 Nepal (नेपाल) Travel Guide
Annapurna Massif, Nepal
Author: Dmitry A. Mottl (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Nepal is a small, landlocked country in the Indian subcontinent. It has a total area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 square miles), rougly the combined size of Austria and Switzerland. Nepal has a population of about 30 million people. The country shares a border with China to the north, India to the west, south and east. Nepal straddles the Himalayan range. It is roughly 100 km wide and 885 km from west to east. The country has some of the tallest peak in the world within its borders, including Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
Guide to Nepal Hotels
It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Nepal which we've put together, arranged city by city, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.
Sadhus at Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu
Author: Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic)
More about Nepal
The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, is the main gateway for tourists to the country. It is located about centre of the country, and slightly to the east. Kathmandu is not only the biggest city in Nepal, it is also the cultural hub of the nation, with many historic sights closely. Tourists come to Nepal for two main purposes, to enjoy the Himalayan range and to enjoy the culture of the country. Mainstream tourists usually spend a few days in Kathmandu followed by a day or two in Pokhara, a beautiful small town with scenic views of the surrounding mountains. From there, they make excursions to view the nearby peaks. Those staying longer in Nepal embark on trekking holidays into the Himalayas, to places such as Jomsom or the Everest Base Camp. Only a small number actually engage in any form of serious mountain climbing, which is not an endeavour for the inexperienced.
The climate in Nepal is extremely varied. Generally, the best time to visit Nepal are the months of October and March, while for just Kathmandu, the best time is between October to March.
Despite its natural wealth, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. This has brought along social and political unrest, which culminated with the abolishing of the monarchy on 28 May, 2008, making Nepal a federal republic. Even with the volatile political climate, tourism in Nepal was only marginally affected, and people continue to visit it, drawn by its pristine beauty and unique culture.
Nepal Travel Information
- Official Name: Nepal
- Capital: Kathmandu (1,300,000)
- Population of Nepal: 27,676,500
- Languages: Nepali (48%), Maithali (12%), English, over 90 indigenous languages
- Currency: Nepalese Rupee
- Religions: Hindu (80%), Buddhist (10%), others
- Size: 140,800 sq km (54,363 sq miles)
- Region: Asia
Nepal Hotels
If you're booking accommodation in Nepal, it is wise to check the rates from different Hotel Booking websites before you make your booking. By using our free Hotel Search Engine, you can compare the room rates for the same hotel room from different booking sites. In this way, you can make an informed decision that will save you a lot of money. To begin, click on Hotels in Nepal.
Nepal Entry Points
The majority of visitors to Nepal arrive by air, landing at Tribhuvan International Airport about 6.5km from Kathmandu. Tribhuvan is the only international airport in Nepal. The following airlines fly to Kathmandu:
- Air Sahara - Delhi
- Cosmic Air - Varanasi, Kolkata and Dhaka
- Druk Air, the Royal Bhutan Airlines - Paro and Mumbai
- Indian Airlines - Delhi and Kolkata
- Jet Airways - Delhi
- Royal Nepal Airways - Bangalore, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Osaka, Singapore and Shanghai
- Thai Airways - Bangkok
Yaks with Taboche mountain and Cholatse mountain
Author: Pavel Novak (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic)
Nepal Entry Requirements
Except for Indian nationals, everybody else above the age of 10 require a visa to enter Nepal. Visas are obtainable immediately upon landing at Tribhuvan International Airport. Single entry 60-day visa costs US$30, double-entry $55 and multiple-entry $90. You need a passport with at least 6-month validity and two passport-size photographs. Extension of visas cost US$50, and must be applied for before the visa expires, from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu.
Department of Immigration
phone: 223590, 222453, 223681
email: immigration@most.gov.np
web: http://www.welcomenepal.com
Visa matters: Mon-Fri 9:00am-3:00pm (summer), 9:00am-2:00pm (winter)
Nepal Health Requirements
Nepal is a poor country and visitors are well advised to consider receiving vaccines for typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis (if visiting the Terai during June to October), rabies, and if visiting in the winter months, meningitis A/C. You should never drink unboiled or untreated water. Stay away from ice cubes. Avoid eating raw vegetables, uncooked fish and seafood.
