Nepal

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Quick Facts
Capital Kathmandu
Government Republic. Monarchy was dissolved
by Constituent Assembly on 28
May 2008.
Currency Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Area 147,181km
water: 3,830km
land: 143,351km
Population 27,474,377 (2012 estimate)
Language Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of
the population), about a dozen
other languages and about 30 major
dialects; many in government and
business also speak English
Religion Hinduism 81.3%, Buddhism 9%,
Islam 4.4%, Kirat 3.1% other 2.2%
Country code +977
Internet TLD .np
Time Zone UTC+5:45
 Emergencies dial 100 for police

101 for fire

102 for medical

Nepal is a landlocked country in Southern Asia, between the Tibet autonomous region
of China and India. It contains 8 of the world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the
world's tallest - on the border with Tibet, and Lumbini, the birth place of Gautama Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism.
A monarchy for hundreds of years, Nepal was declared a republic in June 2008.

Understand[edit]
Geography[edit]
Visitors to Nepal generally associate the nation with snow-capped mountain peaks. Whilst there are
over 90 peaks which lie above 7000m (22,966 ft), approximately one-third of the country is low-lying
and subtropical. The nation's altitude rises from less than 100 metres (328 ft) elevation in the tropical
Terai (the northern rim of the Gangetic Plain) to Sagarmth (Mount Everest) - the world's highest
mountain at 8,848m (29,029 ft).
Elevation Zones[edit]
Nepal has been divided into elevation zones, south to north:

Outer Terai - Level plains, a cultural and linguistic extension of northern India. Nepali is spoken
less than Awadhi and Bhojpuri dialects related to Hindi and Maithili. Lumbini, Buddha's
birthplace, and Janakpur, Sita's birthplace, are in this zone. Other cities -
Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Bhairawa, Butwal, Birgunj, Janakpur and Biratnagar - are transportation
hubs and border towns more than travel destinations. Nevertheless the Terai may offer
opportunities for intimate exposure to traditional Indian culture that have become less available
in India itself.

Siwalik Range or Churia Hills - the outermost and lowest range of foothills, about 600m (2,000
ft) high. Extends across the country east to west but with significant gaps and many subranges.
Poor soils and no agriculture to speak of. No developed tourist destinations, however the forests
are wild and the sparse population of primitive hunters and gatherers is unique.

Inner Terai - large valleys between the Siwaliks and higher foothills to the north.
The Dang and Deukhuri valleys in the Mid West are the largest, offering opportunities to
experience Tharu art and culture. Chitwan south of Kathmandu is another of these valleys,
known for Chitwan National Park where tigers, rhinos, crocodiles, deer and birds can be
observed. Originally these valleys were malarial and lightly populated by Tharus who had
evolved resistance and developed architectural and behavioural adaptations limiting exposure to
the most dangerous nocturnal mosquitoes. Suppression of mosquitoes with DDT in the 1960s
opened these these valleys to settlers from the hills who cleared forests and displaced and
exploited Tharus. Nevertheless remoter parts of these valleys still have a Garden of Eden quality
- forests broken by indefinite fields, lazy rivers, fascinating aboriginal peoples.

Mahabharat Range - a prominent foothill range continuous across the country from east to west
except for narrow transecting canyons, with elevations ascending up to 3,000m (10,000 ft).
Steep southern slopes are a no-man's land between lowland and Pahari (hill) cultures and
languages, which begin along the crest and gentler northern slopes. Given clear skies, there are
 panoramic views of high himalaya from almost anywhere on the crest. Underdeveloped as a
tourist venue compared to India's 'Hill Stations', nevertheless Daman and Tansen are attractive
destinations.

Middle Hills - Valleys north of the Mahabharat Range and hills up to about 2,000m (6,500 ft).
are mainly inhabited by Hindus of the Bahun (priestly brahmin) and Chhetri (warriors and
rulers) castes who speak Nepali as their first language. Higher where it becomes too cold to
grow rice, populations are largely Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Rai or Limbu, the hill tribes from
which the British recruited Gurkha soldiers while the soldiers' families grew crops suited to
temperate climates. Men in these ethnic groups also work as porters or may be herders moving
their flocks into the high mountains in summer and the lower valleys in winter. Trekking through
the hills is unremittingly scenic with streams and terraced fields, picturesque villages, a variety of
ethnic groups with distinctive costumes, and views of the high Himalayas from high points.

Valleys - Kathmandu and to the west Pokhara occupy large valleys in the hills. The
Kathmandu Valley was urbanised long before the first Europeans reached the scene and has
historic neighbourhoods, temple complexes, pagodas, Buddhist stupas, palaces and bazaars. Its
natives are predominantly Newar farmers, traders, craftsmen and civil servants. Newar culture is
an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist elements. Unfortunately a range of hills north of
this valley limit views of the Himalayas. Pokhara has fewer urban points of interest but
outstanding views of the nearby Annapurna Himalaya. Pokhara's Newar population is confined
to bazaars. Elsewhere upper caste Hindus dominate, whose ancestors probably
were Khas peoples from far western Nepal. Both valleys offer excellent opportunities to
experience Nepal without strenuous trekking. Narrower valleys along streams and rivers are
important rice-growing centres in the hills. There is a limited amount of this land and most of it is
owned by upper caste Hindus.

Lekhs - Snow occasionally falls and lasts days or weeks in the winter above 3,000m (10,000 ft),
but melts away in summer below about 5,500m (18,000 ft). Treeline is about 4,000m (13,000 ft).
This zone is used for summer pasturage but not year-round habitation.

North of the lekhs, the snowy high Himalayas rise abruptly along a fault zone to peaks over
6,700m (22,000 ft) and even over 8,000m (26,000 ft). Himalaya means 'abode of snow', which is
uninhabited. Valleys among the peaks are inhabited, especially along trade routes where rice
from the lowlands was traded for salt from the Tibetan Plateau along with other goods. Trade
has diminished since China annexed Tibet in the 1950s but catering to trekkers and climbers
has become an economic engine. People living along these routes have Tibetan affinities but
usually speak fluent Nepali.

Trans-Himalaya - Peaks in this region north of the highest Himalayas in central and western
Nepal are lower and gentler, mostly around 6,000m (20,000 ft). Valleys below 5,000m (17,000
ft). are inhabited by people who are essentially Tibetan and have adapted to living at much
higher elevations than other Nepalis. Roads have not yet penetrated this far and travel is
expensive by air or arduous on foot. Nevertheless, it is a unique opportunity to experience a very
significant and attractive culture in spectacular surroundings.
River basins[edit]
River basins are also important geographic divisions. The Mahabharat Range is a major hydrologic
barrier in Nepal and other parts of the Himalaya. South-flowing rivers converge
in candelabra shapes to break through this range in a few narrow gorges. Travel is usually easier
within these candelabra drainage systems than between them, so high divides between river
systems became historically important political, linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Karnali-Seti-Bheri[edit]
The Karnali system in the far west is the birthplace of Pahari ('hill') culture. It was settled by people
called Khas speaking an indo-european language called Khaskura ('Khas talk') that was related to
other north indian languages, all claiming descent from classical Sanskrit.
East of the Karnali proper, along a major tributary called the Bheri and further east in another basin
called the Rapti lived a Tibeto-Burman people called Kham. Khas and Kham people seem to have
been allies and probably intermarried to create the synthesis of aryan and mongoloid features that
especially characterizes the second-highest Chhetri (Kshatriya) caste. It appears that Khas kings
recruited Kham men as guards and soldiers. Khas and Kham territories in the far west were
subdivided into small kingdoms called the Baisi, literally '22' as they were counted.
Nepal has one of the world's highest birthrates because Hindu girls usually marry by their early
teens, causing their entire reproductive potential to be utilized. Furthermore, men who can afford it
often take multiple wives. This may trace back to Khas culture, explaining relentless Khas
colonization eastward as finite amounts of land suitable for rice cultivation were inevitably
outstripped by high birthrates.
Rapti and Gandaki[edit]
The Rapti river system east of the Karnali-Bheri had few lowlands suitable for growing rice and
extensive highlands that were not attractive for Khas settlement but were a barrier to migration.
However the Rapti's upper tributaries rose somewhat south of the Himalayas. Between these
tributaries and the Dhaulagiri range of the Himalayas, a large east-west valley
called Dhorpatan branching off the upper Bheri provided a detour eastward, over an easy pass
called Jaljala into the Gandaki river system further east. The Gandaki is said to have seven major
tributaries, most rising in or beyond the high Himalaya. They merge to cut through the Mahabharat
and Siwalik ranges. In this basin elevations were generally lower and rainfall was higher compared
to the Karnali-Bheri and Rapti basins. There was great potential for rice cultivation, the agricultural
base of the Khas way of life. A collection of small principalities called the Chaubisi developed.
Chaubisi literally means '24', as these kingdoms were counted. Not all were Khas kindoms. Some
were Magar -- a large indigenous hill tribe people related to the Kham. Other kingdoms were Gurung
and Tamang. Several Gandaki tributaries rose in the trans-Himalayan region where inhabitants and
rulers became increasingly Tibetanized to the north.

Emergence of Shah Dynasty from Gorkha

Within the Chaubisi kingdoms of the Gandaki basin, Gorkha was a small valley east of Pokhara
ruled by a Khas family now called Shah, an honorific title that may have come later, however any
earlier name seems to be forgotten. In 1743AD Prithvi Narayan Shah became the ruler of Gorkha
after his father Nara Bhupal Shah died. Prithvi Narayan already had a reputation as a hotheaded
upstart. Resolving to modernize Gorkha's army, he was bringing modern arms from India when
customs officers demanded inspection and payment of duties. Prithvi Narayan refused and attacked
the officers, killing several before escaping with his arms and men. He also visited Benares to study
the situation of local rulers and the growing encroachment of British interests. Prithvi concluded that
invasion was a chronic danger to rulers on the plains of northern India, whereas the hills were more
defensible and offered more scope to carve out a lasting empire.
Kathmandu Valley (Bagmati)[edit]
Narrow winding road leads through extremely diverse terrain in Nepal. This road leads north from Kathmandu
towards Tibet.

