TOURIST SPOTS IN NEPAL

The most famous tourist destinations in Nepal, Tourist Attractions: Below are the list of the most famous tourist destinations in Nepal:

Mount Everest
Mount Everest is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Nepal. It's also the tallest peak of the world. The highest mountain in the world attracts many well-experienced mountaineers as well as novice climbers who are willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb.

Annapurna
Annapurna is a series of peaks in the Himalayas. It's also the popular trekking region of Nepal. Among the popular treks in the region are the Annapurna Circuit trek which circles the Annapurna Range, the Kaligandaki River Valley trek which brings you up the world's deepest valley and the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek up to the Annapurna Base Camp.

Lumbini
Lumbini is the sacred site of the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha. It is located in southern Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist tradition.

Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal. Formerly called Royal Chitwan National Park it was established in 1973 and granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. There are many species of birds, crocodiles, rhinos, sloth bears, tigers (though almost never seen), and monkeys. The elephants you will see walking through the village are domesticated and used for taking tourists on sightseeing excursions.

Nagarkot
Nagarkot is famous for its himalayan views- the himalayan peaks at sunrise are a magnificent sight to behold. Many wish upon arival they would have planned for more than one day to stay. Nagarkot is surrounded by thickly forested hills of pine trees which give you an idyllic escape, with only the wind and the sound of rustling leaves to disturb you.

Daman
Daman is a village in the central part of Nepal, located in the district of Makwanpur. Here, you can enjoy with the ultimate panoramic Himalayan view. There are many activities available here are hiking, cycling, rock climbing, fishing trip to Kulekhani, pony ride etc.

Tourist Spots in Nepal

For history buffs and cultural enthusiasts, Nepal really is a must visit country. There is so much to see in this fantastic country but here are the top ten places which can’t be missed.

Bouddhnath Stupa

Considered as the biggest stupa in the entire Asian continent and is also a famous tourist spot in Nepal. The place is actually a fortress used by the Tibetan Lama Buddhism in the country. The height of the white pagoda is about 36 meters and is located within the ancient road between Tibet and Bihar.

Durbar Square

The place is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a significant point among the religious and social activities of the Nepalese people. You can see several statues, temples, shrines, and palaces in this tourist spot in Nepal that were built by the previous kings of the country.

Phulchowki

A tourist spot in Nepal that is a major hiking destination. The place is located about 2,758 meters above sea level. Go up hiking to the peak of the hill and visit the Buddhist shrine located there.

Krishna Mandir

A tourist spot in Nepal that you must not miss visiting. It is a temple that displays a masterpiece of architectural combination of Nepalese and Indian culture. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and the only edifice in Nepal that has 21 spires and the entire structure was made of stone.

Nyatapola Temple

A tourist spot in Nepal that was built in 1702 during the reign of King Bhupatindra Malla. The temple is a five-storey pagoda that stands on a dais composed of five terraces. The pagoda is among the list of the tallest pagodas found in South Asia region.

Surya Vinayak

This is a tourist spot in Nepal that is very ideal for picnic activities. The temple in here is built is a way that it will catch the first sunlight rays in the morning.

Mount Everest

A major tourist spot in Nepal where tourists come to make their dream of beholding or climbing the majestic mountain come true. This is where hundreds of mountaineers, rock climbers, and trekkers gather for the fulfillment of their long time dream.

Pokhara Valley

The most charming tourist spot in Nepal because the place is augmented by the beautiful lakes of Rupa, Begnas, and Phewa. Located about 827 meters above sea level, the valley gives an astounding view of the surrounding environment. Water activities are abundant in the lakes like swimming, boating, and fishing.

Muktinath

A famous temple lies in this tourist spot in Nepal that is dedicated to Lord Muktinath. Situated at the height of 3,749 meters from sea level, visiting the temple is perfect during fair weather conditions.

Dhulikhel

An old town located about 30 kilometers away on the east side of Kathmandu. This tourist spot in Nepal offers a complete and fascinating view of the snow-packed ranges starting from Karyolung going to Himalchuli.

