Introduction
Nepal's history is closely related to its geographical location,
separating the fertile plains of India from the desert-like plateau
of Tibet. Its position between India and China meant the country
was able at times to play the role of intermediary - a canny trader
between two great powers - while at other times it faced the threat
of invasion. Internally, its history was just as dynamic, with
city-states in the hills vying with each other for power until
one powerful king, Prithivi Narayan Shah, overran them all. That
history is very visible today with the three great towns of the
Kathmandu valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - still bearing
witness to their days as fiercely competitive medieval mini-kingdoms.
For centuries the Kingdom was divided into many principalities.
Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley,
while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid – west. The Kirats ruled
from 300 BC and were followed by the Lichhavis whose descendants
today are believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu valley. With
the end of the Lichhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in
1200 AD and they also contributed to Nepal’s art and culture.
However, after almost 600 years of rule, the kings were not united
among themselves and during the late 18th century, Prithvi Narayan
Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into
one kingdom. During the 19th century Jung Bahadur Rana became
Nepal’s first prime minister to wield absolute power. He set up
an oligarchy and Shah Kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were
overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s. Today,
Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional
Monarch.
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People,
Culture & Religion
Nepal has a population of Approx. 24.2 million; giving an overall
population density of about 175 people per sq km. Life expectancy
at birth is 53 years. Most of the people are concentrated in the
Kathmandu region and in the Terai region. The mountain areas in
the north are sparsely inhabited; only about 9.5 per cent of the
population is urban.
Nepal’s indigenous population consists of two major groups, the
numerically dominant Indo-Nepalese, whose ancestors migrated to
the country from the south, and the Tibeto-Nepalese, whose forebears
entered Nepal from the north. Much intermingling of the two groups
has occurred. Tibeto-Nepalese ethnic groups include the Sherpas,
who are noted as guides and porters for mountain-climbing expeditions,
and the Gurung, noted as soldiers. Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom
in the World. Hindu Temples and Buddhist shrines are scattered all
over the kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the Light
of Asia. Hindus and Buddhists live together harmoniously in Nepal.
Kathmandu Valley is the spiritual and cultural meeting point of
all these groups. The official language of the country is Nepali,
an Indo-European tongue used by about half of Nepal’s inhabitants.
It is similar to Hindi. At least 30 other languages are also used.
Hinduism is the official religion of Nepal and is professed by about
90 per cent of the population. The Hinduism practised by the Nepalese
includes elements from Buddhism, which is also an important religion
of the country.
Nepal has never been colonized by another nation, and as such it
has developed a self-contained culture and society. The dominant
Hindu religion pervades Nepali culture, along with some Buddhist
influences. Pagoda temples and buildings with carved wooden trim
are found throughout Nepal. The National Museum of Nepal (1928),
in Kathmandu, has a variety of collections on the culture and history
of the country. The principal libraries are in Kathmandu.
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Currency
denominations. & Foreign exchange
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 250,
500, 1000 denominations. Coins come 25p, Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10 denominations.
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized
foreign exchange offices. The receipts from such transaction are
to be obtained and retained. Visitors can also exchange foreign
currency at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival.
Visitors other than the Indian national have to make the payment
in foreign currency in hotel, travel agencies or trekking agencies
and air tickets
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- Entry
Procedures
All visitors except the Indian nationals must hold a passport
and a valid visa. The visas can be obtained at the Nepalese
Diplomatic Missions and Consulates abroad or you can also issue
visa at entry point like international airport and other entry
points of Nepal. The visa will be extended at the Department
of Immigration.
Entry: A visa is necessary to enter Nepal and can be obtained
for the following duration from any Royal Nepalese Embassy or
Consulate or at the entry points in Nepal.
- 1.
The single entry tourist visa can be obtained from the entry
points of Nepal or from the Royal Nepalese diplomatic missions
abroad by paying US$30 for 60 days.
- 2.
If visitors, who have already visited Nepal under tourist
visa, intend to come again within 15 days of the same visa
year he/she can obtain entry visa by paying US$50 for 30 days
at the entry points or at the Royal Nepalese diplomatic missions
abroad.
- 3.
