Nepal's acronym of Never Ending Peace And Love, does well to characterise this nation of good natured and accommodating people; a land of majestic Himalayan scenery comprising eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mt Everest: the uppermost place on earth at 29,029ft (8,848m).
Situated as a sanwich between India and Tibet, the Kingdom of Nepal is filled with as many different ethnic groups, customs and traditions as it is diverse in geography. From the hot Indian plains and steamy southern Tarai lowlands, the terrain crosses the Kathmandu Valley and rises to the frozen heights of the Himalayan peaks towards the Tibetan plateau known as the 'roof of the world'. Spread across these varied altitudes are communities of colourful cultures and people, many untouched by modern development; animated cities and towns, and far-flung mountain villages. Life here revolves around an intricate intermingling of ancient Hindu and Buddhist religious rituals. Numerous festivals are celebrated throughout the year coloured by a diversity of religious and tribal traditions. The capital of Kathmandu brings an assortment of these different societies together into a vibrant collection of brilliant sights and exotic smells, with modern shops co-existing with street sellers, while pyramidal Buddhist temples, holy Sadhus of the Hindu faith and medieval palace squares fill the urban landscape.
Nepal is well endowed with glorious scenery - verdant terraced valleys, rushing rivers and ice-blue lakes that originate in the 'abode of snows', or Himalayas. The uplifting sight of soaring mountains is a magnet for mountaineers and trekkers, offering some of the greatest challenges and most scenic walking opportunities on earth. Its diverse terrain offers tremendous opportunities for adventurous activities, and although mountain climbing and trekking are the most popular, there is also superb white water rafting on steep mountain rivers, as well as elephant-back safaris or tiger tracking in the Royal Chitwan and Royal Bardia National Parks situated within the jungles of the southern Tarai belt.
Nepal has many attractions, but the essence of the country is its smiling, friendly people with their heartfelt palm-pressed greetings and together with its inspiring scenery, this beguiling kingdom is a place where one visit is usually not enough to satisfy the captivated traveler.
Travel Guide for Kathmandu ( The capital Of Nepal)
Nepal's historical capital city is today home to a population around one and half a million people and is the capital of one of the most unique cultures in the world. Remember to get cheap flights to Kathmandu for your trip. The city and surrounding area have many attractions which are of interest to tourists. You can check the availability of cheap flights to Kathmandu via our flight links. Kathmandu is home to a range of historical buildings and some of those include the Dakshin Kali and the Bhimsen Temple and there is also a concentration of attractions at Durbar Square which has many monuments and shrines. We provide information from many budget Kathmandu Flights. Kathmandu is also home to some interesting galleries and museums, including the National Museum, the Patan Museum and the Bhaktapur Art Gallery. You can also find cheap flights from Kathmandu to Asia and worldwide destinations. The selection of restaurants in Kathmandu is very good and you can find a variety of international dishes here, although all the major Kathmandu hotels have Western and Nepali restaurants. Hotels in Kathmandu range from the well known international hotels chains to the more simple and lower budget forms of accommodation. This is a wonderful and interesting city which has a lot to offer to tourists, inside the city centre and outside and is well worth a visit.
Time: Local time is GMT +5.45.
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two- and three-pin plugs are used.
Language: Nepali is the official language. English is spoken in all major tourist areas.
Your Health in Nepal: No immunization is required, but vaccinations for cholera, hepatitis A, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria and typhoid are recommended. Altitude sickness is a real risk for trekkers. There is a risk of malaria between June and September in the low-lying areas including Chitwan National Park. Untreated water should be avoided; visitors can buy bottled water or purify their own. When trekking it is preferable to treat one's own water rather than leaving a trail of plastic bottles behind; purifying water with iodine is the cheapest and easiest way to treat water. Stomach upsets are likely to be the most common cause of illness in travelers; food in tourist restaurants or 'Western' food should be treated with caution as it is often reheated or left to stand out, and drinks or salads can contain ice or have ingredients washed in dirty water. Standard of care in hospitals varies, but there are traveler's clinics in Kathmandu and numerous pharmacies in the major towns. Medical insurance is essential.
Tipping / Tips: Restaurants and hotels may add 10% to bills in which case no further tip is required; otherwise a 10% tip is customary in places that cater to tourists. It is customary to tip guides and porters on treks. Elsewhere it is not customary to tip, but gratuities are always appreciated.
Security / Safety in Nepal: On 1 February 2005 the king dismissed the government, assuming direct control of the country. The situation was violent and unpredictable, but seems to have stabilised. Travelers are advised to avoid all public gatherings. At present, transport is operating freely in the Kathmandu Valley, and recent band (strikes) in Kathmandu have been ineffective. Official curfews are being declared at short notice throughout major towns and cities, and travelers are cautioned to abide by restrictions; hotels will be able to provide daily information. Countrywide bandhs are occasionally called for by the Maoists and political parties at short notice, which can turn violent. These usually seriously affect road transport and many businesses, and visitors are advised to seek up to date information before traveling; tourists have been left temporarily stranded. Now, Maoist are already in the goverment so its safe those who travel Nepal. We really take care for your safety. Before leaving, we help you prepare. We send clear, concise and relevant information about Traveler's Health and the locale, climate, food, and more. You can get fully safety while traveling at high altitude as our guides have been trained in mountain safety and first aid procedures for your protection. We are in constant communication with our field offices and monitor all aspects of government policy and weather that may affect your trip. We are on-call 24 hours a day, in case of emergency. You can rest assured that Gokyo Treks & Expedition has one of the best safety nets anywhere. In case of any emergency, helicopter rescue is available during treks and expeditions. We give foremost to your health. For this purpose, we carefully take care of hygiene & cuisine & we provide the most suitable equipment & gear.
Customs: Nepal has numerous cultural practices that are unusual to foreigners. In the tourist areas there is a high degree of tolerance towards visitors, but away from these places foreigners should be sensitive to local customs. Never accept or offer anything with the left hand. Do not eat from someone else’s plate or offer food from one’s own. Women should dress conservatively and cover as much as possible. Permission should be sought before taking photographs.
Communication: The country code for Nepal is +977, and the outgoing code is 00. City codes are also required. Three mobile phone operators provide GSM 900 network coverage in the main cities and towns, but this does not extend to the summit of Mount Everest! In the main tourist centres of Kathmandu and Pokhara there are Internet cafes on every corner.
