Nepal

Country or Region Description

The Kingdom of Nepal is not only home to the highest mountain in the world, the deepest gorge, abundant rivers, temples and palaces, but is also home to a rich and diverse ethnic culture.

Home to the brave Gurkhas, and the legendary Sherpas, cultures steeped in rich traditions, Nepal personifies the genuine warmth of the smiling Nepalese.

The only Hindu Kingdom in the world, Nepal offers incredible opportunities for adventure in its diverse terrain from the high Himalaya to the plains, forming the Tarai belt. The cultural traditions that are an inherent part of Nepali life can be explored and participated in.

Country Facts

Location: East Asia

Area: 140,800 square kilometres

Population: 28,902,000

Capital: Kathmandu (535,000)

Time: 10.75 hours ahead of New York/Toronto and 13.75 hours ahead of Los Angeles/Vancouver

Language: Nepali (official), Newari, Bhutia, Maithali

Religion: Hindu, Buddhist

Currency: Nepalese Rupee (Rupee = 100 Paise)

Climate: JAN APR JUL OCT

Kathmandu 10 20 24 20 Temp C

Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz

City Code: 977, Kathmandu 1

Business Hours:

Banks: 1000-1430 Mon - Fri

Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300 Sat

Shops: 0930-1900 Sun-Fri

National Holidays:

National Unity Day, Martyrs' Memorial Day, National Democracy Day, International Women's Day, Phagu Purnima/Holi, Solar New Year, Constitution Day, HM the King's Birthday.

Tipping: If service charge is not included, 10% is normal.

Licence: International driving licence is required.

Immunization: Cholera, Malaria, Typhoid, Polio.

Passport/Visa: Passport and visa required.

Airport: Kathmandu airport is 8 km from the city.

Airport tax: NPR 1100.

Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted.

Distances:

Flying from Kathmandu to:

Delhi 1 hr 45 mins

Calcutta 1 hr 30 mins

Things to know about Nepal before you go

Passports & Visitor Visas & Trekking Visas

Foreign visitors wishing to visit Nepal should be in possession of a valid national passport (with at least 6 months validity) and valid Visas granted by the Nepalese Missions abroad. Entry Visas and trekking Visas for most nationalities may also be obtained upon arrival in Kathmandu, at the airport, provided you have 2 passport size/quality photographs. There are costs for trekking Visas. Please re-confirm at time of booking.

The new Multiple Entry Visa fee will be as follows:

01-15 days US$ 25.00 per person

16-30 days US$ 40.00 per person

31-90 days US$ 100.00 per person

Vaccinations

Certificates against Typhoid and Cholera are not required. Yellow fever certificate is required by persons arriving from an epidemic area.

Customs

Free allowance of 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco. Alcoholic liquor up to 1 litre is permitted duty free.

Currency

The currency of Nepal is the Rupee, which is divided into 100 paise. The Rupee comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000.

Departure Tax

1100 Nepalese Rupees for adults (approximately CAD$22, USD$15).

Health & Water

It is advisable to drink only bottled or distilled water.

Climate

The best time to visit Nepal is October to April when visibility is likely to be good for mountain viewing. Climate is mild. The monsoon season lasts from early June to early October.

Clothing

During the winter months of October to January woollen clothes would be preferred, as the nights can be cold out. The days are generally pleasant and sunny. For the rest of the year, it is milder, so lighter clothing is advised.

Tipping

Hotels and restaurants add 10% service charges on the bills, no further tipping is necessary. If service charge is not included, 10% is normal, unless service has been extraordinary. Porters on treks should be tipped around 100 Nepalese Rupees per day.

Some DOs and DON'Ts

With its diverse ethnic groups and traditional beliefs, Nepal has numerous cultural practices that may appear unusual to a person on his/her first visit to The Country. However, to enjoy your stay in this remarkable country of white Himalayas and sparkling rivers, it is important to take into consideration the different cultural aspects of The Country. Here is a list of things which may be helpful to you.