Prithvi Narayan must have been a charismatic figure, for he recruited, equipped and trained a
formidable army and persuaded his subjects to underwrite all this from his ascension until his death
in 1775. Through conquest and treaty, he consolidated several Chaubisi kingdoms. As his domain
expanded, Khaskura became known as Gorkhali, i.e. the language of the Gorkha kingdom. Then
he moved east into the next river basin, the Bagmati which drains the Kathmandu Valley that held
three small but prosperous urban kingdoms. Like the Rapti, the Bagmati rises somewhat south of the
Himalaya. Unlike the Rapti basin, this valley had once held a large lake and the remaining alluvial
soil was exceptionally fertile. Between the agricultural abundance, local crafts, and extensive trade
with Tibet, the cities were prosperous. Prithvi Narayan encircled the valley, cutting off trade and
restricting ordinary activities, even farming and getting water. With a combination of stealth, brutality
and intimidation he he prevailed and deposed the local kings in 1769, making Kathmandu his new
capital. This was the high point of Prithvi Narayan's career, however he continued consolidating the
Kathmandu Valley with the Chaubisi and Baisi federations to the west until his death in 1775.
Gorkhali was re-dubbed Nepali as 'Nepal' came to mean not only the urbanized Kathmandu Valley,
but all lands ruled by the Shahs.
Koshi[edit]
Prithvi Narayan's heirs Pratap Singh, Rana Bahadur and Girvan Yuddha continued expansion of
their kingdom into the Koshi river basin east of the Bagmati system. Like the Gandaki, the Koshi
traditionally has seven major tributaries descending from the Himalayas before joining forces to
break through the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges. Ranges drained by Koshi tributaries include
Mount Everest and its neighbouring peaks, as well as the western side of the Kangchenjunga
massif. Kangchenjunga and a high ridge to the south are the watershed between the Koshi and Tista
basins as well as the border between Nepal and the former kingdom of Sikkim that India annexed in
1975.
Containment by British[edit]
The Shah dynasty's expansion continued eastward across Sikkim and westward across Kumaon
and beyond Dehra Dun to the Sutlej River, until the British declared war in 1814 and finally defeated
Nepalese forces in 1816. The British wanted a buffer state between British India and the Chinese
empire that ultimately controlled Tibet, so it trimmed Nepal back approximately to its present size
and let it remain independent.
Informal Settlement in Sikkim and Bhutan[edit]
Nevertheless Nepalese eastward colonization beyond the Kosi continued informally, still driven by
high birthrates. By the 1800s land-hungry Nepalis were settling in the Tista basin, which happened
to be a different country, Sikkim. In the 1900s they were settling beyond Sikkim in the kingdom
of Bhutan. This kingdom -- where late marriage and low population densities prevailed among the
indigenous, culturally Tibetan population -- saw the demographic writing on the wall and expelled as
many as 100,000 Nepalis in 1990.
Hindu Groups[edit]
Hindu castes migrated from Southern part of present day Nepal to Nepal after 11th century. The
traditional Hindu caste system is based on the four Varna Vyawastha "the class system"
of Brahman (Bahun) priests, scholars and advisors; Kshatriya (Chhetri) rulers and
warriors, Vaishya (merchants); Shudra (farmers and menial occupations). However the middle
Vaishya and Shudra are underrepresented in the hills, apparently because they did not have
compelling reason to leave the plains while Muslim invaders tried to eliminate previous elites. Dalits
seem to have accompanied the upper castes into the hills because they were bound by long
standing patronage arrangements.
Traditional caste rules govern who can eat with whom, especially when boiled rice is served, and
who can accept water from whom. Until the 1950s these rules were enforced by law.
Dalits are subject to caste-based discrimination and so called untouchability in social, economic,
educational, political and religious areas. The National Dalit Commission (2002) categorized 28
cultural groups as Dalits. Some argue that the use of the term Dalit will never ever help to abolish
caste-based untouchability. (Literally, 'Dalit' translates to 'suppressed' in Nepali.) There are
suggestions that the term should not be used because it not only breeds inferiority but is also
insulting.
Newar[edit]
Newars, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu valley follow both Hinduism and Buddhism.
According to the 2001 census, they can be classified into 40 distinct cultural groups, but all speak a
common language called Nepal bhasa (Newa bhaaya). Newars use prevailing lingua francas to
communicate outside their community: Nepali in the hills and Maithili, Bhojpuri and Awadhi in the
Terai.
Indigenous peoples[edit]
The ethnic groups of the hills, Terai and mountain areas are grouped as Janajati. According to the
National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN), ethnic groups are those
who have their own mother tongue and traditional customs, a distinct cultural identity, a distinct
social structure and written or oral history all of their own". A total of 61 Adibasi Janajatis have been
recognised by the Nepal Government, 5 are from the mountain regions, 20 from the Hills, 7 from
inner Terai and 11 from the Terai region. A Janajati is a community who has its own mother tongue
and traditional culture and yet does not fall under the conventional fourfold Varna of the Hindu
system or the Hindu hierarchical caste structure. Many of these ethnic groups are Hinduized to some
degree, although Hindu practices supplement rather than replace more ancient beliefs and practices.
Unlike the Hindus, many indigenous nationalities of Nepal such as the Sherpa people as well as the
people of Muslim & Christian faiths, have a culture of eating beef.
Other caste and ethnic groups included in the other category are; Sikhs, Christians, Bengalis, and
Marawadis.
Different indigenous nationalities are in different stages of development. Some indigenous
nationalities are nomads, e.g. Raute, and some are forest dwellers, e.g. Chepang and Bankaria.
Most of the indigenous nationalities rely on agriculture and pastoralism and very few are
cosmopolitan, e.g. Newar.
Religion[edit]
The Census of 2011 has listed 10 religions Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, Kiranti, Christian, Prakriti, Bon,
Jain, Bahai and Sikh. According to census 2011 main religions are Hinduism (81.3% / 21,551,492),
Buddhism (9.0% / 2,396,099), Islam (4.4% / 1,162,370), Kirat (3.1% / 807,169), Christianity (1.4% /
375,699), Prakriti (0.5% / 121,982), Bon (13,006), Jainism (3,214), Bahai (1,283) and Sikhism (609).
Climate[edit]
Nepal has a Monsoonal climate with four main seasons - though traditionally a year was categorized
into six distinct climate periods: Basanta (spring), Grishma (early summer), Barkha (summer
monsoon), Sharad (early autumn), Hemanta (late autumn) and Shishir (winter).
Below is a general guide to conditions at different seasons:

Heavy monsoonal rains from June to September - the rains are generally lighter high in the
Himalayas than in Kathmandu, though the mountain peaks are often not visible due to clouds. In
the Kathmandu Valley & Pokhara - monsoon rains typically consist of an hour or two of rain
every two or three days. The rains clean the air, streets, & cool the air. If you come, bring an
umbrella, expect lower lodging prices & fewer tourists.
Clear and cool weather from October to December - after the monsoon, there is little dust in the
air so this is the best season to visit the hilly and mountainous regions.
Cold from January to March, with the temperature in Kathmandu often dropping as low as 0C
(32F) at night, with extreme cold at high elevations. It is possible to trek in places like
the Everest region during the winter, but it is extremely cold and snow fall may prevent going
above 4,000 - 4,500 metres (13,000 - 15,000 feet). The Jomosom trek is a reasonable
alternative, staying below 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) with expected minimum temperatures
about -10C (14F) (and much better chances of avoiding heavy snow.)
Dry and warm weather from April to June - there is an abundance of blooming flowers in the
Himalayas at this time, with rhododendrons, in particular, adding a splash of colour to the
landscape. Terai temperatures may reach or exceed 40C (104F) while Kathmandu
temperatures are about 30C (86F). This is the best time to undertake mountain expeditions.
The recording of temperatures and rainfall of the major locations across Nepal was started in 1962
and their averages [1] provides a reference point for analyzing the climate trend.
GPS maps[edit]
There are couple of maps available for Nepal:

Nepal Trilogy. Which comes as 3 separate maps covering the following areas: Annapurna area
with Pokhara, Helambu Langtang area of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, Everest region with Jiri
and Tumlingtar. [2]
Garmin NepalTOPO NPL Routable 2011.20
With Nepal Trilogy being superior of these two ones.
Electricity[edit]
Electricity is produced by hydro-electric dams and cannot meet demand. Power is usually cut to just
a few hours a day, although it may be on for most of the day in areas near a dam. Hotels and
businesses often have battery back-up and noisy diesel generators. On treks and outside of major
cities electricity is scarce. Expect to pay 100 - 800Rs per hour to charge goods on many tea-house
treks, including the Everest base camp trek. One alternative is to buy a bayonet light to electricity
power plug converter, however these only work while voltage remains high (they often won't work on
low power solar systems you find right up in the mountains).
The standard Nepalese electrical outlet is the Type D (three round-pronged triangle) outlet common
to India, but nearly all will accept Europlugs, and some have been retrofitted to accept American
and/or British plugs. Simple adapters can be purchased inexpensively, around NPR80, in
Kathmandu to change the shape of the plug (but not the voltage of the electricity!); some have fuses
built in. Try shopping in Kumari Arcade at Mahaboudha near Bir Hospital of Kathmandu for cheap
electrical alternative. Be sure to decrease the price by about 25-30% before buying.
The output voltage from the wall outlet is 220V AC and frequency is between 50-60Hz. People
visiting from countries using different voltage and frequency should make sure that their
adapter/charger is capable of operating in this range. For example, the United States uses about
120V AC and some electronic devices might be designed to operate in that voltage only. So, US
travellers must be careful about the voltage range of their devices.

Regions[edit]
Nepal is officially divided into 14 administrative zones and five development regions, but travellers
might be more comfortable with the conceptual division below (based on the country's elevation).
From north to south:

Regions of Nepal

Himalayas
The roof of the world, including Mount Everest, Annapurna, Langtang National Park and The Great
Himalaya Trail with numerous sightseeing, trekking, and other adventure sport opportunities.
Kathmandu Valley
Home to Kathmandu, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Boudhanath, Patan and Bhaktapur, this is in the
heart of Nepal and a crossroads of cultures with numerous sacred temples and monuments.
Middle Hills
The Hill Region (Pahar in Nepali) is mostly between 700 and 4,000 metres altitude. This region is split from
the Terai Range by the Mahabharat Lekh (Lesser Himalaya) and forms a geographic midlands between the
Terai and the Himalayas. It includes the scenic Pokhara valley, a popular base for activities in the area.
Western Tarai
The western side of the Terai mountain range with the Royal Chitwan National Park and Bardiya National
Park.
Eastern Tarai
Quite a populated area with Biratnagar, Nepal's second largest municipality.
Cities[edit]
Kathmandu capital and cultural centre of Nepal, with the stupas
at Boudhanath and Swayambhu
Bhaktapur well-preserved historical city, centre of Nepali pottery making, no motorized
vehicles allowed!
Biratnagar this city is in eastern Nepal near Dharan and famous for political reasons
Birgunj business gateway between India and Nepal in mid-southern Nepal
Boudhanath (Boudha) home of the largest Buddhist Stupa in Nepal and a very important
place of pilgrimage and meditation for Buddhists, local Nepalis, and tourists
Janakpur a historical religious centre and home to the 500-year old Janaki Temple
Namche Bazaar a Sherpa settlement located in the Solu Khumbu region - popular with
trekkers
Nepalgunj the main hub for the Mid- and Far-Western Development Region; Bardiya National
Park is close-by
Patan Beautiful, historic Patan Durbar Square was designated as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1979
Pokhara picturesque lake-side town fast becoming the destination of choice for travellers due
to the scenery, adventure sports, dining, hotels & live music scene
Gorkha small town near Pokhara the inhabitants of which were known as Gorkhali and the
origination of current Nepal

Other destinations[edit]
Locked between the snow peaks of the Himalayas and the seething Ganges plain, Nepal has long
been home to wandering ascetics and tantric yogis. Consequently, the country has a wealth of
sacred sites and natural wonders:

Annapurna popular trekking region of Nepal with the world-famous Annapurna Circuit
Chitwan National Park see tigers, rhinos and animals in the jungle
Daman tiny village in the mountains offering panoramic views of the Himalayas; especially
stunning at sunrise and sunset
Haleshi (Tibetan: Maratika) the site of a mountain cave where Padmasambhava attained a
state beyond life and death
Lumbini the sacred site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's birth
Mount Everest the tallest peak of the world in the Khumbu region
Nagarkot a hill station one hour from Kathmandu offering excellent views of the Himalayan
Range
Parping the site of several sacred caves associated with Padmasambhava, the founder of
Tibetan Buddhism
Tangting a beautiful and undiscovered traditional Gurung village with a stunning view of the
Annapurna range
Dhading
See also: Sacred sites of the Indian sub-continent.

