlines are just fine and helpful, even though the transit process is quite disorganized. If you have figured out the process, all is fine. First time: bad idea! If you do go through Delhi, make sure every baggage is marked for KTM. Also get your boarding pass right upto KTM from here, if possible. Coming back is tougher because KTM usually does not issue boarding passes beyond Delhi, and in Delhi, you hand over your PP to the airline staff and wait, and wait, and wait!

I guess I got off easy because I travel on US Re-Entry Permit.

Deleted.. double posting.

folks...pay a couple of hundred bucks more and fly thru hongkong, singapore, bangkok, etc..

btw, i'm going home after about 8 mnths and the cheapest ticket i can get is around 1450. is this still expensive? has anyone any suggestions where to buy?

Dont go India.

Its a rip off

 

Well, IF you have  been to Inida many times before, you know how to handle any situation, It's not a big deal. $400 is big money. 

Let's experience the travel via Delhi, how ever you make sure you will get ticket from Delhi to Ktm, because there is chance of not getting connecting flight timely. Suggested to travel light ( not putting valuables in Bags as well in hands, you may end up paying custom) 

"Hi All,
This is what happened when I took a flight from KTM to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport on August/15/08. Once I landed, I went to buy a at the duty free. Once I went to pay, the cashier asked me to give the passport. He took the passport and showed it to one of his colleges. He came back to me and told me that they are not allowed to sell to Nepalese Passport holders! Did you guys understand what that mean to hear in front of other international passengers? I still donʼt get it what that mean! However, I asked that guy, what is the reason behind this? He simply said that is what they have been told to say. For further information I was told to go and check with concern person at the airport. I am still in shock and I donʼt know how to react with what I had to face! Please forward this message to all our team so that they know what is going on and what needs to be done before they have to face the same situation like what I had to go through. Can our concern so called people try to find out what does that mean, Nepalese Passprt holders are not allowed to buy at the Indira Gandhi International Airport/Delhi?
"


ok..i think we should aviod these dhotis and go thru bangkok or singapore..fugk you India

Hi All,

I have stayed in Delhi for 4 years as an student. And i have faced lots of trouble in IGIA.

My suggestion is simply avoid Delhi. It will cost you more than saving. Even if you are sure that you can save $1000 then also avoid delhi. But if you are travelling withought any gift for your family and no new electronics items then you can choose the route via delhi.

I also had a similar dilemma regarding Delhi airport. Tons of horror stories were floating around on the internet. It was 2007 Dashain time and travel agents were quoting outrageous prices. Delhi was a lot cheaper (~$1700) than any other options($2100 & up). However,  I was not sure if the "significant price difference" was worth the ordeal and sheer humiliation people had been describing in several expat nepali forums.

I talked to couple of people who had earlier traveled via Delhi. Almost everyone advised me NOT to get out of Delhi airport as most of the problems would arise outside of the airport. Custom, immigration, Cabs, hotels-Each of them would be a great challenge to handle. The consensus was-As long as you stayed in the transit lounge, you would be okey. Finally I decided to experience on my own and give Delhi a chance to win me over. I am glad to share this with you guys that I had a smooth transition at Delhi and reached KTM without any major inconvenience. I have described the whole process in detail below.

After we landed at Delhi airport, we were asked to go through the custom/immigration. We insisted on going to the transit lounge instead.(for some reason they just want you to go to the custom).   In Delhi airport you just cannot follow the signs and go to transit. You need an airline staff who will escort you to the lounge by doing necessary paperwork at the security. We were asked to wait for the staff. After 10-15 minute wait,  a cordial Jet staff came and escorted us to the transit lounge.

While Indian economy is getting stronger every day, the Delhi Int'l airport is considered one of the worst (of course when compared to East Asian standard). It was shocking to see that it had not changed a bit since I last flew via Delhi  during pre IT-boom (early 1990s).However,  I was relieved to find that the  toilet was semi clean (a lot better than the KTM airport) and there were a few food stall including a Subway franchise. There were Nescafe kiosks everywhere and you could buy a mini cup of instant coffeee for IRs 30.00 (Foreign currency exchange was a hassle, so either carry some IRs with you or be prepared to forget $1=approx 40 IRS exchange rate). Although we initially  thought of using Asoka lounge, later we reasoned it was enormously priced for non existent  amenities (people might have better experience). We spent several minutes walking around the transit lounge (its very small)  in search of empty chairs. When we found them, we did not leave them. Those chairs are rare commodity as you can not sit on the floor. (There was no carpet on the floor.)

One of the great thing about Delhi transit lounge was you could buy a can of chilled Heiniken for a buck (from duty free) and just drink right there in the transit lounge. I think  the duty free at Delhi airport (especially alcohol) was one of the cheapest I have ever seen.

I found the toilet situation quite funny. If you were a white, the guard would take you to the western style toilet. For all desis, it would be the pit latrine by default. I am sure if you give the guy some money, he will let you use the "western" toilet. This info might be useful to the ladies.

When we boarded the flight in North America we were told that we might have to collect our luggage in Delhi even though it was checked in for all the way to KTM. Luckily we did not have to.

Before boarding KTM bound flight, you have to go through the security again. Make sure you put a name tag in your carry on bag. The security is supposed to put a stamp on it. If they do not find a name tag they will not let you in. In our case the cop even did not bother to explain why he was denying entry to us. we had to learn it the hard way. Other than the lack of customer service from Indian government officials, we had no bitter experience.

There was a bit of hassle while coming back though. Over the last couple of years, Nepalis have been nefarious for carrying forged visas and passports. Moreover, Nepali passports have been greatly misused by a lot of extremists (both pakistanis and LTTE) to travel to third country, thanks to corrupt immigration officcials at TIA. So Both Airline and Indian intelligence have an interest in knowing who is coming from Nepal (Remember, airlines has to bring back the passenger if denied entry at the port of entry). Hence, all of us end up paying the price. They take your passport and residency papers and vanish for hours. Those will be one of the most difficult hours you will ever spend waiting. The preconceived notions that all Indians are corrupt and Indians do their best to make a Nepali's life miserable do not help either. In my case the wait was over 4 hrs. So I suggest that you note down the name and identification # of the airline staff who takes your paper. This information comes handy when you ask his/her peers about your passport situation. Contrary to the popular belief, I have not come across anybody who has lost his/her passport this way. However, the way they carry the passport compels you to be nervous (human error!). Throughout your wait, you will see different airlines staff coming to transit lounge looking for the specific passenger (are u Bob? Are u Jen?). This seems funny but as long as it works who cares. In my case the guy not only came with my boarding pass but also my luggage.  This partly explained the ridiculously long wait. All I had to do was identify my luggage.

To conclude, I did not have any unpleasant experience. I did not have high expectation to begin with, so I was not disappointed in any way. The airline staff were professional and spoke English very well. They communicated properly and did not show any disrespect. I would not hesitate to travel via Delhi again.

I was made to wait for 1 hour or so n 1999 while on the way to Europe as Indian immigration official was surprised to see Nepalese having swiss visa-what a mentality!

In 2001,I lost my baggage in Delhi while flying from Dubai.I spoke to him in English as I am not good at Hindi. I requested him to talk to me in English as I did not understand what he was referring to.He was surprised to learn that Nepalese do not understand Hindi.I chose not to travel Delhi this time eventhough the flight was $ 200 cheaper just to avoid hassle.You probably can not generalise the personal experience but I am happy with my decision.