Travel Tips

Things to keep in mind for visitors

Here are a few tips that should help the visitor get around the country at ease.

Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport

After checking in at the immigration desk, passengers without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance without a baggage check. If you are carrying dutiable goods, you must proceed though the Red Channel.

Getting a Taxi

There are taxi drivers, travel agents and hoteliers waiting outside the airport terminal to offer their services to you. While hiring a taxi, be sure not to leave any of your belongings behind.

Respect Basic Nepalese Customs

Take off your shoes before entering a Nepalese home. Never leave your shoes or sandals upside down.

Nepalese are friendly by nature, you may accept a handshake offered by either a male or a female but never offer your hand first to a woman. Instead, you do a "Namaskar" with folded palms. Nepalese men in general, Hindus in particular, avoid touching women and holy men. Although young boys and girls in urban areas mix up these days, public display of affection is still inappropriate.

Always use the right hand to give money or a gift to someone including a shopkeeper. Do not point your finger at a person or an idol/image/statue. Also it is discourteous to sit with your feet pointing at people or at religious objects.

Visiting a Temple

It is customary to take off your shoes before entering a temple/holy places. Walking around the temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise. Ask for permission before entering a Hindu temple as entrance so some temples, such as Pashupatinath in kathmandu, is prohibited for non-Hindus. Avoid smoking inside sacred and public places.

Photographs

You can take photographs outside Buddhist stupas and Hindu temples and during festivals, but seek permission while taking photographs inside the temples or of religious ceremonies. Many people, especially women, might not be willing to be photographed. So, seek their permission first.

Dress

It is always better to be decently clad when going anywhere. Cloths that are not too revealing are advised for women especially when traveling outside the kathmandu Valley. It is best, if briefs, shorts and bare shoulders and backs are avoided.

Currency

The Nepalese currency is the Rupee and is divided into 100 paisa. Bank notes come in denominations of Rs, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. Coins are of 10, 25 and 50 paisa and 1, 2, 5 and 10 rupee denomination.

Credit Cards

Major hotels, restaurants and curio shops accept American Express, Visa and Master Card. You can contact the banks for credit card services. There are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara and other big cities of the country.

Money Exchange

It is illegal to exchange foreign currency with persons and organizations other than those authorized such as banks, hotels and licensed money changers. In order to exchange surplus rupees at the time of your departure, please retain your encashment receips.

The Indian Rupee, US Dollar, Euro, Canadian Dollar, Pound Sterling, Swiss Franc, Japanese Yen and Chinese Yuan are widely accepted in the banks here.

Food

Most Nepalese eat their meal by hand especially the Nepali food dal, bhat and tarkari. Food that has been eaten from a plate is considered impure and is called jutho in Nepali. So, do not offer food from your plate, not eat form a common pot, and do not touch a shared drinking vessel with your lips. After a meal of rice, Nepalese rinse their hands and mouths thoroughly and are very particular about the practice.

Hindus and Buddhists don't eat beef, although restaurants and hotels serve beef to the tourists.

Tipping

If a service charge si alrady attached to your bill, as is customary in the restaurants these days, it is not necessary to tip. Otherwise , tip 10%. Porters, travel and trekking guides, and drivers when covering long distances except a tip. Bellhops can be tipped modestly.

Shopping

To avoid fakes and being cheated, buy for designer goods at the departmental stores and shopping malls. Exclusive showrooms at Durbar Marg, Asan and Thamel in Kathmandu specialize in handicraft, gems, jewelry and pashmina items. Local handicraft items are good buys in Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini.

Export

It is illegal to export anything older than 100 years out of the country such as sacred images, paintings and manuscripts. Visitors should, therefore not buy such items. All such items must be cleared by the Department of Archaeology at Ramshah Path near Singha Durbar that they are not antiques before being allowed to be taken out of the country.

Immunisation and Health

Although inoculations are not required to enter Nepal, it is wise to protect oneself against diseases such as hepatitis, meningitis and Japanese encephalitis etc. Malaria has been reported in the Terai plains. So take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes. Please notify the authorities or the hotel of any symptoms of bird or swine flu or any endemic.

When in Nepal, eat thoroughly cooked food. Use only bottled mineral water or boiled and filtered water for drinking. Wear a mask when walking in the dusty streets.

Post and Telecommunications

Post offices sell stamps, post cards and aerograms. Express mail Service (EMS) is available at the General Post Office located at Sundhara near the Dharahara tower in Kathmandu, and at Thamel, Basantapur and airport postal counters in Kathmandu. Kathmandu has the only Post Restante of the country. Airmail of parcels of upto 10 kg and surface mail of upto 20 kg can be booked at the foreign parcel counter of the main post office in Kathmandu.

Hotels and private communication centers provide long distance (ISD, STD) and email as well as Internet services. The country code for Nepal is +977 and the area code for Kathmandu is 01, for Pokhara 061, Chitwan 056 and Lumbini 071.

Beggars

Avoid giving sweets and money to beggars and children. However, a donation to a school, monastery or hospital would be greatly appreciated.

Public Toilets

Public toilets charge a small fee for their use But visitors are advised to use the toilets at the shopping malls, stores and restaurants which are cleaner.

City Safety

It is safe to take a walk around from morning till late in the evening, until the shops are open. You are responsible for the safety of your handbag, back-pack and items such as cameras.

Drugs

Possession and use of drugs carry heavy penalties in Nepal, including long jail terms and are therefore to be strictly avoided.

Electricity Voltage

Electricity in Nepal is 230 volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. A voltage converter is needed for a device that does not accept 230 volts at 50 Hertz.

Pet Rules

Cats and dogs must be accompanied by a health and rabies certificate from a veterinarian.

Nepal Travel Door (P) Ltd
Email: info@nepaltraveldoor.com
Address: Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal