Where is Nepal?
The country Nepal is pronounced as NAY PAHL. It is a land locked mountainous country in southern Asia, located between India and China. Nepal is a bit bigger than state of North Carolina in the US. Nepal is geographically, culturally, and linguistically diverse. The population of Nepal is estimated at 29391883 people in July 2011. People of different races and tribes, living in different regions, wearing different costumes and speaking different languages occupy a total of 147,181 square kilometer (885 km east to west, and 193 km north to south) of this tiny country.

What is Nepal known for?
Nepal is mostly known by the world as having the highest summit Mount Everest, which is 8848 meters tall. Nepal is also popular for being the birth place of Lord Buddha, and Goddess Sita (from the Hindu mythology) and the legendary warriors, the Gorkhas who are known for their bravery and protecting the country from invasion.
Nepal is a kingdom of Himalayas, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife, and a unique harmony of diversified cultures. Nepal attracts visitors for casual holidays, tours, and adventure activities including `Everest Expedition'. Agriculture and Tourism are two important revenues that keep this nation running.
Nepal is a natural beauty; here water and natural resources are plentiful.

What is the Capital of Nepal?
Kathmandu is the Capital of Nepal but many love to call it by the name Catmando or Woodmandu or simply by the name `city of temples'.

What is the common form of greeting in Nepal?
Common form of greeting in Nepal is called `Namaste' or `Namaskar'. Namaste is pronounced as "Na-mas-tay", and it is both a spoken greeting and a gesture. The proper way to say and use this gesture is to put your palms together, bring it about few inches below your chin and gently bow your head and say "Namaste"! In Sanskrit language "Namas" means becoming silent, bending, and humbly submitting, and "Te" means "to you". Thus, namaste means 'I bow to you'. Did you know that Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages of the world which is still active! The word Namaste has many meanings such as Hello, How are you? I am glad to see you! Nice to meet you! Good morning! I bless the divine in you! Good bye! See you again!

What's the currency of Nepal?
Nepalese currency is spelled as Nepalese Rupee or Nepali Rupee, and in short it is written NRS or RS. 100 Paisa equals One Rupee. Currently Notes of the following denominations are used: 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 rupees. Coin hasn't been popular in Nepal and hence is almost always ignored in business. The coins of the following denominations can be found: 1 paisa, 5 paisa, 10 paisa, 50 paisa and 1 Rupee, Rs.2, and Rs.5. It is recommended that you travel with smaller notes in less populated areas, while large notes are easily accepted else where.

What is Nepali Food like? How is it cooked?
Nepali food is called ‘Dal Bhat Tarkari’ which consists of Lentil puree, Rice, and Curry. Achar (the pickle) makes it a complete dish. If you wish to know more, here is a link that might help: http://nepal.saarctourism.org/nepal-food.html

When is the best time to travel to Nepal?
When traveling abroad, climatic factors always remain an important issue. Your best time for a visit in Nepal is October to November or February to April.
During October and November you can expect better visibility of mountains, the air is fresh, and the weather is perfect. Most important festivals (Dashain & Tihar) are also marked during these seasons. May to June is also a good time to travel although the weather is hot. December to January is the winter season in Nepal, which is also a good time to travel; the climate and visibility is good. Snow jackets and sweaters are recommended.
Monsoon starts from Mid June and lasts up to September; traveling during this period is not advisable unless you love soaking in the rain. Do bring your raincoat and umbrella or get one here during that season.
Nepal’s Weather & Seasons
Seasons:
Winter: December-February, Spring: March-May, Summer: June-August, Autumn: September-November. About Weather of Nepal
If you wish to know more, here is a link that might help:
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/nepal/weather

How safe is traveling in Nepal?
The Facts Traveling to Nepal is Safe and in fact safer than traveling in most cities, like London and New York City. Guest equals God - is the tradition of every Nepali. People here welcome guests in their land, and in their heart.
Nepal has Tourist-Police patrolling most cities in Nepal offering immediate help to tourists. Tours and Travel operators have added extra security measures in their travel plans. Most hotels are equipped with extra security guards and are in immediate contact with the local police in case of emergency. As with any safety measure; precaution is the first rule. Avoid being near rowdy crowds. Return to your hotel early in the evening if you can. Do not carry expensive gadgets when traveling. Avoid wearing many jewelry items. Use a guide from a trusted travel agent or tour operator. Visit only the trekking / tour areas marked `safe' by your travel agent. Avoid long drives alone or have someone trustful accompany you. If you must travel by road, avoid traveling in the night time. Do follow your own rules of safety too.

Do I need a Visa to enter Nepal?
Yes, all visitors require VISA to enter Nepal. Tourist Visa is available from entry point such as from the airport terminals like Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu or by land through immigration offices located at the borders or through the Nepalese Embassy located near your region.