Finally, it will also well-advised to purchase travel insurance with emergency evacuation included in the clause.
Nepal Customs
Travellers may bring in 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacca, one bottle of liquor and 15 rolls of film. Also duty-free are personal effects: one pair of binoculars, one still camera, one video camera, one laptop computer and one portable music system. The usual prohibition against firearms, ammunition and narcotics apply, as well as for radio transmitters and walkie-talkies.
You will also need to clear customs when leaving Nepal. Please note the following:
You are forbidden from bringing out any object that is more than 100 years old. Antiques and art treasures require special certificate from the Department of Archaeology, which takes two days to obtain.
Village of Lete, Nepal
Author: Argenberg (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Foreign Embassies in Nepal
The following are the addresses of foreign embassies in Nepal:
Nepal Embassy in Washington DC, United States:
address: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008
phone: (202) 667 4550
fax: (202) 667 5534
email: nepali@erols.com
web: http://www.nepalembassyusa.org/
Nepal Embassy in New York, United States:
address: 820 Second Ave, Suite 202, New York NY 10017
phone: (212) 370 4188
fax: (212) 953 2038
email: nepal@un.int.us
Nepal Embassy in United Kingdom
address: 12a Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QU
phone: (020) 7229 1594
fax: (020) 7792 9861
email: info@nepalembassy.org.uk
web: http://www.nepembassy.org.uk/
Consulate General of Nepal in Australia
address: Level 5, 203-233 New South Head Road, Edgecliff NSW 2027 (Sydney)
phone: (612) 9328 7062
fax: (612) 9328 0323
email: info@nepalconsulate.org.au
Nepal Embassy in China
address: No. 1, Xi Liu Jie, Sanlitun, Beijing
phone: 86-1-532 1795
fax: 86-1-532 3251
email: rnebc@public.netchina.com.cn
Nepal Embassy in France
address: 45 Bis rue des Acacias, 75017 Paris
phone: 31-1-4622 4867
fax: 31-1-4227 0865
email: nepal@worldnet.fr
Nepal Embassy in Germany
address: Guerickestrasse-27, 10587, Berlin
phone: 49-303-435-9920
fax: 49-303-435-9906
email: rneberlin@t-online.de
web: http://www.nepalembassy-germany.com/
Nepal Embassy in Japan
address: 14-9 Todoroki 7-chome, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0082
phone: (03) 3705 5558
fax: (03) 3705 8264
email: nepembjp@big.or.jp
Honorary Consulate General
address: P.O.B. Asfylstr 81, 8030 Zurich
phone: 41-1-475 993
fax: 41-1-251 9152
Nepal Embassy in Thailand
address: 159 Sukhumvit 71 Road, Bangkok 10110
phone: 66-2-391 7240
fax: 66-2-381 2406
Kali Gandaki River, Nepal
Author: Kogo (GNU Free Documentation License)
Foreign Embassies in Nepal
The following are the addresses of foreign embassies in Nepal:
United States Embassy in Nepal:
address: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
phone: (977) (1) 411179
web: http://kathmandu.usembassy.gov/
United Kingdom Embassy in Nepal:
address: P.O. Box 106, Kathmandu
phone: 977 1 414588
web: http://www.britain.gov.np/
Australia Embassy in Nepal:
address: Bansbari, PO Box 879, Kathmandu
phone: 977 1 371 678
fax: 977 1 371 533
web: http://www.nepal.embassy.gov.au/
China Embassy in Nepal:
address: Baluwater, Kathmandu
phone: (977-1)4419053
fax: (977-1)4414045
email: consular@chinaembassy.org.np
web: http://www.chinaembassy.org.np/
South Korea Embassy in Nepal:
address: Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur
phone: 521084, 521855
Malaysia Embassy in Nepal:
address: 2nd Floor, Block B, Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh Bhawan, P.O. Box 24372 Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Kathmandu
phone: 977-1-5010004 / 5010005
fax: 971-1-5010492
email: malkatmandu@kln.gov.my