Related Destinations:

1. Krishna Mandir in Lalitpur – Nepal Krishna Mandir in Lalitpur – Nepal is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna. Its magnificent stonework plus friezes depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana make it a popular tourist...
2. Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur – Nepal The Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur is the tallest religious building in Nepal. Dedicated to a Hindu goddess, it is decorated with numerous figures from the Hindu religion. Explore the Nyatapola...
3. Durbar Square in Kathmandu – Nepal The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Durbar Square in Kathmandu – Nepal has various sacred temples, statues and monuments that go as far back as the 12th century. There are...
4. Mount Everest – Nepal Mount Everest – Nepal, the highest mountain peak in the world, has seen thousands of expeditions with climbers coming from all parts of the globe. While there were attempts to...
5. Pokhara Valley in Pokhara – Nepal Pokhara Valley in Pokhara – Nepal is the kick-off point for treks that will take you to the Annapurna group of mountains. The valley has several lakes, the most popular...

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Khumbu Region

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HISTORY OF NEPAL

Nepal is a small country with a little area of 187181 sq km. We can find Nepal is Asia continent and it is really a heaven because we can find every natural beauty. We can say it is a God gifted nation and it is really wonderful to live here. Nepal came to exist long before, we can know this because there is description of Nepal in the holy books of Hindu and we can say that Nepal was existed freely since the ancient time.

The description of human activities, civilization and the events that took place in past with facts and reliable date is called history. It is necessary to study about the different sources to know real history. There are two main sources of history:
1. Primary source: - The description of events of past written systematically and impartially on the basis of eye witness is known as primary source. For example:- Princep and Vensitart , the British national had participated in the war of Anglo Nepal and later on they wrote the book on the basis of events they saw in the war.


2. Secondary source: - The history written on the basis of collection of other sources except eyewitness like chronicles, arts, architecture, etc is called secondary source. For example:- there is no one who saw the rule of Mandev, the Lichchhavi king but we can know about him through the inscription of Changunarayan Temple. The sources of history can be sub classified into three types:-


Written sources Oral sources Art and Architecture
Chronology Folk songs Temples
Biography Birgatha Palaces
Books Stories Dress/utensils
Copper plate Myths Fort
Bhojpatra Interviews Weapons
Travelogue Legends/aankhyan Make up items
Hand writings Buildings
Suwavranapatra
Inscription
Documents
Bills
Diary


The history of Nepal has been prepared on the basis of following sources:
A. Inscription (abhilekh): The stone and copper inscription is found in various temples and places of Nepal. Different historical facts are found in such inscriptions.
B. Manuscript (hastalikhit grantha): Different hand written documents written within and outside Nepal help to know about the history of Nepal.
C. Coins: - The name of ruling dynasty, their ruling period and the social economic condition can be known from the coins.
D. Dress and utensils: - We can easily identify how the background and their life standard of the past people were. Similarly we can know the situation of the time at that time.

