Nepal

Back to Country Page

Overview

Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, a situation made worse by an ongoing Maoist rebellion (Communist Party of Nepal), which has left more than 12,000 people dead, and more than 100,000 displaced since it started in 1996, Nepal is a stunning and surprisingly safe country.

In addition to a distinctive ancient Hindu and Buddhist culture, Nepal has the world's highest mountain, Everest, and spectacular scenery and wildlife. For walkers and trekkers, Nepal is a true paradise: the picturesque hamlets and mountain villages are linked by hundreds of trails that have been used for centuries, with little change noticeable even today. Numerous temples and Buddhist shrines can be also be discovered en route.

The Nepalese government has also set aside more than 35% of the total area of the country as natural sanctuaries. There are now nine national parks and three wildlife reserves, located both in the mountainous zones as well as in the tropical plains. The Terai lowlands in the south form the richest habitat in the country.

Nepal was created from an amalgam of small principalities in 1768 under King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Under the control of a hereditary king, Nepal then became a 'buffer state' between the British empire and the territories to the north. The main instrument of British rule from the mid-19th century onwards was a hereditary prime minister drawn from the Rana family. The country became formally independent in 1923, but it was not until 1947 (the year of Indian independence) and the total withdrawal of the British from the region that Nepal achieved genuine independence.

Nepal is known as the abode of the gods. For many years a secret, unknown country, it was, in the 1950s, faced with making a leap from the 11th century to modern times. Visited first by mountaineers and trekkers, it later became the haunt of hippies.

Area
147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles).
Population
26.3 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density
178.69 per sq km.
Capital
Kathmandu. Population: 1.5 million (2005).
Government
Constitutional monarchy.

Language
The official language is Nepali (spoken by 49%). There are many other languages, including Maithili and Bhojpuri. English is spoken in business circles and by people involved in the travel trade.

Religion
Mainly Hindu (81%) and Buddhist (11%), with a small Muslim minority (4%).

Time
GMT + 5.75.

Social Conventions
As a foreign visitor, one must be careful to respect local customs in order not to cause offence. The following are some local conventions it is advisable to adhere to: never step over the feet of a person, always walk round; never offer food and drink which is 'polluted', in other words, food that you have tasted or bitten; never offer or accept anything with the left hand, use the right or both hands. It is rude to point at a person or statue with a finger (or even with a foot). Often when people shake their head, it means 'yes.' Shoes and footwear should be removed when entering houses or shrines. Kitchens and eating areas of houses should also not be entered with footwear, as the hearth of a home is sacred. Do not stand in front of a person who is eating as this means your feet will be next to his food; squat or sit by his side. Local Chorten are built to pacify local demons or dead persons and should be passed by in a clockwise direction, as should temples; the earth and universe revolve in this direction. Small flat stones with inscriptions and supplications next to the Chorten should not be removed as souvenirs; this is considered sacrilege by the Nepalese. Avoid touching a Nepalese dressed all in white; his dress signifies a death in the family. Shaking hands is not a common form of greeting; the normal greeting is to press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture (Namaste). A gift given to a host or hostess will probably be laid aside unopened; to open a parcel in the presence of a guest is considered uncivil. Casual wear is suitable except for the most formal meetings or social occasions. Bikinis, shorts, bare shoulders and backs may not be appreciated. Men only remove their shirts when bathing. Overt public displays of affection, especially near religious places, are inappropriate. Seek permission before entering a temple; some do not allow westerners or non-Hindus to enter. Do not take leather articles into a temple. Nepalese cities are generally safe, but take sensible precautions with personal possessions.

Photography: Always ask permission first. In general, it is allowed outside temples and at festivals, but not at religious ceremonies or inside temples; however, there is no hard and fast rule and the only way to be sure of not giving offence is to ask first and accept the answer.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. There are frequent power cuts.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala since 2006.

Head of State
King Maharajadhira Gyanendra since 2001.

Culture

Food and Drink
National specialities:
o Dal Bhat (lentils and rice).
o Tarkan (spiced vegetables).
o Gurr (a Sherpa dish of raw potatoes, pounded with spices, then grilled like pancakes on a hot, flat stone ground and mixed with milk, tea or water).
o Rotis (flat pancake-like bread made from wheat or rice flour).

National drinks:
o Chiya (tea brewed with milk, sugar and spices; in the mountains it is salted with yak butter).
o Arak (potato alcohol).
o Raksi (wheat or rice spirit).
o Chang (beer made from fermented barley, maize, rye or millet).

Tipping: Only usual in tourist hotels and restaurants. 10% is sufficient.

Nightlife
Kathmandu has cinemas featuring mainly Indian films. For Western films, see the programmes of the European and US cultural centres. Nightlife is limited to tourist areas, where there are late-night bars and clubs. A few temples and restaurants offer entertainment and some tourist hotels stage Nepalese folk dances and musical shows. There are casinos at some 5-star hotels in Kathmandu.

Shopping
Popular buys include locally-made clothes such as lopsided topis (caps), knitted mittens and socks, Tibetan dresses, woven shawls, Tibetan multicoloured jackets and men's diagonally fastened shirts; and pashmina (fine goat's-wool blankets), khukri (the national knife), saranghi (a small, four-stringed viola played with a horse-hair bow), Tibetan tea bowls, papier mâché dance masks, Buddhist statuettes and filigree ornaments, bamboo flutes and other folk objects.

Shopping hours: Sun-Fri 1000-2000 (shops are usually closed on Saturday).

