Tourism in Nepal (Travellers Guide)

Neighbour countries of nepal

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The neighbour countries of Nepal are India and China.As Nepal is landlocked country,it is sorrounded by India in South,west and East whereas China lies in the Northen territory of Nepal.

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Embassy in Nepals

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CANADIAN EMBASSY Address: Lazimpat, Kathmandu
Email: cco@ktmdu.mos.com.np
Telephone: 4415389, 4415861
Fax: 00977-1-4410422
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 900 hrs-1700 hrs

DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DFID) NEPAL
Telephone: 5542980/5542981
Fax: 00977-1-5542979
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 900 hrs-1700 hrs

EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH
Address: Chancery: PO Box 789, Chakrapath, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4372843 Fax: 00977-1-4373265
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Thursday 0900-1315 hrs, 1400-1700 hrs Friday: 0900- 1200 hrs, 1400-1700 hrs
Telex: 2420 Dot NP

EMBASSY OF INDIA
Address: Chancery, Lainchaur,Kathmandu
Email: indemb@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4410900, 4414990
Fax: 00977-1-4413132
Others: Working hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs- 1300 hrs, 1330 hrs-1730 hrs

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA
Address: Chancery, Suraj Niwas,
Post Box 879, Bansbari, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4371678
Fax: 00977-1-4371533
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Thursday: 0830 hrs---1315 hrs, 1330 hrs-1700 hrs Friday: 0830 hrs-1315 hrs

EMBASSY OF CHINA
Address: Chancery: PO Box: 6327, Baluwatar, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4411740,4411958
Fax: 00977-1-414045
Others: Economic & Commercial Counselor's Office: PO Box: 4234, Naxal, Kathmandu
Tel: 4 434472,4 434972,
Fax: 4434792
Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs-1200 hrs, 1500 hrs-1700 hrs

EMBASSY OF DENMARK
Address: Chancery: Lalita Niwas Road, Baluwatar
PO Box 6332, Kathmandu
Email: danemb@wlink.com.np
Telephone: 4413010, 4413020
Fax: 00977-1-4411409
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Thursday: 0900 hrs-1700 hrs Friday: 0900 hrs-1400 hrs Consular Hours: Monday to Friday: 1000 hrs-1200 hrs

EMBASSY OF EGYPT
Address: Chancery: Pulchowk, Lalitpur,
PO Box: 792, Kathmandu
Telephone: 5524812, 5520083
Fax: 00977-1-5522975
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs-1500 hrs Consular Section: 1200 hrs-1500 hrs
Telex: 2225 BUSTAN NP

EMBASSY OF FINLAND
Address: Chancery: Lazimpat
PO Box 2126, Kathmandu
Email: finembka@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4416636, 4417221
Fax: 00977-1-4416703
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0830 hrs- 1615 hrs

EMBASSY OF FRANCE
Address: Chancery: Lazimpat, Kathmandu
Email: ambafr@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4413332, 4413839
Fax: 00977-1-4419968

EMBASSY OF GERMANY
Address: Chancery: Gyaneshwor,
PO Box 226, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4412786
Fax: 00977-1-4416899
Telex: 2213 aa kath np

EMBASSY OF ISRAEL
Address: Chancery: Bishramalaya House, Lazimpat, Kathmandu
Email: israelem@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4411811, 4413419
Fax: 00977-1-4413920
Others: Working hours: Monday to Thursday: 0815 hrs-1545 hrs Friday: 0815 hrs-1345 hrs

EMBASSY OF JAPAN
Address: Chancery: PO Box 264, Panipokhari, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4426680
Fax: 00977-1-4414101
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs- 1300 hrs, 1430 hrs- 1700 hrs Visa Section: Tuesday to Friday: 0930 hrs-1130 hrs

EMBASSY OF KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
Address: Chancery: Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, Nepal
Telephone: 5521855, 5535871
Fax: 00977-1-5525394
Others: Working hours: Monday to Friday: 0900-1300 hrs, 1400-1800 hrs

EMBASSY OF KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
Address: Chancery: PO Box 1058, Himshail, Red Cross Marg Tahachal Kathmandu.
Email: koreaemb@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4270172, 4270417
Fax: 00977-1-4272041
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs-1200 hrs, 1400 hrs-1700 hrs

EMBASSY OF MYANMAR
Address: Chancery: Chakupat, Patan Gate, Lalitpur
Telephone: 5521788, 5524788
Fax: 00977-1-5523402
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0930 hrs- 1300 hrs, 1400 hrs-1630 hrs

EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN
Address: Chancery: Pushpanjali, Narayan Gopal Chowk, Ring Road, Maharajgunj,
PO Box 202, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4374024
Fax: 00977-1-4374012
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs- 1730 hrs

EMBASSY OF RUSSIA
Address: Chancery: PO Box 123, Baluwatar, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4412155, 4411063
Fax: 00977-1-4416571

EMBASSY OF SRI LANKA
Address: Chancery: PO Box 8802, Baluwatar, Kathmandu
Email: embassy@srilanka.wlink.com.np
Telephone: 4419289, 4413623
Fax: 00977-1-4435428
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0900 hrs-1700 hrs

