Nepal is known for the highest Himalayas, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife and diverse culture. It is situated between China and India. It is primarily an agricultural country with many ethnic groups varied as its land with their own language and cultures. People here hold the strong belief in the saying "Unity in Diversity". Nepal has some of the best every hiking, trekking, rock climbing, peak climbing, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, canoeing, wildlife safari, mountain biking, paragliding, cultural sites and much more. Nepal is the land where Lord Buddha was born over 2,500 years ago.

The kingdom of Nepal was unified in 1768 by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who had fled India following the Moghul conquests of the subcontinent. Under Shah and his successors, Nepal's borders expanded as far west as Kashmir and as far east as Sikkim (now part of India). A commercial treaty was signed with Britain in 1792 and again in 1816 after more than a year of hostilities with the British East India Company.

FAST FACTS ABOUT NEPAL

Flag:
The national flag of Nepal is the only national flag that is not rectangular. The flag borrows the basic design from the original Hindu design, which has been in use for more than 2,000 years. It is Crimson red in color with the blur border. The flag emblems, the Crescent Moon at the top and the Sun at the bottom

Language:
Nepali (official) & 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects. Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is related to the Indian language Hindi and is spoken by about 90 percent of the population in either native or second language fluency. The majority of people in Kathmandu and other big cities do understand and speak English language

Religion:
Major religions of Nepal are Hinduism. Besides, there are Buddhists, Islam, and Christians. But there is a harmony among all the religion.

Time Zone:
Nepal Standard time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes a head of Indian Standard Time.

Currency:
The official currency is the Nepalese Rupees which are subdivided into 100 paisa. The domination of currency notes are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 ,1000 and the coins are 5, 10, 25, 50 but only 1 rupee coins are only in circulation these days.

Official weekly holiday:
Saturday is the official weekly holiday in Nepal. Most of the shops are closed on this day, while museums remain closed on Tuesday and other Government holidays.

Climate:
Nepal has a climate that ranges from subtropical summers with mild winters in the southern lowlands to an alpine climate with cool summers as well as severe winters in the mountains. Average annual precipitation decreases from 1,778 mm (70 inches) in the east to 899 mm (35 inches) in the west.

The four Climatic seasons with an average temperature of Kathmandu are as follows

From October to February, woolen sweaters, Jackets or similar other warm outfits are necessary. Shorts or long- sleeved shirts are good in March through May. From June to September, light and lose garments are advisable.

Vegetation:
As per the size of the country, Nepal possesses some of the most outstanding bio-diversity in the world, ranging from sub-tropical Rain-forest to Alpine deserts.

Entering Nepal:
Kathmandu- the capital city of Nepal is connected by air with Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Varanasi, Patna (India), Karachi (Pakistan), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Paro (Bhutan), Lhasa (Tibet), Hong Kong, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Frankfurt (Germany), London (U.K), Vienna (Austria), Paris (France), Dubai (U.A.E), Osaka (Japan). Besides the above, visitors may also enter Nepal by surface from India.

ENTRY FORMALITIES:

Visa:
. A visa can be obtained from Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or at the entry points in Nepal on arrival.

VISA INFORMATION
Tourist Visa
 

Gratis (Free) Visa
• Gratis visa for 30 days is available only for nationals of SAARC countries. However, for extension of visa for SAARC nationals, the rule is same as that of other nationals.
• Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal

For Visa Extension
Tourists can stay for a maximum of 150 days in a visa year (Jan 1st to Dec. 31st) extending the visa at the rate of 2 US$ per day. However a minimum amount of 30 US$ has to be paid for a period of 15 days or less.

Passport:
A valid passport is required for all nationals except for Indians.

Customs:
You are permitted to bring 200 Cigarettes, 50 Cigars plus 1.15 liters of distilled liquor and 15 film roll. You can also bring in the following articles free of duty on condition that you take them out with you when you leave: binoculars, movie or video camera, still camera, laptop computer, and portable music system. Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions are strictly prohibited.

Antiques and precious or semi-precious stones bought must be cleared and a certificate obtained from His Majesty’s Government of Nepal Department of Archaeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu. It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old, such as sacred images, paintings, manuscripts that are valued for culture and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are Nepal's cultural heritage and belong here.

Seasons for Traveling:
The suitable seasons for traveling to Nepal are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). Also during the monsoon season (June-August)