Nepal Travel Guide

HAN has prepared the Nepal Travel Guide based on the Rough Guide, Please kindly read all the information that give you all the information about Nepal.

Nepal is the very watershed of Asia. Squeezed between India and Tibet, it stretches from rich subtropical forest to soaring Himalayan peaks: from jungly tiger habitat to the precipitous hunting grounds of the snow leopard. Climbing the hillside of one valley alone you can be sweltering in the shade of a banana palm in the morning, and sheltering from a snowstorm in the afternoon.
Nepal’s cultural landscape is every bit as diverse as its physical one.

Its peoples belong to a host of distinctive ethnic groups, and speak a host of languages. They live in everything from dense, ancient cities erupting with pagoda-roofed Hindu temples to villages perched on dizzying sweeps of rice-farming terraces and dusty highland settlements clustered around tiny monasteries. Religious practices range from Indian-style Hinduism to Tibetan Buddhism and from nature-worship to shamanism – the indigenous Newars, meanwhile, blend all these traditions with their own, intense tantric practices.

The cultural richness owes something to the shaping force of the landscape itself, and something else to the fact that it was never colonized. This is a country with profound national or ethnic pride, an astounding flair for festivals and pageantry and a powerful attachment to traditional ways. Its people famously display a charismatic blend of independent-mindedness and friendliness, toughness and courtesy – qualities that, through the reputations of Gurkha soldiers and Sherpa climbers in particular, have made them internationally renowned as people it’s a rare pleasure to work with or travel among.

But it would be misleading to portray Nepal as a fabled Shangri-la. Heavily reliant on its superpower neighbours, Nepal was, until 1990, the world’s last remaining absolute Hindu monarchy, run by a regime that combined China’s repressiveness and India’s bureaucracy. Long politically and economically backward, it has developed at uncomfortable speed in some areas while stagnating in others. Following a soul-scouring Maoist insurgency, which ended in 2006, it has ended up as a federal republic – governed, for the time at least, by Maoist rebels turned politicians. Nepal seems always to be racing to catch up with history, and the sense of political excitement in the country is thrillingly palpable.( https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/nepal/)

 

  1. SOME QUICK FACTS
  2. With a land area of 147,000 square kilometres, Nepal is about the size of England and Wales combined. Useable land, however, is in short supply due to the precipitous terrain and a growing population of 27 million or more, over a third of which is less than 15 years old.
  3. Eight of the world’s ten highest mountainsare found in Nepal, including Everest, the tallest of them all.
  4. Prior to 1951, only a handful of Westerners had ever been allowed into Nepal.
  5. Today, the country receives as many as 500,000 tourists annually; increasingly they are coming from neighboring India and China.
  6. Despite the fame of its Tibetan and Sherpa Buddhist communities, Nepal was long the world’s only Hindu kingdom, and Hindusstill officially make up some eighty percent of the population. In truth, many Nepalis combine worship of Hindu gods with shamanic and animist practices.
  7. The decade-long Maoist insurgency ended in 2006, along with the career of the notorious King Gyanendra. Nepal‘s politics are now noisily turbulent but peaceful.
  8. With an average per-capita annual incomeof US$470, Nepal ranked 157th out of 186 countries in the UN’s 2011 Human Development Index. Half the population survives on little more than a dollar a day.

 

Nepalese Federal States

Schedule 4 of the new Constitution of Nepal, adopted on 20 September 2015, provides for the division of the country into seven Provinces. These provinces will be formed by grouping the existing districts; two districts, however, are to be split between two provinces. Each district has local units, including four metropolises, 13 sub-metropolises, 246 municipal councils and 481 village councils. According to Article 295 (2), the provinces shall be named by 2/3 vote of the respective province’s legislature.

Nepal Time- Nepal is 5 Hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT standard time.

 

  1. Glimpse of History and Geography

History

When the Kiratis has ruled the eastern parts of the Nepal the recorded history of Nepal began. The first ruler of the Kathmandu Valley is Kiratis and the Allambar was first king whose name was mentioned in the Mahabharata Indian epic. In Licchavi period the Changunarayan Temple was built and which is very famous now a days as well. The Malla period was golden period of Kathmandu valley when great numbers of art, statues and temples were built. During the 14th century Nepal was divided into small principalities and kingdoms of 24 groups in western and 22 groups in far western Kathmandu valley was divided into three states of Kantipur(Kathmandu), Lalitpur(Patan) & Bhaktapur.