EMBASSY OF THAILAND
Address: Chancery: PO Box 106, Lainchaur, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4371410, 4371411
Fax: 00977-1-4371408, 37
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0830-1230 hrs, 1330-1630 hrs Consular Section: 0930 hrs- 1230 hrs

EMBASSY OF UNITED KINGDOM
Address: Chancery: PO Box 106, Lainchaur, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4410583, 4411281
Fax: 00977-1-4411789, 41
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Thursday: 0815 hrs-1230 hrs, 1330 hrs-1700 hrs Friday: 0815 hrs-1230 hrs, 1330 hrs-1515 hrs

EMBASSY OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Address: Chancery: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
Telephone: 4411179, 4413890
Fax: 00977-1-4419963
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 0800 hrs-1700 hrs

EUROPEAN UNION
Address: Chancery: Baluwatar, Kathmandu
Email: eudelnep@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4423569, 4429445
Fax: 00977-1-4423541
Others: Working Hours: Monday to Friday: 900 hrs-1700 hrs

SAARC SECRETARIAT
Address: Chancery: SAARC Secretariat Tridevi Marg, Kathmandu
Email: saarc@mos.com.np
Telephone: 4221785, 4226350
Fax: 00977-1-4227033
Others: Working hours Monday to Friday:0900 hrs-1700 hrs

visas for Nepal

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Getting Nepal Tourist VisasA Visa is necessary to enter Nepal and can be obtained for the following duration from any Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate or at the entry points in Nepal.
The rules below have been updated as of September 2001.
Single entry tourist visas can be obtained by paying US $30 for 60 days.
If you wish to leave and re-enter the country, you'll need to pay additional fees. US $25 for Single Re-entry, US $40 for Double Re-entry and US $60 for Multiple Re-entry.
If you leave and wish to Re-enter Nepal as a tourist within 150 day of the same visa year, you may pay US $50 for 30 days.
Visitors may extend their tourist visa by paying US $50 for 30 days.
Trekking permits are not required for Everest, Annapurna and Langtang areas.
Business visas with multiple entry facilities are available at a rate of US $100 for one year and US $250 for five years. Ministry of Industry recommendation is required.
Getting Nepal Non-Tourist Visas
Marriage Visas
For those married to a Nepali citizen and wanting to stay in Nepal for as long as you like and without getting a Nepali passport and giving up your country of birth passport (which is not always a good idea!), a non-tourist marriage visa is the best way to go.
Changing from a tourist visa to a non-tourist visa can sometimes be a lengthy process and a lot of waiting around before they get to your file!
You need to visit the Department of Immigration office next to the tourist visa office in Bhrikuti Mandap, phone no.4223681/ 4222453 and collect a form for Non-Tourist visas. It's open the same hours as the tourist visa office. The processing time will take about 7 days as they asses your information. You can get issued a visa for as long as you like, 2, 4, 6 months, as long as you pay the US$10/month (about Rs750) for single entry. For a single re-entry you pay an extra US$25.
You require the following documentsThe application form photocopied 6 times (so you have 7 forms). Sign the forms after you have photocopied them!
7 passport photos one for each form.
Photocopies of your own and your partners passports, including a copy of your current tourist visa.
Photocopy of your partners Nepali citizenship card.
Photocopy of your marriage certificate.
If you need to renew your non-tourist visa you only require 2 forms, 2 passport photos and a photocopy of your passport with last issued visa.
Remember to take all originals with you at time of application and when you go in to collect your visa form ask what documents you need, the Nepali government changes the rules regularly.
Residential Visa
This visa is for those people who want to permanently live in Nepal.
For the first year a fee of US$200 needs to be paid, then each year it's renewed a fee of US$100. It's a multiply entry visa so you can come in and out of Nepal as you like.
Obtaining a Transit Visa for NepalA transit visa can be obtained from Airport Immigration for a period of 48 hrs. on the presentation of airline ticket.
Fee for Transit Visa: US$ 5.00

How to apply visas in Nepal

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To get a Nepalese Visa for tourism purpose is very easy and invites an absolute minimum of red-tapeism. Tourists of at least 50 different countries that are affiliated to the United Nations have the 'Visa on arrival' facility. The rest will have to procure the advance Visa from the Nepalese Embassy in their respective countries. Residents of many countries in Asia don't even require Visa. In spite of all these, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued the following Visa guidelines for the tourists: -

The foreign tourist visiting Nepal shall be granted the tourist visa.
The tourist visa shall be granted for a period in maximum of five months in a visa year.
A tourist who has departed before the expiry of the period specified in the visa issued in a visa year shall not be allowed to use the visa by adding the remaining period to another visa year.
If any foreigner who has entered into Nepal towards the end of a visa year desires to spend even the period during which he may stay in Nepal with the tourist visa of the other visa year, he may use such facility. Provided, however, that the computation of the fees for such period shall be made on the basis of the total period of his stay.
An application for the tourist visa has to be submitted in a particular format that can be obtained from the embassy or downloaded from the site http://www.tourism.gov.np

National Anthem of Nepal

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National Anthem of Nepal
सयौं थुँगा फूलका हामी, एउटै माला नेपाली
सार्वभौम भई फैलिएका, मेची-महाकाली।
प्रकृतिका कोटी-कोटी सम्पदाको आंचल
वीरहरूका रगतले, स्वतन्त्र र अटल।

