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About Nepal

nepal

Nepal is a small landlocked country with a diversity of natural and cultural wealth you will find in few places on earth. The land rises abruptly from the sweltering Terai plains in the south at 60 meters above sea level to the freezing heights of the Himalayan in the north well above 8000 meters culminating in the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8848 meters - with lush sub- tropical forests, green hills and valleys in between - within a distance of a mere 200 km. The tale of the country dates back to the time when the Gods and goddesses communed with the mortals. Religion and festivals are an integral part of every day life here. People still respect centuries old culture and tradition and history still lives on here among the numerous beautiful temples, monuments and palaces of exquisite art and architecture.

Access To Nepal

The Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) is the national flag carrier of Nepal with flight connections to: Delhi, Mumbai in India; Bangkok in Thailand; Osaka in Japan; Hong Kong, Shanghai in China; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Dubai in United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Other international airlines connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the world are Biman Bangladesh to Dacca in Bangladesh; China Airlines to Lhasa in Tibetan Autonomous Region of China; Druk Air to Paro in Bhutan and New Delhi in India; Gulf Air to Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates; Indian Airlines to Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi in India; Qatar Airways to Doha in Qatar; Thai International to Bangkok in Thailand.

Since Nepal has India in three sides and China in the north, coming to Nepal by land requires one to pass through India or China. The entry points to Nepal from India are Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Belhiya, Bhairawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi and Mahendra Nagar. The Kodari Pass in Nepal-China border is the entry point to Nepal from China. Tourists entering the kingdom by land must possess an international carnet.

Accomodation (Where To Stay)

Nepal today has altogether 214 big and small hotels which are registered with the Department of Tourism, ranging from 5 star deluxe category to the small one star and tourist standard hotels. A general outline of facilities available in five, four and three star hotels are given below :

Five Star Hotels:
A five star hotel has all it's rooms air-conditioned, well furnished and with attached bath. More than two restaurants and bars serving a variety of cuisine and drinks, swimming pool, tennis court, beauty parlour, sauna, health club. Banquet and conference facilities and a variety of other modern luxurious facilities are also available.

Four Star Hotels:
The four star hotels in Kathmandu constitute of air-conditioned, well furnished room with attached bath, ore than one restaurant, garden, banquet and conference facilities – though in a slightly smaller scale.

Three Star Hotels:
The three star hotels have air-conditioned rooms with attached bath and standard furnishings. A minimum of one restaurant and bar are available with standard luxury.

Communication Facilities

Postal Services: The Central Post Office located near Sundhara or Bhimsen Tower, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The counters are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provide stamps, postcards and aerograms. Post Restante is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at GPO and at Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters.

Telephone Services:
Telephone, fax, telex and telegraph services are available at the Nepal Telecommunications Corporation at Tripureshwar. Hotels and private communications centers provide long distance telephone. For calling from outside, country code for Nepal is 977 and the area code for Kathmandu is 1.

Internet Services:
Several Internet cafes and communication centers have opened up in the Valley and around the country in the past few years. Visitors only have to find a place they are most comfortable in to use the facilities to keep in touch with home. E-mail and Internet services are also offered by hotels.

Media:
Nepali media has sped light years ahead in just a few years time and what used to be a controlled and tight knit community, is so no more. The government audio and television news networks are Radio Nepal and Nepal Television respectively. However, numerous FM radio stations and upcoming regional television stations are dominating the market. Major Nepali daily newspapers are Gorkhapatra and Kantipur, while the English dailies are The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan. A number of other newspapers and magazines are also available.

Electricity:
Major towns have electricity and the voltage available is 220-volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding is sometimes experienced. However, most major hotels have installed their own generators.

Customs Formalities

Customs:
All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry.Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for detailed customs clearance.

Import:
Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarette (200) or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one 1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binocular, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system.

Export:
The export of antiques require special certification from the Department of Archeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old like sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong here.

Entry Procedure and Visa Rules

Nationals of SAARC countries and China do not need visa when visiting Nepal. As per this rule, Indian nationals do not require visa. However, effective from October 2000, Indians traveling to Nepal by air have to show upon arrival at entry point a valid photo identity like a passport, voter's identity or an identify card issued by the Indian government. Temporary identity card with photographs issued by Nepal-based Indian diplomatic missions is considered in case of exception. Children under 10 years need not show any identification.

Other non-Nepali visitors do not need visa to be in Nepal for three days. Visa must be obtained for staying over the initial period of three days. Free visa is to be given to tourists for re-entry to Nepal provided they stay at least for 15 days in the country in that visa year.

  1. First single entry to Nepal for 60 days from the date of entry is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible foreign or Nepali currency. The second entry in the same visa year for 30 days from the date of entry is US $ 30.
  2. Multiple entry for one visa year is US $ 50 plus US $ 30 for single entry or equivalent convertible foreign or Nepali currency.
  3. The visitors who wish to stay for more than 60 days in Nepal can extend their tourist visa by paying US $ 30 or equivalent convertible foreign or Nepali currency for 30 days from the Department of Immigration.
  4. For foreign investors business visa with multiple entry facility for a period of one year and five years can be obtained from the Department of Immigration on the recommendation of Department of Industry and Commerce by paying US $ 100 and US $ 250 or equivalent convertible foreign or Nepali currency.

Ethics and Etiqutte

Nepalis practice cultural etiquettes that may sometimes appear unusual to visitors. However, a handful of tips could acquaint visitors with these otherwise strange practices.
  1. The form of greeting in Nepal is 'namaste' performed by joining palms together.
  2. As a mark of respect Nepalis usually take off their shoes before entering someone's home, temple or stupa.
  3. Food or material that contains another's saliva is considered 'jutho' or impure.
  4. Touching something with feet or using left hand to give or take is considered offense among Nepalis.
  5. Women wearing skimpy outfits are frowned upon especially in the rural parts of the country.
  6. As a part of the tradition some Hindu temples do not allow westerners to enter.
  7. Leather articles are prohibited inside temple precinct.
  8. Walking around temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise.
  9. To avoid conflict photography is carried out after receiving permission from the object or person.
  10. Public displays of affection between man and woman are scandalous.
  11. Nodding head and a slight dangling of head from left to right means 'Yes' while shaking head means a 'No.'

Foreign Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipts from such transaction are to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange money at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival also. Indian currency of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 bills are not allowed to be brought into Nepal. They will not be exchanged and will not be accepted for transaction of any kind.

Credit cards like the American Express, Visa and Master Card are accepted. Convertible currencies are as follows: Dollar (U.S., Australian, Hong Kong, Canadian, Singapore); Euro(Swiss, French, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy); Pound (U.K.);Yen (Japan). Please retain your encashment for changing back local currency into foreign currency on departure at exit points or at Tribhuvan International Airport departure lounge.

Banks in Kathmandu Valley are open between 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday. They are closed on Saturdays, Sunday and other public holidays. In other places banks are open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Mondays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Fridays and are closed on Saturdays and government holidays. ATM machines are located in a few banks in the capital. Money can be transferred from other parts of the world from the numerous transfer agencies in the capital.

Getting Around

Visitors can go to different parts of Nepal either by road or by air. Among domestic airlines of Nepal the Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) provides extensive network. Other domestic airlines more than 18 in operation provide regular and charter services to popular domestic destinations. Excepting weather conditions Nepal's domestic air service is known to be punctual and reliable.
Buses are available to different parts of the capital and the kingdom from the new bus park in Gongabu and the old bus park in Sundhara. Regular bus services operate within the three cities in Kathmandu Valley. Scheduled bus services for outside the Valley operate from the Gongabu Bus Terminal. There are tourist bus services to selected places offered by a few travel agencies. In addition, one can also hire private vehicles at nominal rates.

Airport bus carries passengers from the airport into the city. Getting around Kathmandu Valley is made easier by metered taxis that can be hailed off the streets and are easily recognizable by the taxi sign and their black number plates. No tip is expected. Night taxis are available for higher prices. Three wheeler scooters that are cheaper than taxis are also available. For cheaper rides buses and teeny vans called micro buses are available to different parts of the Valley. Battery run scooters also serve the same purpose. Airport tax is applicable to Nepali and non-Nepali citizens who use airport facilities. The airport tax specified for different flights from Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) and other domestic airports are as follows:

  1. International Sector TIA and Other Airports
    1. SAARC Regions Rs. 700/- Rs. 500/-
    2. Other Countries Rs. 1000/- Rs. 750/-
  2. Domestic Sector
    1. Rs 150/- at TIA, Pokhara, Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Simara, Bhairawa, Lukla, Neplagunj, Jomsom and Meghauli Airports.
    2. Rs 125/- at Rajbiraj, Janakpur, Bharatpur, Tikapur, Dang, Surkeht, Dhangadi and Mahendranagar.
    3. Other airports which does not fall under the category of (a) and (b) will be charged Rs.50/-

Note: In addition, VAT (10% value added tax) will be imposed on the above mentioned rates.

Trekking Permit

The Department of Immigration located at Brikhutimandap (Tel 223590) issues permit for tourists who intend to trek on any part of the country. Trekking permits are as follows.

Trekking Trekking Permit Fee
1. Dolpa and Kanchenjunga Equivalent to US $ 10 per person per week for the first four weeks and US $ 20 per week thereafter.
2. Manaslu US$ 75(Dec-Aug) per person per week US$ 90(Sep-Nov) per person per week.
3. Simikot US$ 90 per person per week.
4. Mustang and Upper Dolpa US$ 700 per person for the first ten days and US$ 70 per person per day thereafter.

