It borders with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the
People's Republic of China in the North and India in the East, South
and West respectively.
147,181 sq. kilometers.
Situated between China in the north and India in the South.
Varies from 70 meters to 8848 meters.
Kathmandu
22 Million
Nepali is the national language. However travel-trade people understand
and speak English as well.
Nepal Time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead
of Indian standard time.
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Nepal has four major seasons, namely, (1) Winter: December-February,
(2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer: June-August, (4) Autumn: September-
November.
Nepal can be visited the whole year round.
Multi-party Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy.
Nepal enjoys the distinction of being the only Hindu Kingdom in
the world. However, there is a harmonious blending of Hinduism and
Buddhism. We also have Islam and Christianity in the country.
Nepal has more than 40 ethnic groups and 70 spoken languages.
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Except in formal gathering informal clothes are acceptable mostly
everywhere. Light weight clothing is recommended for May through
October. Warm garments are required in October-March. An umbrella
or a rain coat are must for the rainy season.
| Currency
& Foreign Exchange |
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the 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. Master
cards and VISA cards are also accepted in tourists areas.
One can get a visa at the Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate
or at the airport upon arrival. Children under 10 years need not
pay any visa fees. Two passport size photos mandatory.
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Free Visa for tourists of SAARC countries and People’s Republic
of China.
Visa Fee:
Single entry – US$ 30 for 60 days
Multiple entry – US$ 50 + US$ 30
Visa fee will be extended subsequently for 30 days upon payment
of US$ 30 for a maximum period of 150 days in a visa year (Jan-Dec)
For further information please contact:
Department of Immigration, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu
Tel: +977-1-4223681 / 4470650
Website: www.immi.gov.np
By Air: Tribhuvan Internaitonal Airport, Kathmandu.
By Land: (1) Kakarbhitta (2) Birgunj (3) Belhiya (Bhairahawa) (4)
Nepalgunj (5) Dhangadi (6) Jogbani (Biratnagar) and (7) Mahendra
Nagar in Nepal-lndia border and Kodari in Nepal-China border. The
overland tourists entering the Kingdom with their vehicles must
possess an international carnet.
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All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on
arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry.
A tourist may bring in dutiable goods, such as tobacco and liquors,
within the prescribed quantity free of duty. Carrying narcotics,
arms and ammunition are strictly prohibited. Visitors can export
souvenirs to their respective countries. The export of antiques
requires special certificate from the Department of Archaeology,
National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. (Tel: +977-1-4215358)
Royal Nepal Airlines the national flag carrier of Nepal and other
International airlines operate scheduled flights to Kathmandu from
Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Dhaka, Paro, Varanasi,
Frankfurt, Paris, Hongkong, Karachi, London, Moscow, Singapore and
Lhasa.The International Airlines operating their flights to Kathmandu
include Aeroflot, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, China South West irlines,
Druk Air, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines,
Singapore Airlines and Thai International.
Rs. 770/- per person for departure to SAARC (South Asian) Countries
and Rs. 1100/- for departure to other international destinations.
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Royal Nepal Arilines has an extensive network of air services
in the interior of Nepal. This include Taplejung, Bhadrapur, Rajbiraj,
Bhojpur, Phapl, Lukla, Lamidanda Tumlingtar, Rumjatar, and Biratnagar
in the East; Nepalgunj, Chaurjhari, Surkhet, Dang, Rolpa and Jumla,
in the Mid-West, and kolti, Mahendranagar, Dhangadi, Silgadi (Doti),
Tikapur, Sanphebagar, Baitadi, and Darchula in the Far Western Region.
Besides Royal Nepal Airlines, the other domestic airlines such as
Nepal Airways, Everest Air, Asian Airlines Helicopter, Necon Air
provide regular and charter services to different popular domestic
destinations.
Royal Nepal Airlines and other domestic Airlines in the private
sector also operate breathtaking mountain flights for the tourists
round the year.
In addition to metered taxis, limousine service is also available
at the airport for transport to major hotels in the city.
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| Other
Transport Arrangement |
Metered taxis having black plates with white figures are available
in Kathmandu. Metered tempos (three wheeler scooter) are also available
and are slightly cheaper than taxis. Bicycles, motorcycles and rickshaws
are also available on hire. The fare for the bicycles or motorcycles
is fixed wheareas the fare of rickshaws is to be negotiated. There
are regular bus services between the main town of the Kathmandu
Valley. The Bus Terminal is located at Gongabu (new bus terminal)
and Bagbazar (old bus terminal). Similarly, scheduled bus services
for outside the Valley operate from the Gongabu Bus Terminal which
is located at Balaju, Kathmandu.
