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GENERAL
INFORMATION
Nepal
is a landlocked country that shares a border with Tibet in the
north and India in the west, south and east. Before 1951 this
Himalayan kingdom was closed to foreigners and the few who
visited did so on strictly invitation basis. Today tourism is a
major foreign exchange earner and facilities for tourists have
grown considerably in the last decade. There are six five star
hotels in Kathmandu and lodges in remote areas along the
trekking routes. There are domestic flights to all regions of
Nepal making trek routes easily accessible.
Area:
147,181sq.km. Southern Nepal comprises flat plains called the
terai, while the northern border is made up of some of the
highest mountains in the world including Mt. Everest, the
highest.
Latitude:
26deg 12’ and 30deg 27’ North
Longitude: 80deg
4’ and 88deg 12’ East
Time:
Nepalese Time is 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time and 5
hour 40 minutes ahead of GMT.
Topography:
From 60m above sea level in the terai, (the plains) the
terrain rises to the highest point on earth, Mt Everest at
8848m. Nepal also has the deepest gorge in the world, the Kali
Gandaki gorge.
Climate:
Nepal has a short spring (March mid April) when the days are
pleasant but the mornings and evenings are still chilly. This is
followed by a summer that is cut short by the monsoon rains
which normally arrives at the end of May or early June. The
rains last until late September after which the best time of the
year arrives. From late September the skies are clear until
November. The ideal time to be in Nepal is October-November.
According to altitude, the climate changes from sub-tropical in
the lowlands to arctic conditions in the high Himalayas.
People:
There are more than 50 ethnic groups in Nepal speaking more than
200 different dialects. The population can be generally divided
into the Mongoloid and non-Mongoloid groups (mostly of Aryan
descent). The former prefer to live in the mountainous regions
while most of the latter are found living in the lowlands known
as the terai.
Religion:
The dominant religions of Nepal are Hinduism and Buddhism. The
majority are Hindus followed by Buddhists. The minorities
consist of Christians, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and a few animistic
religions still prevalent around the country. The caste system
is very much in evidence and still influences marriages and
social activities of the population.
Languages:
The national language is Nepali and is understood and spoken by
most Nepalese citizens. The local dialects are still spoken by a
large part of the population. The Newari community who are the
original inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley,speak various
dialects of the Newari language. The languages spoken in Nepal
are divided into two distinct groups 1) Sanskrit based such as
Nepali and Maithili, etc. 2)
Tibeto-Burman languages like Tamang and Gurung, etc. Tourists
have no communication problems in Nepal as most people in the
tourism sector speak English and the general public understands
the language.
National
Parks, Reserves and Conservation Areas:
-
Royal
Chitwan National Park
-
Royal Bardia National Park
-
Sagarmatha
National Park
-
Langtang
National Park
-
Khaptad
National Park
-
Makalu-Barun
National Park& Conservation Area
-
Rara
National Park
-
Shey-Phoksumdo
National Park
-
Parsa
Wildlife Reserve
-
Royal
Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
-
Koshi
Tappu Wildlife Reserve
-
Dhorpatan
Hunting Reserve
-
Annapurna
Conservation Area Project (ACAP)
-
Kanchenjunga
Conservation Area
-
Manaslu
Conservation Area
-
Shivapuri
Watershed and Wildlife Reserve
Major
Activities for Tourists:
Trekking, white water rafting, kayaking, mountaineering, jungle
safari, bird watching, hunting, fishing, hot-air ballooning,
hang gliding, ultra-light aircraft rides, mountain flights,
bungy jumping and canyoning.
Communication:
Internet services are available in most of the urban tourist
areas and e-phones have made international calls cheap. Many
hotels also provide these services for which there is a service
charge.
Currency:
The Nepalese Rupee has been steadily losing value against the US
Dollar and at present Rupees 76.5/- is equivalent to US $.
1.00/-.
A
Rupee equals 100 paisa. Paper
currency notes are available in denominations of
1,2,5,10,20,25,50,100,250,500
and 1000. Before leaving the country, you may repurchase Dollars
with your excess Nepalese money, up to 10% of the convertible
currency you had exchanged earlier.
Customs:
Custom duties are exempted on 200 sticks of cigarettes, 20
cigars, one bottle of spirit and 2 bottles or 12 cans of beer.
The following personal effects are also duty-free: a camera with
a reasonable amount of film, a pair of binoculars, a
tape-recorder with 12 tapes, a musical instrument, a transistor
radio, one video camera without deck.
The following items may not be brought into the country:
Firearms and ammunitions, walkie-talkies, radio transmitters and
drugs.
Immunisation
requirements:
Travelers entering Nepal should take immunisation shots against
typhoid, hepatitis, cholera and tetanus. Children should be
immunised as required. Many of these shots can be taken here in
Kathmandu.
Health
Care:
To avoid stomach ailments, always drink bottled water or make
sure the water you drink is boiled and filtered. Even ice cubes
should be taken with caution. Food served during our organized
treks and tours are of the highest quality and safe.
Visa:
The Royal Nepalese Embassies or Consulates abroad issue visas
but you could also obtain one on arrival at the Tribhuwan
International Airport (Immigration counter). A 30-day visa can
be obtained for US$ 30/-. If you have plans to visit
neighbouring countries like Tibet and Bhutan, be sure to obtain
a double entry visa. This can be obtained from the airport on
arrival.
Postal
Services: The
Central Post Office is located in the heart of Kathmandu near
the Tudihkel grounds. Postage facilities are also available in
many hotels. Courier services are available with DHL and UPS
operating from Nepal.
