Capital: Kathmandu
Time zone: GMT + 5.45
Telephone services: Country Code: 977
Outgoing Code: 00
Emergency telephone numbers: Not present.
Tourist information: Ministry of Tourism, Tripureshnawar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (1) 211 286 Fax: (1) 227 758
Passport information: Valid passports are required by all except nationals of India holding proof of identity. Requirements may be subject to short-term change. Contact the relevant authority before departure.
Visa information: Required by all except nationals of India.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended Malaria: Exists in the vivax variety in many rural areas. The falciparum variety has also been reported and is highly resistant to chloroquine.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas Other Health Risks: Cholera. High Altitude sickness. Japanese encephalitis. Hepatitis A and B. Meningitis.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: Nepalese Rupee (Rs) = 100 paisa Exchange: Obtain ‘Foreign Exchange Encashment’ receipts when changing currency and retain them as they may be needed when making transactions. NOTE: Import of local and Indian currency is prohibited. Export of local currency is prohibited. Import of foreign currency must be declared.
Amex is widely accepted while MasterCard has a more limited acceptance. Travellers cheques are accepted at banks and major hotels. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Unavailable.
Cost of living: Caters for all travellers and budgets
Languages: Nepali, with Maithir and Bhojpuri.
Weather: June – Oct: Summer and monsoon. The remainder of the year is dry. Spring and Autumn is the most pleasant time. Temperatures drop dramatically in the winter
Electricity: 220 volts Ac, 50 Hz
Post: Services are available at most centres. Post boxes should not be used for important communications
Transport: FLIGHTS: A network of domestic flights links major towns. ROAD: The road system is of unpredictable quality. BUS Services operate, but poor state of roads and high incidence of accidents make long-distance bus travel inadvisable. CAR HIRE: Hertz and Avis are present. NOTE: Driving and vehicle maintenance is poor and the cause of frequent accidents. DOCUMENTATION: An IDP is valid in Nepal for 15 days. A temporary licence can be obtained on presentation of a national licence.
Special information: FCO ADVISE AGAINST ALL TRAVEL TO NEPAL. Please check their site for latest information. In general travellers should seek local travel advise from the British Consul in Kathmandu. There have been recent outbreaks of political violence in the mid-west region. Do not travel in these areas at present and even on guided parties check that the agency have checked about where disturbances have occurred. The locals are superstitious and religious. Visitors are considered to be ‘polluted’ and are likely to be treated by the locals accordingly. Shoes should be removed before entering a local’s home. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Do not trek on your own without a professional guide. Always check locally about disturbances. Even where you are in a party it is advisable to take a guide off regular routes regardless of the current security situation. Consider taking comprehensive insurance to cover all physical activities and include helicopter rescue and medical evacuation if you are trekking climbing or white water rafting. Beware of the dangers of high altitude sickness. Travellers should register their presence with their local embassy in Kathmandu. The Indian Airlines 814 from Kathmandu to New Delhi was hi-jacked on 24 December 1999. Although airport security is improving Nepal is not immune from global terrorism. As of 5th June the airport is closed to all traffic.