Nepal

Official Name: The Kingdom of Nepal

Capital: Kathmandu (1300m)

Population: 21.2 million

Area: 147,181 square kilometers

Elevation: 100m-8848m

Nepal is not a new name in the word of tourism. Nepal, the country of Mt. Everest, the birthplace of Apostle of Peace, Lord Gautam Buddha, is the land of Unity in diversity. From the World's deepest George "Kali Gandaki" to the World's highest peak Mt. Everest, the outstanding bio-diversity ranging from the sub- tropical forests to the Alpine deserts and people of 40 ethnic group with 70 spoken languages just in the area of 147,181 sq. km can all be found and felt here. Nepal is also probably the only country in the world having seven world cultural heritage sites consisting of Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Changunarayan, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square all within a radius of 20 km. A country of alive and dynamic heritage where Shamanism, Pan animism and Witch Craft is still practiced in remote regions. A country where temple, shrines, monuments and monasteries are extremely active with devotes burning the butter-lamps, singing hymns, chiming temple bells along with the beating of drums can be vary intoxicating colorful and exotic to anyone passing by this land of "Yak and Yeti."

This land called the melting pot of Hinduism and Buddhism is also the land of Yak and Yeti. The world famous Sherpas Gurkhas and amazing Tharu and others with the wonderful hospitality welcome you here. And Nepal also is famous for trekking in hilly region, rafting, jungle safari, mountaineering, ballooning etc. So visit Nepal - The land of its Land.

This country is a tiny but truly one of the most wonderful countries in the world. Although Nepal occupies only 0.1% of the earth, it shelters: 4% of mammals on earth; 8% of the world's population of birds, i.e. more than 850 species; 11% of the world's 15 families of butterflies, i.e. more than 600 species; 600 indigenous plant families; 319 species of exotic orchids; More than 600 rivers and EIGHT of the TOP TEN snow-capped mountains over 8000 meters in height in the world including Mount Everest. Out of thirty-one snow-topped mountain peaks over 7600 meters, Twenty-two lie in Nepal! Astonishing! And while you marvel at these facts, there are so many exciting and interesting things waiting for you in Nepal: Ancient city tours, Exotic Cultural Tours, Pilgrim Tours, Ayurvedic/Yoga/Meditation Tours, Adventurous Elephant Safaris and other Game-viewing Tours, Floral / Botanical Tours, Birding Tours, Trekking, Mountaineering Expeditions, White-water Rafting, Bungy Jumping, Hot air Ballooning, Gliding, Rock Climbing, Mountain Flights to the Summit of the World and many others are all at your disposal in Nepal.

Geography:

Nepal is a sovereign, Independent Hindu Kingdom. It lies on the southern flank of the Himalayas and is situated between two big countries- India and china.Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east. Nepal is divided into three ecological regions: the high Himalayan region lies in the northern part of the country at the altitudinal range between 4877 meters/. Feet to 8848 meters /. Feet from the sea level. This region consists of twenty-two of the world's thirty-one highest snow-capped mountains and covers one third (35 %) of the land area of the country. Peaks like Mt. Everest (8848m), which is the highest peak in the world, and many other eight thousanders are situated in this region of Nepal. Some of the Nepal's most beautiful animals like snow leopard, Danphe (Impeyanus lopophorous) -the national bird of Nepal, the Musk Deer and plant life are also found here. The next region is of hills ranging between 610 meters / …feet and 4877 meters / ….feet covering about 42 % of the total land area of the country. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is located here. Wild animals to be found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer, Himalayan black bear and a variety of birds. The Terai region in the south covering about 23% of the total land area of the country has an average elevation of 100m to 300m above sea level. It provides excellent farming land, harbors lush green forest, grasslands and many wetlands. The terai region is also a perfect habitat for the Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), Wild Elephant (Elephas maximus), the wild cattle /Gaur (Bos gaurus), Wild Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), Black Buck (Antilope cervapra), the Gharial Crocodile (Gavialis gangeticus), the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicorn) and the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger to name a few.

The people, Culture and Languages: Nepal is a unique country inhabited by some 23 million people comprised of multi-lingual, multi-ethnical and multi-cultural diversity. Many of them have their own languages and customs. The Sherpas, Limbus, Rais, Newars, Gurungs, Bahuns, Chhetris, Tharus and other people of different castes live together cooperatively and peacefully in Nepal. There are 70 spoken languages and 40 ethnic groups in the kingdom of Nepal. Nepali is the country's official language and English is spoken and understood by almost all the people living in the major cities. The people here mostly follow Hinduism and Buddhism but apart from this some also practice animism, Tibetan Lamaism, shamanism etc. It is a country of "more Gods than the people", "More Temples than the houses" and "More festivals than the number of days in a year"!

The land: - It has an area of 147, 181 Sq km. Nepal's boundary on the north is connected to Tibet. The autonomous region of the People's Republic of China and on the south with India.

Geography: - Nepal lies between 88.4' - 88.12' east longitude and 26.22' - 30.27' north latitude.

People :- Nepal is a multi-racial and multilingual country.

Religion: - Majority of the people are Hindus. Buddhism is another major religion of Nepal.

Visa regulation: - All foreign visitors to Nepal, other than Indian nationals, must be in possession of an entry visa. Valid passport with visa can be obtained from the Royal Nepalese Embassies. However, those arriving without a visa, can obtain a 30 days entry visa at Kathmandu International Airport or other entry points on arrival and this can be extended up to one …..

Health:- International Health certificate will suffice.

E/D Cards:- Visitors are required to fill up Embarkation and Disembarkation cards.

Credit Cards:- Most widely accepted credit cards are the Visa Cards, Master Cards, American Express and Diner's International.

Time :- Nepalese Standard time (NST) is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Greenwich time.

Entry Points:- There are seven entry points for visitors by land route, as: Kakarvitta, Birgunj, Kodari, Sunauli, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi and Mahendranagar. And one entry point by air is Kathmandu, Tribhuban International Airport.

Foreign Exchange regulation:- Foreigner visitors other than Indians must make all payments in Convertible foreign currency.

Working Hours:- Government offices are open six days a week from 10:00 am to 16:00 pm in winter and from 10:00 am to 17:00 pm on summers. The Nepalese week ends on Saturday.

Electricity:- 220 volts AC 50 cycles

Drinking Water:- Boiled and filtered water is available in all leading hotels and restaurants. One may use sterilization tablets when filtered water is not available.

Communication:- Nepal has one of the best tele-communication facilities in South-Asia. Postal services are reliable. Telex and trunk call facilities are widely available . Royal Nepal Airlines, the National flag carrier of Nepal and one private airlines called Cosmic Air operates International flights to Hongkong, Bangkok, Singapore, Kollatta, Delhi, Mumbai, Dubai, Shanghai, Osaka. Besides above, other International airlines also conduct scheduled service by Thai Airways from Bangkok, Indian Airlines from Delhi and Kolkatta, Biman Bangaladesh from Bangaladesh, PIA from Karachi, Qatar Air from Doha, Gulf Airlines from Abu Dhabi, Druk Air from Thimpu, Bhutan, Austrian Airlines from Vienna, Jet Airways and Sahara Air from Delhi, etc.

RNAC and other private airlines operate an extensive network of air services within Nepal. They have scheduled flights from Kathmandu to tourist places like Lukla, Tumlingtar, Biratnagar, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Manang, Jomsom, Nepaljung, Bhairawa,Jumla etc.