Get in[edit]
Visas[edit]
Citizens of India do not need a visa to enter Nepal - they may enter using a passport, photo drivers
licence or governmental/ration/voter ID card and may stay and work indefinitely.
Tourist visas are available on arrival for citizens of all other countries
(except Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Swaziland, Syri
a and Zimbabwe) at the designated land borders (see below) for USD25, for 15 days, USD40 for 30
days and USD100 for 90 days. They can only be granted for a maximum of 150 days in each 12
month period.
As well as US dollars, other convertible currencies like the euro, Pound sterling and Australian
dollars can also be used but some smaller entry points (like Birgunj) may not accept them.
All tourist visas are currently "multiple entry" type visa and permit multiple entries and exits during
the period of validity.
Be aware that, without permission, voluntary services while on a tourist visa is strictly prohibited. It
is a punishable offence.
There is detailed information on the official website of Nepal Immigration.
As of November 2016, there are a number of automated machines as you enter the Kathmandu
airport where you can either scan your passport or enter your details manually and have your photo
taken. Once complete, the machines will provide you with a receipt which you can then take to the
payment kiosk before finally presenting everything to the immigration officers at the booths in
exchange for your visa.
How to extend your visa (as of May 2016): To extend your tourist visa, visit the Nepal Immigration
Department in Kathmandu with your passport and another photo (photo not needed for tourist visa
extension), and pay US $2 for every day past your visa you want to stay, up to the maximum of 150
days per year. They require to submit electronic application form in advance, but it can be done in
special kiosk in the office. Minimum visa extension period is 15 days for tourist visas (thus it costs 30
USD or equivalent in rupees). However, if you already missed your visa expiration date, 20 USD of
additional charge may apply. For tourist visa photo is not needed, just go to electronic application
kiosk inside the Immigration Department, where nice Nepali will fill the form for you and take a visa
photo for free. Then proceed to the visa application counter, pay the money and wait for like one
hour and they will call your name. You can ask travel agency in Thamel to do it for you, but they will
charge like 25 USD for this service (or less if you're a good negotiator).
Some bloggers mentioned, that if you overstay and just try to cross border in the airport, they'll
charge you some extra money, but the nearest ATM is outside the security check, so it's easy to
miss your plane. On the other hand, they accept dollars.
Points of entry or exit:
The points of entry and exit for tourists:

1. Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

2. Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
3. Birgunj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
4. Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
5. Belahia, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
6. Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
7. Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
8. Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)
Visas are free for all tourists who come from a SAARC country.
Be aware that if coming from India, INR500 and INR1000 bank notes may not be imported since
their circulation is prohibited in Nepal. However, in entry points that are adjourning India (Karkavitta
for example) will have plenty of currency exchange points that exchange Indian rupees (IC) to Nepali
rupees (NC). Inquire from a few places for the rates. Best rates you would get will be 0-3% off from
the mid-market rates. Anything more than that, walk away and try the next one.
By plane[edit]
Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport is the main entry point for those arriving by air, and is
located just outside of the Ring Road in Kathmandu. The airport serves as the hub for Nepal Airlines,
which flies from various destinations in India, as well as Bangkok, Doha, Dubai, Hong
Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
Other major airlines that serve Nepal from across Asia include Air Arabia, Air Asia X, Air China, Air
India, Ethiad, flydubai, Jet Airways, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Silk
Air and Thai Airways.
As of 2016, the only airline that flies directly to Kathmandu from Europe is Turkish
Airlines from Istanbul.
Tourist visas are available on arrival (see above). Money can be changed to the local currency as
well, but these services are only available directly after scheduled arrivals.
Outside the airport, all 'representatives' of the tourist industry are required to remain 10 metres
(about 30 feet) from the front door. This does not prevent them from waving large signs and yelling
in an attempt to encourage you to choose them as your guide/taxi/hotel/luggage carrier. Make your
choice before crossing the line, or better yet, arrange your first night's accommodation before you
arrive and ask the hotel to send someone to meet you. Many hotel and guest houses offer
complimentary pick up and delivery from the airport. Fixed price Taxis are also available before you
exit the building but you may get a cheaper fare if you are willing to haggle. As always, negotiate the
price beforehand with the driver. A taxi ride to Thamel or Boudha should be around 300 NRS.
Otherwise, order a taxi at the pre-paid booth inside the airport, which costs 400+NRs (and rising).
This is more than the normal taxi rate, but it saves the hassle of long negotiations. You can also walk
a few hundred metres to the Ring Road and grab a city bus or taxi there.
By car or motorcycle[edit]
It is quite easy to rent a car with a driver in Nepal, however you would need to haggle to get a
reasonable price. If you come in summer, better take a car with air-con. Car rental without a driver in
Nepal is almost unheard of, as is renting a car in India and taking it across the border.
Many travellers drive from India on Royal Enfield motorcycles. Technically, foreigners have to pay
customs at the borders but most don't bother. Selling the bike in Nepal is easy as other travelers are
looking for bikes to ride back to India.
If you are coming from India you will find driving in Nepal a lot less chaotic! The roads are amazing
and the new east-west highway currently under construction with support from the Japanese will
open up new destinations for those interested in exploring Nepal by motor-bike.
Please check before hiring a motorbike on the current state of fuel. At time of writing (13DEC 09)
there was large problems with fuel supply which can leave riders stranded. As of Dec 2014, bike
rental generally start at 700NPR for a day, (counted as 8am to shop closing time, not 24hrs) for a
basic 125cc Bajaj Pulsar or Hero Honda, Royal Enfield and Hartford off road bikes cost from upward
of 1700NPR. Note the hire bikes have no insurance, and frequently they are poorly maintained with
various reliability issues such as juddering brakes, loose gear lever, throttle linkage, cranking
troubles etc.
Hirers are also notorious for trying to charge tourists large amounts of money on returning the bike
for 'damage payment' that may not have been from you. Therefore make sure a thorough damage
assessment with the hirer is carried out before departing and if the hirer tries to scam you on return
go to local police.
The best route to explore Nepal by road on motorcycle, is to enter from the border crossing of
Banbasa- Mahendra Nagar, just after the border crossing, the Mahendra Highway (made with
collaboration from India) is amazing to ride on.
Crossing the border requires you to pay a daily toll of 120 rs (Nepali) and a transport permit of 50 rs
Nepali(one time), the cops can ask you for these two pieces of document anytime during the ride.
By bus[edit]
There are five border crossings open to tourists. The Sunauli-Bhairawa border crossing is the
closest to Varanasi, the Raxaul-Birganj crossing to Patna, Kolkata, and Siliguri-Kakarbhitta is to
Darjeeling. The Banbassa-Mahendrenagar border crossing, in the extreme west of Nepal, is the
closest to Delhi. The Bahraich-Nepalganj border is the one closest to Lucknow , the easiest
destination by air or train from Delhi.
The crossing between Nepal and Tibet via Kodari is open to independent travelers entering Nepal,
but only to organised groups entering Tibet.
By train[edit]
Cargo and passanger trains operate between Sirsiya in southern Nepal, and the Indian town of
Raxaul. However, except for Indians, foreigners are not allowed to cross border with it. Internal train
network is limited to few kilometres of train network in Janakpur.

Get around[edit]
Domestic Flights[edit]
There are now many airlines, offering frequent flights to several destinations include companies with
beautiful names like Yeti air, Buddha Air and Cosmic Air. Destinations to and
from Kathmandu include places such as Pokhara, Biratnagar, Nepalganj, Lukla, Pokhara, Simikot,
Jomsom, Janakpur and Bharatpur.
For bookings from outside Nepal, there are internet agents
(like NepalAirFlight, NepalFlightCentre and air viva) who can make bookings, take payment
(credit/debit cards/Paypal) and then send e-tickets. Other than these agents, tickets can only be
bought on arrival in Nepal so if you are flying at short notice it is necessary to be flexible on flight
times/dates as the planes often get fully booked in advance. Note that cancellations and delays due
to severe weather conditions do occur. If you have time, just board the next plane.
Overland[edit]

Micro Bus - This kind of transportation has become very popular lately. They are 10-12 seaters
with very fast service. It has almost replaced local bus service given its fast service. However,
apart from previous few routes, Micro Bus has come up with many other alternate routes and
now has got good coverage. The fare is more expensive than the local bus. Tourists should be
aware though that microbuses are often driven with great speed and very little care and have
unfortunately been the cause of a large percentage of the road accidents in Nepal! Use
microbuses with caution!
Local Bus - Although the system can be confusing, they are cheap. They can be crowded at
times both with people and domestic animals such as goats, ducks etc. Some buses will not
depart until full to a certain quota.
Tourist Bus - Book a few days ahead at a Kathmandu or Pokhara travel agent (or your hotel will
 book for you). A few steps above local buses (no goats, everyone gets a seat) but not much
safer. "Greenline" is the most reliable company and has trips between Kathmndu, Chitwan,
Lumbini and Pokhara.
Rickshaw - Good for short jaunts if you don't have much luggage and don't mind being bounced
around a bit. Bargain before you get in, and don't be afraid to walk away and try another.
Tempo - These come in two types. One is a three wheeled electric or propane powered micro-
bus for 10-13 passengers. They run in different routes around the city and cost 5-12 NRs. The
other type is a newer Toyota van running the same routes at a higher price and a bit faster and
safer. Be prepared for a crowd
Taxis - There are two types of taxi: "private", which pretty much run from the airport to your
(upscale) hotel, and "10-Rupee", which don't leave until they are full. When haggling for fare,
remember that taxi drivers have been hit hard by the petrol crisis, sometimes queing up
overnight to get 5 litres of petrol at twice the market price. So be sympathetic but dont get
ripped off! Offer to pay 'meter plus tip', 10% is more than enough.
Tram - The old-fashioned street cable-car that ran from Kathmandu (near the stadium)
to Bhaktapur is currently closed due to 'non-existing maintenance' and the fact that none of the
drivers paid for the power.
Custom or classic motorcycle - Run by a European couple, Hearts and Tears in Pokhara offer
lessons, guided tours and rental of 350cc and 500cc Royal Enfield bikes. In Kathmandu,
Himalayan Enfields (behind the Israeli Embassy on Lazimpat)sells/rents good bikes and does
repairs. The official Enfield dealer in Nepal is in Balaju Industrial Estate off the Ring Road.
Local motorcycle - Another choice is to rent a small motorcycle. And it can be rented in the
Thamel area. Again with the petrol crisis, motorcycle rental has become a costly choice,
depending on availability 1 litre of petrol will cost you 120-250 NRs on top of the rental fee (300-
800NRs).
On Foot - although motor roads are penetrating further into the hinterlands, many destinations
can only be reached by foot (or helicopter). See the section on trekking, below.

Talk[edit]
The great biological and cultural diversity of present-day Nepal is matched by its linguistic diversity.
Nepal boasts a variety of living languages, many of which are remnants of the traditional Asiatic
cultural amalgamation in the region. An impressively large number for a country with a small land
mass like Nepal, it has more distinct and individual languages in one country than the whole of the
European community.
The official language of Nepal is Nepali. It's related to Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit, and other Indo-Aryan
languages, and is normally written with the Devanagari script. While most Nepalis speak at least
some Nepali, a large percentage of the population speak another language as their mother tongue,
such as Tharu around Chitwan, Newari in the Kathmandu Valley, Sherpa in the Everest area,
and Maithili and Bhojpuri in the Terai.
Although Nepal was never a British colony, English is widespread among educated Nepalis.
Nevertheless learning even a few words of Nepali is fun and useful, especially outside of the tourist
district and while trekking. As Asian languages go, Nepali has to be one of the easiest to learn, and
the traveller making the effort isn't likely to make worse blunders than many natives with a different
first language.
Owing to its similarities with Nepali, and the prevalence of Indian media in Nepal, Hindi is widely
understood and spoken, particularly in the south of the country.
A disturbingly large number of Nepals mother tongues are severely endangered and will likely be
reduced to symbolic identity markers within a generation. So why not try to pick up a few phrases!
See: Sherpa phrasebook, Tamang phrasebook, Thami phrasebook, Majhi phrasebook

See[edit][add listing]
National symbols of Nepal
Do[edit][add listing]
Trekking[edit]

National flag Flag of Nepal

National Seal Seal of Nepal

National animal Bos primigenius indicus

The spectacular view from Annapurna Base
Camp.

