Where
is Nepal?
Nepal, a sovereign Independent Kingdom, lies between 80 degree
12' east
longitude and 26 degree 22' and 30 degree 27' north latitude. It
is bounded on the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the
People's Republic of China; on the east by Sikkim and West
Bengal of the Indian Union on the south by Indian States of
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and on the west by Uttar Pradesh of
Indian Union. The length of the Kingdom is 885 kilometers
east-west and its breath varies from 145 to 241 kilometers
north-south.
Climatically, it lies in the temperate zone with the added
advantage of
altitude.
Why is Nepal such a fascinating country for many people?
The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is a land of scenic mountains,
time-worn
temples and some of the best walking trails on Earth. It's a
small country, but it's rich in scenic splendor and exotic
cultures. The people of Nepal are as diverse as their country
and represent distinct cultures and races.
Though they speak a variety of tongues and practice different
religions, they are the friendliest people that you would ever
meet. The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western
imagination and it's a difficult place to dislodge from your
memory once you return. So, wait until you're actually here in
Nepal.
As a traveller, there are endless number of surprises Nepal has
to offer you. Kathmandu Valley with its thousands of Hindu
temples, Buddhist stupas, stunning architecture and rich
pageantry can be quite beyond words. If you are careful enough
not to get entangled in the superficial facade of a fatly
"modernizing" capital city, Kathmandu probably offers you as
exotic and urban experience as you can get.
Beyond Kathmandu, it’s another world altogether. Most travelers
to Nepal want to check out the truly spectacular Himalayas along
with the higher hills. A few go there to scale the high
mountains, but many are nature lovers who trek along landscapes
filled with deep valleys, lush forests, snow trails,terraced
fields, and above all, the most hospitable people.
Travelers to Nepal also love making a safari trip to one of the
National Parks in Nepal. The most popular one is the Chitwan
National Park in the southern plains which hosts a diverse
wildlife reserves including the rare Asian one-horn rhino.
Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal?
All foreign nationals, except Indian Citizens, need visas to
enter Nepal.
What do I need to get my visa?
You need a valid passport, two passport size photos and US$ 30.
Where do I apply to get my visa?
The best way to apply for visa is from the Royal Nepalese
diplomatic
missions in your home country. The other choice is to get it
from Immigration office at the entry points of Nepal.
What if I decided to stay more than 60 days in Nepal? Where
and what should I do to extend my Tourist Visa?
There's no problem in it. The Immigration Department of
Kathmandu or Pokhara can extend the visa for another 30 days and
the charge for this is US$ 50. Indeed the visa can be extended
for a total of 120 days, an additional 30 days visa may be
granted on reasonable grounds from the Immigration Office.
Nevertheless, a tourist cannot stay in Nepal under tourist-visa
for more than 150 cumulative days.
How to Enter Nepal?
In order to fly directly to Nepal from your home country,
Tribhuvan
International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu is the only
international airport in Nepal. TIA has direct airlink with
Osaka, Shanghai, London, Frankfurt, Hongkong, Singapore,
Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Bombay and Calcutta. Lufthansa, Royal
Nepal Airlines (RNAC), Air India, Singapore Airlines, Thai are
the airlines that carry most of the foreign travelers into
Kathmandu; and if you buy tickets from any other airlines, you
will probably connect with one of these airlines for the final
leg of your flight.
Alternatively, if you have time and enthusiasm, traveling
overland to Nepal via India is an option. British overland
travel operators can take you from London to Kathmandu on a six
to eighteen week trip for anywhere between $1200 to $ 2500
depending upon the nature of your trip. You will travel from
continental Europe through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan
and India to Nepal. For specific details on traveling overland
from India to Nepal, read below.
When is the best time to travel in Nepal?
The weather is probably the best guide for deciding when to plan
your trip to Nepal. The best time to visit Nepal is between
September to November and February to d May.
What is the national language of Nepal?
Nepal's national language is called Nepali. It is written in
Devnagri
Script. This script is the same as the one used in Hindi
language - the
national language of India. There are more than 72 different
spoken
languages in Nepal. It is also official language of Nepal.
What's the common form of greeting in Nepal?
It is called Namaste or Namaskar. You can say the greeting in
words as well as do it using a gesture. Join your palms together
and bring them close to your chest and about 5 to 7 inches below
your chin. The word Namaste has many meanings such as Hello, How
are you?, I am glad to see you, nice to meet you, good morning,
etc.
What are some basic Nepali customs that I should know about?
* Take off your shoes before entering a temple or one's home
* Ask for permission before entering a Hindu temple
* Taking photographs inside the most temples are considered
illegal
* Ask for permission before taking photographs of objects, and
including Nepali people.
* Nepali people are friendly by nature. Have a genuine interest
in
them. Talk to them. Be friendly as you travel.
What time is it now in Nepal and what’s the phone code?
Nepali time is GMT/UTC plus 5 Hours 45 minutes. Area code for
dialing to Nepal: Country Code: 977 Kathmandu City Code: 1 (e.g.
977 1 478111 First three digits is the country code, second is
the area code, the last digits are telephone numbers.
What is the currency of Nepal?
Nepalese currency is spelled as Nepalese Rupees or Rupee (Rs) or
Nepali Rupee, and in short it is written NRS or RS. 100 Paisa
equals 1 Rs. Currently Notes of the following denominations are
used: 1000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2, and 1 rupees. Coin
hasn't been popular in Nepal and hence is almost always ignored
in business. The coins of the following denominations can be
found: 1 paisa, 5 paisa, 10 paisa, 50 paisa and 1 Rs, 2 Rs, and
5 Rs. It is recommended that you travel with smaller notes in
less populated areas, while large notes are easily accepted else
where.
Are there ATM facilities in Nepal?
Yes, in Kathmandu and Pokhara. International credit cards
(Master Card, Visa Card etc) are also accepted in all leading
hotels, shopping centers, bars and restaurants in Nepal.
Will my Cell phone (mobile phone) work in Nepal?
Please, Contact your service provider and check if Nepal country
is included in their `Global roaming' package. Please note, not
all parts of Nepal are covered by the GSM Network in Nepal.What
are health requirements to visit Nepal?
Nepal does not require any specific immunization for visitors.
It is however best to have vaccine before coming to Nepal. Your
doctors can advice you on the type of vaccine to be taken to
travel to third world countries like Nepal.
What about getting to Nepal from Tibet?
The crossing between Nepal and Tibet via Kodari is only open to
organized groups but not to individual travelers heading north.
Be prepared with alternative plans if you're thinking about
using this route, because landslides regularly make it
impassable during the monsoon.
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