ज्ञानभूमि, शान्तिभूमि तराई, पहाड, हिमाल
अखण्ड यो प्यारो हाम्रो मातृभूमि नेपाल।

बहुल जाति, भाषा, धर्म, संस्कृति छन् विशाल
अग्रगामी राष्ट्र हाम्रो, जय जय नेपाल।
Transliteration

Sayaű thűgā phūlkā hāmī, euṭai mālā nepālī

Sārvabhaum bhai phailiekā, Mechi-Mahākālī

Prakṛtikā koṭī-koṭī sampadāko ā̃chal,

Vīrharūkā ragata le, swatantra ra aṭal

Gyānabhūmi, śhāntibhūmi Tarāī, pahād, himāl

Akhaṇḍa yo pyāro hāmro mātṛibhūmi Nepāl

Bahul jāti, bhāṣhā, dharma, sãnskṛti chan biśhāl

Agragāmī rāṣhṭra hāmro, jaya jaya Nepāl

Translation

We are hundreds of flowers, the one garland - Nepali

Sovereign, spread out from Mechi to Mahakali.

Amassing nature's millions of resources

By the blood of heroes, independent and immovable.

Land of knowledge, land of peace, Terai, hills, mountains

Indivisible this beloved, our motherland Nepal.

The diverse races, languages, faiths, and cultures are so extensive

Our progressive nation, long live Nepal

Lyrics	Byakul Maila
Music	Ambar Gurung
Adopted	2007

facts about nepal

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Nepali Flag

Capital: Kathmandu
Language: Nepali (official) & 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects. Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is related to the Indian language, Hindi, and is spoken by about 90 percent of the population in either native or second language fluency. Many Nepalese in government and business also speak English.
Time Zone: 5 hrs 45 min ahead of GMT
Currency: 1 Nepalese Rupee (NR) divided into 100 paise Exchange Rate: 74.5 NR = 1 US Dollar

International Calling Code: 977 + city codes (Kathmandu 1, Pokhara 61)

National Calendar: The Nepali year begins in mid-April and is divided into 12 months: Baisakh, Jestha, Asadh, Shrawan, Bhadra, Aswin, Kartik, Marga, Poush, Phalgun, Chaitra. Saturday is the official weekly holiday.
Unification Day: 1768 (by Prithvi Narayan Shah - First King)
National Anthem:"Nepali are like the garalnd with many flowers....."
National Motto: "The Motherland Is Worth More than the Kingdom of Heaven."
National Bird: Danphe
National Flower: the spectacular rhododendron 'gras' in Nepali
Land:
Area Total: 140,800 km2, Area Land: 136,800 km2
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 42%
Geography: landlocked; strategic location between India and Chinese-occupied Tibet; extremely diverse terrain ranging from fertile plains and broad valleys to containing eight of the world's ten highest peaks.
Climate: Nepal has a climate that ranges from subtropical summers with mild winters in the southern lowlands to an alpine climate with cool summers as well as severe winters in the mountains. Average annual precipitation decreases from 1,778 mm (70 inches) in the east to 899 mm (35 inches) in the west.
People:
Ethnic Groups: Among the earliest inhabitants were the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley and aboriginal Tharus in the southern Terai region. The Indo-Nepalese migrated from India and are ancestors of the Brahman and Chetri caste groups, which account for nearly 80% of the population. The Tibeto-Nepalese account for the remainder and trace their origins to central Asia and Tibet, including the Gurungs, Magars and Tamang in the west, Rais and Limbus in the east, and Sherpas and Bhotias in the north.
Religion: 90% Hindu (official state religion) 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% Other (Christian, indigenous & animistic practices) While Nepal is the only Hindu country in the world, Hinduism has synthesized with Buddhism in Nepal. As a result, Buddhist and Hindu shrines and festivals are respected and celebrated by all.
Population: 23,200,000 (2001 census)

Environment

Nepal's environmental challenges are largely a consequence of its dependence on fuel derived from wood, and the expansion of agricultural lands through non-sustainable development methods. This includes removing trees without measures for replanting, which results in widespread deforestation and soil erosion. Water pollution and contaminated water also presents human health risks.

Major natural hazards in Nepal include severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, as well as famine resulting from the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons. Nepal is also an earthquake prone area due to the Himalayas.