Unification campaign of Nepal

Nepal was a scattered and fragmentated kingdom in the past. Different dynasty like Malla, Sen, Shah, and Khas ruled over such kingdoms. There were twenty two kingdoms like Jajarkot, Jumla, Shalayan, etc in Karnali region. These kingdoms were called the Baise Rajya.
There were twenty four kingdoms in the Gandaki region. These kingdoms were called the Chaubise Rajya. Palpa, Lamjung, Syangja, Tanahun, Kaski and Gorkha were the powerful states of the Chaubise Rajya. The Katmandu was divided into three different states like Kantipur, Bhadgaun and Patan. Similarly the eastern Nepal was divided into three kingdoms like Chudandi, Bijayapur and Makwanpur.
The relations among these states were not good and the kings were arrogant and engaged in the war with each other. The number of kingdoms ruled by the kings increased and decreased from time to time. At the same time the British East India Company was conquering India and was planning to occupy Nepal for the extension of their trade with the Tibet. So, the existence of Nepal was in danger. At such a condition Prithivi Narayan Shah started the unification campaign of Nepal. He started the unification campaign with 12000 Gorkhali troops.
First Attack on Nuwakot:-
After the death of Nabhupal Shah on 25th Chaitra, 1799 BS, Prithivi Narayan Shah Became the King of Gorkha. After he became the king of Gorkha he planned to unify Nepal so, he sent his troops to conquer Nuwakot at first. But the Gorkhali troops were defeated badly. At that time Jayanta Malla was the chief of Nuwakot. Jayanta Malla was the commander of Gorkhali troops when the Narbhupal Shah attacked Nuwakot for the first time but Gorkha was defeated and he was accused of guilty and he fled to Kantipur and the king of Kantipur Narbhupal Shah made him the chief of Nuwakot. Nuwakot was the main trade route between Kantipur and Tibet so it was very important from the strategic point of view. At the same time Nuwakot had a fertile land favorable for cultivation. During the second attack on Nuwakot troops of Kiritipur had 50 guns and the Gorkhali had no guns at all. Nuwakot was in top and the Gorkhali troops were not familiar with the geographical condition of Nuwakot. Thus Gorkha was defeated for the second time also.
After the defeat from the Kiritipur for the second time, Prithivi Narayan Shah learned a practical lesson. He realized that victory cannot be achieved only in excitement. Military reforms and weapons were the most to achieve victory. Plenty of wealth was required for the collection of arms and ammunition but Gorkha was financially poor state in comparison with other states. So at that time Prithivi Narayan Shah took the advice of the tailor master Bise Nagarchi and other people of Gorkha. According to their suggestion Prithivi Narayan Shah collected cash and kinds from 12000 houses of Gorkha. All the people of his kingdom helped him as much as they could. Thereafter he went to Banaras as a pretext of pilgrimage but he had gone to collect weapons. He returned from Banaras with lots of weapons, artisan to manufacture arms and Muslim trainers to train the Gorkhali soldiers. As the will of the people he appointed Kalu Pandey as the kaji of Gorkha. He also brought some internal changes in the administration. He made the provision of Mahawat (people to look after the families of soldiers) to encourage soldiers.
During his visit to Banaras he met Hari Shah the king of Jajarkot and did Dharmapatra (deeds of trust) . He also met Mukunda Sen the king of Patan in Butwal while returning from Banaras. He made a good relation with Lamjung because Lamjung was a strong state and could be an obstacle in the unification. He met Ripumardan Sen the king of Lamjung through Kalu Pandey and signed a treaty. According to the treaty Lamjung would remain neutral when Gorkha moves east and Gorkha will support Lamjung when Lamjung attacks the Chaubise Rajays. Similarly, Prithivi Narayan Shah sent his diplomats for relation with Kaki, Tanahun, Palpa, etc. He signed a treaty with Bhaktapur. According to the treaty Bhaktapur should remain neutral when Gorkha attacks Kiritipur and Gorkha would give Shangu and Changu in return to Bhaktapur. He also met Jaya Prakash Malla the king of Kiritipur and signed a treaty. According to the condition in the treaty:-
1. Gorkha and Kiritipur would use each others currency
2. The gold accuquired from the trade with Tibet would be divided between the two nations.
3. Kiritipur would continue the trade with Tibet through Nuwakot.

Thus, Prithivi Narayan Shah secured Gorkha from all the sides and clears the way to start the unification campaign.

Prithivi Narayan shah managed his internal and external affairs with the advice of his elder mother Chandraparwati. He also got help from his people and planned to attack Nuwakot for the third time. On night of 14th Aswin, 1801 B.S (25th September 1744 AD) he disguised his troops as the farmer and stationed them in Nuwakot crossing the Trishuli river. At that time Jayanta Rana, the commander of Nuwakot had gone to Katmandu for military help with Jaya Prakash Malla, the king of Kantipur thinking that Gorkha could not attack Nuwakot did not pay any attention to Jayanta Rana as he was busy observing Indra Jatra. This was the right opportunity for Prithivi Narayan Shah. So he suddenly attacked Nuwakot early in the morning of 15th Asoj, 1801 BS(26 September 1744 AD). At that time Shankamani Rana, the son of Jayanta Rana was the commander in the absence of his father. The Gorkhali soldiers attacked Nuwakot from both Dharampani and Gorkhu river. Shankamani Rana could not face the Gorkhali troops and was killed by Dal Mardan Shah, the brother of Prithivi Narayan shah. Thus Nuwakot was conquered by Gorkha.
Jayanta Rana returned from Katmandu and was staying in his home at Belkot. Prithivi Narayan Shah sent the message to Jayanta Rana to come and side with Gorkha. But he refused to join the Gorkha army. Prithivi Narayan Shah attacked Belkot and conquered it. Jayanta Rana was given death penalty.
Conquest of Nuwakot was the great achievement for Gorkha. Kerung, the trade route between Kantipur and Tibet came into the hands of Gorkha which helped to develop the trade of Gorkha. The fertile land of Nuwakot helped to uplift the economic condition of Gorkha.
After the conquest of Nuwakot, Prithivi Narayan Shah started to conquer eastern parts of Katmandu valley. He conquered Sankhu, Changu, Naldum, Mahadev, and Pokhari to Dholka. Prithivi Narayan Shah gave these areas to Bhaktapur as per the treaty. But Kantipur restored it later on. Ranjit Malla, the king of Bhaktapur became angry with Prithivi Narayan Shah. The Malla kings of Katmandu valley came to know the plan of Prithivi Narayan Shah to attack Katmandu valley. So, Jaya Prakash Malla, the king of Kantipur asked Patan and Bhaktapur for help.
The coalition force of Kantipur, Bhaktapur and Patan was prepared for war with Gorkhali troops. Jaya Prakash Malla took the leadership in the war.
Prithivi Narayan shah was very excited with his victory over Nuwakot. He was eager to conquer Kiritipur. So, on 19th Jestha, 1814 BS (May 1757 AD), the Gorkhali troops attacked Kiritipur. But the Gorkhali troops could not face the joint force of Katmandu valley. Kalu Pandey was killed in the battle. Prithivi Narayan Shah fled to Nuwakot at night and Gorkhali troops were kept in Dahachok while 400 Gorkhali troops were killed in this war.
After this defeat, Prithivi Narayan Shah realized that he had to use diplomacy along with the war to conquer Katmandu valley. So, at first, he adopted the policy to conquer areas surrounding Katmandu valley and impose economic blockade. He prohibited the supply of goods like oil, clothes, salt, etc to enter the valley from outside. It causes economic crisis within the valley. Thus his diplomacy was to unify Nepal.