A total of 101,320 trekkers visited National bird Lophophorus impejanus

Nepal in 2007. Out of total 60,237
(59.4%) visited Annapurna area while
those visiting
the Everest and Langtang regions
accounted for 26,511 (26.5%) and
8,165 (8.1%) respectively.
National tree Ficus religiosa
"Tea-House Trekking" is the easiest
way to trek as it doesn't require
support. Tea Houses have now
developed into full-scale tourist lodges
with hot showers, pizza, pasta and
beer. The day's hikes are between
lodge-filled settlements or villages:
there's no need for tents, food, water,
or beer-- all those things, plus luxuries National flower Rhododendron arboreum
such as apple-pie, can be purchased
along the way. Physical requirements
go from very soft to strenuous.
Facilities available in remote areas are
less extensive than in the more popular
areas thus these areas are often visited as organised groups, including guide, porters and full
support. Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, Mustang and Humla require Restricted Area Permits
requiring a minimum of two foreign trekkers plus a registered/qualified guide. Progress is being
made in Nepal however, and tea-houses are becoming more available in all of these areas.
Annapurna Region Treks[edit]
Annapurna - North of Pokhara, from lush middle hills into high mountains.

Annapurna Circuit: A 2-3 week trek around the Annapurna mountains, leads up the Maryangdi
river to Manang, over Thorung La (5400m) to the Hindu temples at Muktinath. Down the Kali
Gandaki on the Jomsom trail - The last week of the Annapurna Circuit, done in the opposite
direction. Known as the "Apple-Pie Trek" partly for crossing the apple growing region of Nepal,
and partly for being one of the easier treks, enjoying Gurung and Thakali hospitality. Up through
spring rhododendron blooms to Poon Hill for a dawn Himalayan vista. Another shorter but
spectacular mini-circuit is the Nayapul-Ghandruk-Ghorepani-PoonHill-Nayapul route.
Khayer Lake: Khayer Lake trek, off the beaten trekking trail, goes to along the remote Himalaya
scopes of Kopra edge and through forest with conventional towns in the heart of Annapurna
region.
Annapurna Sanctuary: A trek up into the very heart of the range provides an awesome 360
degree high mountain skyline.
Annapurna Base Camp Trekking: The trek starts from the Lake City Pokhara, which itself is a
beautiful city serves as the start point of several other treks.
Everest Region Treks[edit]
Everest lies in the region known as Khumbu - To get here, take a bus to Jiri or fly to Lukla then hike
up to Namche Bazzar, capital of the Sherpa lands at the foot of Everest. Main "teahouse trek"
regions, in each of these areas there are a number of trail options, there is plenty of scope for short
treks of less than a week to much longer if you have time and wanderlust.

Everest Base Camp Trek: Lukla to EBC, Stunning scenery, Wonderful Sherpa people. The most
popular trek is up to Everest Base Camp and an ascent of Kalar Patar. Visit the
Buddhist Tengboche monastery for the Mani Rimdu festival in November.
The 'Classic Everest Base Camp Trek': Jiri to EBC
Gokyo: Lukla to the sacred lakes of Gokyo. Explore the Gokyo valley with its sacred lakes and
stupendous views of four 8000m peaks. Or a circuit of the region crossing the high passes or
Cho La and Renjo La.
Numbur Cheese Circuit Trek through the largest cheese producing area, via the sacred lakes
of Jata Pokhari and Panch Pokhari to Numburchuili base camp.
Island Peak Trek in the Everest region takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the
Himalayas. See 'Regions' - Khumbu
Pikey Cultural Trail
Dudh Kunda Cultural Trail
Trekking Peaks[edit]
Trekking Peaks require a qualified "climbing guide", permits and deposits to cover camp waste
disposal

Island Peak Trek - The Island Peak trek in the Khumbu region takes in some of the most
spectacular scenery in the Himalayas.
Mera Peak Climbing - Enjoy panoramic views of Mt. Everest (8,848 m; 29,030 ft), Cho-Oyu
(8,201 m; 26,910 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m; 27,940 ft), Makalu (8463 m; 27,770 ft), Kangchenjunga
(8,586 m; 28,170 ft), Nuptse (7,855 m; 25,770 ft), and Chamlang (7,319 m; 24,010 ft).
Langtang Region Treks[edit]

Helambu Langtang Trek a short taxi ride from Thamel to the roadhead at Shivapuri leads to a
trail through the middle-hills countryside of Helambu, either circuit around and return to
 Kathmandu or cross the pass to the sacred lake at Gosainkhund, descend and then hike up the
Langtang valley beneath mountains that form the border with Tibet. Descend back to catch a
bus on a rough road through Trisuli to Kathmandu. If you don't fancy the long shaky bus ride (>8
hours) from/to Syabrubesi, Dhunche or Thulo Barku, you can get a 4WD pickup for about 90000
Rs to/from Kathmandu.

Tamang Heritage Trail

Pro-Poor Rural Treks[edit]
Tourism is a dynamic sector of economy and accepting it as a vehicle of poverty reduction is a
relatively new concept in Nepal. Nepal is a predominantly rural society, with 85% of the population
living in the countryside. Naturally, Nepals rich culture and ethnic diversity are best experienced in
its village communities. You can engage in local activities, learn how to cook local cuisine or take
part in agricultural activities like kitchen gardening, etc.
According to the NTB rural tourism in Nepal focuses on "Village Trek" visits to indigenous
people that will make tourists, experience rural life and Nepalese hospitality off the
beaten path with all the beautiful scenery and cultural diversity of Nepal.
In the rural Nepal context, pro-poor tourism means expanding employment and small enterprise
opportunities especially pro-Indigenous Peoples, youth and pro-women. Recent pro-poor
initiatives in Nepal include the UNDP-TRPAP [3] and ILO-EMPLED [4] projects.

Tamang Heritage Trail

Chepang Heritage Trail
Pathibhara Trail
Limbu Cultural Trail
Dudhkunda Cultural Trail
Pikey Cultural Trail
Numbur Cheese Circuit
Indigenous Peoples Trail
Trekking on the Indigenous Peoples Trail and the Numbur Cheese Circuit is a means for Nepali
as well as foreign visitors to experience the rural and traditional Nepali way of life, and for the
local Community to participate in and benefit directly from tourism. You'll feel better knowing that
your visit is genuinely helping your hosts. And if you want to simply lie on a beach.... well, The
Majhi Fishing Experience on the Sun Kosi in Ramechhap features one of the best beaches in
Nepal!
'Ethno-Tourism' or Cultural Treks[edit]
Ethno-tourism is increasingly popular in Nepal and is designed to maximize social and economic
benefits to the local communities and minimize negative impacts to cultural heritage and the
environment. Ethno-tourism is a specialized type of cultural tourism and can be defined as any
excursion which focuses on the works of humans rather than nature, and attempts to give the
tourist an understanding of the lifestyles of local people.

Numbur Cheese Circuit in the Everest Region

Indigenous Peoples Trail in Ramechhap
Majhi Fishing Experience on the Sun Koshi
Helambu Trek in Langtang
Tamang Heritage Trail in Langtang
Chepang Heritage Trail in Chitwan
Remote Treks[edit]
Other more remote regions will require a bit more planning and probably local assistance, not
least as the required permits are only issued via Nepali guides/agents. Camping is required on
one or more nights.

Kanchenjunga - far eastern Nepal, accessible via Taplejung (from Kathmandu 40min by
plane, 40hrs by bus), a strenuous trek through sparsely populated country to the third
highest mountain.
Dolpa - Upper Dolpa in northwestern Nepal beyond the highest Himalaya is the remote Land
of the Bon, almost as Tibetan as Nepali. Lower Dolpa is more accessible and can me
reached by plane
Manaslu - Unspoiled trails through remote villages and over a wild pass to circuit an 8000m
mountain. The Manaslu massif rises above the old kingdom of Gorkha about halfway
between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Social Responsibility and Responsible Travel[edit]
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and hiring a local company will benefit the
local economy, however the involvement of travel agents in Kathmandu must be approached
with caution. The numbers of travel, trekking and Rafting agencies registered in 2007 were
1,078, 872 and 94 respectively. The rapid growth in tourism in Nepal coupled with the absence
of a self-regulating code of conduct has helped to grow unhealthy competition among travel
agents with regular undercutting in tariffs. Such undesirable actions take away benefits not only
from trekking guides and porters but also from others engaged in supplying goods and providing
services to the tourists. By paying lower tariffs tourists may save money but directly at the
expense of local Communities. Try to use 'socially responsible' tour operators that promote
proper porter treatment and cultural and environmental sensitivity among their clients in line with
the UN-WTO Sustainable Tourism Criteria [5]
Organised Group Trekking or Independent Trekking?[edit]
While organized groups from "western tour operators" from overseas drain the operational
profit out of the country, still organized groups hire a larger amount of local workforce from
porters to guides. With "local tour operators" [6] [7] most of the operational profit remains in the
country. Groups are more likely to go remote areas, and rely as much as possible on local
resources to minimize transport cost and hire maximum local porters.
Traveling with a western company you will have more assurance that your money and life will be
slightly safer due to the higher standards, rules and regulations we have in the western world.
Traveling in Nepal can be quite difficult and local guides and operators sometimes do not
understand the needs of westerners or provide a high level of service. It can be worth paying
slightly more to enjoy a hassle free experience. It is also handy to know that your guide will
speak perfect English or whatever language you speak. There are plenty of decent overseas
specialists that offer travel to Nepal such as Lost Earth Adventures, High Adventure, Exodus, or
Intrepid. There have been many cases of people booking tours with local operators and people
not getting quite the experience they thought they would receive. As with most things a personal
recommendation from a friend is the best resource for finding out about a company.
The maps in Nepal are not the greatest in the world and it is not recommended that you trek
without a guide unless you have a solid background in hiking and can navigate yourself and
know how to survive in the mountains. Many people each year go trekking in Nepal because
they hear it is a nice thing to do. Many are un-equipped and ill prepared and many go missing or
get hurt.
Monsoon season can be nice to trek in but beware there are many landslides on steep hills and
mountain roads can become treacherous. It would be prudent to avoid high mountain roads in
the Monsoon Season.
In comparison, individual travellers while concentrated on the main trails with Lodges with less
budget. They usually use simpler lodges with less costs. They venture seldom in remote areas,
as that would mean more expense or very basic local services which most try to avoid. They
generally spend less than organized travellers on same trails simply because they often have
lesser budgets.
Safety and comfort are higher with organized tours. There is a full range of choice for any
demand, just be sure to think about well what trekking means for you. For the hard core
trekkers, no porter will ever carry, while for many to carry a 15-18 kg backpack might be just
simple too much.

Keep working conditions and wages in mind when selecting a trekking company. For visitors
from the west, hiring guides and porters is affordable and an extra few dollars can make a
big impact in the life of a guide or porter. In order to feed themselves and their families,
porters take on the job of carrying heavy loads to high elevations. Some of the problems
porters face are underpayment, inadequate clothing and gear, being forced to carry excess
weight, insufficient food provision and poor sleeping facilities. Sometimes these issues leave
porters open to illness and neglect on the mountain. Nowadays most companies care better
due to past awareness campaings to their staff, however, some backpackers employ
(illegally) porters and guides and reports have it, that some tourists cheat also on cheap
rates.

