Nepal General Information

LOCATION:
It borders with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China in the north and India in the east, south and west respectively.

AREA : 147,181 Sq. Kilometres.

ALTITUDE : Varies from 70 meters to 8848 meters.

CAPITAL : Kathmandu.

POPULATION : 184,91,097

LANGUAGE :
Nepali is the national language of Nepal. Educated people understand and speak English as well.

TIME :
Nepal Time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead of Indian standard time.

CLIMATE :
Nepal has four major seasons, namely, (1) Winter: December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer: June-August, (4) Autumn: September-November. Nepal can be visited the whole year round.

PEOPLE & RELIGION :
Nepalese people are mainly divided into two distinct groups-the Indo-Aryans and the Magnolias. Kathmandu Valley is the spiritual and cultural meeting point of all these groups.

Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. Hindu Temples and Buddhist shrines are scattered all over the Kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia. There is a complex blending of Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal.

WHAT TO WEAR :
Except in formal gathering informal clothes are acceptable mostly
everywhere. Light casual clothes are preferable for travelling. Warm garments are required in October-March. An umbrella and/or a rain coat are must for the rainy season.

CURRENCY & FOREIGN EXCHANGE :
Nepalese Rupees notes come in Rs. 1, Rs. 2, Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 denominations. Coins come in 5p, 10p, 25p, 50p and Rs. 1 denominations

Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchanged dealers. The receipts from such transactions are to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival. Only 15% of the currency exchanged can be reconverted into US dollar at the time of departure.

Visitor other than the Indian nationals have to make the payment in hotels, travel or trekking agencies and air tickets in foreign currency. Amount exceeding US$ 2000 is to be declared at the entry point. Non-Indian visitors are not allowed to import or export Indian Currency. The approximate value of one US Dollar is equivalent to approx: Rs. 73 as of March 2010.

ENTRY PROCEDURES :
All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold a passport and a valid visa.

Nepalese diplomatic Missions and Consuls abroad issue visa for a maximum period of one month. A one month visa is also granted at the entry points. The visa can be extended at the Department of Immigration.

TOURIST VISA FEE  :
Fees to be levied while issuing tourist visa by the Mission or entry point:

1. US Dollars 25 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 15 days multiple entry visa.

2. US Dollars 40 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 30 days multiple entry visa.

3. US Dollars 100 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 90 days multiple entry visa.

4. Not withstanding anything written in clause (a) and (b), no visa fee shall be applicable to the passport holder of member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for 30 days .
   
   For detail and updates information please visit:
   www.immi.gov.np/visa/provisional-visa-arrangement-fee

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 bottle up 1.15 litters, 200 sticks of cigarette, 15 rolls of photo film, 12 rolls of movie camera film, medicine unto Rs. 500.00, tin packed foods up from Rs. 1000.00 and fresh fruits unto Rs. 500.00. Visitors are also allowed to carry one binocular, one camera, one movie camera, one video camera, one radio, one tape recorder, one bicycle, one wrist watch, 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 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.

TRAVEL ROUTE :
Royal Nepal airlines the national flag carrier of Nepal and other international airlines also operate scheduled flights to Kathmandu from Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Dhaka, Paro, Banarasi, Frankfurt, Paris, Hongkong, Karachi, London, Moscow, Singapore and Lhasa. The International Airlines operating their flights to Kathmandu include Aeroflot, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, China South West Airlines, Dragon Air, Druk Airs, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

INTERNAL TRANSPORT :
Royal Nepal Airlines has an extensive network of air services in the interior of Nepal. This include Taplejung, Bhadrapur, Rajbiraj, Bhojpur, Phaplu, Lukla, Lamidanda, Tumlingtar, Rumjatar, and Biratnagar in the East; Nepalgunj, Chaujhari, Surkhet, Dang, Rolpa and Jumla, in the Mid-West; and Bajura, Mahendranagar, Dhangdi, 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, Himalayan Helicopters and Necon Air also provide regular and charter services to different popular destinations.

For Jomosom, Manang, Lukla, Meghauli, Phaplu, Pokhara, Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, Simra, Jumla, and Tumlingtar ticket fare is to be paid in foreign currency.

MOUNTAIN FLIGHT :
Royal Nepal Airlines and other domestic Airlines in the private sector also operate breath taking mountain flights for the tourists round the year.

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 hotels, lodges and travel agencies.

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 ceases to offer eternal peace and tranquillity.

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