LOCATION
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.
AREA: 147,181 sq. kilometers.
ALTITUDE: Varies from 70 meters to 8848 meters.
CAPITAL: Kathmandu.
POPULATION: 1,84,91,097
LANGUAGE:
Nepali is the national language of Nepal. Educated people understand and speak
English as well.
TIME:
Nepal Time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead of Indian
standard time.
CLIMATE
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.
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PEOPLE & RELIGION
Nepalese people are mainly divided into two distinct groups the Indo-Aryans
and the Mangoloids. Kathmandu Valley is the spiritual and cultural meeting point
of all these groups. Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. Hindu Temples
and Buddhist shrines are scattered all over the kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace
of Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia. There is a complex blending of Hinduism and
Buddhism in Nepal.
WHAT TO WEAR
Except in formal gathering informal clothes are acceptable mostly everywhere.
Warm garments are required in October-March. An umbrella or a rain coat are
must for the rainy season.
CURRENCY & FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, Rs. 2, Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs.
100, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations. Coins come in 5p, 1 0p, 25p, Rs. 1
& Rs. 5 denominations.
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign
exchange dealers. The receipts from such transactions are to be obtained and
retained. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at the foreign exchange counter
at the airport upon arrival. Visitor other than the Indian nationals have to
make the payment in hotels, travel or trekking agencies and air tickets in foreign
currency. Non-lndian visitors are not allowed to import or export Indian Currency.
The approximate value of one US Dollar is equivalent to Rs. 50.97 as of June
1995.
ENTRY PROCEDURES
All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold a passport and a valid visa.
The visas can be obtained at the Nepalese Diplomatic Missions and Consuls abroad
and entry points issue visa for a 15 days. The visa will be extended at the
Department of Immigration, Tridevi Marg, Thamel, Tel: 412337/418573. The Department
also issues multi entry visa for the visitors.
ENTRY POINTS:
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.
CUSTOMS
All baggage is subject to customs' check at the point of entry. Visitors are
allowed to bring in the consumable articles such as liquor one bottle up 1.15
litres, 200 sticks of cigarette, 15 rolls of photo film and 12 rolls of movie
camera film. Visitors are also allowed to carry one binocular, one camera, one
movie camera, one video camera, one radio, one tape recorder, one bicycle, one
wrist watch, one set of fountain pen, one perambulator, 15 radio cassettes &
10 disk records into the country on the condition that they are declared and
are to be taken back on return. Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions are
strictly prohibited. Visitors can export souvenirs to their respective countries.
The export of antiuques requires special certificate from the Department of
Archaeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu (Tel: 215358),
Gold, silver, precious stones, wild animals and their skins, horns, etc, all
drugs whether processed or in their natural state, are prohibited to export.
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TRAVEL ROUTE
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 Airlines,
Druk Air, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, Singapore
Airlines and Thai International.
AIRPORT TAX
Rs. 600 per person for departure to SAARC (South Asian) Countries and Rs. 700
for departure to other international destinations. For domestic flights those
flying within Nepal are required to pay Rs. 50.
INTERNAL TRANSPORT
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.
MOUNTAIN FLIGHT
Royal Nepal Airlines and other domestic Airlines in the private sector also
operate breathtaking mountain flights for the tourists round the year.
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
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 ARRANGEMENTS
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.
TREKKING PERMIT
The Department of Immigration located at Tridevi Marg, Thamel (Tel 412337) issues
trekking permit for the tourists who intend to trek any part of the country.
Trekking permit fee for different trekking areas are fixed as follows.
| Trekking
areas |
Trekking
permit fee |
| 1. Annapurna,
Everest,Langtang and Rara |
Equivalent
to US$ 5 per person per week for the first four weeks and US$ 10 per week
thereafter. |
| 2. Dolpa
and Kanchenjunga |
Equivalent
to US$ 10 per person per week for the first four weeks and US$ 20 per
week thereafter. |
| 3. Manaslu |
US$ 75 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, Makalu and Mustang can be undertaken
through registered trekking agencies only. To Trek in a national park area an
entrance fee of Rs. 650.00 is to be paid separately. Likewise, an entrance fee
of Rs. 200.00 is also collected from every trekker going into the Annapurna
Conservation Area. There are several government registered trekking agencies
in Nepal to conduct such trekking programmes.
FACILITIES
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:
New Year's Day-April 14,(First day of Baisakh)
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)
Constitution Day - (November 9, ie. Kartik 23)
Bala Chaturdarshi - (November-December)
Birthday of His Majesty the King - (December 28, ie. Paush 14)
Birth-Anniversay of His Late Majesty King Prithvi Narayani Shah, The Great
- (January 10, ie. Paush 27)
Basanta Panchami - (January-February)
National Democracy Day- (February 18, ie. Falgun 7)
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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