Nepal Occupying Only 0.1% of the Total Landmass of the Earth Is Home To: Area : 147,181 Sq
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epal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique Ngeographical position and altitudinal variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 m above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 m, all within a distance of 150 km resulting into climatic conditions from sub-tropical to Arctic. Nepal occupying only 0.1% of the total landmass of the earth is home to: Area : 147,181 sq. km • 2% of all the flowering plants in the world Location : Situated between China in the north and • 8% of the world’s population of birds (more than India in the south, east and west 848 species) Capital : Kathmandu • 4% of mammals on earth Population : 25.8 million • 11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than People : Nepal has more than 101 ethnic groups 500 species) and 92 spoken languages. • 600 indigenous plant families Language : Nepali is the national language; travel- • 319 species of exotic orchids trade people understand and speak English as well. Religion : Nepal is a secular state with a pre- dominance of Hindu and Buddhist population. Currency : Nepali Rupee (approximately US$ 1 equals Rs. 78.90 as of December 2008) Political System : Federal Democratic Republic Climate : Nepal has four major seasons (1) Winter: December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer: June-August, (4) Autumn: September-November. Monsoons are from June till mid September. Nepal can be visited the whole year round. Summer Winter (May, June, July) (Nov, Dec, Jan) Place Max Min Rain Max Min Rain (°C) (°C) (mm) (°C) (°C) (mm) Kathmandu 28.1 19.5 312.9 19.3 3 15.4 Pokhara 29.7 21.3 829.7 20.3 7.7 26.3 Chitwan 33.0 25.3 404.0 24.1 8.3 13.8 What to Wear : Light weight clothing is recommended from May through October. Warm garments are required in October- March. An umbrella or a raincoat is a must for the rainy season. ENTRY PROCEDURES ACCESS TO NEPAL BY AIR: Nepal Airlines is the national flag carrier of Nepal with flights to/from Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, a. Tourist Visa Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Osaka. Other Visa Facility Duration Fee international airlines operating from/ to Kathmandu are Air Arabia (Sharjah), Air China (Lhasa, Chengdu), US$ 25 or equivalent Multiple entry 15 days Biman Bangladesh (Dhaka), China Southern Airlines convertible currency (Guanzhou), Cosmic Air (Delhi, Varanasi), Dragon Air US$ 40 or equivalent Multiple entry 30 days (Hong Kong), Druk Air (Delhi, Paro), Etihad Airways convertible currency (Abu Dhabi), GMG Airlines (Dhaka), Gulf Air (Bahrain, US$ 100 or equivalent Multiple entry 90 days Muscat), Indian Airlines (Delhi, Kolkotta, Varanasi), convertible currency Jet Airways (Delhi), Jet Lite (Delhi), Korean Air (Seoul), Pakistan International Airlines (Karachi), Qatar Airways b. Gratis (Free) Visa (Doha), Silk Air (Singapore), Thai Airways (Bangkok). • Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries. BY LAND: All visitors coming to Nepal by land must enter • Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal. only through one of these entry points (1) Kakarbhitta (2) Birgunj (3) Belhiya, Bhairahawa (4) Nepalgunj (5) Dhangadi and (6) Mahendranagar in the Nepal-India (For further information, please, contact Department of border and (7) Kodari in the Nepal-China border. Immigration, Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmandu, The overland tourists entering the country with their Tel: 00977-1-4221996/ 4223590/ 4222453, Web: vehicles must possess an international carnet or www.immi.gov.np ) complete customs formalities. China INDIAN NATIONALS: India Indian nationals do not Nepal require visa. However, Gaddachauki Kathmandu Indians traveling to Nepal Mahendranagar Pokhara India by air have to show Banbasa Dhangadi Chitwan upon arrival at entry Nepalgunj (*) Kakarvitta Lumbini Bhairahawa Biratnagar point either a passport Birgunj Janakpur Gauriphanta Siliguri or a voter’s identity card issued by the Election Rupaidiya Sunauli Commission of India. Raxaul Jogbani Temporary identity card with photograph issued India * Birth Place of Lord Buddha by Nepal-based Indian diplomatic missions for Approx. Distance Nearest Railway identification of Indian Route (border towns to Station in India nationals will also be major cities) considered in case of Siliguri-Kakarvitta-KTM 620 kms New Jalpaiguri (NJP) exceptions. Children under 10 years need not Jogbani-Biratnagar-KTM 550 kms Jogbani show any identification. Raxaul-Birgunj-KTM 280 kms Raxaul (RXL) For students between Sunauli-Bhairahawa-KTM 280 kms Gorakhpur (GKP) 10-18 years age, school/ college photo identity Rupaidiya-Jamuna (Nepalgunj)-KTM 520 kms Rupaidiyav/ Nanpara card is valid. Gauriphanta-Mohana (Dhangadi)-KTM 630 kms Gauriphanta/ Paliya Banbasa-Gaddachauki (Mahendranagar)-KTM 715 kms Banbasa/ Tanakpur Sunauli-Bhairahawa-Palpa-Pokhara 185 kms Gorakhpur (GKP) Sunauli-Bhairahawa- Chitwan 145 kms Gorakhpur (GKP) Sunauli-Bhairahawa-Lumbini 26 kms Gorakhpur (GKP) FOREIGN EXCHANGE GETTING AROUND Foreign currencies must be exchanged only Metered taxis are easily recognizable by