Facts about Pokhara

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Population	About 170,000 thousand. It is believed that Pokhara was the city of Mallas, the rulers of Nepal about 250 years ago. The Newar community of Kathmandu Valley migrated to Pokhara, built houses like those of Mallas, and started developing settlements which lead to the development of this city. Today, Pokhara is developed by tourism, import and export business of both domestic as well as foreign products to various towns and villages in Kaski and other districts of Nepal
Land Area	47.5 square miles (about 123 sq kilometers), About half of the area is the Sub-Metropolitan City area.
Location	Longitude : 83 58' 30"E to 80 02' 30" E Latitude : 28 10' N to 28 16' N
Altitude	2900 feet (about 884 meter)
Distance	124 miles (200 kilometers) from the Capital, Kathmandu 114 miles (about 184 kilometers) from the Indian border located about 2.5 miles from Bhairahawa (Also called as Belhia)
Weather	Pokhara receives very good amount of Rainfall every year. Rainy months include May to September, where July is the most heavy rain fall season receiving upto 33 inches (about 845 mm or millimeter) rainfall. Pokhara has a mild weather all year around, however during December to February, temperature can drop to freezing point. Pokhara gets more rain than any other city of Nepal. Best time to visit this city is October and April, but if you have an umbrella in your hand, then cross that out, please!
Official Holidays	All Major National Holidays and Each Friday Half Day (Evening Shift) and Saturday Full Day.
What does Pokhara mean for Nepal?	It is a main center for the import and distribution of the domestic and imported foreign goods for various districts that are linked to Pokhara. Pokhara is the main entry point for goods going to the Kaski district of Nepal. Pokhara's population is growing more than ever, as the city has become the immediate choice for those who are leaving Kathmandu because of pollution or congestion factors, and it is also the number one choice for Nepalese living abroad for buying lands or houses in Nepal. Population of vehicles in Pokhara is also increasing. Pokhara will eventually develop the nearby villages and towns both by tourism industry as well as by local business, which will benefit all

Pokhara:paradise in earth

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About Pokhara

Pokhara is situated at about 827 meter from sea level, and is located 124 miles (about 200 km) west of Kathmandu and can be reached by plane in 35 minutes or in 5 hours by bus. Pokhara is the next destination after Kathmandu for many adventure and pleasure trips in and around Pokhara. Pokhara is often called the enchanting Himalayan valley with a heart of major actions and adventures.

Surrounded by beautiful snow-caped mountains, with a magnificent lake of crystal-clear pure Himalayan water, all-year round pleasing weather, and friendly Pokhralis will greet you with a smile and leave you with the most unforgettable moments in your life. So pack up your bag, load your camera, and get ready for Pokhara experience!

Places to Visit

The Fewa (or Phewa) Lake 1.5 kilometer long, second largest lake in Nepal, offers an excellent view of the mountains and their reflections on the lake. Many tours and trekking operators and hotels are located on the lakeside. One can easily find a place to sit back, relax and enjoy great meal while enjoying scenery here. You will also enjoy boating on the lake. Most hotels and guest houses have traditional designs and layouts which match with the surrounding views. The photo on the right is of Rara Lake, another popular lake located in Pokhara.

Davis Fall, you sure will remember this snap in Pokhara!!

How to get to Pokhara?

Mountain flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is the best option. View Himalayas including the Annapurna range which lies right next to flight path. So sit back, turn your head to the right, and enjoy the flight. Be careful though, this will blow your mind away, don't hurt your neck, do not push the passenger on the right out through the window!!

Riding a public bus or a taxi to Pokhara is also a good option. Public buses run daily from Kathmandu. It takes about 5 to 6 hours by bus. Buses are crowded, but thats' how Nepalese travel all life long, so what the heck, go ahead experience it, for you, it's only for a day! Remember, public buses do not have A/C, Heaters and have frequent stops on the way. Bus will stop at Mugling for Lunch or Dinner. Have some Nepail food there, if you can digest spicy foods, or you can pick restaurants which specifically cater to foreigners. Taxis are expensive, probably will cost you as much as the Air-fare. When you ride by land, you get to see more places, you get to enjoy the scenery that you would not be able to see from the airoplane.

Mountains in Nepal

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Nepal contains part of the Himalaya, the highest mountain range in the world. Eight of the fourteen eight-thousanders are located in the country, either in whole or shared across a border with Tibet or India.

Mountain/Peak	metres	feet	notes
Mount Everest	8,848	29,028	Highest mountain in the world (measuring from sea level to peak)
Kangchenjunga	8,586	28,169	#3 in the world
Lhotse	8,516	27,939	#4 in the world
Makalu	8,462	27,765	#5 in the world
Cho Oyu	8,201	26,906	#6 in the world
Dhaulagiri	8,167	26,794	#7 in the world
Manaslu	8,156	26,758	#8 in the world
Annapurna	8,091	26,545	#10 in the world
Gyachung Kang	7,952	26,089
Ngadi Chuli	7,871	25,823
Nuptse	7,861	25,790
Chamlang	7,319	24,152
Langtang Lirung	7,227	23,711
Baruntse	7,220	23,688
Chamar	7,187	23,326
Melungtse	7,181	23,555
Pumori	7,161	23,494
Gauri Sankar	7,134	23,405
Api	7,132	23,399
Tilicho Peak	7,134	23,405
Salasungo	7,110	23,326
Machapuchare	6,993	22,943	Sacred mountain, unclimbed
Kang Guru	6,981	22,904	2005 avalanche kills 18
Dorje Lakpa	6,966	22,854
Kanjiroba	6,883	22,580
Ama Dablam	6,812	22,349	"Mother and her necklace"
Cho Polu	6,735	22,096
Num Ri	6,677	21,906
Thamserku	6,623	21,729
Khumbutse	6,640	21,725	First mountain west of Everest
Taboche	6,501	21,329
Mera Peak	6,476	21,246	Trekking peak
Hiunchuli	6,441	21,132	Difficult trekking peak
Cholatse	6,440	21,128
Kusum Kangguru	6,367	20,888	Difficult trekking peak
Kongde Ri	6,187	20,298	Trekking peak
Imja Tse	6,160	20,210	Popular trekking peak
Pokalde	5,745	18,848
Kala Pattar	5,545	18,192	Popular hiking peak below Pumori
Nirekha	6,069	19 911	New trekking peak
Baden-Powell Peak	5,825	19,111	Formerly known as Urkema Peak

