General Information:

Nepal is the Himalayan Kingdom that consists of the land ranging from highs now- capped Himalayan Mountains to low land alluvial plain terai., The artistic monuments, exotic wildlife and diverse cultures are some of the features of this country. Nepal is the birth country of Lord Buddha born over 2,500 years ago- a great preacher and practitioner the World Peace. Roughly rectangular in shape, the kingdom of Nepal is situated between China in the North and India in the south, The land extends approximately 885 km east to west, and 193 km north to south. Nepal is primarily an agricultural country and 80% of the people live in rural areas. Tourism, carpets and garments are the major industries of Nepal.

For its size, Nepal surprisingly contains the greatest variation in altitude on this planet. The land rises from the southern plains and jungles of the Terai at almost sea level and culminates within a short distance to the north at Sagarmatha- the Everest, the highest point on earth.

Climate:

Nepal contains a variety of climatic conditions ranging from the tropical heat of the Terai plains to the freezing cold of the high Himalaya. The mid-hills , and particularly the Kathmandu Valley, offer pleasant summers and cool winters. Temperatures range between a maximum of 37 and a minimum of 8 degrees Celsius in the plains, 28 and 2 degrees Celsius in the Kathmandu Valley and between -6 and 16 degrees Celsius in the mountains. The rainy season lasts from June to August.

The People:

The total population of Nepal is about 23 million. Nepal's many ethnic groups are as varied as its land with their own languages and cultures. The Kathmandu valley, originally inhabited by the Newars, consists of three districts namely Kathmandu-the capital city of Nepal, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur and is home of all casts and creeds of the country. The culture and artistry have earned an international reputation. The Sherpas of the Himalaya are known as tough mountain climbers. Brahmins and Chhetris are scattered over the hills and valleys. And Tamangs are found in the mid-hills and Kathmandu valleys. They are also associated with tourism related activities in addition to other traditional and modern professions.. There are many other ethnic groups living in Nepal.

Currency

The name of Nepal’s curency is Nepali Rupee whose 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. Foreign currency must be exchanged through the banks or through authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipts from such transactions are to be obtained and retained by the visitors other than Indian nationals. They have to make their payments in Hotels, Travel agencies, Trekking agencies and Air tickets in convertible foreign currency only.

Language

Nepali, written in the Devanagari script is the national language. English is widely understood in the urban centers and areas frequented by tourists. Most Nepali people speak more than one language.

How to Get Nepal
There are twelve major international airlines touching down at Kathmandu, the national capital of Nepal. It has direct flights from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha, Moscow, Karachi, Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Varanasi, Dhaka, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Vienna, Osaka and Shanghai. For getting around the country, there is an excellent domestic air network and helicopter charter services as well as deluxe tourist coaches. Your travel partner/colleagues in Nepal will be provided those services wherever you want to go.

Entry Procedures to Nepal:

All visitors except Indian nationals must hold a valid passport and visa. The visas can be obtained at the Royal Nepalese Embassies, Missions and Consuls abroad as well as points of entry into Nepal. Currently most visas are issued for 60 days at a cost of USD $30 per person. The visa can be extended monthly for up to 5 months in Kathmandu and Pokhara at the Department of Immigration. The Department also issues multiple entry visas for visitors.

Airport Tax:

At the time of departure to other international destinations from Nepal, Rs.1100 per person have to be paid.