Youth-Led Protests Erupt in Nepal
Nepal’s Federal Parliament building in Kathmandu was set ablaze as Gen Z protesters rallied against corruption and a social media crackdown on September 9, 2025.
The Himalayan nation has been rocked by a wave of youth-led demonstrations, with thousands of Generation Z students and young professionals taking to the streets to demand accountability and an end to entrenched corruption.
The unrest was initially triggered by a controversial government decision to ban 26 social media platforms, a move that was later revoked amid public outcry.
Trending travel news, updated daily.
We track the most relevant travel headlines and filter out the rest, giving you only the news that matters now.
What began as mostly peaceful rallies quickly escalated into violent clashes with security forces, as protesters stormed barricades, torched government buildings and vehicles, and even briefly occupied the parliament complex.
Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, resulting in dozens of casualties – at least 19 people have been killed (including three police officers) and hundreds injured during the chaos, according to Nepal’s authorities.
Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned on September 9 under mounting public pressure, but the demonstrations have not abated.
Authorities imposed curfews in Kathmandu and other major cities to contain the violence, effectively emptying tourist hubs as troops patrolled the streets.
Protesters, largely high school and college students, continue to vent frustrations over corruption, unemployment, and the abrupt internet blackout, chanting slogans like “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” (“KP Oli you thief, leave the country”). The “Gen Z” movement – as the organizers call it – reflects a generational surge of anger at Nepal’s governance woes, marking the worst unrest the country has seen in decades.
With public buildings burned and reports of jail breaks and vandalism, the situation remains volatile despite the government’s promises of inquiries and reform measures.
India Issues Travel Advisory
As the crisis intensified in Nepal, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a formal travel advisory urging Indian citizens to postpone all non-essential travel to Nepal until the situation stabilizes.
This advisory – released on September 10, 2025 – emphasizes several safety measures for travelers and expatriates:
- Defer Travel: Indians are advised to avoid non-essential trips to Nepal for the time being.
- Shelter in Place: Indian citizens already in Nepal should stay indoors, avoid venturing out onto the streets, and keep away from protest areas.
- Follow Official Guidance: Travelers should adhere to curfews and safety instructions issued by local Nepali authorities, and stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for updates or assistance (the embassy has circulated emergency helpline numbers for those in need).
Indian nationals in Nepal have essentially been told to “shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets and exercise all due caution,” as per the MEA’s statement.
The advisory also conveyed condolences for lives lost in the Nepali “mob violence” and urged all sides in Nepal to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue.
In addition to the central government’s warning, several Indian states and local authorities have echoed the message. For example, the Maharashtra State Emergency Operations Centre issued its own advisory telling residents to avoid travel to Nepal and instructed any citizens already there to remain safe indoors and follow the instructions of local officials and the Indian Embassy.
Likewise, officials in Gujarat set up helplines for families of tourists from the state who are stranded in Nepal and advised relatives to stay informed on their well-being.
India is not alone in cautioning its travelers. In a sign of wider regional alarm, other countries including Russia and Israel have similarly warned their citizens against visiting Nepal until calm is restored.
Nepal’s own government has imposed curfews and internet blackouts during the height of the unrest, underscoring that the country is currently not in a normal state for visitors.
The flurry of travel advisories reflects growing international concern that the ongoing Kathmandu unrest poses genuine safety risks to foreigners and locals alike.
Travel Disruptions and Tourism Impact
The turmoil in Nepal has caused significant disruptions to travel and tourism infrastructure, stranding many travelers and prompting emergency measures.
Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, the country’s main air gateway, was temporarily shut down on September 9 when violent protests gripped the capital, leading to suspension of all flights and leaving hundreds of passengers – including over 400 Indians – stuck at the airport.
“Air travel between the two nations has also been suspended as most airports in Nepal remain closed,” NDTV reported during the peak of the crisis.
Stranded travelers described chaotic scenes as outgoing flights were canceled and incoming planes were diverted.
With the airport closed and public transport halted by street blockades, the Indian government scrambled to assist its citizens.
Once Nepali authorities regained control and reopened Kathmandu airport on September 10, India’s Civil Aviation Ministry coordinated with airlines to launch special relief flights to evacuate Indian nationals.
Air India and IndiGo operated additional flights from New Delhi to Kathmandu and back to ferry those who had been marooned during the unrest.
“Air India is operating special flights today and tomorrow from Delhi to Kathmandu and back to help passengers who have been stranded due to the recent developments in Nepal,” the airline announced, noting that regular scheduled operations would resume thereafter.
Budget carrier IndiGo likewise added extra services, including relief flights on September 11, and by that date it had resumed a normal schedule of four daily flights on the India–Nepal route.
