Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a country in South Asia. It is mainly in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is the 49th largest country by population and 93rd largest country by area. It is landlocked, and borders China in the north and India in the south, east and west, while Bangladesh is located within only 27 km (17 mi) of its southeastern tip and Bhutan is separated from it by the Indian state of Sikkim. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city. Nepal is a multiethnic country with Nepali as the official language.
In northern Nepal summers are cool and winters are severe, while in the south, summers are very hot while winters are mild to cold. Nepal has five seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.
In the Tarai (southern Nepal), summer temperatures exceed 40° C and above 45 in some areas, while winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C. In mountainous regions, hills and valleys summers are temperate while winter temperatures can plummet to sub zero. The Kathmandu Valley has a pleasant climate with average summer temperatures of 20°C – 35°C and 2°C – 12°C in winter. Average temperatures in Nepal drop 6°C for every 1,000 m you gain in altitude.
The Himalayas act as a barrier to the cold winds blowing from Central Asia in winter, and form the northern boundary for monsoon rains. Some places like Manang and Mustang fall in the rain-shadow behind the mountains and are mostly dry. Eighty percent of all the rain in Nepal is received during the monsoon (June-September). Winter rains are more pronounced in the western hills. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm, but it varies by eco-climatic zones, such as 3,345 mm in Pokhara and below 300 mm in Mustang.
There is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views. As with most of the trekking areas in Nepal, the best time to visit are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time for rhododendrons to bloom while the clearest skies are found after the monsoon in October and November. However, Nepal can be visited the whole year round.
Getting around Towns & Cities - There are bus services in the populous areas around Kathmandu, which include the neighboring cities of Patan and Bhaktapur. A trolleybus route provides frequent journeys over the 11km (7-mile) Kathmandu- Bhaktapur road. Private minibuses feed the trolleybus route from nearby villages. On buses and trolleybuses belonging to the Transport Corporation of Nepal (tel: (2) 12972), a four-stage fare system applies, with color-coded tickets issued by conductors. ‘Microbuses’ also operate.
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.
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.
Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR; symbol Rs) = 100 paisa. Notes are in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25 and 10 paisa.
Credit/Debit Cards & ATM’s: American Express is widely accepted, with MasterCard and Visa in tourist shops, hotels, restaurants and agencies. ATMs are widely available in Nepal.
Mobile Telephone: Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is sporadic and variable.
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 at the Infectious Diseases Clinic. Full medical insurance is essential.
Visa Requirements: A valid passport and one passport -size photo with a light background.
Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currency: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen.
Credit card, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fees.
The following visa fees have come into effect from 17 July 2019 (as per the Nepal Government’s decision made on 26 May 2019. Source: http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/post/notice-regarding-visa-fee-updates):
VISA FEE DETAILS
Tourist Visa
Tourist Visa Fee
Visa Fee that has been in effect from 17 July 2019
15 Days (Multiple Entry)
USD 30
30 Days (Multiple Entry)
USD 50
90 Days (Multiple Entry)
USD 125
Visa Extension
(Within Valid Visa Period)
USD 03 per day
(With Multiple Entry)
Additional USD 25
(After Visa Expiration)
Late fee USD 05 per day
Nepal Visa for Indian Nationals: Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal. As per the Nepalese Immigration, Indian Nationals traveling to Nepal by air must possess any one of the following documents.
Visa Extension for Nepal
Tourists can stay for a maximum of 150 days in a visa year (Jan 1 to Dec 31).
Learn more about applying for Nepal visa online by clicking here Online Visa Application for Nepal.
For further visa information for Nepal, please contact: Department of Immigration Kalikasthan, Kathmandu Tel: +977 1 4429660, +977 1 4438862, +977 1 4438868, +977 1 4433934
E-mail: mail@nepalimmigration.gov.np, dg@nepalimmigration.gov.np Website: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np
Local transportation: The easiest way to start finding your way around in Nepal is to use your favorite map app on your mobile or other navigation device. All urban areas in Nepal are mapped out good enough to find your way though some errors might occur.
Bring an extra passport photo to get a local sim card at the arrival halls in the international airport of Kathmandu. If you can wait a little longer or you crossed one of the road borders to enter Nepal then there are plenty of service centers from mobile carriers where you can get a local sim card.
For offline navigation you can use a free Kathmandu Valley map that is available at the Tourist Center of the Nepal Tourism Board and several tourist accommodations. Detailed maps are available in map and book shops in the big tourist areas of Nepal (especially Thamel and Freak Street)
Transportation in Kathmandu: Private taxis charge higher rates but may be more comfortable. No tip is expected. Night taxi service can also be arranged and operated by major hotels. One can rent a private car through a travel agent or a car rental company.
Mountain bikes and ordinary bicycles are cheap and the best form of transportation for economy tourists. One can hire them at Thamel and Jhochhen (Freak Street), all in Kathmandu. Mountain bikes can also be hired around Pokhara.
Long Distance Bus Service - Tourist bus services provide easy transportation to prime areas like Pokhara and Chitwan. For other destinations, long distance day or night bus services are available from Kathmandu to all major cities. Out-of-valley bound buses leave from New Bus Park at Gongabu at Ring Road near Balaju, Kathmandu. More comfortable and smaller vehicles can also be hired exclusively or on cost-sharing basis.
Domestic Airlines - Nepal Airlines has an extensive network of air services to major parts of the country. Besides Nepal Airlines, other domestic airlines (more than 18 in operation) provide regular and chartered services to popular domestic destinations. Some of these airlines also offer mountain flights.