Hospitals
and Clinics: There are
three major Government hospitals in Kathmandu; Bir Hospital,
Patan Hospital, Teaching Hospital. Among the private clinics,
Nepal International Clinic is popular among tourists. It is
operated by a U.S.board certified internist, who takes care of
all the medical needs of tourists.
Media:
You can watch many international news channels like the B.B.C.,
CNN and C.N.B.C. OR catch the English news on Nepal TV or one of
the Indian channels. Besides these there are English dailies
like Kathmandu Post, Space Time Today or The Rising Nepal.
Shopping
Facilities:
Souvenirs come in many shapes and sizes. The most sought after
souvenirs are Thangkas (which can be very expensive) followed by
carpets, and then there are the Khukuri (Gurkha knife),
handicrafts, sculptures, Pashmina shawls, etc.
Highways:
The major highway linking Nepal to India and the capital
Kathmandu to the terai regions of the country is the Prithivi
Highway, which follows the Trishuli river all the way to
Narayanghat in the terai. The Mahendra Highway links eastern
Nepal with western Nepal while the Arniko Highway is the road to
Tibet starting from Kathmandu. The old road leading out of the
valley and over the mountains is known as the Tribhuwan Highway.
This road goes via the hill resort of Daman and reaches Hetauda
in the terai.
Tipping:
The accepted norm is to leave a 10% tip in restaurants. The
hotel waiters and bellboys are also tipped according to one’s
discretion.
Clothing:
For summer; shorts and T-shirts are suitable. Raincoats are a
must for a monsoon visit, which is the off-season. In the
winter, the mornings and evenings are chilly (even in the terai)
hence pullovers and jackets are essential.
Accommodation:
The cheaper hotels where most of the tourists flock to are in
Thamel which has practically become the tourist district of
Kathmandu; not only because of lodgings but also because that is
where visitors like to be in the evenings for entertainment and
the lively atmosphere. In other words, that’s where the action
is. The poor cousin of Thamel is Freak Street (once the hangout
of hippies and low budget tourists). Today Freak Street is only
a shadow of its glory days in the ‘70s, and has become a haven
for those tourists who seek peace and quiet. For souvenir
shopping, it is still one of the attractions with the large
Basantapur Square full of temporary shops that are set up in the
morning and removed at night.
The Five Stars and other bigger hotels are located all
over the city and easily reached by taxi.
GETTING
TO NEPAL
By
Air:
All international flights land at the Tribhuvan International
Airport in Kathmandu, the only international airport in Nepal.
The airlines that serve Kathmandu are Thai International,
Singapore Airlines, Lauda Air, Pakistan International Airlines,
Bangladesh Biman, China Southwest AIrlines, Druk Air, Gulf Air
and Qatar Airlines. The national carrier - Royal Nepal Airlines
(RNAC), operates flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and
Japan.
Within
Asia:
You could travel to Kathmandu from Bangkok, Hong Kong and
Singapore. If in India, you can fly to Nepal from Delhi, Mumbai,
Bangalore, Calcutta and Varanasi, Delhi to Kathmandu is a
one-hour flight.
Flights
to Kathmandu from Lhasa are operated by China Southwest
Airlines. Druk Air flies between Kathmandu and Paro in Bhutan.
Bangladesh Biman operates flights to Kathmandu from Dhaka (Bangladesh). Qatar Airways flies between Doha and
Kathmandu.
From
Europe and Middle East to Nepal:
Lauda Air flies to Kathmandu from Austria twice a week. Qatar
Airways, Gulf Air, Aeroflot, Thai International, Pakistan
International Airlines and Bangladesh Biman all have services
from Europe to Kathmandu.
By
Land
There are eight entry points into Nepal by land open to
tourists, out of which six are from India and the others from
Tibet.
Via
India:
The crossing points from India include Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi,
Nepalgunj and Sunauli in the west, Birganj in the central region
and Kakarbhitta in the east. There are direct buses to the Nepal
border from Delhi, Varanasi, Calcutta, and Patna.
Via
Tibet:
Nepal can be entered from Tibet via Kodari. For trekkers
entering Tibet from Nepal, the entry point is Simikot in far
north west Nepal for which special permits are required.
VISAS
& DOCUMENTS
All
the important documents, original as well as a photocopied set
should be brought along. Your documents should include passport
data, visa page, credit cards, travel/Health insurance policy,
air/bus/train tickets, and having a set of passport photographs
(colour or Black & white) always comes in handy.
Visas:
Barring Indians, every other nationality needs a visa to enter
Nepal. They are available from the embassies and consulates
abroad, at the border with India or on arrival at the Tribhuvan
airport at Kathmandu. Single entry tourist visa are available
for 15 days (US $15) or 30 days (US $25). Multiple entry 60 days
visa is available for US $60.
Visa
Extensions:
You can extend your tourist visa for a total of 150 days. A
further 30 days can be granted ‘on reasonable grounds’. A
tourist cannot stay beyond 180 days. You will require a passport
size photograph for your visa extension.
Local
Transport
For
traveling within Kathmandu, there are local buses, vans, three
wheelers (battery or gas) and a trolley bus (electric) service
to Bhaktapur. For hire there are meter-taxis, meter three
wheelers and rickshaws. However, most taxis will refuse to take
tourists by meter. Besides these you can also hire a motorcycle
or mountain bike to get around. For reaching other destinations
within Nepal there is an extensive network of air-links operated
both by the national carrier as well as by private airlines. By
land there are buses to most destinations leaving from the
Gongabhu Bus Park beside the Ring Road.
>>>
Brief History of
Nepal ~ People
~ The
land of the Gurkhas
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