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Travellers' Information on Nepal
AREA: 147,181 Sq. Kilometers.
ALTITUDE: Varies from 70 meters to 8848 meters.
CAPITAL: Kathmandu.
POPULATION: 184,91,097
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.
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. Light casual clothes are preferable for travelling. Warm garments are required in October-March. An umbrella and/or a rain coat are must for the rainy season.
CURRENCY & FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Nepalese Rupees 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, 10p, 25p, 50p and Rs. 1 denominations
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchanged 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. Only 15% of the cuurency exchanged can be reconverted into US dollar at the time of departure.
Visitor other than the Indian nationals have to make the payment in hotels, travel or trekking agencies and air tickets in foreign currency. Amount exceeding US$ 2000 is to be declared at the entry point. Non-Indian visitors are not allowed to import or export Indian Currency. The approximate value of one US Dollar is equivalent to Rs. 56.17 as of November 1995.
ENTRY PROCEDURES
All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold a passport and a valid visa.
Nepalese diplomatic Missions and Consuls abroad issue visa for a maximum period of one month. A one month visa is also granted at the entry points. The visa can be extended at the Department of Immigration located at Tridevi Marg, Thamel, Tel: 412337/418573. The Department also issues multientry Visa for the visitors.
TOURIST VISA FEE
The Royal Nepalese Embassies or consulates and at entry point's immigration offices provide a month visa upon the presentation of a valid passport, two
passport size photos and a payment of equivalent of US$ 40.00 for single entry, US$ 70.00 for double entry and US$ 100 for multiple entry respectively. Visitors entering Nepal without a visa may also obtain from the Department of Immigration, Tridevi
Marg (Tel: 412337), Kathmandu a payment of additional 25 percent payable in Nepalese Rupees with the added a payment of entry point. For further extension US$ 2.00 per day for the second & third months and US$ 3.00 per day after payable in Nepalese
Rupees.
ENTRY POINTS
By Air: Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.
By Land: (1) Kakarbhitta (2) Birgunj (3) Sunauli
(4) Nepalgunj (5) Dhangadi and (6) Mahendra Nagar
in Nepal-India border and Kodari in Nepal-China border.
The overland tourists entering the Kingdom with their vehicles must possess an international canet.
CUSTOMS
All baggage is subject to customs' check at the point of entry. Visitors are allowed to bring in the consumable artcles such as liquor one bottle up 1.15 liters, 200 sticks of cigareete, 15 rolls of photo film, 12 rolls of movie camera film, medicine
upto Rs. 500.00, tin packed foods up from Rs. 1000.00 and fresh fruits upto Rs. 500.00. 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 taken back on return. Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions are strictly prohibited.
Visitors can export souvenirs to their respective countries, The export of Antiques requires special certificate from the Department of Archaelogy, 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.
TRAVEL ROUTE
Royal Nepal airlines the national flag carrier of Nepal and other international airlines also operate scheduled flights to Kathmandu from Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Dhaka, Paro, Banarasi, 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, Dragon Air, Druk Airs, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Pakistan International
Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.
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. 20 for remote district and Rs. 50 for the rest of
airports respectively.
INTERNAL TRANSPORT
Royal Nepal Airlines has an extensive network of air services in the interior of Nepal. This include Taplejung, Bhadrapur, Rajbiraj, Bhojpur, Phaplu, Lukla, Lamidanda, Tumlingtar, Rumjatar, and Biratnagar in the East; Nepalgunj, Chaujhari, Surkhet, Dang,
Rolpa and Jumla, in the Mid-West; and Bajura, Mahendranagar, Dhangdi, 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, Himalayan Helicopters and Necon Air also provide regular and charter services to different popular destinations.
For Jomosom, Manang, Lukla, Meghauli, Phaplu, Pokhara, Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, Simra, Jumla, and Tumlingtar ticket fare is to be paid in foreign currency.
MOUNTAIN FLIGHT
Royal Nepal Airlines and other domestic Airlines in the private sector also operate breath taking mountain flights for the tourists round the year. The fare is US$ 99.00? per ticket. All tickets are refundable in Nepalese currency.
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION
In addition to metered taxis, limousine service is also available at the airport for transport to major hotels in the city.
OTHER TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS
Metered taxis have black plates with white letters and figures are also easily available in Kathmandu. The flagfall is Rs. 2.50? and Rs. 0.60? for each additional 200 meters. Passengers are also required to pay additional 40 percent on the total amount
shown by the meter.