The visitors who wish to stay for more than 60 days in Nepal
can extend their tourist visa by paying the equivalent of US$50
in Nepalese currency for 30 days from the Department of
Immigration.
- 4.
Business visa with multiple entry facility for the period of
one year and five years can be obtained from the Department
of Immigration on the recommendation of Ministry of Industry
by paying the equivalent of US$250 and US$100 respectively in
the Nepalese currency for the foreign investors.
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Entry Points
By Air : Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
By Land : (1) Kakarbhitta (2) Birgunj (3) Belhiya (Sunauli)
(4) Nepalgunj (5) Dhangadi (6) Jogbani (Biratnagar) and (7)
Mahendra Nagar in Nepal-India border and (8) Kodari in Nepal-China
border.
The overland tourists entering the kingdom with their vehicles
must possess an international carne
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Customs
Formalities
All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on
the part of entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry. The
duty on articles brought by the visitor varies according to the
volume and value of the goods. A tourist may bring in dutiable goods,
such as tobacco and liquors, within the prescribed quantity free
of duty. Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunition are strictly prohibited.
Visitors can export souvenirs to their respective countries. The
export of antiques requires special certificate from the Department
of Archaeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah path, Kathmandu
(Tel:4215358). Gold, silver, precious stones, wild animals and their
skins, horns, wild flora and fauna etc. and all drugs whether processed
or in their natural state are prohibited to export.
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Travel Route
Royal Nepal Airlines the national flag carrier of Nepal and other
International airlines operate scheduled flights to Kathmandu from
Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Doha, Delhi, Dubai, Dhaka,
Paro (Bhutan), Bangalore, Varanasi, Paris, Hong Kong,
Karachi, Osaka, Lhasa, Amsterdam, and Vienna.
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Airport
Tax
Rs. 660 per person for departure to SAARC (South Asian) Countries:
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Rs.
1100 for departure to other international destinations.
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Transport
arrangements
Metered taxis having black plates with white figures are available
in Kathmandu. In addition to metered taxis, limousine service is
also available at the airport for transport to major hotels in the
city. Metered tempo (three wheeler scooters) are also available
and are slightly cheaper than taxis. Bicycle, motorcycles and rickshaws
are also available on hire. The fare for the bicycles or motorcycles
is fixed where as the fare of rickshaws is to be negotiated. There
are regular bus services between the main town and interiors of
the Kathmandu valley. The Bus Terminal is located at Gongabu (new
bus terminal) and Bagbazar (old bus terminal). Similarly, scheduled
bus services for outside the valley operate from the Gongabu Bus
Terminal which is located near Balaju, Kathmandu.
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Trekking
Permit
The Department of Immigration located at Bhrikuti Mandap, issues
permit for the tourists who intend trekking to any part of the country
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Major
festivals of Nepal
New year's Day April (First day of Baisakh)
Matatirtha Aaunsi (Mother's Day ) April
Buddha Jayanti April
Machhendtanath Rath Jatra May-June
Guru Poornima August
Gaijatra August-September
Krishnashtami August-September
Gokarna Aunsi or Father's Day August-September
Indra Jatra September
Bada Dashain September -October
Tihar October-November
Bala Chaturdashi November-December
Basanta Panchami January-February
Maha Shivaratri March-April
Ghode Jatra - March-April
Siva Ratri - February - March
Holi - February - March
Losar - February - March
Teej - August - September
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Govt.
Office-Hour
From To
Day
Month
9 AM 5 PM Mon-Fri February to mid to November mid
9 PM 4 PM Mon-Fri November mid to February mid
Banks:
9 AM 3:30 PM Mon-Fri Round the year
Note: Government offices and banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays
and other official Holidays.
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- Climate
- Nepal
has a typical monsoon two - season a year. There is a dry season
from October to May and there is the wet season, the monsoon,
from June to September. September - November, the start of the
dry season, is in many ways the best time of the year in Nepal.
When monsoon just ends, the countryside is green and lush. Nepal
is at its most beautiful and during this season there are plenty
of colorful festivals to enjoy.
Nepal has four major seasons.
(1) Winter: December-February,
(2) Spring: March-May,
(3) Summer: June-August,
(4) Autumn: September-November.
Nepal can be visited all year round.
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