The tiny Kingdom Gorkha   was ruled by the king of Shah Dynasty and gradually strengthened and extended their power. The monarchy and rule of the Shah dynasty was ended in 2008 and established federal democracy in the country. Nepal became the youngest federal republic in the world after centuries of monarchical rule.

Geography

Nepal is glamorous mountain country in South Asia. This is a landlocked country located between China and India. Nepal covers an area of 1.47.181 square kilometers. It represents 0.03% of the surface of the Earth. It is between 26’22’N and 30’27’N and between 80’4 ‘and 88’12’E. This country is very small, only 880 km. Wide from north to south, ranging from 145 to 241 km. Well, the average width is 193 kilometers, covering roughly the same area of land.

Geographically Nepal can be divided into three regions:

Himalayas

The Himalayas occupy 15%, located at 4700 meters of north latitude. The area is an endless mountain of the Himalayas glaciers and mountain lakes. Several national parks and wildlife reserves protect the diversity of mountain ecology in the area. The culture of the people who live in this area is also different from that of the people who live in the lowlands.

Hills

The hilly areas represent 68% of the total land area in Nepal. It is formed by the Mahabharat range to the mountains from 600 to 4700 meters. In winter, there is snowfall in the hills. The area is formed by beautiful valleys, such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Terai /Plain level

The Terai region represents 17% of the total land area. The area is between 70 and 600 meters above sea level. Ranjbiraj, Janakpur and Baraha chhettra are the pilgrimage destinations in the area. Four national parks and wildlife reserves are located in the area.

                                        

  1. People and language

The diverse population, different ethnic lifestyles and culture, different languages and dialects makes the Nepal Unity in diversity and vice versa. Accordingly to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal, currently recorded population of Nepal is almost of 32 million. The population comprises of about a 101 ethnic groups speaking over 92 local languages. The distinction in caste and ethnicity is understood more easily with a view of customary layout of the population. Though, there exist numerous dialects, the language of unification is the national language, Nepali. Nepali is the official language of the state, spoken and understood by almost of every majority of the population.

Multiple ethnic groups have their own mother tongues. English is spoken by many in Government and business offices. These days, as English has become mode of education in most private schools of Kathmandu and some other cities, thus it is widely spoken in the cities areas.

Language

Around the 75 different languages have been practiced in the Nepal. The Nepali is the national language although different groups and races have their own language and dialect. The various communities use the various languages but Nepali is everyday common language .The written form is Devnagari script.

  1. Weather and climate

 

In Nepal, climatic conditions vary from one place to another in accordance with the geographical features. In the north summers are cool and winters are severe, while in south summers are tropical and winters are mild. Nepal has namely five major seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.

An average temperature drop of 6°C occurs for every 1,000 m gain in altitude. In the Terai, summer temperatures exceed from 35° C and higher in some areas, and winter temperatures range from 5°C to 18°C.

In mountainous regions, hills and valleys summers are temperate while winter temperatures can fall under sub zero.

Kathmandu Valley has a pleasant climate with average summer and winter temperatures of 19°C – 32°C and 1°C – 12°C respectively.

However, Nepal can be visited the whole year round.

 

The year is divided into 4 seasons of Nepal

Spring (March – May

Winter (December – February)

Summer (June – August)

Autumn (September – November)

Winter and summer are considered the less tourist seasons of Nepal but if you have the venture of travel the season may not be a big deal.

 

  1. Festivals and holiday

The schedule of the government office is 10. AM to5 PM. Kathmandu government offices (including immigration) and embassies will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. The banks will be opened from the Sunday to Friday and some bank will open on Saturday mornings. You can use your ATM as well according to your desire and need.

There are many festivals in Nepal, especially for the less affluent, the celebration is very active. The date is usually determined by the lunar calendar, so there will be different days each year. The following will be the interesting festivals for the tourists.

Dasain (Bijaya Dasami): this is the largest and most famous Hindu ethnic festival in Nepal, usually in early October. It started with Ghatsthapana. The eighth, ninth and tenth days of the entire two-week celebration are the most active and auspicious days. The main god worshiped during Dashain is the Goddess Durga. On the ninth day, thousands of devotees visited her and worshiped her in important temples of Durga. The tenth day is the final day when People visit seniors for Tika (blessing).