the taxi through the banks or authorized foreign exchange sign and black number plates and can be hailed off dealers. The receipts from such transaction are to the street. Micro buses and battery-run EV tempos be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange cheaper than taxis are also available. No tip is money at the foreign exchange counter at the expected. There are regular bus services within the airport upon arrival also. Indian currency Rs. 500/- three cities of the Kathmandu valley operating from and Rs. 1,000/- notes are not allowed to be brought old bus terminal Ratna Park. Similarly, scheduled into Nepal, will not be exchanged and will not be bus services for outside the valley operate from the accepted for transaction of any kind. Gongabu Bus Terminal. It is also possible to hire mountain or motor bikes at nominal rates. CUSTOMS FORMALITIES FACILITIES All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry. Personal Nepal has every category of accommodation effects are permitted free entry. A tourist may facility, ranging from international standard star bring in dutiable goods, such as tobacco and hotels and resorts to budget lodges. To ensure liquors, within the prescribed quantity free of duty. safety and quality service, it is advisable to use the Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunition are services of Government registered hotels, lodges, strictly prohibited (Tel: 4470110/ 4472266). Visitors travel agencies, licensed tour guides and hire only can export souvenirs to their respective countries. authorized trekking guides or porters. The export of antiques, however, requires special permission from the Department of Archaeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, WORLD HERITAGE SITES Kathmandu (Tel.: 4250686/7). There are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. Two are in cultural category and two are in natural PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE category. World Cultural Heritage Sites of Nepal are: Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, and seven AND TOURIST SERVICE FEE monuments of Kathmandu valley within a radius of 20 km (together counted as one Heritage Site). The World Rs. 1,356/- per person for departure to SAARC Natural Heritage Sites are Chitwan and Sagarmatha (South Asian) countries and Rs. 1,695/- for National Parks. Kathmandu valley World Heritage Site departure to other international destinations. comprises of three historical palaces – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares; two Buddhist DOMESTIC AIRLINES stupas – Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath; and two Hindu temples – Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. Nepal Airlines has an extensive network of air Nepal offers incomparable scope to connoisseurs of services to major parts of the country. Besides art and culture to see and study different aspects of Nepal Airlines, other domestic airlines (there are fine arts in its paintings, sculpture, wood carving and more than 18 in operation) provide regular and architecture. charter services to popular domestic destinations. Many domestic airlines operate early morning, one- hour mountain flights round the year. Nepal's Unique Treasures Mt. Everest – Highest Point on Earth Kumari – The Living Goddess Lumbini- Birth Place of Lord Buddha Outdoor Attractions & Mountaineering Activities With eight of the highest peaks in the world, including Mt. Everest, it is hardly surprising that Nepal has Few destinations in the world can match Nepal been the stage for some of the most outstanding in the variety of world-class experience - be it achievements in the world of mountaineering. The mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, nature dauntless icy peaks have since decades challenged tours, culture tours, pilgrim tours, white-water- the bodies and spirits of the daring ones. All inquiries rafting, canyoning (cascading), kayaking, canoeing, and arrangements for expeditions have to be made mountain flights, pony trekking, jungle safaris, bird well in advance at the Ministry of Tourism & Civil watching, fishing/ angling, paragliding, ultra-light Aviation, Mountaineering Section, Bhrikutimandap aircraft ride, bungy jumping; we have it all. Special (Tel: 4256231/2, Fax: 4227281, Web site: www. interest tours like orchid tours, culture trek, honey tourism.gov.np) where the guidelines have been laid hunting, village tours, fossil hunting, meditation down. courses, Shamanism-Panimism tour, cave tours, snow leopard and blue sheep trek and other kinds of tours are carried out for select groups throughout Rafting/Kayaking/Canyoning the year. For organizing your tours, please contact: Few rafting rivers in the world can match the Nepal Association of Travel and Tour Agents (Tel: thundering course of the rivers of Nepal originating 4418661, 4419409, Web site: www.natta.org.np) or from the snow meltdown of the Himalayan terrain. Nepal Association of Tour Operators (Tel: 4418999, The rivers gush through the twisted canyons, winding Web site: www.nepaltouroperators.org). through calm valleys where small settlements are perched on the banks, taming out only as they spill out into the Indian plains to merge with the Ganges.