Highways of Nepal

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Highways in Nepal
Kathmandu and major cities of Nepal are inter-connected with Highways and roads. They are also well connected with India through plains of the Terai. However Nepal does not have well developed network of Highways of western standard. There are only a few highways with better engineering and several connecting roads to main highways. Condition of Highways vary from well maintained two lane Highways to potholed and hilly roads. Visitors are permitted to drive their own cars but the vehicles must possess an international carnet. There are regular bus services to Kathmandu and major cities from all the border points. The interior parts of the country are also linked with a number of highways and roads. Any way the network of roads and highways have linked several tourist destinations, cities, Industrial and commercial centers in Nepal. The main highways are from East to West and Link roads from North to south. List of highways are:

Mahendra Highway: It is longest highway in Nepal. It links Eastern border with India to Western border with India. The East Pont is at Kakarbhitta. It is also an Exit point to Northeast India including Darjeeling and Sikkim. The West Point is at Mahendra Nagar. It is linked with Northwest India including Kumau, Nainital of Uttarnchal. The major destinations along and around the Highways are Kakarbhitta, Bhadrapur, Dharan, Janakpur, Narayanghat, Butwal, Shiddarthnagar, Nepalganj, Bardiya, Mahendranagar, et

Prithvi Highway: It is a busiest Highway in Nepal. It connects Kathmandu with Pokhara and then to Baglung. Baglung is a start point of Trekking to Mustang and also put in point of white water river rafting at river Kaligandaki. Major destination along and around the highway are Mankamana, Gorakha, Damauli, Bandipur, Besisahar, etc.
Shiddarth Highway: It is an important Highway which connects Sunauli at Shiddarthnagar to Pokhara via Tansen. It crosses Mahendra Highway at Butwal.
Tribhuvan Highway: It is an oldest Highway linking Capital with India at Birganj. Other major destination in the Highways are Daman and Hetauda.
Arniko Highway: It is the only Highway going to Nepal Tibet border at Kodari from Kathmandu. It has several connecting roads including Lamosangu to Jiri. Jiri is considered a gateway to Everest region.

Important North South roads
Kathmandu Dhunche: This road links with Langtang region. It starts from Kathmandu to Nuwakot. It has several hilly connecting roads. These include Dhunche, Rasuwa at Nepal Tibet border.
Bhadrapur to Ilam: The road has major destinations including Ilam, Pashupati Nagar, Panchthar (Kanchenjunga region), etc.
Biratnagar to Hile: It connects Mahendra Highway at Itahari and links Dharan and Dhankuta. Hile and Basantpur are gate way of Kanchenjunga and Barun Makalu conservation.
Narayanghat to Gorakha: It is an important link road connecting Mahendra Highway at Narayanghat and Prithvi Highway at Mugling
Nepalganj Surkhet: This road starts Nepalganj at Nepal India border to Surkhet valley which gateway to Jumla and other remote hilly area. It crosses Mahendra Highway at Kohalpur.
Dhangadhi Dadeldhura: This road starts at Nepal India Border at Dhangadi to Dadeldhura crossing Mahendra Highway at Atariya.

Airports in Nepal

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There are many airports in Nepal .Among them Tribhuvan International Airport is only international airport in Nepal located in Kathmandu .Lists of Airport in Nepal are:

Town	Airport name	ICAO	IATA	Usage	Customs	Runway	IFR	length
Baglung	Baglung	VNBL	BGL	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2000 ft
Baitadi	Baitadi	VNBT	BIT	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1600 ft
Bajhang	Bajhang	VNBG	BJH	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2100 ft
Bajura	Bajura	VNBR	BJU	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1800 ft
Bhairahawa	Bhairahawa	VNBW	BWA	Civ.	No	Paved	Yes	5000 ft
Bharatpur	Bharatpur	VNBP	BHR	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3800 ft
Bhojpur	Bhojpur	VNBJ	BHP	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1700 ft
Biratnagar	Biratnagar	VNVT	BIR	Civ.	No	Paved	Yes	5000 ft
Chandragadhi	Chandragadhi	VNCG		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	5000 ft
Dang	Dang	VNDG	DNP	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2700 ft
Darchula	Darchula	VNDL	DAP	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1900 ft
Dhangadhi	Dhangadhi	VNDH	DHI	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	5000 ft
Dolpa	Dolpa	VNDP	DOP	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1500 ft
Doti	Doti	VNDT		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1400 ft
Gorkha	Gorkha	VNGK	GKH	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3600 ft
Janakpur	Janakpur	VNJP	JKR	Civ.	No	Paved	No	3300 ft
Jomsom	Jomsom	VNJS	JMO	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2000 ft
Jumla	Jumla	VNJL	JUM	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2200 ft
Kathmandu	Tribhuvan Intl	VNKT	KTM	Civ.	Yes	Paved	Yes	10000 ft
Lamidada	Lamidada	VNLD	LDN	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1700 ft
Lukla	Lukla	VNLK	LUA	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1600 ft
Mahendranagar	Mahendranagar	VNMN		Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	2900 ft
Manang	Manang	VNMA	NGX	Priv.	No	Unpaved	No	2000 ft
Meghauli	Meghauli	VNMG	MEY	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3500 ft
Nepalgunj	Nepalgunj	VNNG	KEP	Civ.	No	Paved	Yes	5000 ft
Pokhara	Pokhara	VNPK	PKR	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	4700 ft
Rajbiraj	Rajbiraj	VNRB	RJB	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	4200 ft
Ramechhap	Ramechhap	VNRC	RHP	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1700 ft
Rukumkot	Rukumkot	VNRK	RUK	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1500 ft
Rumjatar	Rumjatar	VNRT	RUM	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1800 ft
Sanfebagar	Sanfebagar	VNSR	FEB	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1400 ft
Simara	Simara	VNSI	SIF	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	4000 ft
Simikot	Simikot	VNST	IMK	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	1800 ft
Surkhet	Surkhet	VNSK	SKH	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	3400 ft
Tumlingtar	Tumlingtar	VNTR	TMI	Civ.	No	Unpaved	No	4000 ft

