Visitor Information:

Position : 26-300 north latitude,
80-880 east longitude; on the Indian
subcontinent bounded on the north by the Tibet Antonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, and on the west, south and east by the Republic of India.

Terrain : Hilly and mountainous, 77%, Terai lowlands, 23%; more than 25% above 3000m.
Altitude Range : From 70 m above sea level (230ft) in the Terai, to 8848m (29,028 ft) at Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest). Kathmandu Valley: 1,330 m (4,362 ft); Pokhara Valley: 853m (2,798 ft).

Time : 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time, 5 hour, 45 minutes ahead of GMT.

Ethnic composition: Indo-Aryans and Caste Hindus, including brahmins, Chhetris, Tharus, Rajbanshis, Tibeto-Burman,Limbu, Rai, sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Newar, and Tibetan.

Flora: In the lowlands, bamboo, sal, banyan, pipal, kapok, jacaranda, and broadleaf/deciduous jungle; in the middle hills, oak, rhododendron and coniferous forests; in high altitudes, conifers, pines, birches, junipers, firs, cedars, and rhododendron.

Fauna: Nearly 900 bird species, resident and migratory. Lowlands mammals: rhinoceros, Sloth bear, Tiger, leopard, Bison, several species Deer, Langur and Rhesus Monkeys, Boar and Mongoose; also fresh water Dolphin, Gharial and Marsh Mugger Crocodiles. Mountain mammals: Black Beer, Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Goral, Thar, Serow, Ibex. Marten, Red Panda, and Yak. Hill mammals: Deer, Bear, wild cats, and Monkeys.

Nepal Tourism Board :
The head office is located at Bhrikuti Mandap
Tel: 4256161,4256212.
Free posters, maps, and brochures are avaliable upon request.
Counters are located at the international airport,
Tel: 4470537; Birgunj, Tel: 522083; Pokhara, Tel: 520028; Bhairawa, Tel: 520304 Janakpur, Tel: 520755; and Kakarbhitta, Tel : 023-529035

Transport Service: Kathmandu

Airport Transfer:
The airport queue taxi service management committee operates a fixed rate taxi service from the airport to the city (6 km.) The transport is available almost around the clock.

Private Taxi (Car)
There are 24 hours private taxi service operated by the major hotels. The fare is slightly higher than metered taxi. You can also arrange it through a travel agency or a rental concern listed in this directory.

Hired Private Car (Taxi)
For long tours(within and out of the valley) one can rent a private car or taxi through a travel agency or a car rental concern.

Hired Motorbike

Motorbike for hire is generally available at Thamel, Jhochhen (Freak Street), Thahity. New Road etc. It wil cost about Rs. 500/- per day. But one has to deposit passport. The helmet is necessary for driving which is provided by the rental concern.

Around Town :
Metered taxis and tempos (Autorickshaws) can be hired of the street, though they are a bit difficult to find after sundown. The charge for metered taxis is Rs. 15 per km. There is an extra 50% charge from 9 P.M. to 6 am. There are metered taxi companies and all kinds of cars. For night taxis (9 pm to 6 am), call the Night-Taxi Services at Dharmapath (Tel : 4224374, 4244485).

There are buses, euro-buses 14 seates, mini-buses and three-wheeler tempos that a ply on fixed routes at regular intervals. They do not have a schedule and leave when they have enough passengers. How ever, the services are fairly frequent. Last bus around 8 pm. city buses (that a ply within Kathmandu and go to Bhaktapur, Patan as well as those going to Kirtipur, Banepa, Dhulikhel & Thankot) Leave from the city bus park located at the eastern side of Tundikhel parade ground. Trolley buses to Bhaktapur leave from Tripureshwor near the football stadium.

Rickshaws (two-seater tricycles) are fun way to get around Kathmandu. They are specially useful for short trips with in the old part of the city where cars can be a problem because of a the narrow lanes and crowded market places. The fare should be negociated before hand.

Long Distance Bus Services:
Balaju Bus Park (Tel: 4351480)
All buses leave from the Gongabu bus park, located on the ring road on the north side of town. it is advisable to purchase the ticket in advance. You can get them at travel agencies, the offices of the bus companies or at the bus park it self. Here are some popular tourist destinations, there distances from Kathmandu, the approximate time it takes to get there and the fare. Have a nice trip.

