WELCOME TO NEPAL !

NEPAL - the land of Brave Gorkhas - welcomes you to experience its high Himalayan mountains, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife, diverse cultures, its people and their warm hospitality.

Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world today. At the same time it is the land where Lord Buddha was born over 2,500 years ago. A landlocked country situated between India and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China contains greatest altitudinal variation - from the deepest gorge of "Kali Gandaki", a mere 61 meters above the sea level to the highest point on earth "Mt. Everest", 8,848 meters above the sea level.

No matter which part of the country you would like to visit, we will make all the necessary arrangements for you to get there in a very comfortable way. We always make sure to make your visit a memorable experience for the lifetime. We have knowledgeable guides who speak Italian, French, German, Spanish and English. We respond to your orders in the shortest possible time through letters, Fax or E-mail. Ashutosh Travels & Tours makes all your travel arrangements, reception, transfer, domestic and International ticketing, tours, treks etc leaving you free to enjoy Nepal. So, Leave all your care to us and enjoy your holiday in Nepal.

GENERAL INFORMATION

GEOGRAPHY:
Roughly rectangular in shape it lies between 80.4' and 88.12' east longitude and 26.22' and 30.27' north latitude. Nepal is a landlocked country situated between China in the north and India in the east, west and south. The land extends approximately 885 Km east to west and 193 Km north to south. It is divided in three different regions parallel to each other from east to west. The Himalayas in the north, the middle mountain ranges in the middle and the fertile Gangetic plains in the south.

CLIMATE:
Nepalese climate varies with its topography. The terai region has hot, humid climate, the mid-land regions are pleasant almost all the year around with cool winter nights. The Northern mountain region around an altitude above 3,353 m has an alpine climate with lower temperature in winter.

The four climatic seasons with an average temperature of Kathmandu are as follows:

SEASONS MONTHS AVERAGE TEMP

MAX MIN
Summer Jun - Aug 30C 20C
Autumn Sep - Nov 24C 12C
Winter Dec - Feb 20C 30C
Spring Mar - May 28C 12C

VEGETATION:
As per the size of the country, Nepal possesses some of the most outstanding bio-diversity in the world, ranging from sub-tropical Rain-forest to Alpine deserts.

CURRENCY:
The official currency is the Nepalese Rupees which are subdivided into 100 Paisa. The domination of currency notes are available in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and the coins are 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 1 Rupee which are in circulation.

LANGUAGE:
Nepali is the official language, but English is understood and spoken by majority of people in Kathmandu and other big cities.

RELIGION:
Major religions of Nepal are Hinduism. Besides, there are Buddhists, Islams, Christians also. But there is a harmony among all the religions.

TIME:
Nepal Standard Time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time.

OFFICIAL WEEKLY HOLIDAY:
Saturday is the official weekly holiday in Nepal. Most of the shops are closed on this day, while museums remain closed on Tuesdays and other Government holidays.

ENTERING NEPAL:
Kathmandu - the capital city of Nepal is connected by air with Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Varanasi, Patna (India), Karachi (Pakistan), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Paro (Bhutan), Lhasa (Tibet), Hong Kong, Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Frankfurt (Germany), London, (UK), Vienna (Austria), Paris (France), Dubai (UAE), Osaka (Japan). Besides the above, a visitor may also enter Nepal by surface from India.

ENTRY FORMALITIES:

VISA:
Except for Indian nationals all other citizens must possess a valid visa. A visa can be obtained from any Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or at the entry points in Nepal. The duration and present visa fee are as follows:

DURATION FEE
Single entry upto 60 days US$ 30.00
Extending beyond 60 days US$ 50.00
Double entry within 60 days US$ 40.00
Multiple entry within 60 days US$ 60.00

PASSPORT:
A valid passport is required for all nationals except Indians.

CUSTOMS:
You are permitted to bring 200 Cigarettes, 50 Cigars plus 1.15 liters of liquor or 12 cans of beer. Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions are strictly prohibited. Antiques and precious or semi-precious stones bought must be cleared and a certificate obtained from His Majesty's Government of Nepal, Department of Archaeology.