There are a number of websites that facilitate direct contact with recommended trekking
guides and porters. By law this is not permitted, as foreigners on tourist visa are not allowed
to employ any kind of workforce, but only legal registered companies as use in most
countries around the globe. So unless you want to break the law, do not employ yourself any
kind of porters or guides and ensure to hire only through legal companies, in case of an
accident it may bring severe problems to have employed illegally staff.

The International Porter Protect Groups (IPPG) [8] was set up in response to these issues,
to improve health and safety for the trekking porter at work in the mountains and reduce the
incidence of avoidable illness, injury and death. This is achieved by raising awareness of the
issues among the trekking community and travel companies, leaders and sirdars. IPPG
recommends the following guidelines that:
Adequate clothing is made available for protection in bad weather and at altitude. This
should include adequate footwear, hat, gloves, windproof jacket and trousers,
sunglasses, and access to a blanket and pad above the snowline.
Leaders and trekkers provide the same standard of medical care for porters they would
expect themselves.
Porters must not be paid off because of illness without the leader or trekkers being
informed.
Sick porters are never sent down alone, but rather with someone who speaks their
language.
Sufficient funds are provided to sick porters to cover the cost of their land rescue and
treatment. Also, we select strong and experienced porters!
All trekking porters should have provision for security, personal protective equipment
including shoes and clothes, depending on the weather.
Rafting / Kayaking[edit]
Rafting trips from 1-10 days are avaliable on many different river and all levels of experience
leave from Kathmandu and Pokhara. For detailed itineraries visit the Nepal Association of
Rafting Agents [9]. The main rivers are:

Bhote Koshi
Kali Gandaki
Karnali
Seti
Sun Kosi
Trisuli
Sun Kosi
Karnali
Tamur
Marshyangdi
Many companies are now also offering Learn to Kayak Clinics on the Trisuli and Lower Seti
rivers, which are ideal spots to take your first steps into the world of whitewater. GRG's
(www.grgadventurekayaking.com) and RAPIDRUNNER EXPEDITIONS
[www.rapidrunnerexpeditions.com] are the highest recommended companies to specialise in
kayaking in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Nepal is one of the best places in the world for whitewater
adventures.
Mountain Biking[edit]
Mountain biking in Nepal is fun and at times challenging event. There are many popular biking
routes in Nepal that are in operation at the moment. They are:

The Scar Road from Kathmandu starts from Balaju towards Kakani to Shivapuri ending in
Budhanilkantha in northern Kathmandu.
Kathmandu to Dhulikhel starts from Koteshwor in Kathmandu to Bhaktapur to Banepa to
Dhulikhel. You can also continue from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha to Panauti to Banepa.
The Back Door to Kathmandu starts from Panauti and heads to Lakuri Bhanjyang and then
to Lubhu in Lalitpur ending near Patan.
Dhulikhel to the Tibetan Border starts in Dhulikhel and follows the Araniko Highway with a
night stay on the way.
The Rajpath from Kathmandu starts from Kalanki in Kathmandu and follows the Prithvi
Highway up to Naubise. Then Tribhuwan Highway route is taken with overnight stay in
Daman. From there, ride downhill to Hetauda, with the option of heading towards
Narayangarh or the Indian border.
Hetauda to Narayangarh and Mugling starts from Hetauda and heads along the Mahendra
Highway to Narayangarh. You could take a detour to Sauraha near from Taandi.
Kathmandu to Pokhara starts from Kathmandu and traverses through Naubise, Mugling to
Pokhara.
Pokhara to Sarangkot and Naudanda starts from Lakeside Pokhara and heads towards
Sarangkot and from there towards Naudanda. From there, ride downhill towards the
highway.
The best time to go for biking is between mid October and late March, when the atmosphere is
clear the the climate is temperate - warm during the days and cool during the night. Biking in
other times of the year is also okay but great care should be taken while biking during the
monsoon season (June to September) as the roads are slippery. Biking can be done
independently or can be organized through biking companies of Nepal.
You can rent mountain bikes from simple indian made to real good ones locally, but remember
that if your'e going on a longer or harder ride, at least your own saddle would be a good option
to bring. Rent goes from anywhere (november 2009) 3 (simple bike) to 30 US Dollars (western
bikes with suspension).
Motorcycling[edit]
Nepal's geography and climate makes for some of the best motorcycling roads in the world. The
traffic is a little chaotic, but not aggressive, and the speeds are low. Be aware that you need
an international driving permit in Nepal, even though you might never be stopped by the
police as a tourist on a bike.
Perhaps the best and most original way to explore the country is by motorcycle. Kathmandu
should be avoided by beginners, but the rest of Nepal is simply amazing. Hearts and Tears
Motorcycle Club, Wild Experience Tours & Blazing Trails Tours are the better known
Names in the industry. They specialize in motorcycle touring, and have a great collection of
custom bikes. They are professional set-ups with imported safety equipment, structured training,
and well organized group tours.
Jungle Safari[edit]
Chitwan National Park offers elephant rides, jungle canoeing, nature walks, and birding, as well
as more adventurous tiger and rhino-viewing. There are also many other less visited parks
like Bardiya and Sagarmatha.
Trance Parties[edit]
"The Last Resort", near the Tibetan border, has frequent Full Moon Trance Parties, lasting 2-3
days. Watch for posters and check music shops. Pokhara has started featuring its own brand of
Full Moon raves and interesting Western takes on Nepali festivals.

Buy[edit][add listing]
There are banks in Kathmandu, Pokhara and in several other major cities that will allow you to
retrieve cash from ATM or credit cards. You may be charged a service fee, depending on your
bank. There are quite a number of ATMs now in those cities that are open round the clock.
Although Indian currency is valid in Nepal (at an official exchange rate of 1.60 Nepalese rupees
to 1 Indian rupee), the Rs. 500 and Rs. 2000 currency notes are not acceptable. Be sure to keep
all currency exchange and ATM receipts as they are required at the airport bank to convert back
to your original currency. If you don't have them, they will refuse to convert your currency but
they will suggest going to the Duty Free shop upstairs, even though it isn't a licenced money
changer. Traveller's cheques may be useful outside of the major cities.
Prices[edit]
Momo - 100 to 160NPR at touristy area restaurants; or 50NPR at local restaurants, often shabby
looking sheds, even cheaper at non tourist areas where only locals eat, can be as cheap as
30NPR, but generally quite small motorcycle rental - 700NPR per day (counted as until end of
business, e.g. 7pm), all are without insurance coverage.

Eat[edit][add listing]
 Plateful of Momo in Nepal

The Nepali national meal is daal bhaat tarkaari. It is essentially spiced lentils poured over
boiled rice, and served with tarkari: vegetables such as mustard greens, daikon radish, potatoes,
green beans, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, squash etc, cooked with spices. This is served in
most Nepalese homes and teahouses, two meals a day at about 10 AM and 7 or 8 PM. If rice is
scarce the grain part may be cornmeal mush called Ato, barley, or chapatis (whole wheat
'tortillas'). The meal may be accompanied by dahi (yogurt) and a small helping of ultra-spicy
fresh chutney or achar (pickle). Traditionally this meal is eaten with the right hand. Curried meat
-- goat or chicken -- is an occasional luxury, and freshwater fish is often available near lakes and
rivers. Because Hindus hold cattle to be sacred, beef (cow meat) is forbidden but still can be
obtained for a high price in some expensive restaurants (the price is high mainly because it is
imported from India). Buffalo and yak are eaten by some but considered too cow-like by others.
Pork is eaten by some tribes, but not by upper-caste Hindus. And like in India, some
communities and tribes are vegetarians and do not eat meat of any sort.
Outside the main morning and evening meals, a variety of snacks may be available. Tea, made
with milk and sugar is certainly a pick-me-up. Corn may be heated and partially popped,
although it really isn't popcorn. This is called "kha-ja", meaning "eat and run!" Rice may be
heated and crushed into "chiura" resembling uncooked oatmeal that can be eaten with yogurt,
hot milk and sugar, or other flavorings. Fritters called 'pakora' and turnovers called "samosa" can
sometimes be found, as can sweets made from sugar, milk, fried batter, sugar cane juice, etc.
Be sure such delicacies are either freshly cooked or have been protected from flies. Otherwise
flies land in the human waste from the streets or inefficient sewage systems, then on your food,
and so you become a walking medical textbook of gastrological conditions.
Because of the multi-ethnic nature of Nepali society, differing degrees of adherence to Hindu
dietary norms, and the extreme range of climates and microclimates throughout the country,
different ethnic communities often have their own specialties.
Newars, an ethnic group originally living in the Kathmandu Valley, are connoisseurs of great
foods who lament that feasting is their downfall (whereas sexual indulgence is said to be the
downfall of Paharis). In the fertile Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys this cuisine often includes a
greater variety of foodstuffs -- particularly vegetables -- than what are available in most of the
hills. As such, Newari cuisine is quite distinct and diverse relatively compared to the other
indigenous regional cuisines of Nepal, so watch out for Newari restaurants. Some of them even
come with cultural shows...a great way to enjoy good food while having a crash-course in
Nepalese culture.
The cuisine of the Terai lowlands is almost the same as in adjacent parts of India. Locally-grown
tropical fruits are sold alongside subtropical and temperate crops from the hills. In addition to
bananas ('kera') and papayas ('mewa') familiar to travelers, jackfruit ('katar') is a local delicacy.
Some dishes, particularly in the Himalayan region, are Tibetan in origin and not at all spicy.
Some dishes to look for include momos, a meat or vegetable filled dumpling (similar to Chinese
pot-stickers) often served with beer, and Tibetan Bread and Honey a puffy fried bread with
heavy raw honey that's great for breakfast. One delicacy that you do not want to miss while in
Nepal is the dried meat (it especially complements with beer/alcoholic beverages. Up in the
Himalayan mountains, potatoes are the staple of the Sherpa people. Try the local dish of potato
pancakes (rikikul). They are delicious eaten straight off the griddle and covered with dzo (female
yak) butter or cheese.
Pizza, Mexican, Thai and Chinese food, and Middle-Eastern food can all be found in the tourist
districts of Kathmandu and Pokhara. If you are on a budget, sticking with local dishes will save a
lot of money.
Note that many small restaurants are not prepared to cook several different dishes; try to stick
with one or two dishes or you will find yourself waiting as the cook tries to make one after
another on a one-burner stove.
As far as possible, eat only Nepali village products. Do not eat junk foods like biscuits, noodles
etc. If you take only village product foods, it will help to raise their economic life.

Drink[edit][add listing]
Alcohol:

Raksi is a clear liquid, similar to tequila in alcohol content. It is usually brewed "in house",
resulting in a variation in its taste and strength. This is by far the least expensive drink in the
country. It is often served on special occasions in small, unbaked clay cups that hold less
than a shot. It works great as a mixer in juice or soda. Note that it may appear on menus
as "Nepali wine".

Jaand (Nepali) or chyaang (Tibetan) is a cloudy, moderately alcoholic drink sometimes

called Nepali beer". While weaker than raksi, it will still have quite an effect. This is often
offered to guests in Nepali homes, and is diluted with water. For your safety, be sure to ask
your hosts if the water has been sanitized before drinking this beverage.

Beer production in Nepal is a growing industry. Some local beers are now also exported, and
the quality of beer has reached to quite international standards International brands are
popular in the urban areas.

