Visitors Guide Time GMT plus five hours and forty-five minutes Geography Nepal is a landlocked country in the Himalayan mountain range. It is 800km long and 200km wide and is bordered by India to the east, south and west, and the People's Republic of China to the north. In the longitudinal 200km, the terrain changes from glaciers along the Tibetan border to the flat jungles of the Terai, barely 150 metres above the sea level. Climate The narrow lowland belt known as the terai has a warm climate with monsoon rains in summer. The high mountains are permanently snow-covered above 4,800 metres, while the middle mountain area has a temperate climate. Average high temperatures range between 17 and 30 degrees Celsius (C), with low temperatures between 1 and 19 degrees C. May to September is the monsoon season; the wettest month is July with 328mm of rainfall. Dress codes If travelling outside Katmandu, it is respectful to wear the local dress - baggy trousers and a long-sleeved tunic. Entry requirements Passports Required by all except nationals of India. Visa Visas are required by all except nationals of India. Tourist visas for certain areas are issued on arrival for visits of seven days. Applications for other visas should be made well in advance. For business visas you need to telephone or write directly to The Director General, Department of Immigration, Tridepi Marg, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal (tel: 00-97-71-412-337/418573). A letter of authorisation from the relevant Nepali ministry is required, as is a photocopy of the back and front pages of the visitor's passport and a copy of the visitor's last Nepal visa if less than five years old. In exchange, seven application forms will be sent to the visitor by the ministry, which should be returned with seven photos. If accepted, the visa will be stamped on the visitor's passport at Kathmandu airport. There are one- or five-year multiple entry visas available. Currency advice/regulations There are no limits on the amount of foreign currency which may be imported or exported, although visitors must declare their currency upon arrival. Only nationals of Nepal and India may import Indian currency. Only exchange foreign currencies through banks or authorised foreign exchange dealers. Always retain foreign exchange receipts as they may be needed to change excess Nepalese rupees. There may be limits on the amount which can be re-exchanged (usually only 10 per cent of the total amount may be converted). Exchange rates are advertised in English dailies such as The Rising Post. Customs Personal effects are duty-free. Importation of certain goods may be prohibited, such as beef, animal fat, arms, explosives and wireless radio transmitters; cameras and reasonable quantities of film, for personal use. Except for trade with India, which is possible only through authorised dealers, all imports and exports are under licence. The exporting of items over 100 years old, which are considered valuable for cultural or religious reasons, is prohibited. Items such as sacred paintings or statues must be certified by the Department of Archaeology. Health (for visitors) Mandatory precautions Vaccination certificate for yellow fever if travelling from an infected area. Advisable precautions Vaccinations for diphtheria, tuberculosis, hepatitis 'A' and 'B', Japanese 'B' encephalitis, meningitis, polio, tetanus, TB, typhoid. Anti-malarial precautions advisable. Rabies is a risk. It was reported that around 270 people had died from encephalitis between July and September 2000. Hotels There is a 225-room, conference-class Hyatt Regency hotel in Kathmandu. The main tourist season is Oct-Nov. It is advisable to book well in advance. Credit cards Credit cards such as American Express, Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in major hotels, restaurants and shops. Public holidays Fixed dates 1 Jan (Unity Day), 29 Jan (Martyrs' Day), 18 Feb (Democracy Day), 8 Mar (Women's Day), 10 Mar (Holi Festival), 10 Apr (Teachers' Day), 14 Apr (New Year's Day), 24 Oct (UN Day), 7 Nov (Queen Aishworya's Birthday), 9 Nov (Constitution Day), 29 Dec (King Birendra's Birthday). Variable dates Shivaratri (Feb-Mar), New Year's Day (Apr), Lord Buddha's Birthday (May), Festival of Rain God (May-Jun), Durga Puja (one week Oct), Festival of Lights (one week Nov). Working hours Banking Sun-Thu: 1000-1430. Fri: 1000-1200. Some open on Saturday in Kathmandu. Business Sun-Thu: 1000-1600/1700; Fri: 1000-1500. Government Sun-Thu: 1000-1600/1700; Fri: 1000-1500. Shops Sun-Fri: 1000-1900. Working hours Weights and measures Metric system (local units also in use). Social customs/useful tips The traditional form of greeting is called namaste and is performed by placing the palms together at chest height and bowing slightly. Note that some people, particularly Nepalese women, may prefer not to shake hands with people of the opposite sex. Always use your right hand to shake hands or to pass anything on. Remove shoes before entering homes and temples. Getting there Air National airline: Royal Nepal Airlines. Main airport: Kathmandu Tribhuwan International (KTM), 6km from Kathmandu. Airport tax: Domestic departures NRs100; international departures NRs500 for residents travelling to SAARC countries and NRs600 for others travelling to SAARC countries; NRs900 for residents travelling to non-SAARC countries and NRs1,000 for others travelling to non-SAARC countries); not applicable to infants only. (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). Surface There are 22 access routes from India, with rail service between Raxaul and Birganj, linking to Kathmandu coach services; rail access also via Jogbani. It is permitted to enter Nepal by road from China (Tibet). Nepal can also be approached from Kakarbhita in the east. Birgunj is the most popular entry point for visitors. Getting about National transport Air: The only way to reach many parts of the country is by air. There are 44 airports. Royal Nepal Airlines operate domestic services to most major towns, including daily flights to Bharatpur, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, Meghauli, Pokhara and Simra, with some curtailment of services likely during monsoon season to certain mountain regions. There are also several private domestic airlines which serve major destinations. City transport Taxis: Metered taxis can be hailed in Kathmandu. Private taxis available through hotels may cost more. Car hire Driving is on the left. International driving permit required, or a temporary licence is available from local authorities on presentation of national licence. Chauffeur-driven car hire is available. top