Lakes and ponds in nepal

2010-11-03T03:41:00.000-07:00

Lakes and Ponds of Nepal

There are number of lakes and tanks of glaciers and tectonic origin in Nepal . Mountain lakes like Rara, Shey-Phoksundo, Tilicho, Damodar Kunda etc., are majestic in extent and beauty.

Tilicho is situated in the highest altitude in the world. Rara in Mugu district of western Nepal is the country largest lake. Shey-Phoksundo lake is the deepest lake in Nepal. Phewa at Pokhara is another equally famous lake. Rupa tal and Begnas tal (Pokhara), Gaduwal tal (Chitwan), Satyavati Tal (Palpa), Khaptad tal (Doti), Barhakunetal (Dang), Surma Sarobar (Bajhang) and Tilicho tal (Manang) are some of Nepals other well-known lakes.

Damodar Kunda, Saraswoti Kunda and Gosainkunda and other lakes in the Langtang region are of religious significance. However, most of the ponds in Nepal also has its own religious significance too.

Lakes & Ponds in Nepal

Name of Lake or Pond	District
Jhirradaha	Arghakhanchi
Kamal Pokhari	Arghakhanchi
Khandaha	Arghakhanchi
Shalyangdaha	Arghakhanchi
Gauchaur	Arghakhanchi
Rudra Tal	Baglung
Jalpa Khagar Tal	Baglung
Chhubhal Lake	Bajhang
Shurma Sarowar	Bajhang
Nilkhati	Bajhang
Kund	Bajhang
Khapar	Bajhang
Dhaha	Bajhang
Hila Daha	Bajhang
Raksya Tal	Bajhang
Rani Talau	Banke
Siddha Pokhari	Bhaktapur
Bhaju Pokhari	Bhaktapur
Kamal Pokhari	Bhaktapur
Salpa Pokhari	Bhojpur
Kala Pokhari	Bhojpur
Hansa Pokhari	Bhojpur
Panchakanya Pokhari	Bhojpur
Bhimle Tal	Chitwan
Devi Tal	Chitwan
Khageri Tal	Chitwan
Munda Tal	Chitwan
Mujura Tal	Chitwan
Beeshazar Tal	Chitwan
Nanda Bhauju Tal	Chitwan
Tamar Tal	Chitwan
Tami Tal	Chitwan
Bahrakunedaha	Dang
Charange	Dang
Gangasagar	Dhanusha
Dhanussagar	Dhanusha
Dugthawatee	Dhanusha
Aragaja	Dhanusha
Kalimchokmai Kunda	Dolakha
Panch pokhari	Dolakha
Shey Phoksundo	Dolpa
Jogdulla	Dolpa
Sundaaha	Dolpa
Gamakunidaha	Dolpa
Rigma Tal	Dolpa
Putha Tal	Dolpa
Pungma Tal	Dolpa
Khaptad Daha	Doti
Kaluchhuma Tal	Gorkha
Naradkunda Tal	Gorkha
Sano Dudh Pokhari	Gorkha
Thulo Dudh Pokhari	Gorkha
Tatopani	Gorkha
Bhulbhulekhar	Gorkha
Jadya Daha	Humla
Selim	Humla
Lade	Humla
Nilapani	Humla
Mai Pokhari	Illam
Dhauli Daha	Jumla
Giri Daha	Jumla
Dhudh Kunda	Jumla
Shyarpudaha	Kailali
Kamal Pokhari	Kailali
Ghoda Ghodi Lake	Kailali
Dhaulidaha	Kalikot
Joginidaha	Kalikot
Bistadaha	Kalikot
Garidaga	Kalikot
Dahathekidaha	Kalikot
Shankhudaha	Kalikot
Rani Tal	Kanchanpur
Banjha Tal	Kapilbastu
Sagara Tal	Kapilbastu
Juwa Tal	Kapilbastu
Sisawa Tal	Kapilbastu
Niglee Tal	Kapilbastu
Bijuwal Tal	Kapilbastu
Jagadishpur Resevour	Kapilbastu
Fewa Tal	Kaski
Rupa Tal	Kaski
Begnas Tal	Kaski
Dipang Tal	Kaski
Maidee Tal	Kaski
Khalte Tal	Kaski
Taudaha	Kathmandu
Indradaha	Kathmandu
Nag Pokhari	Kathmandu
Rani Pokhari	Kathmandu
Balaju Water Garden	Kathmandu
Dew Pokhari	Kavrepalanchok
Narayan Pokhari	Kavrepalanchok
Mahadev Pokhari	Kavrepalanchok
Tarokhaseko Pokhari	Kavrepalanchok