To prevent opportunistic pricing amid the surge in demand, Indian authorities instructed airlines to keep fares reasonable during the crisis. Aviation officials in Delhi monitored ticket prices closely as large numbers of tourists rushed to return home.
Thanks to these efforts, by mid-September flight operations were largely back on track, though travelers were still advised to reconfirm their bookings and expect possible delays.
Overland travel between India and Nepal has been severely affected as well. The two neighbors share a 1,751 km open border that normally allows unrestricted movement of people and goods under a longstanding treaty.
However, in response to the Nepal unrest, India tightened security along the frontier and restricted cross-border movement as a precaution.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (India’s border guarding force) and local police units were put on high alert to prevent any spillover of violence into Indian territory.
At key border checkpoints – such as Gauriphanta in Uttar Pradesh and Panitanki in West Bengal – officials temporarily blocked entry of Nepali citizens into India, while allowing Indian nationals to return from Nepal.
In a reciprocal step, Nepali authorities for a time stopped Indian citizens from crossing into Nepal (though Nepali citizens coming home from India were permitted).
These extraordinary measures resulted in traffic snarls and trade disruptions: long lines of cargo trucks were seen stranded at border towns as inspections intensified and some trade routes were partially closed.
Tourism traffic was also hit, with cross-border buses and private vehicles limited or halted. Indian border state governments, like Bihar and Uttarakhand, issued alerts in their districts adjoining Nepal, advising vigilance and in some cases even setting up temporary shelters for travelers delayed by the border controls.
While some restrictions have since been eased as the situation in Nepal calmed slightly, border officials continue to enforce heightened screenings, reflecting the uncertainty over how the unrest might evolve.
Beyond the immediate operational disruptions, Nepal’s burgeoning tourism industry is bracing for broader impacts. The vivid images of street battles in Kathmandu – from iconic landmarks like Singha Durbar (the historic administrative complex) engulfed in flames to clashes in tourist-frequented areas – have prompted many tour operators to cancel or rethink upcoming trips.
Nepal only recently rebounded from pandemic lows in tourism, and India is its largest source of foreign tourists in normal times.
In fact, India has “always topped the number of visitors coming to Nepal,” according to Nepal Tourism Board data. For example, in a single month (June 2025), over 32,000 Indian tourists traveled to Nepal by air – accounting for about 43% of total arrivals that month.
With such a heavy reliance on Indian travelers, any prolonged travel warning or public fear could deal a blow to Nepal’s travel and hospitality sector.
Hotel bookings in Kathmandu have already seen a wave of cancellations, and local businesses that cater to tourists (from trekking guides to souvenir shops) are reporting a sudden drop in customers.
The trekking routes and heritage sites that usually draw international visitors are empty at the moment due to safety concerns and curfews. Neighboring China and other countries in the region are likewise monitoring the situation, though Indian tourists (given the proximity and cultural ties) are the most immediately impacted by the advisory.
Meanwhile, travel insurance companies are receiving inquiries about coverage for Nepal trips, and some airlines have offered fee waivers for date changes to Nepal-bound tickets.
Why It Matters
The issuance of an Indian travel advisory for Nepal amid these Gen Z–led protests has significant implications for regional travel and stability.
Nepal and India share an open border and deep people-to-people connections, with thousands of Indians visiting Nepal for tourism, business, and pilgrimage every month.
A turbulent Nepal not only raises safety worries but also threatens to disrupt these daily exchanges. Tourism is a cornerstone of Nepal’s economy – contributing around 7% to GDP pre-pandemic – and Indian visitors form a sizeable chunk of that market.
Should the unrest continue, travel industry stakeholders fear a sharp downturn in tourist arrivals, which would hurt local employment from Kathmandu’s hotels to Pokhara’s trekking guides.
It also poses challenges for Indian tour operators and travelers who must adjust itineraries or postpone plans, especially for upcoming festival seasons and winter treks that are popular in Nepal.
From a broader perspective, India’s proactive caution underscores the importance of Nepal’s stability for the wider South Asian region.
New Delhi has a strategic interest in a peaceful Nepal – evidenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the violence “heart-wrenching” and emphasizing that Nepal’s peace, stability and prosperity are crucial for India.
Travel planners and travelers alike are closely monitoring the evolving situation, since conditions on the ground and government guidance can change rapidly.
For now, safety takes priority over leisure, and those with essential reasons to travel to Nepal are advised to stay vigilant, avoid large gatherings, and keep informed through official channels.
The hope is that calm will be restored soon – allowing Nepal to return to normalcy, and enabling the resumption of the vibrant cross-border travel that so many in both countries cherish.