continue:

The king of Makwanpur, Hemkarna Sen was the father-in-law of Prithivi Narayan Shah. After the death of Hemkarna Sen, his son Digbandhan Sen became the king of Makwanpur. Prithivi Narayan Shah had no good relation with him. When Prithivi Narayan Shah imposed economic blockade over Katmandu valley, Hemkarna Sen supplied the goods to Katmandu valley. So to unify Katmandu valley, it was very necessary to conquer Makwanpur. Makwanpur was in Terai and economically strong. During the wedding ceremony of Prithivi Narayan Shah, he had demanded the naulakha har (necklace of worth nine lakh) and one tusk elephant but Digbandhan Sen denied. Due to which Prithivi Narayan Shah wanted to conquer Makwanpur.
On 9th Bhadra, 1819 BS (1762 AD) Gorkhali troops attacked Makwanpur and conquered it easily. Digbandhan Sen fled to India and asked Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Bengal for help. Mir Kasim sent 25 to 30 hundred troops under the command of Gurgin Khan to support Digbandhan Sen. But they were also defeated by the Gorkhali troops and Makwanpur was easily conquered. Along with Makwanpur, the Gorkhali troops annexed Bara, Parsa, Sarlahi, Mahottari, etc of the Terai and Dhulikhel, Panauti, Nala and Banepa of Katmandu valley.

The life of the people of Katmandu valley became very difficult due to the economic blockade. Gorkha troops attacked Kirtipur on 1821 BS for the second time. Patan and Bhaktapur did not support Kirtipur in this war. Even then, the people of Kirtipur fought bravely and defeated the Gorkha troops. Sur Partap Shah, the brother of Prithivi Narayan Shah was severely injured. Gorkha suffered a heavy loss in this war.
After the death from Kirtipur for second time, Prithivi Narayan Shah adopted the policy of diplomacy to conquer Kirtipur. He conquered Panga, Chovar and surrounding areas of Kiritipur and imposed economic blockade. The condition of the people of Kirtipur became miserable sue to the blockade for six months. There was extreme crisis of food and people started to suffer from hunger. At the same time Prithivi Narayan Shah stopped the water supply to Kirtipur. It became difficult to survive, Kirtipur was compelled to surrender. In 1822 BS Kirtipur was annexed to Gorkha kingdom.
On 13th Aswin, 1825 BS at the time of Indra Jatra, Gorkhali troops attacked Kantipur and conquered it. On 24th of Aswin, 1825 BS Patan also surrendered and came under Gorkha kingdom. On 28th Kartik, 1826 BS, the Gorkha troops stacked Bhaktapur and conquered it on 1st of Mangsir, 1826 BS

