India–Nepal border

The border starts in the west at the western tripoint with China near the Limpiyadhura. It then proceeds to the south-west through the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills and then the Gangetic plain, initially overland and then utilising the Mahakali River. Just east of Majhola it turns to the south-east and proceeds in that direction overland, occasionally utilising various rivers and hill crests. North-west of Islampur the border turns to the north-east and proceeds overland to the eastern Chinese tripoint.^{[citation needed]}

The border region has historically existed at the edge of various Indian and Nepali kingdoms. It took its modern shape during the period of British India which began in the 17th century. While the Gorkhalis fought the Kirati people to annex their territory in the late 18th century (notably in 1768), the Gorkha Kingdom launched an expansion drive, bringing them into conflict with the British and resulting in the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16).^[3][4] The Kingdom of Nepal was defeated and was forced to sign the Treaty of Sugauli by the British East India Company (EIC), while ceding large areas of land to Britain, effectively creating the modern India-Nepal boundary.^[5][6] Finding the Terai region difficult to manage, the British returned parts of it to Nepal in 1816.^[7]

India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, and three years later it signed a friendship treaty with Nepal, by which both countries agreed to respect the territorial integrity of the other.^[7] Since then relations have largely been cordial, though a number of border disputes remain. There have also been occasional blockades on the border at times of tension, for example in 1987 and 2015.^[8][9]

Communities living in India and Nepal close to the Indo-Nepal border have usually shared old, customary ties of kinship and resource access with communities across the border, such as along the western part of the Indo-Nepal border, in the Mahakali valley.^[10][11]

There are two existing territorial disputes between India and Nepal, over the Kalapani territory, a 35-square-kilometre (14 sq mi) area at the India–Nepal–China trijunction in the Uttarakhand state of India, and the Susta territory, a 20-square-kilometre (7.7 sq mi)–140-square-kilometre (54 sq mi) area in Southern Nepal.^[12][13][14]

8 railway lines between India and Nepal either exist or they are under construction or planning as follows (listed east to west):^[20]

1. Babaganj-Nepalganj line - complete and operational:^[20]
2. Barhani-Kathmandu line - under planning:^[20]
3. Barhani-Kapilvastu line - under planning:^[20]
4. Nautanwa-Bhairwa line - under planning:^[20]
5. Raxaul-Kathmandu line - under planning:^[20]
6. Jaynagar-Bardibas railway line - mostly complete, except final and third phase (as of April 2022):^[20] 52 km out of total 68 km complete as of April 2022 while remaining is awaiting land acquisition.^[21][22]
7. Jogbani-Biratnagar railway line - mostly complete, except 8 km long under construction section (as of April 2022):^[20] total 18.6 km.^[23][24][25]
8. Kakarbhitta-New Jalpaiguri railway line - under planning:^[20]

The Nepal–India border is an open border,^[26] which is relatively peaceful. Nepali and Indian nationals do not need passports or visas to enter each other's countries, and tens of thousands of people cross the border every day for tourism and commerce.

The Indian side of the border is regulated by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along with local police. The Nepali side of the border is regulated by the Armed Police Force (APF) along with the local branch of Nepal Police. Often SSB (India) and APF (Nepal) perform joint patrols on the border.^[27] On a local level, Indian and Nepali district officials meet regularly to discuss security challenges and other issues on their respective border portions. Such meetings are usually attended by District Magistrates, local SSB representatives, customs chiefs from India including the Chief District Officer (CDO), local APF, Police and custom chiefs from Nepal.^[28]

• India–Nepal relations
• Indo-Nepal Border Road
• Dasgaja