Deepavali: Another Hindu festival in Nepal and India is Deepavali.This is the festival of lights at the end of October or the beginning of November. The celebration lasted five days.

Mani Rimdu: This is one of the most attractive Buddhist festivals in the Himalayas every year in November. Tengboche, the highest monastery in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal, is the center of attention of this festival. The main attraction of this festival is a variety of masked dances with religious significance.

Losar: This is one of the most important holidays for Sherpas and Tibetans. Celebrate around mid-February of each year.

Buddha Jayanti: May 1 celebrates the birth of the Buddha.

Shiva Ratri: – Shivaratri or the night of Shiva is observed in March. This is a commemorative celebration of Shiva. Thousands of people from Nepal and India visited the Pashupatinath temple.

Fagun Purnima (Holi)

The traditional Hindu festivals Holi, is celebrated all around the Nepal in the beginning of spring as well as the triumph of good over evil.  This is highly famous as the festivals of the colors and all the tourists are eagerly waiting to see this sacred moment.  Though this festivals originated in India and is still widely celebrated there as a religious festival, all the people from the world are highly longing its aura and way.

In addition to these great festivals, there are many small festivals in Nepal, such as New Year’s Day, Constitution Day, Pritivi Jayanti, National Day of Democracy, etc.

 

  1. Culture and custom

Many different ethnic groups coexist in Nepal, each with their own complex customs. In the Kathmandu Valley, where they mix the most, there’s a high degree of tolerance of different clothes and lifestyles – a fact that travelers sense, and often abuse. Away from the tourist areas, however, ethnic groups are quite parochial, and foreign ways may cause offence. That said, many taboos relax the further and higher you head into the mountains, as Hindu behavioral norms are only partially shared by Buddhist and animist ethnic groups.

  1. Some cultural shocks

How the people are passing their life in the pastoral life can be taken as the true manifestation of the traditional culture of Nepal, which, unlike the cities, has minimal Western influence. Due to the unique taste of this culture visitor may encounter some cultural shock when they arrive.

  • Villagers may be more aggressive and commanding in the normal conversation.
  • People are still practicing to sacrifice the animals during traditional Hindu festivals and visits to Witch Doctor and other cultural events.
  • Many villagers smoke and they do not use astray.
  • Take off your shoes before entering the temple or the house and kindly ask the permission.
  • Without any approval please does not take any photo from temple. And the kissing in the Public and other emotions can be considered offensive.
  • As the road is narrow and crowded you will have the sound of the horn, which helps the driver to save the life of people .so please get ready to hear the noise and accept it, do not worry.
  • Please you should not Pointing a human finger to someone .it symbolized the revenge.
  • The most of the products have not tags. Buying in Nepal starts with a bargain. So you must negotiate with the owner.
  • When someone accidentally touches someone’s foot, they respect you by touching your shoulder and say sorry.
  • Tourists in Nepal should avoid the use of poor language as many people in the cities understand spoken English.
  • Licking your finger is considered offensive. Blowing your nose in front of people is considered rude.
  • Most Nepali people do not eat something that is almost started to eat by someone because it is considered impure (Jutho, Nepal). They think they can get the bacteria from him.
  1. Hustle and hassle

Indian-style hustle is on the rise in Nepal. You’ll get a dose of it at the airport or any major bus station, where hotel touts lie in wait to accost arriving tourists. They also cruise the tourist strips of Kathmandu, offering drugs, treks, and, increasingly. For the most part, though, Nepali touts are less aggressive than their Indian brethren, and if you’re entering Nepal from North India, where aggressive touts have to be dealt with firmly, you should prepare to adjust your attitude. Ignore them entirely and they’re likely to ignore you. If that doesn’t work, most touts will leave you alone if asked nicely, whereas they’ll take a rude brush-off personally.

The tourist zones are full of other lone entrepreneurs and middlemen – touts by any other name. Ticket agents, rikshaw-wallahs, guesthouse-owners and guides are ever-anxious to broker services and information. They usually get their commission from the seller; your price is bumped up correspondingly. In general, cutting out the middleman gives you more control over the transaction. You should find, however, that a few rupees (and smiles) given to people whose services you may require again will smooth the way and make your stay more pleasant.