Cocktails can pretty much only be found in Kathmandu and Pokhara's tourist areas. There
you can get watered-down "two for one drinks" at a variety of pubs, restaurants, and sports
bars.
Tea:
Although not as internationally famous as Indian brands, Nepal does in fact have a large organic
tea industry. Most plantations are located in the east of the country and the type of tea grown is
very similar to that produced in neighbouring Darjeeling. Well known varieties are Dhankuta,
Illam, Jhapa, Terathhum and Panchthar (all named after their growing regions). Unfortunately
over 70% of Nepal's tea is exported and the tea you see for sale in Thamel, while they serve as
token mementos, are merely the scrapings from the bottom of the barrel.

Milk Tea' is boiled milk with added tea, with or without sugar.
Chay is a tea drink with added milk and also sometimes containing ginger and spices such
as cardamom.
Suja. Salty tea made with milk and butter - only available in areas inhabited by Tibetans,
Sherpas and a few other Himalayan people.
 Herbal teas. Most herbal teas are made from wild flowers from the Solu Khumbu region. In
Kathmandu, these teas are generally only served in high class establishments or those run
by Sherpas from the Solu Khumbu.
Water:
Problematic due to lack of sanitary facilities and sewage treatment. It is safest to assume that
water is unsafe for drinking without being chemically treated or boiled, which is one reason to
stick to tea or bottled water. In the Nepali neighbourhoods, a five gallon clear container of
filtered/clean water sells for 55rps. In some areas stores let people fill water bottles with
clean/filtered water for 10rps. per liter.

Sleep[edit][add listing]
Budget accommodation in Nepal ranges from around 250 NPR to around 750 NPR for a double.
The prices you are told at first are not fixed so you should haggle. Especially if you want to stay
for a longer period, you can get a large discount. Cheaper rooms usually do not have sheets,
blankets, towels, or anything else besides a bed and a door. Most budget hotels and
guesthouses have a wide range of rooms, so be sure to see what you are getting, even if you
have stayed there before. Usual price for three-star equivalent hotel (air-con, bathroom, Internet
access and satelite TV in the room) is around 20 USD (1,500 NPR) for a double, a bit more in
Kathmandu. Accommodations might easily be the cheapest part of your budget in Nepal.
However, if you prefer luxurious accomodation, the best hotels equal approximately to four star
hotels in western countries (unlimited access to swimming pool or whirlpool, no power outages,
room service, very good restaurant and buffet breakfests). Expect the price being much higher
(circa 50 USD for a double or 100 USD for an appartment, even more in Kathmandu). In these
hotels, all prices are usually fixed. In Kathmandu, some luxurious hotels require going through
security check when entering.

Learn[edit]

Baudha

Thangka Painting[edit]

Tsering Art School, offers a professional Thangka Painting Course. A minimum study
period of 3 months a year for 3 years is recommended.Due to the sacred nature of this art
form, those who wish to study here must have taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and
Sangha, and consider themselves to be Buddhist. There are no boarding facilities offered at
 the Tsering Art School for foreign students. The school fees are 1,600 Nrs per month. Basic
drawing and painting implements are required and can be purchased in Nepal. For study
enquiries and enrolments please contact the school administrator, Miss Lobsang Dolma by
email on: zorig@asia.com

Work[edit]
Volunteer in Nepal[edit]
It is to be understood, that by the prevailing law of Nepal, you are not allowed to do volunteering
on a tourist visa. In order to volunteer legally, the organization which will engage you must
procure, accordingly, a permit and respective non-tourist visa.
Unfortunately, volunteer tourism has mostly become more profitable than real tourism. Foreign
operators and Nepali agents have found an inexhaustible supply of well-meaning but naive
people who will pay sometimes even big amounts to "volunteer" in Thamel, Lakeside and
Chitwan.
Teaching English is a popular project for volunteers and is often combined with courses in
computer literacy or health and physical education. The Nepali school system, which many
children only attend for a few years, requires English fluency so there is always a demand for
native English speakers of all ages, races, and nationalities. Mostly the organizations have no
any prerequisites for teaching beyond English fluency. Be aware that many schools, especially
private ones, charge families higher fees for "foreign teachers present" and often local available
English teachers may not find work due to foreign (mostly illegally engaged) volunteers. If you
want to teach, a school may request and obtain a non-tourist visa so you can eventually teach
legally.
There are many options for finding volunteer opportunities. Several international volunteer
organizations, INGO and local NGOs (International Non Government Organization, Non
Government Organization) will find you a project, room, and boarding - either at the school or
with a local family - for a fee. This "fee" can range from US ~$500 to US $2000 depending on
the type and length of program. Often only little of the money will go to the school and host
family (often they are too poor to even support a volunteer; the bulk often goes however to the
agency.)
Some organizations will provide language and culture lessons as well as general teaching
supplies and support. Once you make a deposit on a particular program there may be limited
options for change. Programs can last from two weeks to five months if made with a tourist visa,
but keep in mind regular, legal work and a longer stay may be more rewarding for both you and
the school, as it can take several weeks to get into the swing of things. Above all, examine
carefully how your money is spent and who really benefits.
An alternative to paid placement is to find a local, grassroots program, or to contact schools
directly in Kathmandu when you arrive. Local hostels and restaurants usually have bulletin
boards full of often doubtful requests for volunteers. More and more local groups are placing ads
on the web as well. These programs are more likely to charge only for room & board, but you will
need to do some research to find out the specifics of each group and what, if any, support you
will receive. Waiting until you arrive also lets you get to know the areas you can volunteer in and
allows you to shop around for a situation that best suits you. These placements tend to be
longer term (3-5 months), but this is always negotiable with a specific school or project.
Always check that your volunteer work is done legally. It is also recommended that you check
whether your engagement does not take away work of other people (although it is unclear how
to check that), and that the community profits most from the deal. Report to police or other
serious NGO/INGO any kind of misuse. Always demand written receipts with complete
organization address, stamp and signatures. This helps to prevent syphoning off of precious
development funds, which generally tend to not reach the intended beneficiaries most of time
(estimates go from 85-95% wasted money for "logistics", "office expenses", "allowances",
vehicles and so forth!!)

Stay safe[edit]
Nepal is internationally known for its overwhelming friendliness and hospitality towards
foreigners. However, there is still a low crime rate so use your common sense.
Watch out for pick-pockets and bag-snatching, particularly in airports, buses is tourist areas like
Thamel, Sanepa and Kupondol in Kathmandu. Take care when walking around at night.
Avoid solo trekking. Murders and disappearances happen in Langtang. Consider walking in
pairs.
Travel by bus or air into the hills and mountains is statistically hundreds of times riskier than
normal travel in Western Europe and the U.S. As an example, Lukla - the entry point for the
Mount Everest trek - is home to the most dangerous airport in the world owing to its infamous
cliff-top location. Be conservative about your exposure to these risks. Risks are highest during
the summer monsoon (June-September) and scheduled bus or air service may be cancelled due
to storms and landslides.
Stay away from strikes and demonstrations. They can turn violent.
If your country has an embassy or consulate in Nepal, let them know your whereabouts and
plans. Listen seriously to any cautionary advice they offer.
Get insurance that will cover medical evacuation by helicopter if you become seriously ill or
injured while trekking. Inform your embassy or consulate about this insurance and contact them
if you need evacuation.

Stay healthy[edit]
Minimizing gastrointestinal problems - Since most of Nepal still gets along without
modern sanitation, these are endemic. They range from self-limiting attacks of diarrhea
where dehydration is the main risk, through intestinal parasites, amoebic dysentery and
giardiasis which are chronic without proper medical treatment, to immediately life-
threatening infections like cholera and typhoid. Habituation even to common intestinal flora
generally takes about a year and many unpleasant bouts of stomach problems, so tourists
contemplating shorter stays should take extensive precautions. Filter or treat your own
water, use bottled or boiled water or stick with beverages made from water that has been
thoroughly boiled and filtered. Tea or coffee from cafes catering to tourists are 'generally'
safe. If purchasing the bottled water, make sure the lid is sealed, and that the water does not
leak from a sealed bottle flipped upside down (if it does, it is possible to empty the bottle and
fill it up with the tap water without breaking the seal, so there is no assurance the water is
not tap water). If you're concerned about the environment, keep in mind there are no
recycling facilities for plastic bottles, so consider limiting the use of bottled water.
When trekking carry iodine or other chemical means of treating water and be sure to
follow directions, i.e. don't drink the water before the specified time interval to ensure
that resistant cysts are deactivated. According to Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention iodine and chlorine is effective against bacteria and virus, but does not
protect against parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. In trailside teashops,
although glasses may be washed in questionable water, tea is made by pouring boiling
water through tea dust into your glass. The chances of disease-causing organisms
 surviving that are small but not zero.
Brush teeth with prepared drinking water and avoid water entering the mouth when
showering.
Salads, especially in the wet season, should be treated as suspect.
Wash hands regularly and especially before eating.
Thoroughly wash fruit and vegetables for raw consumption using boiled and filtered
water. Also consider peeling them.
Look for freshly-cooked food and avoid anything that has been cooked and then left
sitting around without refridgeration (which can expose you to a buildup of bacterial
toxins), or without protection from flies (which can transfer disease organisms and
parasite eggs to the food).
Also see the Travellers' diarrhea article.
Get vaccinated and consider prophylactic treatment. You may be exposed to typhoid,
cholera, hepatitis, malaria, and possibly even rabies. Read the article on Tropical
diseases and review travel plans with your health care provider.
Practice safe sex or do without. Nepali women are sought after in India and the Middle East
and so there is human trafficking. Victims may be allowed to return home when health
issues become a liability, then continue 'working' as long as possible. The incidence of STDs
is rising and the government has not always been proactive about treatment and promoting
awareness. Unless your Nepali is extremely fluent, your chances of finding out about a
prospective partner's sexual history are slim.
Altitude sickness Permanent snow lines are between 5,500 m and 5,800 m (18,000 ft and
19,000 ft), so base camps and passes in the Himalaya are usually higher than Mount Blanc
or Mount Whitney. This puts even experienced mountain climbers at risk of altitude-related
medical conditions that can be life-threatening. Risks can be minimized by choosing routes
that don't go high, such as Pokhara-Jomosom, or routes and trekking companies where
gamow bags or other treatment are available, and by sleeping not more than 300 m (1,000
ft) higher per day. According to the "climb high, sleep low" mantra, it is good to take daytime
conditioning hikes that push acclimation, then to return to a more reasonable elevation at
night.
Hypothermia is a risk, especially if you are trekking in spring, autumn or winter to avoid heat
at low elevations. When it is a comfortable 30C (85F) in the Terai, it is likely to be in the
teens Fahrenheit or -10C (14F) at that base camp or high pass. Either be prepared to
hike and sleep in these temperatures (and make sure your comrades, guides and porters
are equally prepared), or choose a trek that doesn't go high. For example, at 3,000 m
(10,000 ft) expect daytime temperatures in the 40s Fahrenheit or 5 to 10C.
Rabies - Dogs are not vaccinated and catch this fatal disease from other dogs or wild
animals with some regularity. All mammals are potentially vulnerable. Dogs are considered
ritually polluting and are widely abused, so it can be impossible to know whether a dog bit
you because it is paranoid about people or because it is rabid. You should be vaccinated
against rabies before going to Nepal, but this is not absolute protection. Be on the lookout
for mammals acting disoriented or hostile and stay as far away as possible. Do not pet dogs,
cats or pigs no matter how cute. Keep a distance from monkeys, especially in places like the
Monkey Temple in Kathmandu. If bitten or exposed to saliva, seek medical attention. You
may need an extended series of injections that provides a higher level of protection than
routine vaccination.
Snakebite - The risk is greatest in warm weather and at elevations below 1,500 m (5,000 ft).
Venomous snakes are fairly common and cause thousands of deaths annually. Local people
may be able to differentiate venomous and non-venomous species. Cobras raise their
bodies in the air and spread their hoods when annoyed; itinerant snake charmers are likely
to have specimens for your edification. Vipers have triangular heads and may have thick
 bodies like venomous snakes in North America. Kraits may be the most dangerous due to
innocuous appearance and extremely potent neurotoxin venom. Kraits are strangely passive
in daylight but become active at night, especially around dwellings where they hunt rodents.
Krait bites may be initially painless, causing only numbness. However without proper
antivenin numbness can progress to deadly paralysis, even with bites from small, seemingly
harmless specimens. Wearing proper shoes and pants rather than sandals and shorts
provides some protection. Watch where you put your feet and hands, and use a flashlight
when walking outside at night. Sleeping on elevated beds and on second stories helps
protect against nocturnal kraits.

