Home About Nepal

About Nepal History

Why Nepal As Filming Destination

Nepal नेपाल [neˈpal], officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 27 million Nepal is the world’s 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People’s Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. Specifically, the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim border Nepal, while across the Himalayas lies the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and largest metropolis.

Nepal has a rich geography. The mountainous north has eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा) in Nepali. It contains more than 240 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized.

Hinduism is practiced by about 81% of Nepalese, making it the country with the highest percentage of Hindu followers; Buddhism is linked historically with Nepal and is practiced by 9%, Islam by 4.4%, Kirat 3%, Christianity 1.4%, and animism 0.4%.

A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long Civil War by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties led to the 12-point agreement of 22 November 2005. The ensuing elections for the constituent assembly on 28 May 2008 overwhelmingly favored the abolishment of the monarchy and the establishment of a federal multiparty representative democratic republic.

Nepal occupying only 0.1% of the total landmass of the earth is home to:

• 2% of all the flowering plants in the world
• 8% of the world’s population of birds (more than 848 species)
• 4% of mammals on earth
• 11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species)
• 600 indigenous plant families
• 319 species of exotic orchids

Area : 147,181 sq. km

Location : Situated between China in the north and India in the south, east and west

Capital : Kathmandu

Population : 25.8 million

People : Nepal has more than 101 ethnic groups and 92 spoken languages.

Language : Nepali is the national language; travel trade people understand and speak English as well.

Religion : Nepal is a secular state with a predominance of Hindu and Buddhist population.

Currency : Nepali Rupee (approximately US$ 1 equals Rs. 85 as of December 2012)

Political System : Federal Democratic Republic

Climate : Nepal has four major seasons

Winter: December-February

Spring: March-May

Summer: June-August

Autumn: September-November.

Monsoons are from June till mid-September. Nepal can be visited the whole year round.

Access To Nepal

BY AIR:

Nepal Airlines is the national flag carrier of Nepal with flights to/from Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Osaka. Other international airlines operating from/ to Kathmandu are Air Arabia (Sharjah), Air China (Lhasa, Chengdu), Biman Bangladesh (Dhaka), China Southern Airlines (Guanzhou), Cosmic Air (Delhi, Varanasi), Dragon Air (Hong Kong), Druk Air (Delhi, Paro), Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi), GMG Airlines (Dhaka), Gulf Air (Bahrain, Muscat), Indian Airlines (Delhi, Kolkotta, Varanasi), Jet Airways (Delhi), Jet Lite (Delhi), Korean Air (Seoul), Pakistan International Airlines (Karachi), Qatar Airways (Doha), Silk Air (Singapore), Thai Airways (Bangkok).

BY LAND:

All visitors coming to Nepal by land must enter only through one of these entry points

Kakarbhitta
Birgunj
Belhiya, Bhairahawa
Nepalgunj
Dhangadi and
Mahendranagar in the Nepal-India border and
Kodari in the Nepal-China border.

The overland tourists entering the country with their vehicles must possess an international carnet or complete customs formalities.

ENTRY PROCEDURES

Tourist Visa

  • Visa Facility Duration Fee
  • Multiple entry 15 days US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
  • Multiple entry 30 days US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
  • Multiple entry 90 days US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

Gratis (Free) Visa

  • Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.
  • Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal.

(For further information, please, contact Department of Immigration, Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmandu,
INDIAN NATIONALS:

Indian nationals do not require visa. However, Indians traveling to Nepal by air have to show upon arrival at entry point either a passport or a voter’s identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.

Temporary identity card with photograph issued by Nepal-based Indian diplomatic missions for identification of Indian nationals will also be considered in case of exceptions. Children under 10 years need not show any identification.

For students between 10-18 years age, school/ college photo identity card is valid.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign exchange dealers. The receipts from such transaction are to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange money at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival also. Indian currency Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1,000/- notes are not allowed to be brought into Nepal, will not be exchanged and will not be accepted for transaction of any kind.

CUSTOMS FORMALITIES

All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs on arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free entry. A tourist may bring in dutiable goods, such as tobacco and liquors, within the prescribed quantity free of duty.

Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunition are strictly prohibited (Tel: 4470110/ 4472266). Visitors can export souvenirs to their respective countries. The export of antiques, however, requires special permission from the Department of Archaeology, National Archive Building, Ram Shah Path, Kathmandu.

FACILITIES

Nepal has every category of accommodation facility, ranging from international standard star hotels and resorts to budget lodges. To ensure safety and quality service, it is advisable to use the services of Government registered hotels, lodges, travel agencies; licensed tour guides and hire only authorized trekking guides or porters.

WORLD HERITAGE SITES

There are four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. Two are in cultural category and two are in natural category. World Cultural Heritage Sites of Nepal are: Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, and seven monuments of Kathmandu valley within a radius of 20 km (together counted as one Heritage Site). The World Natural Heritage Sites are Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Parks. Kathmandu valley World Heritage Site comprises of three historical palaces – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares; two Buddhist stupas – Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath; and two Hindu temples – Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. Nepal offers incomparable scope to connoisseurs of art and culture to see and study different aspects of fine arts in its paintings, sculpture, wood carving and architecture.

  • Nepal’s Unique Treasures

    Mt. Everest – Highest Point on Earth

    Kumari – The Living Goddess

    Lumbini- Birth Place of Lord Buddha

    Hinduism- Nepal’s religion and culture are dominated by Hinduism and it’s oldest religion of the world.

  • POPULAR DESTINATIONS

    Kathmandu is popular for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical monuments and cultural splendour.

    Pokhara is famous for its close-up mountain views, pristine nature, sparkling lakes, limestone caves, deep gorges and waterfalls.

    On a clear day, the hill resorts of Dhulikhel (30 km from Kathmandu), Nagarkot (28 km from Kathmandu) and Daman (80 km southwest of Kathmandu) afford magnificent views of Himalayan range. These hill stations are very popular for nature lovers and honeymooners.

  • UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites

    Chitwan National Park (932 sq. km)

    Sagarmatha National Park (1,148 sq. km)

  • Other National Parks

    Bardiya National Park (968 sq. km)

    Khaptad National Park (225 sq. km)

    Langtang National Park (1,710 sq. km)

    Makalu-Barun National Park (1,500 sq. km)

    Rara National Park (106 sq. km)

    Shey-Phoksundo National Park (3,555 sq. km)

    Shivapuri National Park (144 sq. km)

  • Wildlife Reserves

    Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (175 sq. km)
    Parsa Wildlife Reserve (499 sq. km)
    Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (305 sq. km)

  • Conservation Areas

    Annapurna Conservation Area (7,629 sq. km)

    Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (2,035 sq. km)

    Manaslu Conservation Area (1,663 sq. km)

  • Hunting Reserve

    Dhorpatan (1,325 sq. km)