TRAVEL ADVICE

Nepal
Still current at: 04 April 2012 Updated: 29 March 2012

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Travel Summary and the Safety  the Natural Disasters - Earthquakes section (small tremor on 28 March) and the Health - Avian Influenza section (outbreak reported on 26 March). The overall level of the advice has not changed; there are no travel restrictions in place in this travel advice for Nepal.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer) 

Travel advice for this country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

TRAVEL SUMMARY

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• The political situation in Nepal is changeable. There are frequent bandhs (shutdowns), rallies and demonstrations, which can be violent and cause widespread disruption. If you are travelling in Nepal, you should remain vigilant, avoid demonstrations, and stay in close touch with your tour operator. See Safety and Security - Political Situation and Safety and Security -Local Travel.
• Most visits to Nepal are trouble-free. 28 British nationals required consular assistance in Nepal in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011. See General - Consular Assistance.
• On 25 September 2011 a Buddha Air flight crashed in the Lalitpur district, south of Kathmandu. 19 people died in the accident. See Safety and Security - Air Travel.
• Although the 18 September earthquake affecting Nepal and Sikkim caused limited damage, Nepal is still considered to be at high risk of a major earthquake. See Natural Disasters - Earthquakes.
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

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All travellers to Nepal are advised to register with the Consular Section at the British Embassy via the FCO's LOCATE page. In addition travellers should inform their family and friends in the UK of their itinerary.

Safety and Security - Terrorism 
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks can be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. There continue to be isolated incidents of bomb attacks (small improvised explosive devices), shootings and political violence across Nepal, including in Kathmandu. These incidents have resulted in the death and injury of Nepalese civilians. Tourists have only very occasionally been injured. These actions are carried out by a variety of political and criminal groups, especially in the Terai (southern plains). You should exercise caution in public places and take local advice.

Recent significant incidents include:

• A bomb exploded at the entrance to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in Kathmandu on 27 February, close to the offices of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister and other parts of government. According to local reports, three people have been killed and seven injured.
• Four explosive devices were detonated between 25 to 28 March 2011on public buses operating in the Terai region. One person died and 44 people were injured.  

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Most visitors to Nepal experience a trouble-free stay. But crimes such as assault and theft against foreigners in Kathmandu and throughout the country continue to increase.

Pick-pocketing and bag-snatching are common in Kathmandu, particularly in tourist areas. Airports, buses and hotel rooms are also targeted by criminals. The areas of Thamel, Sanepa and Kupondol in Kathmandu have seen a sharp rise in petty theft and burglary against foreigners. Incidents of bag-snatching by motor-bikers are on the rise, particularly in relatively quieter areas of Kathmandu Valley. There are increasing reports of foreigners being injured in the course of such incidents. Assaults and robberies often occur in the evening in areas that are poorly lit; however, attacks against foreigners have occurred in broad daylight.

British nationals should exercise caution when walking around Kathmandu at night, especially in areas experiencing power cuts. Avoid walking on your own; avoid carrying large sums of cash and keep valuables safe and out of sight. Elsewhere in the Kathmandu Valley, you should avoid walking alone in isolated areas.

Visitors should consider exchanging money only at banks and hotels. Valuables should be stored in hotel safety deposit boxes and should never be left unattended in hotel rooms.

Bars and restaurants are now required to close at midnight as part of a Government crackdown on illegal activities. This means that after this time the streets around the city are poorly lit and relatively few people are about. Foreigners remaining in bars and clubs after hours are known to have been detained by the police.

You should exercise caution when entering ‘dance bars’ as some foreigners have been swindled or harassed in some of these establishments. As elsewhere, you should exercise judgement when accepting drinks from strangers, and should not leave your drinks unattended.

Victims of crime should call the Tourist Police in Kathmandu on 01 4700750 or the Tourist Police headquarters on 01 4247041.

There have been reports of trekkers being robbed where violence or the direct threat of violence has been used. Isolated incidences of rape have also been reported on trekking routes, and female travellers in particular should stay vigilant.

If you are a female travelling alone, then see our Women Travellers pages.

There have been a number of incidents of sexual assault against foreigners in Nepal. Three separate incidents of foreign nationals being sexually assaulted in the Thamel area of Kathmandu have been reported to date in 2011. Be aware of the use of date rape drugs. You should avoid walking alone in isolated areas, especially at night and do not go off with people you do not know. See: Rape and Sexual Assault Overseas.

