Indian tourists made payments worth 1.60 Arba in Nepal through QR codes, with Pashupatinath Temple being a hotspot.

Kathmandu – Indian tourists have made QR payments worth over 1.60 billion (1.60 Arba) in Nepal over the past year. More than 560,000 transactions were processed through PhonePay QR codes, contributing to over 1.50 billion (1.50 Arba) in total payments.

QR payment services for Indian tourists in Nepal began last year. According to PhonePay, retail outlets accounted for the largest share of QR payments at 27%, followed by restaurants at 19.68% and hotels and resorts at 15.4%.

Bagmati Province saw the highest volume of QR payments by Indian tourists, accounting for 44% of the total. It was followed by Gandaki at 15%, Sudurpaschim at 14%, Lumbini and Madhesh at 9% each, Koshi at 8%, and Karnali at 1%.

Key QR payment hotspots for Indian tourists included Pashupatinath Temple, Thamel, Lakeside in Pokhara, Jomsom, and hospitals near the border areas.

Currently, more than 67,000 merchants across Nepal accept UPI payments, including in remote areas like Dolpa, Achham, and Bajhang.

Indian tourists have used PhonePay QR codes for a wide range of transactions. PhonePay also reported that Indian tourists have made UPI payments at altitudes exceeding 13,000 feet, including at Everest Base Camp.

Approximately 42% of the transactions through the PhonePay network ranged from 1,000 to 5,000, primarily spent on food, shopping, and travel. Over 48,000 Indian tourists have made UPI payments more than three times during their visit to Nepal.

The cross-border QR payment system was established through an agreement between Nepal’s PhonePay and India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in Bhadra 2080