The form of greeting in Nepal is "namaste" and is performed by joining the palms together.

Before entering a Nepalese home, temple, and stupa remember to remove your shoes.

Be careful not to use your spoon, fork or hands being used for your eating to touch other's food, plate, cooking utensil or the serving dish. Do not eat from other people's plate and do not drink from other people's bottle or glass. It is considered impure by the Nepalese.

Never touch anything with your feet. This is considered an offence among Nepalese.

While travelling, dress appropriately. Women should especially avoid dressing in skimpy outfits.

Seek permission first before entering a Hindu temple. Many Hindu temples do not allow westerners to enter.

Leather articles are prohibited to be taken inside the temple precinct.

Walking around temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise.

Take photographs only after receiving permission for the object or person being photographed.

Public displays of affection between man and woman are frowned upon.

Remember, many times, when a person shakes his head from left to right, he may mean "Yes".

Develop a genuine interest to meet and talk to Nepalese people and respect their local customs.

Arrival Guide

KATHMANDU

The Country's capital and largest city simultaneously emanates of History and the wear and tear of increasing modernity. The tightly packed historical centre, with its squares and temples, continues to preserve a world light years away from the shanty towns, expensive hotels, restaurants and shops on the city's outskirts.

Kathmandu is really two cities: a fabled capital of convivial pilgrims and carved rose-brick temples and an amazing urban sprawl including monkeys and beggars. The sights are heavily clustered in the old part of town. Creativity and patience are required to navigate the city's narrow, often unmarked streets, but if you lose your way, simply ask a passer-by for directions.

Durbar Square, home to the old Royal Palace and the centre of the old town, lies between the river and Kantipath on Ganga Path, the city's busiest road. To its south is Freak Street, once the centre of hippy Kathmandu but now a bit of a backwater.

Thamel, the new tourist epicentre, is about 20 minutes walk north of Durbar Square. This is the spot to find accommodation, food, phone services, trekking gear, bookshops and internet cafes.

Patan, the second-largest city in the valley, lies just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, but it's a much quieter and less frenetic place to visit. The city is justly proud of its temples and artisans and it is their handiwork that provides the focus of the stunning Durbar Square - choc-a-block with the largest display of Newari architecture in Nepal. It includes the Royal Palace, which contains a richly decorated bathtub, and the two-tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple.

A few minutes' walk north of the square is the Golden Temple, a Buddhist monastery guarded by sacred tortoises that potter around the courtyard; and the Kumbeshawar, reputedly the oldest (1392) temple in Patan. South of the square is an area of charming streets lined with metal smiths and brassware shops.

KATHMANDU VALLEY

Apart from Kathmandu and Patan, there are a number of other fascinating villages, temples and stupas scattered around the valley. One of these is probably the best-known site in Nepal - the Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath.

The temple is colloquially known as the 'monkey temple'. Another site is the huge stupa of Bodhnath, which is the largest in The Country and among the largest in the world. It's also the centre for Nepal's considerable population of Tibetans. Surrounding Bodhnath is a number of monasteries, but be discreet and respectful if you intend visiting them. The valley also offers plenty of opportunities to get off the beaten track.

ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

The hot subtropical plains contain some of the most fascinating attractions in Nepal. Foremost among them is the magnificent Royal Chitwan National Park, once the hunting ground of British and Nepalese aristocrats.

Today, the animals - elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard and deer - are protected, not shot. Probably the greatest thrill here is to scout for wildlife on the back of an elephant. If that's too uncomfortable, you can do the same thing in a jeep or canoe, or go jungle walking with experienced guides.

POKHARA

The city of Pokhara is renowned for its setting rather than its historical or cultural endowments. Its quiet lakeside Location and proximity to the mountains mean it is an ideal place for recovering from (or gearing up for) a trek, taking leisurely strolls or simply putting your nose in a good book. And Pokhara has some of The Country's best accommodation and restaurants as well.