If trekking, use a reputable trekking agency, remain on established routes, and walk in groups. We recommend that you do not trek alone and should avoid becoming separated from your group at any time (see section on Trekking in Nepal below).

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Trekking in Nepal 

Trekking in Nepal often involves travelling to very remote areas. Treks often take longer than expected, which can worry family and friends. The availability of phone (including mobile phone reception) and Internet services is extremely limited. It is likely that during a trek you will be unable to contact family and friends for a long period of time.

During the winter months from November to January, flights across Nepal, particularly in high mountain areas, can be delayed due to poor weather conditions.

In November 2010 flights from Lukla were delayed for over one week. The Nepalese Army coordinated a rescue of more than 1,500 people from the area.

In November 2011, domestic flights across Nepal were cancelled or delayed due to seasonal weather conditions.

You should keep in close touch with your tour operator or guide. You will have to consider waiting for the weather to clear or arrange to trek down from the mountains and make alternative travel arrangements. You should liaise with your airline should you have to change your onward travel arrangements. Please keep your family informed of your situation and any change to your travel plans. You are required to have a valid visa in your passport to leave Nepal. If your visa has expired you will have to arrange an extension at the
Department of Immigration, prior to your departure.

The Government of Nepal Meteorological Forecasting Division provides weather updates (in English): http://www.mfd.gov.np/.

The Government of Nepal has authorised the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) to implement a system for foreign trekkers called the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS). Trekkers, including those not with organised groups, are required to have a valid TIMS card issued by TAAN, its member agencies, or NTB. In case of an emergency, the system will help authorities ascertain the whereabouts of trekkers. TIMS cards are available through authorised trekking companies, the TAAN office in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and the NTB office. Trekkers travelling through a trekking company will pay $10 and independent trekkers will pay $20 per route. For further information please visit Trekking Nepal, TAAN orNaturally Nepal.

Safety and Security - Trekking in Nepal - Advice for Trekkers: 

• Make sure that your insurance covers you for the altitude you are due to be trekking at. We recommend that you consider including cover for mountain rescue (evacuation by helicopter).
• Be aware of the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). For further information on AMS please check:http://www.himalayanrescue.org/hra/altitude_sickness.php
• Ensure that you, your trekking guide or company has registered your trek with the Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS). Rules state that foreign trekkers will not be allowed access to National Parks without a valid TIMS card.
• Independent trekkers are recommended to use a reputable local guide as there have been reports of rogue guides robbing trekkers. Ensure that you and your guide are properly equipped and insured for the trek you intend to undertake. In very remote areas you may wish to consider renting a satellite phone – seek advice from your tour company.
• Make sure someone at home has a copy of your itinerary.
• Register your route at the entrance to the parks/conservation areas.
• If your plans change try and call or email home to let people know you are alright. 
• Never venture from your planned route or itinerary without leaving someone a message to tell them what route you plan to take.

Safety and Security - Local Travel 
Major street demonstrations, disturbances and road blockades occur frequently in Kathmandu and elsewhere in the country, in particular in the Terai and Eastern region of Nepal, often at very short notice. In the past, such events have suddenly turned violent. Transport can also be severely disrupted; roads and highways could be blocked. In the event of planned strike action, you should allow extra time to return to Kathmandu if you have an international flight to catch. Avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings and remain vigilant at all times. You should also take local advice including from tour operators.

Kathmandu Valley-wide transport bans can be called at very short notice. When these bans are in place the Nepal Tourism Board and the Nepal Tourist Police in conjunction with the Himalayan Rescue Association run Shuttle Bus Services between various hotels in Kathmandu and the Domestic and International Airports. The Shuttle bus service phone number is (01) 4442555, mobile 9751044088. The Tourist Police Hotline phone number is (01) 4247041. The Nepal Tourism Board Hotline phone number is (01) 4225709.

If you are concerned about the areas you are travelling to, please keep a close watch on the local media, seek advice from your hotel or guesthouse, or contact the British Embassy in Kathmandu on arrival for up-to-date advice on the security situation, which can change rapidly.

Safety and Security - Road Travel 
You must have an International Driving Permit to drive a vehicle in Nepal. Carry your licence with you at all times when driving as well as any documents relating to the vehicle itself.

The general standard of driving throughout the country is poor and badly regulated. Roads in Kathmandu are very congested. Many drivers are not properly licensed, trained or insured and vehicles are poorly maintained. There are few pavements outside central Kathmandu and motorists do not yield right of way to pedestrians.

