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Travel TipsRevisiting the basics of travel to Nepal is in place even for an experienced traveler. This is the short of it.Time to travelWhile Nepal is beautiful throughout the year, most visitors prefer October-November and February-April, avoiding the peaks of heat, cold and rainfall. Despite the seasons, one can almost always find a place in Nepal with comfortable weather, whether up on the mountains or down at the plains.LanguagesNepali is the official language of Nepal. However, Hindi is also widely understood, as is English, especially in places that receive more tourists. Nepali is written in Devanagari script, a distinct advantage for Hindi-speakers, making the country easier to navigate.VisasForeigners are issued two-month tourist visas at the borders or the Kathmandu international airport upon arrival for $30 USD. A tourist visa may be extended up to three times, one month and $30 USD at a time, at the department of tourism offices located at Kathmandu and Pokhara. (Online: Immigration Office.) If you apply for a visa at your local embassy, be aware that the validity period of the visa begins from the date it is issued.By 2010, we expect to have arranged for a situation where the Universal Peace Foundation is in a position to issue one-year or longer voluntary worker visas for volunteers seriously interested in participating in the diverse activities of the foundation. MoneyThe Nepali currency is rupee (NRS). Most major currencies can be exchanged in major cities. As of this writing (July 2008), 1 euro is 102 NRS, $1 USD is 67 NRS, and 1 Indian rupee is 1.60 NRS. You’ll often note that imported goods still carry the price tag in Indian currency (IC), and the shopkeeper multiplies the price by 1.6x to give you the actual price. Travelers’ checks are commonly accepted, and most cities have ATMs that take international credit cards.BudgetReserving 200 rupees for accommodation and 100 rupees for food per day is adequate for budget travel in all but the most exploited tourist areas. For a month’s expenses, reserving 9000 rupees (90e / $135) for food and accommodation, 4000 rupees (40e / $60) for travels, and a bit more for charity and small pleasures of life is quite sufficient sans souvenirs. Guided trekking and other organized programs can of course cut a deeper hole in your wallet. Having 350e / $500 is well enough!Routes of EntryNepal is easily accessible both via international flights to Kathmandu as well as over land from India and China. Coming from Varanasi or Delhi, Sonauli- Bhairawa is the most convenient point of crossing. For visitors to Kolkata, Birganj is convenient. Kakarbitta works for those in Darjeeling and Sikkim area, and some also pass through the Mahendrenagar-Banbassa crossing from Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh. Crossing the border at the Tibetan side is possible only for organized groups.The most common way of crossing over land to Nepal is taking a bus from one of the major border cities. Flights from major cities in India to Kathmandu are often available in the $100 range, a convenience for visitors to India. We expect to have an online booking system with economical options for the most common international flight routes available in the course of 2009. FoodRice, lentils and vegetables (dal bhaat) is the most common food in Nepal. Often the best value for your money, you can fill your belly for as little as 50 rupees. Tourist locations offer a variety of international dishes, often much pricier than the food you’d get at a local place.Even if the food is generally clean and hygienic, one should avoid stale foods and unclean dining places. The water quality in cities is often poor, drinking water is best bought bottled (25 liter containers are available), or otherwise having it filtered. While vegetarian food is available, it is not as common as for example travelers to India might expect. ShoppingNepal is full of great bargains for a cultural traveler. While there is a vast array of shops available, prices and the quality of products can vary a great deal. Handicraft, natural fabric clothes, woolen shawls, instruments and diverse traditional and religious items including a wide selection of Buddhist statues and tanka-art are among the popular buys of Nepal.HealthPharmacies are widely available in Kathmandu and other major cities, offering a wide range of allopathic, homeopathic, ayurvedic and Tibetan medicines. Every small village will have a doctor somewhere, often an English-speaking one. Patan Hospital in Lagankhel is the most reputed among the several good hospitals of Nepal.Cholera and typhoid are commonly contracted, but also effectively treated. A year-around risk for malaria exists in some rural areas, however not above 1200 meters. In receptions where the doctor is also the pharmacist, it is good to ensure what each medicine is for – the need for profit can influence the extent of the prescription! CultureNepal is rich both in its Hindu and Buddhist heritages. Blended with the diverse local traditions, the depth of the culture and its social conventions can be overwhelming at times. While people are usually quite tolerant, it is advisable to be conservative in one’s behavior when dealing with elder or religious persons.Washing your hands after meals, not offering food you have tasted to others, removing your shoes while entering shrines, seeking permission before photography at shrines, not stepping over people or touching them with your feet, not pointing at them with fingers, and wearing sufficiently covering clothes are some of the common orthodox social conventions. ResourcesThe internet is jam-packed with good information on Nepal. Check out for example:
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