Nepal Country Information
Nepal is a country like no other where the snow-clad mountains provide a home for exotic flora and fauna along with a rich culture promoting a sense of peace and togetherness. Nepal (Nepal Country Information) is a small landlocked country situated between India and China. For travelers seeking adventure and thrill, the diverse geography of Nepal offers activities like mountaineering, trekking, hiking, and adventure sports.
The protected areas scattered around the nation house a wide range of flora and fauna for sightseeing and excursions with family and friends. The deeply engraved culture and tradition of the people also attract travelers to visit Nepal. Temples, shrines, Gumbas, and historical places are scattered across the nation of Nepal including UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Key Facts
Location: Nepal lies in South Asia and borders China to the north and India to the east, west, and south.
Geography: Its diverse geography which ranges from the tallest mountains in the world to subalpine forested hills; finally ending in low and fertile plains.
Capital: Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal.
Area: It covers an area of 147,181 sq. km.
Population: As of 2017, the estimated population of Nepal is 29.3 million.
Political System: Nepal is a federal democratic republic that exercises a multiparty system.
Major Religion: Hinduism is the major religion in the nation followed by Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
Time zone: Nepal follows the time zone of Nepal Standard Time i.e. UCT+05:45.
Official Language: Nepali is the recognized official language of Nepal.
Working hours: The government offices start their work at 10 am and end at 5 pm, open from Sunday through Friday. In winter the office hours end at 4 pm.
Electricity: Electricity is well-distributed across Nepal and the standard voltage is 230V.
VISA Information
Travelers in Nepal can easily obtain an On-Arrivaltourist VISA. This VISA can be obtained at the Tribhuvan International Airport or at the entry and exit points situated on the Nepal-Tibet and Nepal-India borders. You will have to fill out an application form and provide the necessary documents to obtain this Visa.
The Arrival Visa fee will cost you:
- 30 USD for 15 days
- 50 USD for 30 days
- 125 USD for 90 days
Visa extension can be done to the tourist visas for a minimum of 15 days which costs USD 45 for 15 days and USD 3 per day for additional days. A Visa extension with a multiple entry facility costs an additional of USD 25.
For information about the updated Visa fees, you can refer to the information available at the official website of the Department of Immigration at http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/post/notice-regarding-visa-fee-updates.
Alternatively, you can also obtain a Nepalese Visa from the Nepalese Diplomatic Missions located abroad. The expiry date of this type of Visa is six months from the date of issue. You can find more information regarding the Tourist Visas at the official website of the Department of Immigration at http://www.nepalimmigration.gov.np/page/tourist-visa.
How to reach Nepal
There is only one international airport in Nepal is theTribhuvan International Airport Thus, it is the sole destination if you want to travel to Nepal by air. The TIA has international flights operated daily which will take you directly to Kathmandu where the airport is located.
As for entering Nepal via land, there are several entry/exit points at the Nepal-India and Nepal-Tibet borders. If you are planning for other options, you can choose to travel by train from Raxaul in India to Sirsiya in Nepal. You can also take a bus route from India to Nepal with direct buses that operate from different parts of India reaching Nepal through the border.
Popular Destinations to visit
In terms of places to visit, the most famous are the three major cities i.e. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur where you can enjoy the traditional houses and festivities of the Newari ethnic group. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar square lie in these cities and are also cited as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are some of the most visited places in Nepal. There are other World Heritage Sites across Nepal that you can visit as well.
Pokhara is the famous tourist capital of Nepal, with places for adventure sports like paragliding, zip-lining, and bungee jumping along with peaceful hiking and sightseeing. You can also visit the Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park are excellent destinations to relish the biodiversity of the nation.
Since Nepal is known to be one of the finest destinations to trek, Everest, Annapurna, Langtang, Upper Mustang, and Manaslu regions are the popular trek and mountaineering destinations in Nepal.
Internet and Communication in the country
The internet facility is well established in Kathmandu with hotels, restaurants, and even public areas providing fast Wi-Fi services. This is true for many other popular tourist destinations like Pokhara, Chitwan, and Lumbini as well. However, internet services while trekking to higher altitudes are pretty unreliable. In such areas, cellular data is the best possible option to access the Internet. NTC, NCELL, and Smart Cell provide 3G and 4G cellular connectivity along with provisions for international calls as well. Telephone, Fax, and Newspaper are some of the popular communication media in Nepal.
Local Currency and Foreign Exchange
Nepali Rupees (NRs) are the official currency of Nepal. Banknotes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1000, as well as coins of 1 and 2, are available in Nepal. You can exchange your currency at the exchange in the Tribhuvan International Airport, and numerous banks and exchange counters spread across the country. You do have to be updated regarding the exchange rates which are available at the official website of Nepal Rastra Bank at https://www.nrb.org.np/fxmexchangerate.php.
Weather and Climate
There are mainly four seasons in Nepal i.e. summer/monsoon, spring, autumn, and winter. The weather conditions vary according to these seasons in Nepal. The summer/monsoon is hot and wet whereas spring sees a moderate temperature along with vibrant flora and fauna. Likewise, autumn experiences dry and moderate weather conditions. Finally, winter offers cold weather across the country.
In the case of climate, it differs according to the altitude that you are in. The lower plains are hot and humid; as you travel towards the higher hills the climate becomes cool and temperate. The high mountains, however, are extremely cold and dry especially in the winter seasons when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius.
People, Culture, and Festivals
The people of Nepal are known around the world for being friendly and welcoming as their culture teaches them to treat their guests as gods. Similarly, there is ethnic and cultural diversity among the people. The people in the lower lands mostly follow Hinduism with a handful of people following Islam, Kirat, and Christianity. The people in the higher lands are mostly Buddhists with some ethnic groups in the higher altitudes influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.
Dashain and Tihar are the main festivals celebrated by Nepalese with the government granting holidays across the nation to enjoy the festival. Other festivals include Chhath, Eid, Buddha Jayanti, Christmas, and numerous Jatra that are celebrated in the major cities of Nepal.
