Government :
Constitutional monarchy
Surface (Km2):
140,800
Population:
27,676,547 inhabitants (population growth rate 2.2%)
Ethnic groups:
Nepalese Bihari 53.2% 18.4% 4.8% Tharu Tamang 4.7% Other 18.9%
Languages:
Nepali (phew.) Bihari, Dialects Tibetans.
Religions:
86.2% Hindu, 7.8% Buddhist, 3.8% Muslim, 2.2% other religions
Capital:
Kathmandu (729,000 inhabitants, 1,203,100 inhabitants in the metropolitan area)
Currency:
Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Time zone :
GMT5: 45’h: +4: 45’h (compared to winter time Italian); +3: 45’h (compared hour Italian legal)
Valid documents:
Passport necessary, with residual validity of at least six months and still higher than the in-country period. You can drive with an international driving license.
VISA:
Required for stays longer than three days (72 hours). You can get the visa at the entrance in the country at the land border and the Kathmandu airport by presenting your passport and two passport photos. Exit from Nepal you have to pay a departure tax at the airport.
Particular prohibitions:
Drive left. For trekking in areas other than the Kathmandu valley, Phokara and in the natural park of Chitwan you must obtain a special permit from the local immigration offices which are located in Kathmandu and Pokhara. At the entrance in the country there you must declare the possession of currency above 2000 US dollars. Declaretion lack is considered a criminal offense. The Nepalese rupees are not exportable.
Credit cards:
All major cards only in large hotels and in large cities (VISA, Mastercard, Diners, American Express). Withdrawals at ATMs not available.
Climate:
tropical monsoon, divided into two seasons: the dry season (October to March) and the wet season or monsoon (June to September). tropical heat in the southern regions (plain of the Terai); subtropical moderate in the central hilly regions (Kathmandu, Pokhara); Alpine in the north zone, higher; sub-arctic (tundra) in high mountain areas. Temperatures range from very hot plains to those extremely cold of the mountains. Katmandu in summer temperatures average about 25 ° C; in winter around 20 ° C. Pokhara has a milder climate, but more and more summer monsoon rainfall. The best time to visit the country is from October to December: the monsoon has just been completed and the hiking trails are viable. A good time is from March to April. The monsoon period is the least appropriate. The righteous months to make a trek to the Everest Base Camp ranging from February to May.
telecommunications:
Electricity:
220V 50Hz. Plugs type C (European 2-pin) and D (Indian 3-pin).
Health:
Necessary vaccinations: none. Vaccine against Yellow Fever required if coming from infected areas. Recommendations: Do not take running water and do not drink milk and locally produced drinks (unless boiled), avoid adding ice, ice cream may be a risk; do not consume raw foods; choose foods with the greatest attention; carry drugs for personal use because of the difficulty in finding the spot. Any malaria prophylaxis for those who travel to the lowlands of the Terai, especially in the summer months.
What to pack:
comfortable clothing, preferably in natural fibers, shoes and sandals, warm clothing for the evening and for the colder seasons; any sleeping bag, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, products against mosquitoes and mosquito curtain, eye drops, rain jacket, flashlight, water bottle, multipurpose boxcutter, drugs for personal use. For a trip that includes a visit of the Katmandu Valley, the Royal Chitwan National Park and a short trek to Everest Base Camp or nell’Annapurna it must be equipped with garments that provide the transition from warm tropical to cold mountain. During the summer monsoon season and for hiking at any time of year it is necessary to have quality waterproof clothing. Both in Katmandu to Pokhara stores are provided for every need.