9. Beggars

Dealing with beggars is part and parcel of travelling in Nepal. The pathos might initially get to you, as it should, but you will probably adjust to it fairly quickly. A thornier dilemma is how to cope with panhandling kids.

A small number of bona fide beggars make an honest living from bakshish (alms). Hindus and Buddhists have a long and honourable tradition of giving to lepers, the disabled, sadhus and monks.

It’s terrifyingly easy for a Nepali woman to find she destitute and on the street, either widowed or divorced – perhaps for failing to bear a son or from a dowry dispute. There are no unemployment benefits in Nepal, and many who can’t work and have no family turn to begging (or prostitution).

In the hills, ailing locals will occasionally approach foreigners for medicine: it’s unwise to make any prescriptions unless you’re qualified to diagnose the illness. However, before leaving the country you can donate unused medicines to the destitute through the dispensary at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital, or to the Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre in Kathmandu, which gives them to monks.

  1. Forex and Banking

Automatic Teller Machine (ATMs) is available throughout the Nepal and they are widely used in Nepal. Some popular Bank accepts the international credit cards like (Master Card, Visa Card, American Express, etc.). You can see many ATM machines in Kathmandu and in Pokhara.   Likewise, these international cards are accepted in all leading hotels, shopping centers, bars and restaurants in Nepal. Nevertheless, for American Express and Cirrus should have the approval from the Bank of your hometown as they have connection with some international Bank. So please assure by asking with bank before using this two cards in Nepal. Furthermore, the ATM has the limitation while withdrawing the Nepalese rupee .You can withdraw from 15000 to 30000 NPR at one time.

Nepal’s currency is Nepali Rupees, which is equal to 100 Paisa and denominations of the Nepalese paper notes are. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 NRs. 160 is equivalent to Indian Rs. 100. The convertible values of   US Dollars, Pounds, Euro, Aus Dollars, Yen, etc. will be changing according to the situation.

  1. Water

You will get the well-sealed mineral water in the city but while in the trek you may not have such an opportunity .so Advanced Adventure highly request you to follow our some advice.

People who roam in remote places to explore nature, not only fear about the altitude sickness. Concerns about health problems are another fear of floating in high altitude areas, especially in the Himalayas. Staying healthy in the Himalayas is definitely a great challenge, but if done correctly, you will not have any problem.

Add water station

The water filling station is an excellent way to replenish the water in all places through your trek. As some places like Annapurna ,Everest etc have been banned to carry the plastic bottle and you are not allow to buy water there you have to fill the water and make them pure  by putting some  tablet .

Boil

Boiling water thoroughly can be the best option for water purification because it eliminates viruses and bacterial pathogens very efficiently.

Disinfection

The two most common disinfectants are chlorine or iodine, which can be purchased in tablet form and available in the city area.

Filter

Most water filters are good hand pump with a carbon filter for the removal of protozoa, bacteria and chemicals / toxins

 

  1. Electricity

Nepalese Electrical Voltage

Power comes at 220 volts/50 cycles per second, when you can get it: lengthy power cuts (“load shedding”) are a daily occurrence. Smarter hotels and restaurants have backup generators. Tourist guesthouses usually offer sockets that accept almost any kind of pin, but the European standard two-pin is the most common.

  1. Transportation

The major transportation of the Nepal is Buses, taxis, fast cars, vans and rickshaws. The bushes are the main source of the transportation as it has the access everywhere in the country as they are in various shapes and the size. The following are some measures of the transportation:

Taxi: Taxis are usually identified with black plates and available in the major city.

Bus:  Nepalese Bushes are the main source of the transportation for the public and People can use the bus in major cities and other remote areas.

Motorcycles: Motorcycles can be rented in the Thamel and Lazimpat areas of Kathmandu if you are interested to have your own driving experiences.

Rickshaw: Rickshaw can give you the fun of roaming around the cities and it is cheaper than taxi facilities. But you can get the Rickshaw in the city only as they have just limited driving destination.

 

  1. Communication

Nepal has been developing rapidly in the field of communications in recent years. Nepal Telecom is the main agency in Nepal responsible for the distribution of PSTN lines, mobile phones and the Internet.

Postal services:

The central post office is located in Sundhara , Kathmandu. The office is opened from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M., From Sunday to Friday. The counter will be opened from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provides stamps, postcards, weather maps, etc. In Nepal, there is TNT, FedEx, and DHL .