Environment

Climate
Nepal's weather is generally predictable and pleasant. There are four climatic seasons: March to May (spring), June to August (summer), September to November (autumn) and December to February (winter). The monsoon is approximately from the end of June to the middle of September. About 80% of the rain falls during that period, so the remainder of the year is dry. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons; winter temperatures drop to freezing with a high level of snowfall in the mountains. Summer and late spring temperatures range from 28ºC (83ºF) in the hill regions to more than 40ºC (104ºF) in the Terai. In winter, average maximum and minimum temperatures in the Terai range from a brisk 7ºC (45ºF) to a mild 23ºC (74ºF). The central valleys experience a minimum temperature often falling bellow freezing point and a chilly 12ºC (54ºF) maximum. Much colder temperatures prevail at higher elevations. The Kathmandu Valley, at an altitude of 1310m (4297ft), has a mild climate, ranging from 19-27ºC (67-81ºF) in summer, and 2-20ºC (36-68ºF) in winter.

Required Clothing
Lightweight and tropical clothes with umbrella are advised for June to August. Between October and March, lightweight clothes are worn in Kathmandu, with a coat for evenings and warm clothing for the mountains.

Nepal is a landlocked kingdom sharing borders with Tibet to the north and northwest, and India to the west, south and east. The country can be divided into five zones: the Terai, the Siwaliks, the Mahabharat Lekh, the Midlands or Pahar, and the Himalayas. The greater part of the country lies on the southern slope of the Himalayas, extending down from the highest peaks through hill country to the upper edge of the Ganges Plain. The hilly central area is crossed by the Lower Himalayas, where there are eight of the highest peaks in the world, leading up to Mount Everest. Wildlife in Nepal includes tigers, leopards, gaur, elephants, buffalo, deer and rhinos.

Money

Currency
Nepalese Rupee (NPR) = 100 paisa. Notes are in denominations of NPR1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25 and 10 paisa.
Note: (a) Visitors should bear in mind that foreign visitors other than Indian nationals are required to pay their airline tickets, trekking permits and hotel bills in foreign currency. (b) The import of local and Indian currency is prohibited, except for nationals of Nepal and India.

Currency Exchange
It is illegal to exchange currency with persons other than authorised dealers in foreign exchange (banks, hotels and licensed money changers). Visitors should obtain Foreign Exchange Encashment Receipts when changing currency and keep them, as these will help in many transactions, including getting visa extensions and trekking permits.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express is widely accepted, with MasterCard and Visa in tourist shops, hotels, restaurants and agencies. ATMs are widely available in Nepal.

Traveller's Cheques
Accepted at banks and major hotels. If trekking, it is important to bear in mind that cash is necessary. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Banking Hours
Banks in the Kathmandu valley are open Mon-Fri 0900-1530. In other areas, opening hours are usually Sun-Thurs 1000-1500 and Fri 1000-1200. Licensed money changers are open 12 hours per day.

Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Nepal without incurring customs duty:
o 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or equivalent of other tobacco articles.
o 1x1.5l bottles of alcoholic beverage.
o A reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.
Note: (a) All baggage must be declared on arrival and departure. (b) Certain goods including cameras, videos and electronic goods may only be imported duty free if they are exported on departure. They may not be left in Nepal. (c) Export certificates need to be obtained from the Department of Archaeology for the export of any metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects.
Prohibited Exports
It is illegal to export goods over 100 years old.

Traveller's Guide

Visas
Required except transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft on the same day provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Visa Note
(a) All travellers may obtain tourist visas on arrival at the airport. (b) Business can be conducted on a Tourist visa for up to 30 days.

Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist: £20 (single-entry); £55 (multiple-entry). Business: applications can be made on arrival which need to be approved by the Ministry of Industry.

Validity
Visas are valid for up to six months from date of issue. Visas are valid for 60 days on first visit to Nepal in a visa year (1 Jan - 31 Dec), but only valid for 30 days when national is visiting Nepal for the second or more time in a visa year. They may be extended in Nepal at the Department of Immigration, Kathmandu (tel: 494 273 or 337), or the Immigration Office, Pokhara. Maximum stay in Nepal is 150 days in any calendar year. For full conditions on visa extension (including charges and conditions), contact the consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.

Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy). Visas can also be obtained on arrival from the Immigration authorities at all entry points (with fees payable in US Dollars) provided travellers are in possession of valid travel documents, two passport photos and the relevant fee. Applications for business visas must be made to the Department of Immigration (see above under Validity for contact details).

Working Days Required
Minimum 24 hours if applying in person; two weeks if applying by post.

Contact Addresses

Nepal Tourism Board
Bhrikuti Mandap, PO Box 11018, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: (1) 425 6909 or 6229.
Website: www.welcomenepal.com

Royal Nepalese Embassy in the UK
12A Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QU, UK
Tel: (020) 7229 1594 or 6231.
Website: www.nepembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 1000-1200 (consular section).

Royal Nepalese Embassy in the USA
2131 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 667 4550.
Website: www.nepalembassyusa.org

Health Care
The most convenient hospital for visitor care is Patan Hospital in Lagankhel. Other hospitals include the Western Regional Hospital and the Manipal Hospital in Pokhara and the Mission Hospital in Tansen. Pharmacies in Kathmandu offer a wide range of Western drugs at low prices. In Kathmandu, you can get certain vaccinations free of charge at the Infectious Diseases Clinic. Full medical insurance is essential.

Note * A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.

As a UK specialist for independent travel, Footloose Adventure Travel can tailor-make all your holiday, trek, hotel, transport and tour requirements. We offer the security of booking with a UK company and the benefit of our experience and local knowledge.