Nepal Information
Area:
147.181 sq. k
ALTITUDE: Varies from
70 meters to 8848 meters.
CAPITAL: Kathmandu.
Geography:
Nepal is situated
between China in the North and India in the South,
east and west.
Districts:
Nepal is divided into 75 districts.
Zones:
While traveling through Nepal either from the east to
the west or the Other way around you will cross 14 zones.
Capital:
Kathmandu
Population:
22 Million
Language:
Nepali is the national language but travel – trade people
Understand and speak English.
Exchange:
Nepalese Rupees
Approximately US$ 1 equals RS. 72.00 (19th June
2004)
Approximately Euro 1 equals RS. 85.90 (19th
June 2004)
Foreign currency must be exchanged only through the
banks
Or authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipts
from such transaction are to be obtained and
retained. Visitors can exchange money at the airport
upon arrival. Indian currency RS. 500 and RS.1000 note
is not allowed to bring to Nepal. It will not be Exchanged
and will not be accepted for transaction of any kind.
Currency:
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, Rs. 2, Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs.
20, Rs. 25, Rs.50,
Rs. 100, Rs. 250 Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations. Coins
come in 5p, 1 0p, 25p, and Rs. 1 & Rs. 5 denominations.
Political
System:
Multi – Party Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy
Religion:
Nepal enjoys the distinction of being the only Hindu Kingdom
in the world but there is a harmonious blending of Hinduism
and Buddhism.
Climate:
Nepal has four major seasons
(1)
Winter from December to February
(2)
Spring from March to May
(3)
Summer from June to August
(4)
Autumn from September to November
What
to wear:
Lightweight clothing is recommended for
May through October.
Warm garments are required in October to March. Nepal
can be visited he whole year around.
People:
In Nepal live more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 have spoken
languages.
TIME:
Nepal Time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15
minutes ahead of Indian standard time.
Visa
Fee:
Single entry
- US $ 30 for 60 days
Multiple entry
- US $ 50 + us $ 30
Visa fee will be extended subsequently for 30 days
upon payment of US $ 30 for
a
maximum of 150 days in a year (January to December) but if you arrive
in August you can stay
in Nepal up to 300
days on a row. visa
can be obtained either on arrival in Nepal or from the Royal
Nepalese Embassy, the Consulate
or other Mission offices abroad
two passport size photographs are required.
By
Air:
The Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) is the National Flag Carrier
of Nepal with flights to/from Delhi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Osaka,
Shanghai and Singapore. Other International Airlines operating
from/to Kathmandu are Lauda Air (Vienna), Biman Bangladesh
Airlines (Dacca), China South – West Airlines (Lhasa), Condor
(Munich), Druk Air (Paro), Gulf Air (Abu Dhabi), Indian Airlines
(Delhi, Calcutta, (Varanasi), Necon Air (Parna, Varanasi),
Qatar Airlines (Doha), Thai International (Bangkok), Transavia
(Amsterdam via Sharjah).
Moreover you have to
pay an airport tax
from RS. 770 per person for departure to
SAARC (South Asian) Countries and RS.
1,100 per person for departure to other international
destinations.
By
Land:
From India to Nepal
1.
Kakarbhitta
2.
Birgunj
3.
Belhiya, Bhairahawa
4.
Nepalgunj
5.
Dhangadi
6.
Mahendra Nagar
From
China to Nepal
1.
Kodari
The overland tourists
entering the Kingdom with their vehicles must posses an
international category.
CUSTOMS
All baggage is subject
to customs' check at the point of entry. Visitors are allowed
to bring in the consumable articles such as liquor one but
up 1.15 liters, 200 sticks of cigarette, 15 rolls of photo
film and 12 rolls of movie camera film. Visitors are also
allowed to carry one binocular, one camera, one movie camera,
one video camera, one radio, one, tape recorder, one bicycle,
one wristwatch, one set of fountain pen, one perambulator,
15 radio cassettes & 10 disk records into the country
on the condition that they are declared and are to be taken
back on return. Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions are
strictly prohibited. Visitors can export souvenirs to their
respective countries. The export of antiques requires special
certificate from the Department of Archaeology, National Archive
Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu (Tel: 215358), Gold, silver,
precious stones, wild animals and their skins, horns, etc,
all drugs whether processed or in their natural state, are
prohibited to export.
DOMESTIC TRANSPORT:
Royal Nepal Airlines has an extensive network of air services
in the interior of Nepal.