Telephone

There are two main mobile operators in Nepal. The government manages NTC and private Ncell. Both operators are allowing tourists to buy SIM cards in Kathmandu, and major cities of Nepal. There are many private companies offering mobile services, SIM cards can easily obtain from authorized agencies. Before buying a SIM card, you must complete your personal information. Some regions of Nepal may have network problems, but satellite phones are available in most parts of the country.

Internet:

There are many Internet service providers in Kathmandu and other cities in Nepal. They provide high-speed Internet services and easy access to the Internet. You can also access the Internet on your mobile device through 2G and 3G connections.

  1. Clothing

As the Nepal has the variation in its climate, you can manage the appropriate and warm clothing that is casual and comfortable.

 

  1. Health and safety measures

There is no need to present inoculation/immunization certificates to enter Nepal for any legal purpose. However, vaccination for diseases such as Malaria (widely found in lower lands of Nepal – Terai), Small Pox, Typhoid, Tetanus, Meningitis, Hepatitis and Polio are recommended before you commence your travel to Nepal to be on the safe side. We advise you to consult your doctor before beginning your travel and also to carry necessary health certificates (immunization certificates), should they be required in any case.
The following is a ROUGH GUIDE for immunization. (We must stress that this is only a basic guide to the most commonly required vaccinations to travel to central Asia.

(a) Polio (normally you will just need a booster.)
(b) Tetanus
(c) Cholera
(d) Meningitis
(e) Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
(f) Hepatitis A and B.
(g) Anti-malarial prophylaxis: Please refer to your doctor for the most up to date information about anti-malarial medication for the areas that you will be visiting.
(h) Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Please refer to your doctor for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. In the unlikely case of your being bitten, this vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment. However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.

Given enough notice, your doctor will be able to administer all the above vaccinations.

 

  1. Pre departure information

Visa Information

Please for the more details about the visa information go via the given link about Nepal immigration.

Visas: Nepal issues visas on arrival for citizens of most countries. These can be purchased for 15, 30, or 90 days and range from $25 to $100. Check your visa requirements here. You must bring a passport-sized photo, or stand in line and pay for one when you arrive. Volunteers technically require a visa arranged by the place they are working with as volunteering on a tourist visa is expressly forbidden, though harder for them to enforce.

 

https://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa

Passport and Visa Requirements
All foreigners require a visa for entry into Nepal (except Indian nationals). It is your responsibility to obtain the entry visa. You can get from a Nepalese embassy overseas or on arrival in Nepal. Most people will obtain their visa on arrival to Kathmandu airport.

You will need one passport photo and the following fees dependent upon the duration of the multiple entry visa:

In Nepal you will require a visa which can be obtained in advance from the Nepalese Embassy from your country or you can get on arrival at the airport in Kathmandu.

Multiple entry 15 days US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 30 days US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 90 days US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

You will require visa fee in cash (this is payable in any major currency but NOT travellers cheques) and 2 passport photos to purchase a Nepal visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport or at the Nepal entry point.

Please note regulations and costs do change frequently so it is advisable to check the current rules with your nearest Nepalese embassy or consulate.

Travel Tips
(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.

 

  1. Entering Nepal

Air Transport

The Tribhuvan International Airport is the only international airport in Nepal and the only flagship Nepal Airlines (http://www.nepalairlines.com.np/home/schedule/international)and other international operators operate much international flight from the various corner of the world.

To know more about the international flight please follows the given link.

http://www.nepaliaviator.com/list-of-international-airlines-operating-in-nepal/

 

  1. Some common Issues

Possible Issues:

Women should travel with guide and they should not trek alone in Nepal, not under any circumstances. It is better to have friend or find a trekking partner.

 

Pre-Trip Reading Inspiration

 

Fiction & Nonfiction Books about Nepal is given here .They are highly recommended by BBC, the guardian and others.

 

Arresting God in Kathmandu     by   Samrat Upadhyay.

Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal.

The Snow Leopard. 

The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes: Notes from Nepal. 

 From Goddess to Mortal:

Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer

Everest: Kangshung Face by Stephen Venables

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20110524-nepals-shrinking-annapurna-circuit

  1. Travel insurance

Throughout the trip, we must provide the adequate protection to cover personal injury, death, medical expenses, repatriation costs, helicopter rescue, air ambulances and adequate baggage insurance with the help of Travel insurance .So Travel Insurance is mandatory to cover all your prospective risk and accidents.