Name of Lake or Pond	District
Baraha Pokhari	Khotang
Guwaldaha	Lalitpur
Katuwaldaha	Lalitpur
Godawari Kunda	Lalitpur
Nagdaha	Lalitpur
Bojho Pokhari	Lalitpur
Saraswatidaha	Lalitpur
Baraha Pokhari	Lamjung
Dudha pokhari	Lamjung
Barunsar	Mahottari
Bhargawasar	Mahottari
Mahodari	Mahottari
Indra Sarobar	Makawanpur
Dharma Pokhari	Manang
Dimla Pokhari	Manang
Him Pokhari	Manang
Pongkar	Manang
Tilicho Tal	Manang
Raradaha	Mugu
Rin Mokshayadaha	Mugu
Chhayanathdaha	Mugu
Teligha	Mustang
Damodar Kund	Mustang
Tatopani Kund	Mustang
Suryakunda	Nuwakot
Jore Pokhari	Pachthar
Suke Pokhari	Pachthar
Namdu Pokhari	Pachthar
Ratamate Pokhari	Pachthar
Baraha Pokhari	Pachthar
Suke Tal	Palpa
Satyawati Tal	Palpa
Mallaj Tal	Parbat
Khairi Barah Tal	Parbat
Pyasbarahi tal	Parbat
Banjari Tal	Parsa
Bhairab Kunda	Rasuwa
Dudh Kunda	Rasuwa
Ganesh Kunda	Rasuwa
Gosain Kunda	Rasuwa
Jageswar Kunda	Rasuwa
Kalo - seto Kunda	Rasuwa
Saraswati Kunda	Rasuwa
Surya Kunda	Rasuwa
Sapru Pokhari	Rukum
Kamal Pokhari	Rukum
Kubhinde Daha	Salyan
Ghoda Daha	Saptari
Kalyan	Saptari
Kamala	Saptari
Mahuli	Saptari
Manik	Saptari
Ghudda	Sarlahi
Madimain	Sarlahi
Sabha Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Gosa Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Rata Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Banduke Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Kala Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Jumlyaha Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Panch Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Kapdane Pokhari	Shankhuwasabha
Bhairawa Kunda	Sindhupalchok
Surya Kunda	Sindhupalchok
Panch Pokhari	Sindhupalchok
Syabru Pokhari	Sindhupalchok
Dudhkunda	Solukhumbhu
Dudh Pokhari	Solukhumbhu
Goke Pokhari	Solukhumbhu
Imja Lake	Solukhumbhu
Gokyo Lake	Solukhumbhu
Jalim Pokhari	Solukhumbhu
Namche Pokhari	Solukhumbhu
Salpa Pokhari	Solukhumbhu
Simrakhanidaha	Surkhet
Jajura Tal	Surkhet
Baraha Tal	Surkhet
Bulbule Tal	Surkhet
Manas Tal	Taplejung
Nurak Pokhari	Taplejung
Siwa Pokhari	Taplejung
Kali Pokhari	Taplejung
Rale Pokhari	Taplejung
Iwa Pokhari	Taplejung
Tin Pokhari	Taplejung
Pancha Pokhari	Taplejung
Jalijale Pokhari	Taplejung
Chilling Pokhari	Terhathum
Tiche Pokhari	Terhathum
Siddamarga Pokhari	Terhathum
Chitre Pokhari	Terhathum
Lam Pokhari	Terhathum
Rautahako	Udayapur
Suke Pokhari	Udayapur

National parks of Nepal

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Area	Management type	Size in hectares	Latitude	Longitude
Annapurna	Conservation Area	76,000	-9.900642	34.677949
Dhorpatan	Hunting Reserve	132,500	-8.833059	33.520938
Kanchanjunga	Conservation Area	2,035	-9.949457	39.097389
Khaptad	National Park	25,500	-8.852819	36.656869
Koshi Tappu	Wildlife Reserve	17,500	-7.601586	31.316269
Langtang	National Park	171,000	-8.909937	33.44514
Makalu-Barun	Conservation Area	83,000	-8.809262	36.72513
Parsa	Wildlife Reserve	49,900	-9.406841	34.849115
Rara	National Park	10,600	-8.998307	33.704313
Royal Bardia	National Park	96,800	-8.984911	33.604345
Royal Chitwan	National Park	93,200	-8.995136	33.740575
Royal Chitwan NP	National Park - Buffer zone	0	-10.401086	40.145586
Royal Sukla Phanta	Wildlife Reserve	15,500	-9.432644	34.832035
Sagarmatha	National Park	114,800	-10.293973	39.280061
Shey-Phoksundo	National Park	355,500	-10.367721	40.263139
Shivapuri	Wildlife Reserve	11,200	-9.445412	34.828826
Agoo-Damortis National Seashore Park	National Park	10,947	-6.216813	38.880815