Note: Trekking to Dolpa, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Simikot and Mustang can be undertaken through registered trekking agencies only.

Health Guide

Medical Services:
Medical facilities in Kathmandu Valley are sound. All kinds of medicines, including those imported from overseas are available in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Valley also offers the services of major general hospitals and private clinics. Health posts have been set up by the government in different parts of rural Nepal. However, facilities are not on par with those found in Kathmandu Valley.

Insurance: A travel insurance policy that covers theft, loss and medical treatment is recommended. Make sure the insurance also covers the activities that you will be undertaking during your stay in Nepal such as trekking, rafting.

Immunization:
Visitors do not need any particular immunization for visit. Vaccinations for cholera, meningitis, tetanus and diphtheria, typhoid and gamma globulin should, however, be considered. It may be a good idea to get a complete check-up before departure.

Medical Kit:
A simple but adequate medical kit can be very useful while traveling. The following items are recommended: Aspirin or Panadol - for pain or fever; Antihistamine - as a decongestant for colds, allergies and to help prevent motion sickness; Antibiotics - useful if traveling off beaten track but they must be prescribed; Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomotil - for stomach upsets; Rehydration mixture - for treatment of severe diarrhoea; Antiseptic, mercurochrome and antibiotic powder or similar 'dry' spray - for cuts and grazes.

Other things to be include are:
Calamine lotion to ease irritation from bites or stings, bandages and band aids for minor injuries, scissors, tweezers, thermometer, insect repellent, sun block lotion, chopsticks, water-purification tablets, throat lozenges (Strepsils), moleskin, Sulamyd 10% eye drops, Acetaminophen (Paracetamol, Antacid tablets).

General Knowledge:
It would be hard to know all aspects of Nepal's health problems. However, it would be useful to gather information on altitude sickness (AMS), diarrhoea, giardia, dysentery, cholera, hepatitis rabies, typhoid, tetanus, meningitis diphtheria, malaria and HIV/AIDS Common sense can often save lives.

Prevention, the Best Medicine:
Stomach upsets are the most likely travel health problem but the majority of these cases are minor problems. Thoroughly cooked food is the safest but not if it has been left to cool. One should be careful about what one eats and drinks. The number one rule is not to drink tap water or other water from open sources. Reputable brands of bottled water or soft drinks are available. While drinking and eating it is important to make sure that water which may be unsafe has not been added.

Do not drink unpasteurized milk. Boiled milk is fine if it is kept hygienically and yoghurt is usually good. Tea or coffee should also be all right since the water would have been boiled. Salads and fruit should be washed with purified water or peeled where possible. Food, drink and snack from reputable sources are usually safe. However beware of food that has been kept out in the open for long.

Wash your hands frequently, as it is quite easy to contaminate your own food. You should clean your teeth with purified water rather than straight from the tap. Avoid climatic extremes: keep out of the sun when it is hot, dress warmly when it is cold. Avoid potential diseases by dressing sensibly. Do not walk bare feet as it is easy to get worm infections through bare feet. Try to avoid insect bites by covering bare skin when insects are around, by screening windows or by using, insect repellents.

Climate

Nepal has a typical monsoonal two-season year. There's the dry season from October to May while wet season of the monsoons last from June to September. The start of dry season September and November is the best time of the year in Nepal. With the end of monsoons and onset of fall the countryside is green and lush. Nepalis celebrate their two popular festivals, Dashain and Tihar during this time. Summer months in Nepal are from April to September while winter months are from November to March. In the north summers are mild and winters harsh while in south summers are extreme and winters mild.

BEST SEASON

The most preferred time for traveling in Nepal is from mid-September - right after the monsoon all the way through April.

Temperature Chart (In Degree Celsius)

MONTHS KATHMANDU POKHARA CHITWAN
  MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN
Jan 19 2 20 8 24 7
Feb 20 4 21 8 26 8
Mar 25 8 27 11 33 12
Apr 30 11 20 16 36 18
May 34 16 35 19 36 18
June 30 20 31 20 35 23
July 20 21 30 21 33 24
Aug 29 20 30 21 33 24
Sep 27 19 29 20 32 22
Oct 23 15 27 18 31 18
Nov 23 4 23 11 29 12
Dec 20 2 20 8 24 8


Rainfall Chart

MONTHS KATHMANDU POKHARA CHITWAN
Jan 25 15 10
Feb 25 15 10
Mar 75 30 10
Apr 50 50 15
May 100 300 200
June 225 575 300
July 375 800 500
Aug 360 700 450
Sept 175 575 400
Oct 50 220 100
Nov 10 20 5
Dec 10 5 5