Office Hours (Inside KTM Valley/Holidays)
All government offices and corporations open from 10 am to 5 pm in summer months and from 10 am to 4 pm in winter months. Government offices, corporations, educational bodies and banks are closed on Saturdays and other public holidays.

Postal Service

General Post Office is located at Bhimsen Tower Tel: 243191,258395 and its services have improved significantly in the past years. Letters take five to fifteen days to reach international destinations.  Open from 10 am to 5 pm in the summer and 10 am to 4 pm in the winter, except on Saturdays and Sunday. Foreign Post Section is nearby. There are many agencies that provide courier services. Most of them are reliable than Govt. Post Office.

Financial Matters

Banks are open from 9: 30 am to 3.00 pm for business transactions (until 1pm on Fridays).While changing money,  Banks charges. Traveller’s cheques can be cashed at bank and at major hotels. On arrival, a currency exchange card is handed out to the visitors. Fill and stamp these each time you change money.  Many eastabilishment accept Master Card, American Express and Visa Card.

VISA US $ 1=N.C. 70 Aprox
Except for Indian nationals. It can be obtained for  30 and 60 days from any Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate. You can also get a visa at the airport upon arrival. A single-entry visa for extension for visas once you are in Nepal, the Department of Immigration charges a surplus fee of US$ 1 per day for a total permitted stay of up to five months in one year. Children under 10 years need not pay any visa fees.For Visa
Details Contact Tel : 4222453, 4223681
Fax: 977-1-4223127

Free Visa: Free visa saarc nations and as well as china.

Tourist Police Office:
Thamel, Tel: 4429750 for saftey & security travelling contact: tourist police.

Credit Cards:

Major credit cards are welcomed at major hotels, restaurants, carpet and curio shops throughout the country.

Customs and Airport Tax:

Green Channel: Passenger arriving Kathmandu (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel without a baggage check. For dutiable articles, you have to clear through the Red Channel.

Import: Apart from used personal belongings, visitors are allowed to bring to Nepal free of duty cigarettes (200 or cigars (50), distilled liquor (one 1.15liter bottle), and film (15 rolls). 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.

Export: It is illegal to export objects over 100 years old (sacred images, painting,manuscripts) that are valued for cultural and religious reasons. Visitors are advised not to purchase such items as they are nepal’s cultural heritage and belong here. The Department of Archaeology (Tel: 4250689) at Ramshahpath near Singha Durbar has to certify all metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects before they are allowed to be sent or carried out of the country. Handicraft dealers and travel agents are able to assist you in this process. For more information on customs matters, contact the Chief Customs Administrator, TIA Customs Offices;
Tel : 4470110, 4472266.

Post and Telecommunications:
The General Post Office (Tel: 4243191,4258395), located near the Dharahara Tower, maintains operating hours from 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday through Thursday and till 3 pm on Friday. The counters at the GPO are open from 7 am to 7 pm and provide stamps, postcards and aerogrammes. Here one can register and insure letters and small packages, as well as exchange IRCs and have stamps canceled. Post Restante is available Sunday through Thursday between 10 am and 5 pm and on Friday until 3 pm. Airmail of parcels up to 10 kg and surface mail of up to 20 kg can be booked at the foreign parcel counter from 10 am to 2 pm, Sunday through Thursday and until 1 pm on Friday.

The Nepal Philatelic Bureau : (Tel: 4241895) maintains a sales counter on the ground floor of the GPO’s administrative building from where both recently issued and back dated collectibles, including stamps, folders and first day covers can be bought. Telephone, fax, telex, and Telegraph services are available at the nepal Telecommunication Corporation office near the stadium. Hotels and private communication centers also provide long distance telephone (ISD,STD) and E-mail services. Country code for Nepal is 977 and area code for Kathmandu is 1.

Health:

Boiled water is more advisable than mineral water for your safety and for your regulation governing return to your own country. If you are planning to visit outside Kathmandu for few weeks during the monsoon you would be needing more immunizations than if you were to stay in Kathmandu Valley autumn. Open and colorful food will not be better for your health.

What to Wear:

Light summer clothes are very muchsuitable to the climate of Kathmandu and Valley during the year.In chilly cold of winter you’ll need sweater during day and warm coat at night.An umbrella or a raincoat is an essential addition during monsoon and sun glasses are advisable to be protected from burning power of sun while you are in high altitudes.

Nepal Information

• Places to Visit
• Visitor Information
• Travel in Nepal
• Trekking in Nepal
• Nepal Famous Points

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