The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is in South Asia. A monarchy for several centuries, it was declared a republic in 2008. Nepal is flanked by India in the south, east, and west; and by China in the north. Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital city and its largest metropolis. The north of Nepal has eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest (8848 m).
Nepal is known to be the birth place of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The Buddha is said to have been born around 563 BC, in Lumbini or Lumbini Grove, which lies in the Kapilavastu District of Nepal, near the Indian border of Raxaul. Today, Lumbini is a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Siva is considered the guardian deity of Nepal, and the famous Pashupatinath Temple, a major Hindu pilgrimage spot, is dedicated to him.
Nepal is also famous for its ancient clan of legendary warriors, the Gorkhas. The Gorkhas were fierce and ruthless soldiers, known for their remarkable valour, bravery, and competence. They were known to have fought in world wars against guns, with just their Khukuri (daggers). Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world.
Local Time Nepal is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT.
Visas
Visa Fee: USD 30.00 for 15 days, USD 50.00 for 30 days and USD 125.00 for 90 days.
Tourist visa extension is done for minimum 15 days with USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days.
Gratis Visa (Visa for Free) for all tourists who visit Nepal for 3 days or less.
Gratis Visa is issued free of cost in case of following categories of Visa applicants:
• Children below 10 years except US citizens
• Up to 30 days for SAARC Citizen (except Afghanistan) visiting Nepal for the first time in a given visa Year. Afghan citizen are eligible for Gratis Visa on Arrival only upon the recommendation of Department of Immigration. If you are an Afghan citizen, you can request concerned institution inviting you to Nepal for necessary paperwork with Department of Immigration to get you Gratis Visa ‘On Arrival’.
• Non Residential Nepalese(NRN) card holder ( issued by MoFA /Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad)
• Chinese Nationals
Officials from China, Brazil, Russia and Thailand do not need Entry Visa based on reciprocal visa waiver Agreement.
Visas of all kinds including ‘Gratis’ issued at the Airport are Tourist Visas. Contact Department of Immigration for extending your visa or changing the category of your visa. Tourist Visa extension can be done from Immigration Office, Pokhara too. Non tourist visa extension can be done only at Department of Immigration (if eligible) for a period of maximum one year (except business visa).
Local Customs
The common form of greeting in Nepal is Namaste or Namaskar. Namaskar is used in a formal conversation while Namaste is often used in informal communications. Namaste is pronounced as “Na-mas-tey”, and it is both a spoken greeting and a gesture. The appropriate way is to put your palms together, bring them about a few inches below your chin or whatever feels comfortable, gently bow your head and say “Namaste”. In Sanskrit “Namas” means becoming silent, bending, and humbly submitting, and “Te” means “to you”. Thus, Namaste means ‘I bow to you’. The word Namaste has many meanings such as: Hello, How are you? / I am glad to see you/ nice to meet you/ good morning/ I bless the divine in you/ good bye, see you again. Thank you is Dhanyawaad.
Currency and Foreign Exchange
Payment in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit cards like American Express, Master, and Visa are widely accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants. Remember to keep your Foreign Exchange Encashment Receipt while making foreign exchange payments or transferring foreign currency into Nepalese rupees.
The Nepalese currency is called Nepalese Rupee (NPR) or Nepali Rupee. 100 Paisa equals 1 Rupee. Currently, notes of the following denominations are used in Nepal: 1000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2, and 1 rupees. The coin hasn’t been popular in Nepal and hence is almost always ignored in business. The coins of the following denominations can be found: 1 paisa, 5 paisa, 10 paisa, 50 paisa and the 1, 2, and 5 rupee coins. It is recommended that you travel with smaller notes in less populated areas, while large notes are easily accepted elsewhere.
Custom and Airport Tax
All baggage must be declared and cleared through customs, on arrival at the entry point. 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.
Business Hours
Government offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm from Sunday to Friday in the Kathmandu Valley. Banks are open from Sunday to Friday from 10 am to 3.30 pm; and open only until 12 pm on Friday. Most Business offices are open from 10 am to 5 pm from Sunday to Friday. Embassies and international organizations are open from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. Most shops open after 10 am and close at about 8 pm, and are usually closed on Saturdays.
Useful Tips
People are friendly and hospitable by nature; and tourists in general, will have no difficulty in adjusting to and familiarizing themselves with local ways. At the same time, one may also be confused or unsure regarding native customs, traditions, and social etiquette, as is always the case when you’re in any unfamiliar society for the first time. Nepal too, like any other country, has its own ways, customs, and regulations. We would appreciate it if you also observed and learnt the ways of the local people and made an effort to share the same with them. It is in this spirit that we offer some practical guidelines that could help to make your stay delightful and rewarding.
