Nepal

By Air

Kathmandu -the capital city of Nepal, is connected by air with Bangkok, Hongkong, Shanghai, Lhasa, Chengdu, Osaka, Singapore, Dubai, Doha, Abudhabi, Karachi, Dhaka and Indian cities Delhi, Mumbai, Banglore, Kolkatta, and Varanasi.

Like most other countries, Nepal also requires that the remaining validity of your passport must be a minimum of six months when you depart the country. You also need a dedicated blank visa page for visa stickers and some blank spaces for entry and departure seals. Except for Indian nationals, all foreign travelers need a visa for entry to Nepal.

Nepal's climate varies with its topography and altitude ranging from an arctic climate in the mountains to the tropical in the southern lowlands. The northern mountain region, around an altitude above 3,300m, has an alpine climate with considerably lower temperature in winter as can be expected.

Nepali currency is called Nepal Rupee and indicated as NRS or simply Rs. Nepalese Rupees exist in denominations of Rs 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. There are coins found in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50 paise and Rs 1 and 2. One rupee equals 100 paise. Indian currency is also in circulation of Nepal except for the large bills of 500, 1000, and 2000.

Tourists are safe in the New Republic of Nepal. More than decade-old Maoists insurgency has ended with the abolition of 2 and half-century-long monarchy, and the country is towards peace and stability.

It stood when a western Scholar said Nepal has as many temples as houses, as many gods as populations. And as many festivals as the number of days in a year. Nepal has a long line of festivals throughout the year. Some of the major festivals are listed here.

Travelers are always on the lookout of less frequented, untrodden, and wilderness areas for their trip. We usually receive requests from our clients that they want to go off-the-beaten paths and want to avoid popular touristy areas. But those less frequented or un-trodden areas no longer remain pure. 

Although you don't need to be an athlete to trek in the Nepal Himalaya, some degree of fitness level is required. The better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy the trip. Trekking is about taking your time, setting your own pace, and enjoying the experience to its fullest. Commonly, most first-time trekkers are concerned that they won't keep up but soon discover that a steady pace will have them in camp well before they would have expected.

Mountains, Mountaineering & Fiction

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer.

The Seven Mountain Travel Books published by Seattle.

Mountaineers, which contains Nepal Himalaya by H W Tilman. Describes the first treks in Nepal in 1949 and 1950.