It is not totally wrong to say that Nepal is landlocked and small, but if you say it is not beautiful, you are absolutely wrong. The country is well-known for Everest and the birthplace of Buddha; however, it is yet to acknowledge by many people. Apart from this, the craze for tourism in Nepal is increasing day by day because of its exciting trekking routes, snowcapped mountains, rich cultural and religious diversity, and abundant flora and fauna.
From thrilling activities, including mountaineering, kayaking, and paragliding, to serene strolls among medieval temples and hidden palaces, Nepal offers more unforgettable travel experiences than can be squeezed into a single visit. Thus, Nepal is a surprisingly diverse country that attracts visitors for many reasons. Many of them are lured by the call of the mountains, while some are intrigued by the culture and the famous city. At the same time, others come to Nepal in the hope of spiritual awakening.
By now, you might already know why Nepal is so famous for its mountain. Now, without further delay, we will take you to the depth of Nepal and the most asked question about this small country. Thus please stick with us till the end of the article.
Why Visit Nepal?
If you are interested in adventure tourism, unique cuisine, and love exploring rich cultures, Nepal is worth visiting time and again. In addition, Nepal is a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers, and people seeking adventures, as 8 out of the ten highest mountains in the world are located in Nepal.
The country is not only for the people who love mountains but also for those who want to explore the beautiful cities of Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, Janakpur, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. Nepal is an adrenaline adventure, a cultural eye-opener, a life-changing experience, or all of the above.
Another reason to visit Nepal is its beaten trails and virgin tracks. While going through the deep forests of rhododendron and isolated hamlets and passing through the small mountain villages, birds, animals, temples, breathtaking landscapes, and monasteries, you will also meet friendly people of various cultures, offering a fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life.
Likewise, Jungle Safari is the most exciting thing you can do in Nepal. The Terai region of Nepal consists of National Parks which attract visitors from all over the world. Such parks offer several activities, including jeep safari, bird watching, and elephant bathing. Besides that, you can also see one-horned rhino os, wild boars, samburs, spotted deer, sloth bears, and four-horned antelope. Sometimes, a Royal Bengal tiger may surprise you with its majestic appearance. After looking at all of these, do you need another reason to visit Nepal?
Is Nepal Cheap To Visit?
Nepal is a place where your wildest dreams come true. It is a destination where you can do several things. Whether you want to do adventure or looking for luxury comfort, Nepal has it all. However, many of you might be curious about the budget or have a question:
Is Nepal cheap to visit?
Answering your questions, yes! Nepal is considered one of the cheapest countries in Asia for travelers. It is easy to explore the country's beauty, and it is a culturally rich country on a budget. There are plenty of inexpensive places to stay and eat, public transport is excellent, entry fees for attractions are low by international standards, and fantastic mountain scenery comes for free.
Is Nepal A Part Of India?
Many people have a misconception about being Nepal a part of India. To clear the misconception, let's talk about the geography of Nepal. The total area of Nepal is 1, 47,181 sq. km, and is located between China in the northern part and India in the rest of the parts. Topographically, it is divided into three distinct ecological regions: Mountain, Hilly, and Terai.
As we mentioned several times earlier, Nepal is a multilingual country. More than 129 languages are spoken here, conforming to Nepali as their official language. Likewise, more than 120 ethnic groups live harmoniously following their traditions, cultures, festivals, and religions. After reading all this, one can easily conclude that Nepal is not part of India. It is a landlocked, independent, Federal Democratic Republic nation.
Is Nepal Safe Country?
Speaking o safety, Nepal is a safe place for international visitors. According to travelers who tour Nepal from India will tell you that Nepal is actually the safer one of the two nations, and this is due in part to the conservative culture of Nepali society and the general openness to other cultures and religions.
The country is the land of Lord Buddha, where peace and enlightenment are kept the top priorities. The Nepalese person has the principle that visitors should be respected as God. There is a low rate of serious crime in Nepal and not any radical or terrorist groups throughout the realm. People are living peacefully, making unity in diversity.
However, taking precautions will not harm you. The popular areas with crowded foreign places like Thamel, Sanepa, and Kupondol in Kathmandu have a high chance of pick-pockets and bag-snatching. Hence, be careful and also take care when walking around at night.
Do I Need A Visa To Travel to Nepal?
Talking about the Visa policy of Nepal, it is relatively liberal. Every citizen of all nations (except India) needs a visa to enter Nepal. In January 2014, the Nepal government introduced an online visa application system; thus, you can directly apply if you are planning to visit Nepal. Furthermore, some of the available visas and their cost are listed below.
- 15 days: US$25
- 30 days: US$40
- 90 days: US$100
Similarly, do not worry! You will get an arrival visa while entering Nepal. The arrival visa procedure is quick and simple and is called a 'Tourist Visa'. The Visa includes the fees for the entry facility. Talking about the type of Visa, basically, a tourist visa is the only entry visa to Nepal. So if you are visiting Nepal for purposes other than Tourism, you should still get a 'Tourist Visa' to get into the country. Meanwhile, if you are for other purposes, you can change your Visa category as per your aim and duration of stay in Nepal from the Department of Immigration.