Respect[edit]
Greet people with a warm Namaste (or "Namaskar" formal version - to an older or high-status
person) with palms together, fingers up. It is used in place of hello or goodbye. Don't say it more
than once per person, per day. The least watered down definition of the word: 'The divine in me
salutes the divine in you.'
Show marked respect to elders.
Say Thank you: Dhanyabaad /'njb:d/ (Dhan-ya-baad)
Feet are considered dirty. Don't point the bottoms of your feet (or your bum!) at people, or at
religious icons. In this vein, be sure not to step over a person who may be seated or lying on the
ground. Be sensitive to when it is proper to remove your hat or shoes. It is proper to take off your
shoes before entering a residental house.
The left hand is considered unclean because it is used to wash after defecating. Many Nepali
Hotel & Guest House toilets have bidet attachments (like a kitchen sink sprayer) for this purpose
in lieu of toilet paper. It is considered insulting to touch anyone with the left hand. It is proper to
poke someone, take and give something with the right hand.
Circumambulate temples, chortens, stupas, mani walls, etc. clockwise. (ie, with your right side
closest to the object or respect)
When haggling over prices, smile, laugh, and be friendly. Be prepared to allow a reasonable
profit. Don't be a miser or insult fine craftsmanship, it's much better to lament that you are too
poor to afford such princely quality.
Many Hindu temples do not allow non-Hindus inside certain parts of the temple complex. Be
aware & respectful of this fact, as these are places of worship, not tourist attractions.
Being a non-Hindu makes you moderately low caste, but not an untouchable. Avoid touching
containers of water; let someone pour it into your drinking container. Likewise avoid touching
food that others will be eating. Make sure you are invited before entering someone's house. You
may only be welcome on the outer porch, or in the yard. Shoes are routinely left on the front
porch or in a specific area near the front door.
Wash hands before and after eating. Touch food only with the right hand if you're not left-
handed.

Contact[edit]
Internet[edit]
The use of email is growing, although its availability is most widespread
in Kathmandu (especially in Thamel and around the Boudha Stupa in Boudhanath) or Pokhara.
However, Namche, in the the Everest region, has several internet cafes that use satellite
connections, but the cost is more than NPR140/min (USD2) compared to NPR30 in Kathmandu.
Phone calls are best made from any of the international phone offices in Kathmandu-- Voice
over Internet (VOI) is usually NPR1-2/min. Wi-Fi in Hotels is free from any cafes and hotels if
you tune in and ask for a password or host a hub in your cell. Whatsapp is obviously the most
reliable way to stay in touch with those out of the country and to hotel operators who use the
main mobile number as password to connect the inhouse Wi-Fi.
Post[edit]
Mail can be received at many guesthouses or at Everest Postal Care, opposite Fire & Ice on Tri
Devi MAag.
Mobile phones[edit]
There are two main mobile operators in Nepal - the government-run NTC (Nepali Telecom
Company), and private Ncell (previously called Spice Mobile and Mero Mobile).
Both operators allow tourists to buy SIM cards for about NPR200 in Kathmandu and most towns.
You will need to bring a passport photo, fill in a form and have your passport and visa page
photocopied, also expect to have your fingerprints taken. Try to buy the SIM card at a shop
owned by the phone company; if you buy it from a corner shop it can take some time for the card
to be activated, despite promises that it will be done in "a couple of hours".
Ncell SIM's - can be bought from many stores, but are best bought from official stores in Birgunj
or Kathmandu (they can also cut it to micro SIM for free if you need). Ncell offers two different
SIM cards. The first is a usual SIM card that allows you to make calls to any phone (local calls
are about NPR2.5/min); you can also buy mobile data to use. The second is a data only SIM
card which can not be used for making or receiving calls. The advantage of the second sim is
that the rates for data are significantly cheaper than a call and data SIM. Note that on Ncell SIM
cards, tethering is not enabled by default. However their data works when you just switch
between 2g and 3g depending on what reception is available (there is no cheaper prices for only
2g). Just to give an idea on data package prices: 500MB: NPR199, 1GB: NPR699, 5GB:
NPR1999 + taxes (as of Aug 2013). You can get coverage maps on their site, although they now
have 3G reception at the Mt Everest base camp (although not on the trek to the base camp).
NTC SIMs - NTC SIMs can usually only be bought from their official offices. They often have a
shortage of SIM cards, and you may have to wait up to 10 days to receive one. They do not
publish their coverage maps. However they do have superior remote coverage to Ncell,
particularly on the Anapurna Circuit trek. Besides 2G network NTC also has 3G(UMTS) network
and CDMA one. For accessing 3G(UMTS) you need to pay some extra money as it's shown as
forbidden by default. Prices for data traffic in 2G and CDMA networks is 1MB: NPR0.50 (as of
Aug 2013). The only data package available for CDMA is 5GB for NPR2,500 and it comes with
CDMA modem (which is usually out of stock in their offices).

Get out[edit]
Mount Kailash - Actually in Tibet, a short distance beyond the NW corner of Nepal. Jainism
and Buddhist cosmology describes the cosmos as a central mountain, Mount Meru,
surrounded by the earth's continents and seas, then by the rest of the universe.
Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple complex is actually an architectural representation of this
schema. As geographical knowledge developed, Mount Kailash was proclaimed the physical
manifestation of Mount Meru. It is the hydrologic hub of the subcontinent. The Karnali, Sutlej
Indus and Brahmaputra rivers all begin near this mountain. Hindus and Buddhists gain
religious merit by circumambulating the mountain.
 The Sunauli border is the most popular entry point from India to Nepal, and vice-versa,
when traveling overland. However, there's nothing nice about it there. Nothing nice at
all. On the Indian side, Sunauli is a dusty town in a poor and inhospitable part of Uttar
Pradesh. The road through is clogged with heavily laden trucks and there are touts
everywhere. It's recommended that you make the border crossing as quickly as
possible.

Here are some tips for doing so.

Sunauli Border Crossing from the Indian Side

If you arrive at the Sunauli border on the Indian side, you'll have most likely come by
bus from Varanasi or Gorakhpur (the closest train station, 3 hours away). The buses
drop passengers in a parking lot a few hundred meters from the border.
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You can walk, but if you don't want to, negotiate a cycle rickshaw to take you across.
Ignore anyone trying to sell bus tickets, it's much better to get them on the Nepal side.

First stop is the Indian immigration office, on your right hand side before the border, to
get a departure stamp in your passport. Second stop is the Nepali immigration office,
again on your right hand side, a short distance after the border. Nepali visas on arrival
are issued there. Lastly, you'll want to organize onwards travel. Pokhara and
Kathmandu are roughly the same distance away, around 8 hours or more. There are a
few options for getting there: shared jeep or minivan, or bus. There's a bus station at
Bhairawa, around 4 kilometers away from the border (take a cycle rickshaw).

However, plenty of travel agents will approach you with offers of transport before that.

Day buses from Sunauli leave in the morning, up until 11 a.m., so aim to get there early.
Night buses, departing in the afternoon, take longer and arrive at their destination the
next morning. You'll also miss out on stunning views!

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 Flight to Nepal

Sunauli Border Crossing from the Nepali Side

Most people arrive at the Nepali side of the border in the afternoon, having taken an
early morning bus from Kathmandu. After clearing immigration, continue for around 5
minutes, and you'll find a government bus stand on your right (look for buses with a blue
stripe). Get on, and pay when you're aboard. Buses to Gorakhpur will depart according
to timetable, around every half hour. Although less than comfortable, you don't have to
worry about being ripped off by private bus operators. Shared jeeps also run to
Gorakhpur, but don't leave until full...very full. Often a dozen people will be rounded up
and crammed in! The bus, although decrepit, is usually a better (and cheaper) option.

Additional Tips and Travel Warnings

The border is open 24 hours (but closes to vehicles at 10 p.m.). However, it's best not to
arrive there late at night. It can be dangerous, particularly on the Indian side. There are
often reports of tourists being forced, and threatened with beatings, to buy overpriced
onwards bus tickets and train tickets that they don't need. In many cases, the train
tickets are fake. Ignore anyone that approaches you.
When going from India to Nepal, carry $US with you to pay for your visa. Some people
have reported paying in Indian rupees and also paying in Nepali rupees, but it's better to
be safe than sorry. Have a look at the Nepali Immigration website for the current Nepali
visa application fees and the Nepali visa application form. Currency exchange facilities
are available a little ahead of the Nepali immigration office, but watch out for scams
involving fake money and black market operators giving poor rates. Indian rupees of
denominations less than 500 can be widely used and exchanged in Nepal, particularly
in Kathmandu and Pokara (500 and 1,000 Indian rupee notes are banned however, due
to counterfeiting). Make sure you carry a couple of passport sized photos for your visa
application as well.
If you're an Indian citizen, you don't need a visa or a passport to cross the border.
Acceptable documents include ration card, voters ID, and driver's license with photo.
However, you can cross the border anyway, no one will stop you. The same is the case
for foreigners, so do keep an eye out for the immigration offices in order not to miss
them!
Citizens of the following countries aren't granted visas on arrival for Nepal: Nigeria,
Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine,
and Afghanistan.
Tips for first time travellers to Nepal
by Guest Author on September 7, 2015 in India, NEPAL

View of Kathmandu from Swayambhunath

Differences between India and Nepal travellers need to

know
This guest post is by writer, editor, Indiaphile and India traveller Elen Turner, who moved
from Australia to Nepal sight unseen to start a new job. Heres what she discovered, and
her tips for first time travellers to Nepal.
I ARRIVED IN KATHMANDU for the first time in the middle of the monsoon. The rain lashed
the airplanes windows as we descended into the grey clouds, eliminating any hope of the
famous Himalayan views Id been told to expect. Instead, my first glimpse of my new home
was of the hills of the Kathmandu Valley, bright green and lush, and haphazard brick
structures crammed together, fighting for space.
At Tribhuvan Airport I clambered into a beat-up taxi that felt, to me, as if it belonged more
in sub-Saharan Africa than the South Asia I knew from my previous visits to India. The ring-
road to Patan, where I would be living, was muddy, pot-holed and extremely congested. As
we crossed the Bagmati River, we encountered a group of military police, clad in blue
camouflage and combat boots, breaking up an altercation. We passed one United Nations
office after another, many international NGOs, and shared the road with numerous UN and
USAID jeeps.

All of this was a surprise to me.

A typical guesthouse for trekkers in the Langtang Valley

While Kathmandu was to become my home for the next year, Id never been there before.
My friends and family in Australia knew better than to ask why I would drop everything and
move to a country to which Id never been. I didnt even stop to ask myself that question. I
knew India, and how different could Nepal, its land-locked northern neighbour, be?

Very. I felt it immediately.

Nepal felt unrecognizable. I knew better than to expect a mountain Shangri-la, but I had
expected something much more familiar, more like India. Much of the difference between
the countries comes down to the fact that Nepal is extremely poor, and is classified as a
least developed nation. India does a poor job of equitably distributing its wealth, but it
does have a lot of wealth and resources.