21. Emergencies

Dial 100 for the police. Hospitals and other organizations have their own telephone numbers for an ambulance, but get a Nepali-speaker to do the talking. Registering with your embassy can speed things up in the event of an emergency.

  1. Learn Nepalese Phrase and verbs:
Greeting
Namaste Hello
(Tapaiilai) Kasto Cha? How are you?
(Malai) Thik Cha I am fine
Khana khannu bhaiyo? Have you eaten? (used often as informal greeting)
Dhanybhad Thank you
Tapaiiko naam ke ho? What is your name?
Maaph garnuhos Excuse me/ pardon me/ sorry
Maile bhujhina I don’t understand
Maile bhujhe I understand
Pheri bhetaunla I hope we meet again
Ma / Hami I / We
Tapaii You
Yo / Tyo This / That

 

Useful Adjectives
Mahango / Sasto Expensive / Cheap
Ramro / Naramro Good / Bad
Sapha / Phohar Clean / Dirty
Thulo / Sano Big / Small
Sajilo / Gahro Easy / Hard
Thada / Najik Far / Close
Chito / Dhilo Fast / Slow
Tato / Cheeso Hot / Cold (for food)
Garmi / Jaado Hot / Cold (for weather)
Naya / Purano New / Old
Dhani / Garib Rich / Poor

 

Question Words
Kahile When
Kahaang Where Kun Which
Kati How much Kasari How
Kina / kinabhane Why / because Kasto How (of quality)
Kasko Whose
Numbers
1 / ek
2 / dui
3 / tin
4 / char
5 / panchs
100 / ek saye 200 / dui saye 1000 ek hazar

 

Expressions of Time
Aaja / Today Hijo / Yesterday Bholi / Tomorrow Ghanta / Hour
Din / Day Haptaa / Week Mahina / Month Barsa / Year
Bihaana / Morning Diunso / Afternoon Beluka / Evening Raatri / Night
Subha raatri Good night
Kati bhajyo? What time is it? Ek bhajyo One o’ clock

 

General Conversation
Tapaiko naam k ho? What is your name?
Mero naam Anjeela ho. My name is Anjella .
Tapai kaha bata aaunu bhayako ho? Where are you from?
Ma Australia bata ayeko hu I am from Australia.
Tapaiko pariwar ma ko ko hunuhuncha? Who are there in your family?
Mero pariwar ma aama/buwa ani tin jan dai harru hunuhuncha. I have my parents, and three older brothers.
Tapaiiko bihe bhayo? Are you married?
Mero bihe bhaiyo / bhayeko chaina? I am married / not married.
Yo / tyo ke ho? What is this / that?
Tapailai bhetda khushi lagyo. Nice to meet you.

 

  1. Should I leave a tip in Nepal?

In 2008 Nepal introduced a 10% service and 13% VAT charge. If this is included in restaurants then you are free to decide.  If you feel very happy by their services as appreciation, you can tip them little.

The hotel staff will be happy if you provide the tips for luggage and some other services.  Except some expensive hotels there are not high payment for the staff in Nepal, so the staff relies on tips. The tips are the matter of the appreciation as it has been practicing in Nepal since long time. The tips will make the hotel staffs very happy and they give you more attention and admiration.

There is tipping system for Porters and guides, which is highly practiced since long time. They will be your parts of family member and they care you deeply. As an appreciation you will be tipping them according to your own desire .This is the main source of their income for the survival.

 

  1. Best time to visit Nepal
    most recommended seasons for trekking are autumn (Sept, Oct, Nov) and spring (March, April, May). In these seasons you will be rewarded by good weather, sunny and warm with clear sky and outstanding views. During monsoon (June, July, Aug) although there will be no problem for trekking, the issue could be of less visibility and rain. But, for a keen botanist, monsoon is blessing as the higher valleys, mountains and meadows blossom with flowers and abundant vegetation. You can trek in winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) also, only the issue is cold weather with snow-fall at higher elevations.The trekking routes are crowded during spring and autumn but during monsoon and winter the routes are not packed and you could enjoy rather best of nature.
  2. Meeting women

A frustrating aspect of travelling in Nepal is the difficulty of making contact with Nepali women. Tourism is still controlled by men; women are expected to spend their time in the home, get fewer educational opportunities and speak much less English. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a Nepali home for a meal, chances are the women of the house will remain in the kitchen while you eat. Upper-class women, who may even work with foreigners, are often well educated and free of these restrictions, but they have few encounters with travelers.

