NEPAL AT A GLANCE
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Nepal is from October to December. During this time, the skies are clear, providing stunning views of the Himalayas. January to February is a good time for trekkers who are comfortable with cold climates. This season is the best for low-altitude trekking as it observes fewer visitors than usual. Late spring is an ideal time to explore the wildlife in Nepal.
AIRPORT
Out of the 43 airports Nepal has, Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the only international airport in the nation. Other small but important airports include Lukla Airport, which is closely located to Mount Everest, also making it one of the most dangerous airports due to the difficult flying conditions.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
The "on-arrival" visa is the only entry visa that the visitors can obtain from the Immigration Department of Nepal or the Nepalese Diplomatic Missions. The validity of Nepal visa is of 06 months if issued from the Nepalese Diplomatic Missions. Nepal also introduced the online visa facility (e-visa) with a validity of 90 days exclusively for travellers to avoid the long queues and hustle of the conventional visa process.
DIALECT
Nepal's official language is Nepali, written in the Devanagari script. However, there are more than 100 different languages and dialects spoken throughout Nepal including Newari, Maithili, and Bhojpuri.
CUISINE
Nepal cuisine is a derivative of the ancient cuisines of India and Tibet. The staples of the Nepali diet are rice and lentils, with meat reserved for special occasions. Popular Nepali dishes include momos (dumplings), sel roti (a type of fried bread), and dhindo (a kind of porridge made from flour and water).
CULTURE
Nepal is renowned for having a rich culture and preserving ancient traditions introduced by its early inhabitant of the 9th century BC. It is a melting pot of culture, with around 125 ethnic groups. The Nepali culture is influenced by two main religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. The common custom that Nepali people follow is eating and serving only with the right hand, and the forehead is considered the most important body part. Traditional clothes include Daura-Suruwal and Dhaka topi for men and Gunyo-Cholo for women.
ARCHITECTURE
Nepal's architectural history is closely linked to the various dynasties that have ruled the country over the centuries. Some of the iconic attractions of Nepal's architectural heritage include the Pashupatinath Temple, a prime example of Nepal's Pagoda-style architecture, the Kathmandu Durbar Square having several structures with the Stupa-style architecture, and the Changu Narayan Temple, which is admirable architectural wonder representing the glorious past
of Nepal.
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
Nepal is a federal democratic republic, and the system comprises a 601-member Constituent Assembly with the Prime Minister exercising executive powers and the President heading the state of Nepal.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR) which constitutes 100 paise. Travellers can get 24 hours exchange services at the Kathmandu Airport and Tribhuvan International Airport alongside a few banks and exchange centres in the cities of Nepal.
ELECTRICITY & VOLTAGE
The standard voltage in Nepal is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. The sockets are two or three-holed. Apart from India and Sri Lanka, travellers from other countries must carry a voltage converter and travel adaptor with them to be able to access electricity.
TELEPHONE
The country dialling code of Nepal is "977". SIM cards can work in Nepal depending on the international roaming facility of respective service providers. Buying a new SIM in Nepal is easy, affordable, and doesn't require much documentation.
FESTIVALS
The two most famous festivals of Nepal are Dashain (celebration of the victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasura and Tihar (the festival of lights). Other prominent festivals include Buddha Jayanti, Holi, Teej, and Mahashivaratri.
SHOPPING
Nepal has an abundance of shopping options for travellers. The city market of Kathmandu is the hotspot for buying local and traditional items in Nepal. Travellers' popular choices include wooden handicrafts, pashminas, singing bowls, Tibetan prayer flags, Thangka paintings, rice paper items, and many more.
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