The Diwali market at the Janaki Mandir in Janakpur said to be the birthplace of Sita

Here are the differences between India and Nepal that you
need to know before visiting.
1. The power situation
Unless you visit during monsoon, which isnt advisable, Kathmandu suffers from crippling
power shortages of the sort that apparently used to be common throughout India, but are
not any longer. The hydro dams that produce electricity are low outside of the monsoon
months, meaning that scheduled power in the middle of winter can be as little as two hours
per day. At other times of the year, this can rise to 8-12 hours per day.
If youre staying in a hotel in Kathmandu or Pokhara, youre likely to be supplied with
sufficient power from a back-up generator. Be aware that most Nepalis do not have this
luxury.

2. If youre a woman, your experience will be much easier in Nepal

While Im a staunch supporter of womens travel in India, the truth is that travelling in
Nepal is much more comfortable, most of the time.

In general, Nepalis are a very laid-back people who dont invade ones personal space, male
or female. Nepali men are not prone to staring or making audible or muttered comments to
foreign women. There is less likelihood that a casual chat with a man on a bus or elsewhere
in public will be misinterpreted, thus making it easier for foreign women to have genuine,
interesting and harmless conversations with Nepali men. Its still a good idea to dress
modestly, but Nepali womenespecially the young, in Kathmanduoften show more skin
and wear tighter jeans and t-shirts than is common in India. Although still a very patriarchal
and male-dominated society, Nepal does not have the same unwritten prohibitions against
women in certain parts of the public sphere that India does. If, as a woman, you stumble
into a down-market restaurant thats patronised by men, you shouldnt feel intimidated.

At first, I thought that these more relaxed gender codes were a mountains-plains divide, as
it is often said that travelling in Indias mountainous areas is easier as a woman. However,
I visited Janakpur, a city on Nepals plains, very near the border with Bihar, and I found the
atmosphere there very comfortable. Despite looking like a very poor, dusty, flat Uttar
Pradeshi or Bihari town, in Janakpur I wandered freely, alone, without even a sideways
glance.
 A market in the ancient Newari city of Bhaktapu

3. Vegetarianism
Although the majority of Nepalis are Hindu, most are not vegetarian. As one myself, I love
travelling in India as its one of the few places in the world where Im spoilt for choice when
I pick up a menu. The same doesnt always apply in Nepal, where chicken and buffalo are
very popular. But its still easy to get by, as veg curries and momos are available almost
everywhere, even deep in the mountains.

4. The infrastructure
In some respects, such as the network of trekkers lodges throughout the mountains,
Nepals tourism infrastructure is good. In most others, it really is not. The quality of the
roads in Kathmandu is extremely poor, as they are in much of the rest of the country. Local
buses are old, over-crowded and slow, although very cheap. Faster tourist buses only run
along a couple of routes, namely, between Kathmandu and Pokhara. There are practically
no railways in Nepal apart from a short strip in the Terai that connects with India, and
domestic flights, although frequent and cheap, are often cancelled due to bad weather in
the mountains.

Nepal is a very poor, very mountainous country, so this poor infrastructure is entirely
understandable. But it does mean that when visiting Nepal, its not a good idea to try to do
too much, too quickly.

5. Its not OK to lose your temper

Sometimes, in India, stomping your foot and raising your voice is the only way to get what
you want, or be treated the way you should be. In Nepal, this doesnt fly. In this respect,
Nepalis are temperamentally more similar to their East Asian neighbours, where losing ones
temper in public is considered an embarrassment, and the quickest way to alienate people.
(Of course, this doesnt apply to politics, which is governed by its own set of rules and non-
rules!)

At the Neydo Tibetan Monastery in Pharping

6. The permeation of Buddhism
Although more than 80% of Nepalis are Hindus, Buddhism is a very visible part of Nepals
cultural landscape. Lumbini, on Nepals plains, is said to be the birthplace of Gautama
Siddhartha Buddha, and the country has several ancient Buddhist pilgrimage sites. In
Kathmandu, there are numerous Buddhist stupas, adorned with the elegant, languorous and
ever-watchful eyes of Buddha. Fluttering, primary-coloured Tibetan prayer flags are a
common sight. The native people of the Kathmandu Valley, the Newars, practice a form of
Buddhism that has been strongly influenced by Hinduism. Tibetan Buddhism is visible
throughout the high Himalaya, which is inhabited by ethnic groups related to Tibet, and also
in Kathmandu, with its significant population of Tibetan refugees.

I shouldnt have been surprised by all these differences, but because Nepal rarely features
in international news (before the earthquake this year), its too easy to assume that it is
just a more mountainous version of India. Nepal is fascinating and unique, and has as many
reasons to return again and again as its larger, harder-to-overlook southern neighbour.
 Elen in Bhaktapur

Elen Turner is a New York state based editor and writer who has led previous lives in Nepal,
Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Sierra Leone and the UK. She has a PhD
from the Australian National University on Indias contemporary feminist publishing industry
and works with Kathmandu-based Himal Southasian magazine. She blogs at Wilderness,
Metropolis.

Mountain views from the Langtang Valley

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19 Responses to Tips for first time travellers to Nepal

1.
 Chanel | Cultural Xplorer September 7, 2015 at 10:41 pm #

These are great tips! I am very interested in visiting Nepal in the near future and it is
interesting to read the difference in treatment between India and Nepal!
Chanel | Cultural Xplorer recently posted.. Japanese Food 101: Cooking and Eating

Sukiyaki
REPLY

o
Mariellen Ward September 8, 2015 at 8:50 am #

I agree. Im a long-time India traveller and I havent been to Nepal, so I was also
very interested in Elen Turners observations.
Mariellen Ward recently posted.. 5 reasons to love Kumaon now
REPLY

2.
Somali K Chakrabarti September 7, 2015 at 11:45 pm #

An excellent overview of Nepal touching upon different aspects.

Somali K Chakrabarti recently posted.. Top 5 Best Small IT-BPM Companies to Work

for in India
REPLY

3.
Neno September 8, 2015 at 6:08 am #

Nepal seems like the end of the world. I hope it will not be spoiled by crazy tourist
crowds before I have chance to get there.

Neno
Neno recently posted.. Dorsoduro restaurants
REPLY

o
Mariellen Ward September 8, 2015 at 8:49 am #
 Thats a very one-sided viewpoint. While I can appreciate your desire to visit a place
that is authentic and unspoilt, if the tourism sector is not active and profitable, the
country will suffer and so will the tourists experience. Some sort of tourism
infrastructure is necessary, despite the dreams and fantasies of would-be visitors.

Maybe a more generous and realistic wish would be to hope the tourism industry
rebuilds in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Mariellen Ward recently posted.. Lakshman Sagar: Feast and fantasy in the

Rajasthan desert
REPLY

Elen Turner September 8, 2015 at 8:54 am #

Hi Neno, I agree very much with Mariellen. Foreign tourists have been visiting
Nepal consistently since the 1970s, and Nepal relies heavily on money from
tourism. As I wrote, it is a very poor country with few resources, and its natural
and cultural beauty is one of their only resources. Tourism there has not
developed to a point where it has spoilt the country exactly, but there are a lot
of pressures associated with tourism, such as the well-documented litter that is
left on Everest every year, after the climbing season.

After the earthquakes in Nepal earlier this year, tourism in Nepal has taken a
massive hit. So, if you would like to see Nepal and not share it with too many
other tourists, now would be a good time to go. The destruction from the
earthquakes has given Nepal the opportunity to rebuild its tourist infrastructure
in a less damaging, more sustainable way. I very much hope that it makes the
most of that opportunity.
Elen Turner recently posted.. Differences between India and Nepal travellers

need to know
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4.
sravs September 9, 2015 at 4:26 am #

my favourite spot Nepal..thanks for sharing best information and nice places, I enjoyed
to reading of this articleIf i will get a chance i will surely visit this place
REPLY
5.
Izy Berry September 9, 2015 at 5:24 pm #

this place is amazing all the views and different culture !!! thanks for sharing this with
us
Izy Berry recently posted.. Great golfing holidays in Europe
REPLY

6.
VJ Sharma September 12, 2015 at 7:45 am #

Very informative for folks visiting Nepal and comparing Nepal with India is a good idea.

Well compiled post. I am happy to hear that loosing temper doesnt work in Nepal, but
what is the trick to get things done if you are in difficult situation?
REPLY

o
Elen September 13, 2015 at 6:15 pm #

Hi VJ, I think taking the same approach as you would in many other countries would
be the best idea in such situations in Nepal. State your case firmly but politely, be
persistent if you have to, and only lose your temper if the other person is being
extremely difficult or rude. What I was meaning by that point is that one shouldnt
be too quick to lose ones temper in Nepal, not that there is never a case for doing

so
Elen recently posted.. Why taking Matadors Travel Writing course was one of the

best decisions I made all year

REPLY

7.
Tina September 17, 2015 at 9:36 pm #

Great primer on Nepal had a few misconceptions overturned!

Tina recently posted.. Travel Just Got Cheaper with Groupon Coupons!
REPLY
8.
Brock September 19, 2015 at 11:52 pm #

Nepal and India are very high on my list of places to visit. Seems like such a different
world than I am used to over here in the States. And that is one of the main reasons
that I am drawn to it.

Cant wait to set foot on their soil and to start my exploring, though no dates are set
yet.
REPLY

9.
Deepshikha M October 15, 2015 at 7:02 am #

Good information shared..

Deepshikha M recently posted.. Bhopal the city of architectural magnificence
REPLY

10.
Yona November 4, 2015 at 8:26 pm #

Thanks for this information! I would like to visit Tibet and/or Nepal and live in a Tibetan
Buddhist Monastery for a few months. I was wondering if you have any advice as to
how to find one that accepts Westerners? Thanks!
REPLY

o
Yona November 4, 2015 at 8:26 pm #

Sorry, I meant to write visit India and/or Nepal*

REPLY

o
Eola March 2, 2016 at 11:10 am #

Hi Yona, I lived in Pokhara, Nepal, for 3 years and visited Pematsal many times for
their afternoon ceremonies. http://www.pematsal-sakya.org/ It is about 20 minutes
 outside of Pokhara. Many of my friends have volunteered there from a few weeks to
3 months. They loved the experience, the people and the place. It is better to
contact them directly as I heard of people going through an agency and paying BIG
money and when they arrived it was school vacation and they couldnt work in the
school. You live in a private room. If you go, have a mojito for me at MoonDance
Restaurant!!
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11.
Nancy Baker December 6, 2016 at 4:03 pm #

Brilliant article, I can definitely relate to the contrast from my own experience! If you
are interested in trekking in Nepal, you may find the following article of interest, it
provides really comprehensive information on 10 of Nepals top
treks; http://www.thetravellerspost.com/asia/writers-pick-the-10-best-himalayan-
treks-in-nepal/
REPLY

12.
Telma I Blank Canvas Voyage December 8, 2016 at 7:26 am #

What a great and very informative article! We have been in Nepal for 3 months
nowtime for India next! Cannot wait.

Thank you for the tips!

http://blankcanvasvoyage.com/nepal/
REPLY

13.
Miguel February 26, 2017 at 3:08 pm #

Hi, Nice post. I visited Nepal 5 years ago, that was before the big earthquake and I
loved the country.. It might look like India in certain aspects.. but, its definitely
another country. I also realized that its not polite to lose your temper (in India its the

only way sometimes ). We never had any power problems or cuts in Nepal..
Anyway, its a lovely country to visit.

I really enjoyed the post. Thanks!!