Communication
The General Post Office is located near Dharahara Tower and is open from 9 am to 5 pm from Sunday to Friday. Stamps, aerograms, and postcards may be purchased from 7 am to 7 pm at the counters. Services like registration and insurance of mail and small packages, and exchange of IRCs are also available. Parcels can be sent and received through the Foreign Post Office next door. It is open from Sunday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. The Nepal Telecommunication Corporation Office located at Tripureshwor provides ISD, STD, telex, Fax, and telegraph services. Private communication centres and hotels also provide ISD, STD, and fax services. The STD code for Nepal is 977. Enquiries can be made at 197.
Weather and Climate
The weather in Nepal varies from sub-tropical to Arctic conditions, depending on the altitude. The capital, Kathmandu plummets below 1 Degree Celsius (34 F) during the winter and rises to an average 32 Degree Celsius (90 F) during the summer. Most homes in Nepal do not have heating or air conditioning; hence the temperatures are more uncomfortable during extreme seasons. Most hotels and lodges though, are equipped with heaters and air conditioners. In winter, temperatures could also rise to 15 to 20 degrees Celsius during the day. The Terai region has temperatures somewhat similar to that of Delhi / India where temperatures can go up to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) in the summer.
Winter in Nepal : December-February
Spring in Nepal : March-May
Summer in Nepal : June-August
Autumn in Nepal : September-November
Best time to travel to Nepal
When travelling abroad, climatic factors always remain an important issue. The best time to visit Nepal is from October to November or from February to April.
Ideally, visit Nepal during October to November, as this is the time when you can expect better visibility, fresh air, perfect weather, and a chance to celebrate the most important festivals of Nepal – Dashain and Tihar – during this season. May to June is also a good time to travel although the weather can be hot and dusty, yet manageable. Wear an air mask and a Nepali topi (Cap) when you travel out on the roads. December to January is also a good time to travel; the climate and visibility are good. Snow jackets and sweaters are recommended. The Monsoon begins from mid-June to September; travelling during this period is not advisable unless you don’t really mind any kind of weather, and can easily adapt and adjust to different temperatures!
Safety concerns during travel
You have to pay close attention to your security at all times and monitor the media and other local sources for information about possible new safety or security risks.
There is a possibility of violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces. You should avoid any protest sites or demonstrations; you should also ensure that you have adequate supplies of water, food, fuel, cash, and Medication. It is highly likely planned travel arrangements, including trekking, tours, climbing, and expedition areas may be disrupted.
There have been violent incidents, including bomb attacks, at crowded locations and on public transport in Kathmandu, the Terai region and other parts of the country. See the Civil Unrest/Political Tension section for details.
Political rallies in many parts of Nepal have resulted in outbreaks of violence and the detonation of explosive devices. You are strongly urged to avoid protest, political rallies and large gatherings throughout Nepal as they may turn violent. Demonstrations and strikes occur without notice and can cause major traffic disruptions and shut down all public transport. Curfews can be enforced at short notice.
Shortages of essential supplies (food, water, gas, fuel and kerosene for cooking) can occur with limited notice. Load shedding periods can have a significant impact on services, including those in major tourist destinations. Before travelling, check that your tour operator or hotel will be able to provide an acceptable level of service and security.
Flights
You can fly directly to Kathmandu from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, Amsterdam, Moscow, Sharjah, Dubai, Dhaka, Karachi, Munich, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Paro, Lhasa, Singapore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Patna, Kolkata, and Varanasi. Chartered flights can also be arranged for large movements. All flights feature business class, and amenities of international standards.
Security for tourists
The Tourist Police was established in 1979 under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation. A special unit has been designated the task of providing security to visitors. The Tourist Police Team consists of officers who can speak and understand English and Hindi. They register complaints, investigate matters, and provide protection and safety to tourists. They also try to ensure a 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 the tourist areas of Thamel (Phone: 4429750) and Basantapur (Phone: 4268969).
We would like to state that the Tourist Police is a special unit of the Nepal Police, which works under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Tourism Industry Division. Our office is located at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, Tourist Service Centre Building. We also have complaint counters at the Airport, and Basantapur Durbar Square. We are always attentive to your needs and requirements; quick to deal with any problems you might have; and extremely careful and sensitive when it comes to your security.