NEPAL FACTS
- Second Richest country in the water resources
- Recognised national languages: 123 +
- Ethnic groups: 12+
- Religion: 6+
When to go to Nepal
It rains in Nepal from June to September, washes the roads, and hides the mountain scenery. The best months for mountain holidays in Nepal are late September to early December. The major Hindu festivals Dashain and Tihar fall during the time of October November. Another season is Spring, March to early June.Requirements for Entry:
- Passport must have six months or more validity remaining at the time of entry
- Nepali authorities generally allow entrance on an emergency passport printed overseas
- Visa appropriate for purpose of travel
Regular Tourist Visas:
- If you will arrive by air, either apply for a visa at a Nepalese embassy or consulate before traveling or purchase a tourist visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
- If you are arriving by land, you are responsible both for obtaining a visa and going through the necessary immigration formalities.
- Tourists can purchase a tourist visa at the following land border points of entry:
- Kakarvitta, Jhapa District – Eastern Nepal
- Birgunj, Parsa District – Central Nepal
- Kodari, Sindhupalchowk District – Northern Border– for group tourists only
- Belahia, Bhairahawa – Rupandehi District, Western Nepal
- Jamunaha, Nepalgunj -Banke District – Mid-Western Nepal
- Mohana, Dhangadhi -Kailali District – Far Western Nepal
- Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar -Kanchanpur District- Far Western Nepal
Visa and cost for the tourists
- 15 days multiple-entry tourist visa (the US $30)
- 30 days multiple-entry tourist visa (the US $50)
- 90 days multiple-entry tourist visa (the US $125)
Visa Extend:
- The Department of Immigration headquarters in the Kalikasthan neighborhood of Kathmandu is the only office that can extend both tourist and non-tourist visas.
- The Immigration Office in Pokhara can only extend tourist visas. Visitors should apply to extend their visas before the expiration date.
- Long overstays beyond the expiration date can result in heavy fines, arrest, and detention pending formal deportation proceedings, followed by a ban on re-entry.
Requirements for Exit:
- You must have a valid visa before you will be allowed to depart Nepal. If your visa has expired, you must extend your visa before you will be allowed to depart.
- The Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport is not authorized to extend visas.
- Some U.S. citizens who have tried to extend their visas at the airport have been sent to the Immigration Office in Kathmandu to pay the extension fee and, as a result, have missed their flights.
- If you renew or replace your passport at the Embassy in Kathmandu, you will need to ask the Department of Immigration to transfer your Nepali visa by pasting a new visa into the new passport.
Major Festivals
Immerse yourself in Nepali culture by attending one of the country’s festivals:- January: Maghey Sankranti
- February : Loshar, Maha Shivaratri
- March: Maha Shivaratri – Pashupatinath (sometime may fall in March)
- April: Bisket Jatra – Bhaktapur, Nepali New Year – Nationwide
- May: Bisket Jatra – Bhaktapur (sometime may fall in May) Rato Machhendranath – Patan, Tiji Festival – Upper Mustang Only
- August/ September: Indra Jatra – Kathmandu
- September/ October: Dashain – Nationwide
- October/ November: Dipawali/ Tihar – Nationwide , Mani Rimdu – Tengboche