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Trekking permit is not essential for the general trekking areas
such as the Everest, the Annapurna, the Langtang and Rana. Trekking
permit should be obtained for the following places.
| Areas of lower Dolpa. |
| Taplejung District (kanchanjanga Region) |
| Sankhuwasabha District (Makalu Region) |
| Solukhumbu District (Everest Region) |
| Rasuwa District |
| Manang District |
| Mugu District |
| Baihang District |
| Darchula District |
| Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpa District |
| Gorkha District (Manaslu Area) |
| Humla District. |
Note: To get a group trekking permit an application form should
be submitted through any registered trekking agency of Nepal
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Nepal has every type of accommodation facilities that a tourist
might ask for. This ranges from the international standard star
hotels to budget hotels and lodges. Similarly one can also have
a choice of sightseeing from a range of different tour packages.
In order to have an assured quality service it is advisable to use
the facilities and services of government registered hotels, lodges,
travel agencies the licensed tour guides only and engage an authorized
guide or porter only through a registered travel/trekking agency.
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| Major
Tourist Attractions |
Very few countries in the world can offer as many varieties of
adventure tourism packages as Nepal. Of the 14 peaks above 8000
meters in the world eight are located in Nepal. It is the land of
Sagarmatha (Mount. Everest, 8848 meters), the highest peak in the
world and other 1310 mountain peaks.
For those who can not withstand the rigorousness of mountain climbing
there are mountain flights which fly around the Mount Everest and
provide a close look of the top of the world. Also from Nagarkot
(32 kilometers East of Kathmandu) and Daman (80 Kilometers south-west
of Kathmandu) one can have a distant view of Mount Everest and beautiful
Himalayan ranges. Trekking is the best way to get to interesting
and remote mountain villages of Nepal and to enjoy views of the
famous peaks together with their lifestyle untouched with modern
civilization.
The river rafting,which is known as "White Water Adventure"
represents another major attractions. Within distance of 100 miles,
one can see the topographical variations with the rivers rising
from the higher points near Nepal's Tibetan border and then dropping
dramatically to lower levels the plains bordering India. For those
who wish to view wildlife, Nepal offers plenty of scope. Of the
eight National Parks and four Wildlife Reserves and two conservation
areas in Nepal.
For the less adventures, Pokhara, the lake city of Nepal has no
equal as it provides ample opportunities for fishing, swimming,
canoeing and boating along with the sightseeing of majestic panoramic
views in its background. It is only Pokhara, a tropical spot with
an altitude of about 900 meters where from one can see the mountain
crossing over 8000meters from such a short distance of about 40
kilometers. For the nature lovers Nepal is such a land of natural
beauty that metaphors cannot delineate its real picture. At the
sametime, Nepal proffers an incomparable scope to the scholars and
connoiseurs of art and culture to see and study the different aspects
of the fine-arts be it painting, sculpture, wood carving or architecture.
Kathmandu Valley possesses several historical monuments, old palaces
and palace squares, shrines and temples, ageless traditions and
legends all make it a living museum that any visitor would cherish
its vivid memory in his/her heart for ever. Nepal is the land of
Lord Pashupatinath, which is supposed to be the holiest Hindu temple
in the world. Besides, two out of the four main holy places (chhetras)
of Hindu pilgrimages namely Muktichhetra and Varahachhetra,are located
in Nepal. Not only for the Hindus but also for the Buddhists Nepal
offers a unique place of pilgrimage as it happens to be the birthplace
of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace and compassion.
Nepal is a land of Festivals with some part of the Kingdom or the
other celebrating some festival during everyday of the year. Festivals
may be linked with the remembrance of the departed soul, to herald
the different seasons, to mark the beginning or end of the agricultural
cycle, to mark the national events, or just family celebrations.
On a festive day the Nepalese take their ritual bath, worship different
gods and goddesses, visit temple, observe fasting and undertake
feasting. The most important aspect of Nepali culture is the religious
harmony and understanding prevailing among the Hindus and Buddhist.
Some of the major festivals of Nepal are:
| Matatirtha Aunsi or Mother's
Day - (April) |
| Buddha Jayanti - (April) |
| Machchendranath Rath Jatra-
(May-June) |
| Guru Poornima (August) |
| Gaijatra (August) |
| Krishnashtami - (August-September) |
| Gokarna Aunsi or Father's Day - (August-September) |
| Indra Jatra - (September) |
| Bada Dashain - (September-October) |
| Tihar- (October-November) |
| Bala Chaturdarshi - (November-December)
|
| Birthday of His Majesty the King - (December
28, ie. Paush 14) |
| Basanta Panchami - (January-February) |
| Maha Shivaratri - (March-April) |
| Ghode Jatra - (March-April) |
If someone really wants to be away for sometime from the cacophony
of modernization, here is Nepal, the best sojourn cradled in the
lap of the Himalayas that never cases to offer eternal peace and
tranquility.
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