Where to
obtain visas
Visas for entering Nepal can be obtain from the Nepalese
Embassies and Consulate Offices abroad.
Tourist visa can be obtained at the point of entry from the
immigration office at the Tribhuvan International Airport for the tourist
arriving by air. Similarly, tourists arriving by road can obtain visa at the
immigration offices at
• Kakarvitta, Jhapa
(Eastern Nepal),
• Birganj, Parsa
(Central Nepal),
• Belahia, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal),
• Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal),
• Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal),
• Gadda Chauki,
Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal),
• Kodari,
Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border).
Embarkation
and disembarkation cards
Tourists are required to fill-up disembarkation and
embarkation cards, upon their arrival and departure.
Foreign
exchange regulations
Foreign visitors other than the Indian nationals are
required to pay their hotel bills and air travel tickets in foreign currency.
However the other payments must always be made in Nepalese currency. Exchange
Counter at the airport or at the local banks are available. There are foreign
exchange counters available at different places in the city. Tourists are also
advised to obtain and retain the foreign exchange encashment receipts so as to
reconvert the unused Nepali currency into foreign currency at the time of
departure.
Visitors are required to fill in the currency declaration
from at the port of entry. Tourists other than Indians are not allowed to bring
in the Indian currency. Major national dailies publish foreign exchange rates every
day.
Exit visa
Tourists are not required to produce any exit Visas, but
they will have to present their passports at the point of exit.
Customs
formalities
Passengers arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA)
without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green
Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you
are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel for
detailed customs clearance.On arrival at either Tribhuvan International Airport
or any of the land entry posts, baggage is inspected by customs officers. A
tourist may bring dutiable goods such as tobacco and liquors free of duty and
other taxes subject to the following limits:-
• Cigarettes
200 sticks
• Cigars
50 sticks
• Alcoholic liquor 1 bottle or (1.5 liter)
• Film
15 Rolls
• Beer
12 cans or 2 bottles
Visitors are also permitted to import for their personal use
one pair of binoculars, one movie camera with twelve rolls of film, one laptop,
one video camera (with deck), one ordinary camera with fifteen rolls of film,
one record player with ten records, one radiogram, one radio or one two-in-one
or three-in-one, one tape recorder with fifteen
tape reels or cassettes, one perambulator, one tricycle, one
pocket mini calculator, one portable typewriter, one tent, one sleeping bag,
one rucksack and one stick.
Photographers can usually bring additional film and photographic equipment provided they
satisfy customs authorities by giving a guarantee that the goods will not stay
in the country. Duty on other articles varies according to their volume and
value.
It should be noted that the importing of ammunition,
explosives, radio transmitters, walkie-talkies and narcotic drugs is forbidden.
Firearms may only be brought in after prior permission is obtained from the Foreign
Ministry of Government of Nepal.
Similarly, all works of art made of wood, metal or stone and
Thankas exceeding 100 years, are considered antiques and
thus are prohibited to export from Nepal. Likewise, gold,
silver, and precious stones, wild animals and or trophies of any kind, skins,
horns, antlers, tusks etc and drugs whether in crude or in processed form are
also not permitted to carry out of the country.
Restaurants
and Food
Almost every kind of food representing the culinary arts
from many parts of the world can be found in Kathmandu.
Hotels have restaurants serving wide varieties of dishes
while individual restaurants cater several types of cuisines like Chinese,
Indian, Continental, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Nepalese, Turkish, Lebanese, Italian,
French etc. They range from quick food and self-served restaurants to classy
five star establishments. Imported and domestic liquors and wines are available
in most hotels and bars. It is safe to drink boiled and filtered or bottled
water.
Trekking
Nepal is a trekker’s paradise. There is something new for
everyone: the magnificent tumble of great snow summits, the highest in the
world, or great- ridges carpeted in alpine flowers, forests of rhododendron,
isolated hamlets, villages, small mountain towns, birds, animals, temples,
monasteries, many different people and so on. Trekking can be done from October
to May, however, the best seasons are January, October and November.
There are numerous other, near or distant, easy and
difficult treks. All of them exciting and all commanding magnificent views.
Camping equipment is easily available in Kathmandu.
There are numerous registered trekking agencies operating in
Nepal which are specialized to arrange fully equipped
treks with porters, tents, sleeping bags, food, cook,
trekking permit and other facilities. They also provide detailed route
descriptions, equipment, recommendation, and health information and arrange
transportation to and from Kathmandu in most economical way. To assure safety
and quality service it is advisable to make the trekking program through
government recognized trekking agency.
Rafting
There are numerous rivers in Nepal, which offer excellent
rafting or canoeing. You can glide on calm jade water with a magnificent of
scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert
river men employed by government-authorized agencies. There are clear sandy
beaches to camp or take a meal, and cool and clear pools to
bathe. There are no more relaxing experiences, any better way of getting from
the Kathmandu Valley to the jungles of the Chitwan Valley, a drop of thousands
of feet in a few heavenly miles. Ministry of tourism and civil aviation issues
the permit for rafting. It would be in the interest of every visitor to take
only the services of the agencies recognized by Government of Nepal.
Safaris
Chitwan National Park is a large area of low, heavily
forested hills bordering India on the south, a haven of wildlife. The lordly
tiger, lumbering one horned rhino, leopard, varieties of deer, bear, wild boar
and numerous other animals are found here. There are crocodiles in the rivers
and wealth of birds. Several jungle camps have sprung up which offer the
tourist’s comfortable accommodations, elephant rides to view wildlife, canoeing
and nature walks with highly trained naturalists. It is easy to fly or bus to
any of them and all one need is three days, to sample all the delights of being
in the wilderness.
Accommodations
Nepal has a wide variety of accommodations which ranges from
five star hotels to budget hotels and lodges. In order to have an assured
quality service visitors are advised to use only the facilities of government
registered hotels and lodges.
Important
information
Time
Nepal time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes
ahead of Indian Standard time and other time differences are presented
separately.
Official
holidays
Government and most other offices work six days a week.
Saturday is the weekend in Nepal. Other holidays are listed
in the Nepalese Gazette. In some particular days like Gai
Jatra, Indra Jatra, Ghode Jatra, Bhto Jatra (see festivals) offices based on
the Kathmandu valley remain closed.
Working
hours
Government offices operate from 10.00 to 17.00 hours during
summer and till 16.00 hours during winter. On Fridays these offices are open
till 15.00 hrs.
Electricity
220 volts/ 50 cycles
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