However, sometimes you must wait in queues during the peak tourist season. If you want to avoid those queues, you have another option: A visa from Nepalese Diplomatic Missions stationed abroad before your arrival. What type of Visa you want depends upon you.
Countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Somalia, Iraq, Palestine, Liberia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, and refugees from different countries must request to acquire visas before they arrive from their nearby Embassies of Nepal Government.
All tourists can stay in Nepal for a maximum of 150 days in one calendar year. Thus, Visitors must hold valid passports for at least six months from arrival. Also, it is possible to apply for visa extensions and get transit visas. As per the Immigration Government of Nepal, the visa extension fees depend upon the days. Therefore, you can do your visa extension minimum of 15 days with USD 45 and USD 3 per day for additional days. Meanwhile, if a delay of fewer than 150 days additional USD 5 per day is a late fine.
Many of you might be wondering if there are some free visas. Yes! Nepal has free Visas for children below ten years except for US citizens. Similarly, if you belong to SAARC countries, you can get 30 days of free Visa for the very first time in a given visa Year. Although Afghanistan is not allowed, if you are one of them, you can get Gratis Visa (free Visa) on Arrival only upon the recommendation of the Department of Immigration. Not only that but if you are a Chinese citizen, you will also get a free Visa.
Furthermore, because of the reciprocal visa waiver Agreement, officials from China, Brazil, Russia, and Thailand do not need an entry visa.
When is the best time to visit Nepal?
This is another frequently asked question about Nepal. Of course, the best answer is that you can visit this nation at any time of year and somewhere in the country will be at its best. But, if you are into the clear blue skies, fresh, green scenery, and pleasant temperatures, then October and December are best for you.
On the other hand, if you love snow-covered mountains and cold, then January and February will be best for you. During this time, you can visit the lowland regions, including the national parks of the Terai lowlands, however, up in the mountains, it can be freezing indeed.
The May to September period is the rainy season in Nepal, as a result, most parts are wet throughout most of the country. So instead, you can visit the trans-Himalayan regions such as Upper Mustang, Dolpo, and far western Nepal.
Therefore, for a much more detailed look at the weather and when to visit Nepal, see Nepal's Climate and Nepal's Trekking Season.
Is there Internet Access In Nepal?
As per the data shown by Online Khabar, 91 % of the population of Nepal has access to the Internet:
Regulator. It might shock you, but most places in Nepal are facilitated with 4G services. Besides that, almost all the places, including remote areas of the country, are connected with Wi-Fi services. However, the speed of the internet may not be as faster as in your hometown, but at least you can be connected with your beloved ones. Thus, before visiting Nepal, keep in mind here the internet service is not as fast as in your home country.
Another important thing is that you can easily purchase a local SIM card in Nepal. Likewise, the talk time and data are also cheap by international standards.
What should I avoid in Nepal?
Despite having so many things to do in Nepal, there are several things that you should not do while visiting Nepal. As we mentioned earlier, Nepal is well known for its traditional culture and values that have been transferred from generation to generation. Some of the things that you should not do in Nepal are listed below:
- Do not wear shoes inside the temple.
- Do not wear revealing clothes.
- Do not intake weed.
- Do not use your left hand to give money and gifts to Nepalese people.
- Please do not mess with their yaks.
- Do not eat Beef.
Apart from these, there are many things that you must have to avoid while traveling to Nepal. Thus, keep these things in mind while visiting Nepal.
What vaccinations are needed to travel to Nepal?
Unlike other countries, there is no mandatory vaccination for travel to Nepal. However, Nepal's rules and regulations show that people can have their standard vaccines, like against measles and polio, before traveling. After the Covid-19 pandemic, many people are curious about the vaccination they require while visiting Nepal. While traveling to Nepal, you must bring the total vaccination dose against COVID-19, completed at least 14 days before entering Nepal.
In case you are not fully vaccinated or have not completed a total dose of the Corona vaccine. Before 14 days to arrive in Nepal, you have to show a negative result (RT-PCR, Gene Expert, True NAAT, or WHO accredited test) within the last 72 hours of boarding.
After arriving in Nepal, one must have to undergo a health check to see if you have any COVID-19-related symptoms while entering Nepal. If you have such symptoms, you must take a mandatory antigen test (at your own expense) at the entry point. Sadly, suppose your test tuned out positive, you have to go to an isolation center designated by the Ministry of Health and Population, the Government of Nepal, or to a hospital.
Similarly, another important thing, is if you are heading to Nepal to visit the Himalayas, you might also need to prescribe some altitude medicine.
What currency do they use in Nepal?
Regarding Nepal's currency, Nepalese people use the Nepali rupee, abbreviated as NPR or Rs. However, many people get confused as the Indian rupee is also abbreviated to Rs, so be sure not to get confused between the two. Compared to the Indian currency, the value of NPR is low. Similarly, it is a closed currency, which means you can't get your hands on it outside of Nepal. Fortunately, you can exchange significant currencies for NPR at the Kathmandu airport or draw local currency from an ATM.