Climate Chart

Months Chance of dry day Hours of sunshine
  ktm Pkr ktm Pkr
Jan 95% 94% 5:55 5:9
Feb 91% 94% 5:39 6:3
Mar 93% 89% 7:39 7:19
Apr 85% 80% 9:30 8:59
May 74% 53% 5:43 5:17
June 54% 5% 4:54 4:02
July 33% 3% 2:37 2:04
Aug 37% 3% 2:23 1:34
Sep 362% 7% 3:18 1:44
Oct 88% 64% 5:12 4:30
Nov 98% 96% 5:12 4:51
Dec 99% 99% 5:06 5:12


Clothing

Lightweight cotton clothing is recommended from May through October. Warm clothes are needed for winter. An umbrella or a raincoat is a necessary for the monsoons. For those planning to take trips around the nation, appropriate clothing is required depending on location and weather conditions of the area at the time.

Business Hours & Working Days

Time and business hours: Nepal is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT. Government offices within Kathmandu Valley open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer and from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. in the winter. Outside the Valley, government offices open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer and from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. in winter.

Holidays: Except public holidays, Saturdays and Sundays are the weekend holidays in the Kathmandu Valley when most government offices are closed. Outside the Valley government offices are closed only on Saturdays. Most businesses are closed only on Saturdays.

Security for Visitors

Tourist Police was established in 1979 under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The special unit has been designated the task of providing security to visitors. The team of Tourist Police consists of officers who can speak and understand English and Hindi. They register complaints, investigate matters, provide protection and safety to tourists. They also try to ensure hassle-free trip for visitors and assist tourists when necessary. There are three units of Tourist Police forces in Kathmandu. While the main office is at the Tourist Service Center in Bhrikuti Mandap(Phone: 4247041, 4247037), the other two are in tourist areas Thamel (Phone: 4429750) and Basantapur (Phone: 4268969).

Here are some tips on how visitors can remain safe:
  1. Inform your whereabouts immediately upon arrival to the local police or concerned embassy or consulate.
  2. Use the services of government registered travel and trekking agencies only.
  3. Stay only at government registered hotels, resorts, guest houses and lodges.
  4. Use only those porters who are authorized by your travel agency or hotel.
  5. Exchange foreign currency only at authorized places.
  6. Never carry your wallet in the back pocket.
  7. Make sure your wallet is in the inside jacket pocket or side pocket of the trousers.
  8. Carry certified copies of documents and leave the originals and other valuables in the safe deposit box of your hotel.
  9. Never leave these items unattended in your room.
  10. Do not carry large sums of cash.
  11. Carry travelers' cheques and limited amount of cash while on tour.
  12. Never leave your luggage and other valuables unattended at any time, any place.
  13. In case of theft or loss contact the nearest police station immediately.

What to do?

There is much to do in Nepal. Visitors start with Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu Valley offers ample historical sites to pacify the curiosity of historians and archeologists. The city itself is like a big open museum ever ready to unfold its age-old sagas to the interested. The juxtaposition of modernity among the ancient make it a little city of bemusement. There are several avenues for sport, adventure and entertainment in Kathmandu.

Outside Kathmandu too there are numerous things to do for visitors. Pokhara, is another popular tourist city from where most trekking heads in the region can be reached. Visitors are fascinated by the enchanting Pokhara Valley glistening with numerous lakes and crowned by the famous Himalayan peaks in the north. Many visitors come to Nepal specifically with the purposes of mountaineering and trekking. Nepal also offers popular sport activities like bungy jumping, paragliding, hot-air ballooning and mountain flying.

From the wild to the more sophisticated, golf games are also played in Nepal. Courses in the country's capital and a few other cities provide good golfing facilities. For entertainment there are discotheques, bars and pubs in the country's main cities. For those who want to take back home a bagful of souvenirs and rare Nepali goodies along with memories, a guide to good shopping is required. For more information please read from the sections of culture, nature, adventure and entertainment on our web site.

Where to go?

There are many places to visit in Nepal. It starts with Kathmandu Valley which is the gateway to the Himalayan Kingdom. The highlight of a visit to Nepal is the experience of the mighty mountains. Visitors can choose from the different regions of Nepal where they can see tall peaks or go mountaineering.

North Nepal is guarded by mountains while one needs to go toward the south to see the jungles of Terai. Famous tourist places in Central Nepal including Kathmandu Valley are Pokhara, Gorkha, Janakpur, Tansen, Lumbini, Chitwan, Langtang, Manaslu and Mustang. In East Nepal the most attractive for tourists is the Sagarmatha region considering this is where they get to see Mt. Everest. Taplejung, Illam, Koshi Tappu, Dhankuta/Hile are other tourist destinations in the east. In West Nepal Dolpo, Rukum, Banke, Bardiya, Khaptad, Kanchanpur offer tourists ample opportunity to experience the taste of Nepal. For more information please read from the sections of culture, nature, adventure and entertainment on our web site.

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