26. Tourist information

The handful of Nepal Tourism Board offices inside the country are generally friendly, if not necessarily full of information. You’ll get the most useful information from guesthouse staff and other travellers. Check the notice boards in restaurants and guesthouses around the tourist quarters for news of upcoming events or to find travelling or trekking companions. In the capital, the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) and the Himalayan Rescue Association can provide trekking information. Nepal’s English-language newspapers and magazines are also good sources of information, and there are several useful websites.

27. Is it safe to Travel in Nepal?

The only question that everyone has in their mind right now is Is Nepal Safe to travel?” Because of the concern on the devastation that earthquake brings, the focus it gets; the scenario has been made larger than what the actual situation is. Since, the Government of Nepal, Ministry of culture, Tourism and Civil aviation on its press release has assured that Nepal is safe and secured place to visit; there is no need to question the safety of travel in Nepal.

 

28.Which trek  is perfect for you-Grading ?

Nature has always been kind to its lovers and admirers. Owning varieties of beautiful landscapes and Himalayan panorama, trekking in Nepal has always been a topic of interest around the globe. The world’s highest peak- Mt. Everest and other towering picks has always allured millions of trekkers around. But trekking along these trials is not always easy. Every trial has its own demand. Some trials are easy; some are moderate while others are strenuous and more than strenuous. The physical endurance required to accomplish a trek differs from one to another.

Therefore, you need to make a right choice knowing your level of physical endurance. On the basis of the physical endurance required, we have categorized treks into following six categories:

Easy

The elevation gain rises to 4000m and the hiking hour increases to 7 hours per day. You need to prepare yourself for a longer walk in not so well leveled paths in a colder atmosphere.

Demanding

The elevation gain rises over 5000m. Trekkers have to walk along unleveled trials uphill and downhill. Steep ascend and descend is also necessary. As you need to acclimatize yourself, the trekking hours are normally 7-8 hours over 13-19 days span.

Very strenuous

The trekkers must be able to have high physical endurance with knowledge of climbing and dealing with the difficult and challenging terrain. The hiking elevation rises to 6000m and over therefore climber should be able to withstand cold. These treks are generally for the experienced trekkers and climbers.

 

  1. Should I need any Medical Kits?

This is the basic list to cover the more common ailments that affect trekkers. Climbing groups, expeditions and trekkers going to isolated areas will need a more comprehensive kit.

  • Sphygmomanometer (Blood pressure Instrument)
  • Syringes (20 ml, 10 ml)
  • Hot water bottle
  • Pen and writing pad
  • Stethoscope
  • Thermometer
  • Matchbox
  • Splints
  • Scissors
  • Tongue blades
  • Pen light
  • Cervical collar
  • Bandage and Dressings:
  • Sterile gauge pads (large and small)
  • Band aids
  • Triangular Bandages
  • Elastic Bandages (3, 4 and 6 inches)
  • Adhesive Tapes
  • Eye pads
  • Cotton roll (large and small)
  • Q-tips
  • Safety pins
  • MedicationsFor Pain
  • Paracetamol (500mgs tablet and 125 mgs in 5 ml syrup)
  • Aspirin (300mgs tablets)

For Allergy

  • Avil (25 mgs tablet)
  • Benadryl Syrup
  • Trexyl – (60mgs tablet, 30 mgs in 5 ml syrup)

For Infections

  • Eye: Neosporin Ophthalmic Cream
  • Throat and Lung: Amoxicillin (125mg per 5 ml syrup, 250 mgs and 500 mgs tablets)
  • For Abdomen: Metronidazole(200mgs, 400mgs tablets) Tinidazole (500 mgs tablets)

For Open Wounds

  • Cloxacillion and Cephalexin(125 mgs in 5 ml 250 mgs and 500 mgs tablets)
  • For urinary infections
  • Narfloxacin (200 mgs, 400 mgs tablets)

Disinfectants

  • Betadine (Solution and cream)
  • Miconazole Cream (for fungal infection)
  • Silver sulphadiazine(for burn injury)

 

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