Other road users often have scant regard for motorbikes and bicycles (which are available for rent in Kathmandu, Pokhara and some other destinations). It is the law to wear a helmet when riding a motorbike. You should also wear a suitable helmet when riding as a passenger, and when riding a bicycle.

Bus travel is particularly hazardous and multiple-fatality accidents are common. Avoid travel on overnight buses. On some routes (e.g. Kathmandu to Pokhara) tourist buses are available.

Road conditions are generally poor and difficult even in the best of conditions. During the Monsoon season (June to September) many roads outside the Kathmandu Valley are prone to landslides and become impassable.

See Driving Abroad page.Safety and Security - Air TravelThere have been several recent airline accidents in Nepal.

On 25 September 2011 a Buddha Air flight crashed in the Lalitpur district, south of Kathmandu. 19 people died in the accident.

On 15 December 2010 a Tara Air flight crashed in the Okhaldhunga region, east of Kathmandu. 22 people died in the accident.

On 24 August 2010 an Agni Air flight crashed in the Makwanpur region, southwest of Kathmandu. 14 people died in the accident.

There are several domestic airlines operating in Nepal offering flights across Nepal. Check weather conditions before travelling with domestic airlines. Bad weather conditions in mountainous and hill regions can increase the risk to safety and cause lengthy delays.

Information on global airline safety is available through the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s audit of aviation safety oversight and also the Aviation Safety network.

The British Embassy cannot offer advice about which domestic airlines are safer than others.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Tensions between political parties in Nepal remain significant, with the potential for violent clashes or extremely disruptive strike action. These clashes have, in some cases, resulted in injuries and deaths of party activists. The situation in the Terai and Eastern region remains difficult, with political tensions over the regions' demand for significantly increased autonomy and serious problems in upholding law and order, although these do not generally affect tourists. There are a number of militant groups operating in the Terai and the eastern hills, as well as the tensions between political parties found in other parts of the country.

On 28 August 2011 Dr Baburam Bhattarai became Prime Minister. The political parties concluded an important agreement on 1 November. As they continue their efforts to conclude the peace process, there may be some street protests and disruptions over the next few months.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

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Drugs are a growing problem in Nepal and the authorities are determined to tackle and control the problem. Penalties for drugs related offences are severe. Possession of small amounts of marijuana can lead to a prison sentence in excess of five years, usually after a lengthy and expensive legal process. The availability of Class A drugs are on the rise and an increasing number of people are being caught smuggling drugs in to and out of the country.

You should respect local customs. Women should avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless tops in public places where this might be seen as inappropriate. Shoes should be removed before entering certain holy places. Non-Hindus are not permitted in certain temples.

See our Your Trip page.

For further information on Local laws, customs and travellers tips you should check the website of the Nepalese Embassy in the United Kingdom: www.nepembassy.org.uk.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

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Entry Requirements - Visas 
Visas are required for travel to Nepal.

To apply for a Nepalese visa in the United Kingdom you should contact the Nepalese Embassy, 12A, Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QU (Tel: +20 7229 1594 or 6231 or 5352); (Fax: +20 7792 9861) Full details can also be found on their website.

Visas are available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and at certain land borders. You may pay in pounds at the airport, and should bring two passport-sized photos. If you wish to stay for more than 60 days you can extend your visa up to 30 days by applying to the Nepalese Department of Immigration at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu (Tel: +977 1 4429659); (Fax: +977 14433935).

Overstaying without authority is serious and you can be detained or refused permission to leave until a fine is paid.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity 
You must hold a valid passport to enter Nepal. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Medication 
You may take medication into Nepal providing you have proof of a prescription. For further details contact the Nepalese Embassy +44 (0)207 229 1594 / 6231 / 5352 or email eon@nepembassy.org.uk.

HEALTH

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Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

Medical treatment is expensive at Western travellers' clinics in Nepal. Healthcare is poor in most places outside the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. You should be aware that it might be difficult to obtain rapid helicopter evacuation if you were to fall ill or suffer a serious accident in a remote area of the country. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 60,000 adults aged 15 or over in Nepal were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage is estimated at around 0.4% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. Exercise the normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 102 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Our Travel Health pages offer further advice on how to stay healthy when overseas.