This include Taplejung, Bhadrapur, Rajbiraj, Bhojpur, Phapl,
Lukla, Lamidanda Tumlingtar,
Rumjatar, and Biratnagar in the East; Nepalgunj,
Chaurjhari, Surkhet, Dang, Rolpa and Jumla, in the
Mid-West, and kolti, Mahendranagar,
Dhangadi, Silgadi (Doti), Tikapur, Sanphebagar, Baitadi, and
Darchula in the Far Western Region. Besides Royal Nepal
Airlines, the other domestic
airlines such as Nepal Airways, Everest Air, Asian Airlines
Helicopter, Necon Air
provide regular and charter services to different popular
domestic destinations.
FACILITIES:
Nepal has every type of accommodation facilities
that a tourist might ask for. This ranges from the international
standard star hotels to budget hotels
and lodges. Similarly one can also have a choice of
sightseeing from a range of different tour packages. In order
to have an assured quality service it is
advisable to use the facilities and services of government
registered travel agencies
the licensed tour guides only and engage an authorized guide
or porter only through a registered travel/trekking agency.
OTHER TRANSPORT:
Metered taxis having black plates with white figures
are available in Kathmandu.
Bicycles, motorcycles and rickshaws are also available on
hire.
The fare for the bicycles
or motorcycles is fixed whereas the fare of
A rickshaw is to be negotiated. There are regular bus
services between the main
towns of the Kathmandu Valley. The Bus Terminal is located
at Gongabu (new bus terminal) and Bagbazar (old
bus terminal). Similarly, scheduled bus
services for outside the Valley operate from the Gongabu
Bus Terminal, which is located at Balaju, Kathmandu.
MAJOR TOURIST
ATTRACTIONS:
Very few countries in the world can offer as many varieties
of adventure packages Nepal.
Except the 2 top 10 peaks in the world 8 are located in Nepal.
It is the land of Sagarmatha (Mount. Everest, 8848 meters),
the highest peak in the world and other 1310 mountain picks
For those who cannot withstand the rigorousness of mountain
climbing there are Mountain
flights, which fly around the Mount Everest and provide a
close look of the top of the world. Also from Nagarkot (32
kilometers East of Kathmandu) and Daman (80 Kilometers south-west
of Kathmandu) one can have a distant view of Mount Everest
and beautiful Himalayan ranges. Trekking is the best way to
get to interesting and remote mountain villages of Nepal and
to enjoy views of the famous peaks together with their lifestyle
untouched with modern civilization. The river rafting, which
is known as "White Water Adventure" represents another
major attractions. Within distance of 100 miles, one can see
the topographical variations with the rivers rising from the
higher points near Nepal's Tibetan border and then dropping
dramatically to lower levels the plains bordering India. For
those who wish to view wildlife, Nepal offers plenty of scope.
Of the nine National Parks and three Wildlife Reserves, three
conservation areas and one hunting reserve in Nepal.
For the less adventures,
Pokhara, the lake city of Nepal has no equal as it provides
ample opportunities for fishing, swimming, canoeing and boating
along with the sightseeing of majestic panoramic views in
its background. It is only Pokhara, a tropical spot with an
altitude of about 900 meters where from one can see the mountain
crossing over 8000meters from such a short distance of about
40 kilometers. For the nature lovers Nepal is such a land
of natural beauty that metaphors cannot delineate its real
picture. At the sometime, Nepal proffers an incomparable scope
to the scholars and connoisseurs of art and culture to see
and study the different aspects of the fine-arts be it painting,
sculpture, wood carving or architecture.
Kathmandu Valley possesses
several historical monuments, old palaces and palace squares,
shrines and temples, ageless traditions and legends all make
it a living museum that any visitor would cherish its vivid
memory in his/her heart forever. Nepal is the land of Lord
Pashupatinath, which is supposed to be the holiest Hindu temple
in the world. Besides, two out of the four main holy places
(chhetras) of Hindu pilgrimages namely Muktichhetra and Varahachhetra,
are located in Nepal. Not only for the Hindus but also for
the Buddhists Nepal offers a unique place of pilgrimage, as
it happens to be the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle
of peace and compassion.
Nepal is a land of Festivals
with some part of the Kingdom or the other celebrating some
festival during everyday of the year. Festivals may be linked
with the remembrance of the departed soul, to herald the different
seasons, to mark the beginning or end of the agricultural
cycle, to mark the national events, or just family celebrations.
On a festive day the Nepalese take their ritual bath, worship
different gods and goddesses, visit temple, observe fasting
and undertake feasting. The most important aspect of Nepali
culture is the religious harmony and understanding prevailing
among the Hindus and Buddhist.
If someone really wants
to be away for sometime from the cacophony of modernization,
here is Nepal, the best sojourn cradled in the lap of the
Himalayas that never cases to offer eternal peace and tranquility.