Can I Get Tourist Visa from the International Airport?
Yes. If you have left your home country and/or you don't have time to visit Royal Nepalese Embassy in your region, you can obtain visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu or from any entry point in Nepal. Just make sure you bring your passport size photos. Visa Formalities All visitors must hold passport and valid visa (except the Indian nationals). Visa can be obtained at the Nepalese diplomatic missions and consulates abroad. Visa is also issued at the entry points. It can be extended at the Department of Immigration. Children under 10 years need not pay any visa fee. People willing to get entry Visa at the airport or any of the land entry points are required to fill a visa form with passport size photographs.
Visa Facility Duration Fee Multiple entry 15 days US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency Multiple entry 30 days US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency Multiple entry 90 days US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

What is the Electricity System in Nepal?
All the electrical plugs in Nepal are of 220 Volt and 50 MHZ (50 Cycles per Second). Electric Plug is two or three round prongs, but not flat prongs as found in use in the United States or in other countries. If your electronic equipments need 110 Volt 60 MHZ, you will need a voltage convert. Voltage converters and plug adapters are available in stores near you or in shopping centers in Airport Terminals. Your hotel manager can also help you with this issue. Voltage fluctuation is very common and it is advised that you use a robust power surge protector for your electronics. Nepal does not produce enough electricity so there are seasons when power may be disrupted for hours – its termed ‘load shedding’. Read local newspapers or ask your hotel reception about the load shedding hours. If you are working on the computers found in the hotels, make sure they have UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) otherwise save your work every now and then. If you wish to know more, here is a link that might help:
http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&products_id=118

What can I buy in Nepal to take back home?
There is just so much actually! From Pashminas to Nepalese arts and crafts to musical instruments such as Madal and Banshuri, they are all alluring. Nepali Carpet is also a valuable purchase if you aren’t trouble by its weight. Most popular purchases are:
(a) Nepali handmade products (crafts)
(b) Thankas-Tibetan Paintings
(c) Pashminas
(d) Nepali Khukuri
(e) Silver jewelries
(f) Nepali Cap; Topi
(g) Nepali dress
(h) Nepali Carpets
Also Fashion clothes, garments and accessories. Where to buy them? : You can buy them from tourist shops scattered throughout Nepal. Most popular shopping place for tourist is Thamel Street. You can also go to some shops in Kupondole or Bhaktapur. Do check these places out for shopping for your loved ones back home before you leave Nepal!

How to enter Nepal?
By Air: Some of the major international airlines that schedule flight services to Nepal are Nepal Airlines, British Airways, Biman Bangladesh, China South West Airlines, Druk Air, Gulf Air, Air India, Thai Airways, Qatar, Pakistan International Airlines and Singapore Airlines. By air, you will arrive at the Tribhuwan International Airport located in Kathmandu City.

By Road: There are several entry points by land route mainly from Nepal-India borders;
a) Kakarvita,
b) Birgunj
c) Bhairahawa
d) Nepalganj
e) Dhangadhi
f) Mahendranagar
Scheduled public as well as tourist buses run to and from Kathmandu. Traveling by bus is recommended. If you can cope with 10 to 12 hours of long drive in return for a fascinating mountainous views and snail tail roads that meet above the clouds.

Are there ATM facilities in Nepal?
There are many ATM machines in Kathmandu and in Pokhara. ATM machines are slowly being introduced to other city like Butwal and Dharhan. In the streets of Thamel alone, there are three machines, including one in the Kathmandu Guest House. International credit cards (Master Card, Visa Card etc) are accepted in all leading hotels, shopping centers, bars and restaurants in Nepal. Traveler’s cheques are also accepted here.

What types of cards are accepted? Debit or Credit? Visa, MasterCard or Discover?
Most popular cards accepted in Nepal are VISA, MASTERCARD and American Express. Both Debit and Credit Cards are accepted here. American Travelers Cheques are also accepted in most Banks, Hotels, and Travel companies.

What are health requirements to visit Nepal?
Nepal does not require any specific immunization for visitors. It is however best to have vaccine before coming to Nepal. Consult your doctor/physician for advice on the type of vaccine to be taken to travel to third world countries like Nepal.

How to stay in good health when traveling in Nepal?
Enter Nepal with one or two vaccine taken for common diseases like malaria. When in Nepal, eat thoroughly cooked food. Avoid salads in inexpensive hotels and restaurants. Make sure bottled water is sealed; buy trusted brands. Soft drinks like Coke, Pepsi are safe. Avoid Fast foods. Wear a mask (if possible) when walking in dusty and polluted streets, especially during the summer season in Nepal. Many private clinics and hospitals are open during the day.

Can I bring my medications with me?
Yes. Make sure to bring prescriptions and the medications in its original containers to avoid custom inspection hassle.

What to wear in Nepal?
Nepal has a wide range of climates, from hot and humid to freezing, so dress or pack accordingly. In the mountain areas, warm woolen clothing is necessary while at lower altitude cotton clothing is ideal. If you have lost or forgotten to bring any of your clothes you can buy new ones. For e.g., a snow jacket, a pair of pants, and a t-shirt in less than fifty bucks (USD)!

Are there any Tourist Police in Nepal?
Yes. A Tourist Police station is located near the Nepal Tourism Development Board's Office. These tourist police are specially trained and are fluent in English and have detailed local knowledge to assist tourists. For security and travel related assistance, you can reach any of the officers.
CALL: 4-247041, 4-429750 (from 11 am to 5 pm)

Can I bring my pets for an extended stay in Nepal?
Yes you can! Remember not all airlines offer shipment of animals. It’s even considered dangerous and illegal most of the time. All careers that permit animal shipments require health certificates of your pet, which will be checked at each airport terminals. Check for PET permits with your airline(s) and with any airline transiting in Nepal.

Please feel free to EMAIL your queries anytime!