Health - Avian Influenza (H5N1) 
Outbreaks of avian influenza amongst birds have been identified on 26 March in the Kathmandu Valley, Lalitpur and Bagmati provinces.  We advise British nationals to avoid any direct contact with birds or bird faeces. No human cases of avian influenza have been reported. Local authorities are working to contain the outbreak.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

See our Avian and Pandemic Influenza page.

NATURAL DISASTERS

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Natural Disasters - Flooding and landslides 
Travel in the rural areas during the Monsoon season (June - September) can be hazardous and care should be taken. Monsoon rains cause flooding and landslides that can cut off some towns and villages for days at a time. You should check access routes before setting off on a journey. The Government of Nepal Meteorological Forecasting Division provides weather updates (in English):http://www.mfd.gov.np/.

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes 
On 18 September 2011, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim, which borders Nepal. It caused damage and a number of deaths in Nepal. On 13 November 2011 an earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale struck the Gorkha district. There was a further small tremor in the region around Biratnagar on 28 March 2012. There were no reported deaths or major damage on either occasion.

Nepal lies in a seismically active region and is considered high risk. Earth tremors are common across Nepal. Lack of adequate emergency preparedness, medical facilities and emergency equipment will increase the impact that an earthquake could have in Nepal and the Kathmandu Valley in particular. The British Embassy would only be able to offer limited Consular assistance in the days immediately following a severe earthquake in Kathmandu Valley due to the likely impact on local infrastructure and inaccessibility of many places.

If you are travelling to Nepal you may wish to consider checking with your tour operator what contingency plans the operator may have in place in the event of an earthquake.

The National Society of Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET) provides information of what actions you should take in the event of an earthquake in Nepal:http://www.nset.org.np/nset/php/english.php.
 

GENERAL

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General - Insurance 
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for activities you want to undertake. If you are intending to travel at altitude in Nepal, please check that your insurance policy provides cover. Many policies do not provide cover over 2,500 metres. See our Travel Insurance page.

You should take out full insurance cover for medical treatment, accidents and evacuation by helicopter (presently costing between 1000 and 2000 pounds per flying hour). It is advisable to have cover for unexpected losses such as cancelled flights, stolen or lost cash, cards, passport, luggage and any loss damage or liability resulting from terrorist action.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.   
General - Registration 
You should register with the FCO's LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  
General - PrecautionsTo make your trip as smooth and as safe as possible, the British Embassy recommends that you take the following precautions.

• Carry your passport with you at all times.
• Leave a photocopy of your passport and your itinerary with a contact in the UK.
• Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.
• Do not enter 'Restricted' areas. Strict terms and conditions apply. Check with a reputable trekking company.
• Remember: altitude can and does kill. To avoid Acute Mountain Sickness ascend slowly and acclimatise fully. Take professional advice.
• Reconfirm your flights (both internal and international) before departure as they are sometimes cancelled with very little advance warning, particularly during adverse weather conditions.

General - Poste Restante 
For security reasons, the British Embassy in Kathmandu does not operate a Poste Restante facility. British Nationals should ensure that any private correspondence is addressed to the Central Post Office, Kathmandu or sent directly to them via a courier company. Any mail received at the British Embassy will be returned to sender.

General - Money 
ATMs and exchange facilities are available across the country. Credit cards are also accepted in most major hotels, restaurants and shops. However, you should check first that a particular card is acceptable. Both Euro and US Dollar travellers’ cheques can be cashed relatively easily in most banks and major hotels throughout the country.

General - Indian currency in Nepal 
The Government of Nepal has banned the use, import or export of 1,000 Indian rupee and 500 Indian rupee notes. British nationals should ensure that they do not enter or leave Nepal with either 1,000 or 500 Indian rupee notes. The Revenue Investigation Department will confiscate any notes and also impose a fine of the amount seized, payable in local currency. Lower denomination notes from India are accepted in Nepal.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics 
Most visits to Nepal are trouble-free. 28 British nationals required consular assistance in Nepal in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident; seven deaths; six hospitalisations; and nine arrests, for a variety of offences.

General - Import to Nepal 
If you wish to import goods to Nepal please contact the Nepalese Embassy in London for initial guidance.

Further details can be sought from:

Ministry of Finance,
Department of Customs,
Tripureshwor,
Kathmandu,
Nepal 
Phone No: 
00-977-1-4266984
00-977-1-4211168

www.customs.gov.np
it@customs.gov.np