There is also an arrangement for night taxis services within the ring road area. Passengers using the night taxi have to pay 50 percent extra charge. The night taxi stand is located at Bhugol Park, Dharmapath, Kathmandu, Tel: 224374.
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 whereas the rickshaws is to be negotiated.
There are regular bus services between the main towns of the Kathmandu Valley. The Bus Terminal is located at Shahid Gate.
Similarly, scheduled bus services for outside the Valley operate from the Central Bus Terminal which is located at Baghbazar, behind the City Hall.
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 feeNote:
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 Kangchenjunga - Equivalent to US$ 10 per person per week for the first four weeks and US$20 per week thereafter. 3. Manasalu - US$ 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.
To trek in a national park area an entrance fee of Rs 650.00 is to be paid seperately. Likewise, an entrance fee of Rs. 200.00 is also collected from every trekkers going into the Annapurna Conservation Area. There are several government registered trekking agencies in Nepal to conduct such trekking programmes. In order to have assumed quality and safe treks it is advisable to use them.
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 and travel agencies.
TOURIST GUIDE
Registered travel and trekking agencies provide the services of licensed tourist guides. For security purpose it is recommended to engage an authorized guide or porter only through a registered travel/trekking agency.
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. Altogether there are 1310 mountain peaks in Nepal. For those who cannot 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) one can have a distant view of Mount Everest and beautiful Himalayan Ranges.
One can also explore this Himalayan country by trekking, as it has earned the reputation as trekker's paradise.
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 attraction sightseeing in Nepal by river rafts is an experience in itself. 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 planes bordering India.
For those who wish view wildlife, Nepal offers plenty of scope. Of the eight National Parks and four Wildlife Reserves in Nepal, Chitwan National Park is easily accessible both by road and air. It is also ficilitated with cheap and expensive accomodations.
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 panoromic 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 8000 meters 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 it real pictures.
Nepal offers 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 some more specialities as several historical monuments, old palaces and palace squares, shrines and temples, ageless traditions and legends all make it together such a living museum that any visitor would cherish its vivid 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. Beside, 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 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 Buddhists. Some of the major festivals of Nepal are:
New Years'd Day-April 14, (First day of Baisakh)
Matatirtha Aunsi or Mother's Day-(April)
Buddha Jayanti-(April)
Macchendranath Rath Jatra-(May-June)
Guru Poornima-(August)
Gaijatra-(August)
Krishnashtami-(August-September)
Gokarna Aunsi or Father's Day-(August-September)
Teej and Rishi Panchami-(August-September)
Indra Jatra-(September)
Bada Dashain-(September-October)
Tihar-(October-November)
Constitution Day-(November 9, ie. Kartick 23)
Bala Chaturdashi-(November-December)
Birthday of His Majesty the King-(December 28, ie. Paush 14)
Birth-anniversary of His Late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan 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 ceases to offer eternal peace and tranquility.
OFFICE HOURS
Govt. Office
From to Day Month 10 am 5 pm Sun-Thu February 13 - November 16th 10 am 4 pm Sun-Thu November 17 - February 12th 10 am 3 pm Fri Round the year Banks 10 am 2.30 pm Sun-Thu Round the year 10 am 12 pm Fri Round the year Government offices and banks are closed on Saturdays and other official holidays.
ELECTRICITY: 220 voltage/50 cycles.
WHERE TO GET THE INFORMATION
The Department of Tourism, His Majesty's government of Nepal provides information and services to the tourists. It also distributes different kinds of publicity materials to the tourist free of cost. There are 9 tourist Information Centers located at
different places in the country. They are:
1. Tourist Information Center, Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Tel: 470537 2. Tourist Information Center, Basantapur, Kathmandu, Tel: 220818 3. Tourist Office, Airport, Pokhara, Tel: 20028 4. Tourist Information Center, Birgunj, Tel: 2083 5. Tourist Information Center, Janakpur, Tel: 20755 6. Tourist Information Center, Bhairahawa, Tel: 20304 7. Tourist Information Center, Kakarbhitta, Tel: 20208 8. Tourist Information Center, Jomosom 9. Tourist Information Unit, Pashupati, Kathmandu 470851
All the informations including fees and tariffs mentioned on this home page are valid at the time of creation. Therefore, they are subject to change without prior notice.
This information is courtesy of:
Our Email Address: info@catmando.com
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