Philippines Embassy in Nepal:
address: Toyoda House, Lazimpa, P.O. Box 2640, Ginamangal, Tinkune, Kathmandu
phone: (+977) (1) 4474892 / 4409 or (+977) (1) 4478301 to 5
fax: (+977) (1) 4471195 or (+977) (1) 4486243
email: voith@mos.com.np,phicongen@voith.com.np
Thailand Embassy in Nepal:
address: 167/4 Ward No. 3, Maharajgunj-Bansbari Road, P.O. Box. 3333, Kathmandu
phone: (977 1) 4371410, 43711411
fax: (977 1) 4371408, 4371409
email: mailto:thaiemb@wlink.com.np
web: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/1714.php?depid=226
House in Nagarkot, Nepal
Author: www.viajar24h.com (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Nepal Currency
The Nepal currency is called the Nepalese rupee (NRS). Banknotes are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees. Two types of coins are available. The higher denomination ones, of 1 and 2 rupees, are gold-toned, while the lower denomination ones, of 50, 25, 10 and 5 paisa, are aluminium ones. At the time of writing, US$1.00 = 72.5 Nepalese Rupee (Jan 2010). For the latest exchange rate, use the Oanda Currency
Converter, http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic.
You can change your cash at the airport, at any banks and foreign exchange counters in Kathmandu. There's a Standard Chartered 24-hour ATM in Thamel which you can use to cash your ATM Cirrus card, as well as Visa and MasterCard.
Credit Cards
Credit cards can be used for purchases in Kathmandu without much hassle. Visa, MasterCard, Diner's Club and American Express are widely accepted, though a 5% commission is added for credit card purchases.
Banking Hours
Banks are open from 9:15am to 2:30pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Janaki Mandir in Janakpur, Nepal
Author: Ralf Lotys (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Nepal Public Holidays
Five different types of calendars are used in Nepal. This includes the Western calendar (also called the Gregorian calendar), the Tibetan calendar (Bhot Byalo), and the Vikram Sambat, which is the official calendar in Nepal, and is used in the royal household, in newspapers, public services and by the government. The following are the public holidays in Nepal, according to the Gregorian calendar:
Vasant Panchami: January, date varies
Martyrs' Day: 30 January
Rashtriya Prajatantra Divas (National Democracy Day): 19 February
Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horses): March, date varies
Holi: March, date varies
Shivaratri (festival in honour of Lord Shiva): March, date varies
Ram Nawami (Birthday of Lord Ram): March, date varies
Nepalese Women's Day: 8 March
Chaite Dashain: March/April, date varies
Navabarsha (Nepalese New Year's Day): 14 April
Buddha Jayanti: Full moon in May, birthday of the Buddha
Children's Day: 20 August
Rakshya Bandhan (Janai Purnima): August, date varies
Krishna Janmashtami: August/September, date varies
Fulpati Saptami: September, date varies
Maha Asthami: September, date varies
Maha Nawami: September, date varies
Vijaya Dashami: September, date varies
Laxhmi Puja: October, date varies
Ghatasthapana: October, date varies
Gobardhan Puja: October, date varies
Constitution Day: 9 November
Womenfolk preparing bonfire for the Holika Dahan spring festival in Kathmandu, Nepal
Author: Ekabhishek (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
Using the Telephone in Nepal
The country code for Nepal is 977. Here are some telephone area codes in Nepal:
Kathmandu: 1
Dhangadi: 91
Gorkha: 64
Nepalgunj: 81
Newspapers
The Rising Nepal: http://www.nepalnews.com.np/trn.htm
Kantipur National Daily (sister to Kathmandu Post): http://www.kantipuronline.com
Nepali Times: http://www.nepalitimes.com
Useful Links
Kathmandu Vacation Rentals: With reviews and photos, find the best rental on TripAdvisor.
|
|
Tweet 