Sagarmatha national park

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Geographical Location

Sagarmatha National Park (27°45'-28°07'N, 86°28'-87°07'E) is a World Heritage Site which lies in the Solu-Khumbu District of the north-eastern region of Nepal. The park encompasses the upper catchment of the Dudh Kosi River system, which is fan-shaped and forms a distinct geographical unit enclosed on all sides by high mountain ranges. The northern boundary is defined by the main divide of the Great Himalayan Range, which follows the international border with the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. In the south, the boundary extends almost as far as Monjo on the Dudh Kosi. The 63 settlements within the park are technically excluded as enclaves.

Date and History of Establishment

Created a national park on 19 July 1976 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979.

This is a dramatic area of high, geologically young mountains and glaciers. The deeply-incised valleys cut through sedimentary rocks and underlying granites to drain southwards into the Dudh Kosi and its tributaries, which form part of the Ganges River system. The upper catchments of these rivers are fed by glaciers at the head of four main valleys, Chhukhung, Khumbu, Gokyo and Nangpa La. Lakes occur in the upper reaches, notably in the Gokyo Valley, where a number are impounded by the lateral moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier (at 20 kilometers (km) the longest glacier in the park). There are seven peaks over 7,000 m. The mountains have a granite core flanked by metamorphosed sediments and owe their dominating height to two consecutive phases of upthrust. The main uplift occurred during human history, some 500,000-800,000 years ago. Evidence indicates that the upliftis still continuing at a slower rate, but natural erosion processes counteract this to an unknown degree.

Climate

On average, 80% of the annual precipitation occurs in the monsoon season from June to September and the remainder of the year is fairly dry. Precipitation is low as the park is in the rain shadow of the Karyalung-Kangtega range to the south. Annual precipitation is 984 millimeters (mm) in Namche Bazar, 733 mm in Khumjung and 1043mm in Tengboche. The climate of Namche Bazar can be classified as humid and tropical, based on the seasonal occurrence of rains, range in annual precipitation, number of rainy days per year and the length of the dry season. The mean temperature of the coldest month, January, is -0.4°C. Some 56% of years experience a tropical regime (summer rain), 35% are bixeric (two dry periods) and 1% are trixeric (three dry periods) or irregular.

Vegetation

Most of the park (69%) comprises barren land above 5,000 m, 28% is grazing land and nearly 3% is forested. Six of the 11 vegetation zones described by Dobremez for the Nepal Himalaya are represented in the park: lower subalpine, above 3,000 m, with forests of blue pine Pinus wallichiana, fir Abies spectabilis and fir-juniper Juniperus recurva; upper subalpine, above 3,600 m, with birch-rhododendron forest (Betula utilis, Rhododendron campanulatum and R. campylocarpum); lower alpine, above the timber-line at 3,800-4,000 m, with scrub (Juniperus spp., Rhododendron anthopogon and R. lepidotum); upper alpine, above 4,500 m, with grassland and dwarf shrubs; and sub-nival zone with cushion plants from 5,500 m to 6,000 m. Oak Quercus semecarpifolia used to be the dominant species in the upper montane zone but former stands of this species and Abies spectabilis have been colonised by Pinus sp. Rhododendron arboreum, R. triflorum, and yew Taxus baccata wallichiana are associated with pine at lower altitudes and shrubs include Pieris formosa, Cotoneaster microphyllus and R. lepidotum. Vine Parthenocissus himalayana and clematis Clematis montana are also common and other low altitude trees include maple Acer campbellii and whitebeam Sorbus cuspidata. Abies spectabilis occupies medium to good sites above 3,000 m and forms stands with Rhododendron campanulatum or Betula utilis. Towards the tree line, R. campanulatum is generally dominant. Juniperus indica occurs above 4,000 m, where conditions are drier, along with dwarf rhododendrons and cotoneasters, shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa var. rigida, willow Salix sikkimensis and Cassiope fastigiata. In association with the shrub complex are a variety of herbs such as Gentiana prolata, G. stellata, edelweiss Leontopodium stracheyi, Codonopsis thalictrifolia, Thalictrum chelidonii, lilies Lilium nepalense and Notholirion macrophyllum, Fritillaria cirrhosa and primroses, Primula denticulata, P. atrodentata, P. wollastonii and P. sikkimensis. The shrub layer diminishes as conditions become cooler and above 5,000 m Rhododendron nivale is the sole representative of its genus. Other dwarf shrubs in the dry valley uplands include buckthorn Hippophae tibetana, horsetail Ephedra gerardiana, juniper J. indica and cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa. Associated herbs are gentians, Gentiana ornata and G. algida var. przewalskii, edelweiss Leontopodium jacotianum and Himalayan blue poppy Meconopsis horridula. Above this and up to the permanent snow line at about 5,750 m, plant life is restricted to lichens, mosses, dwarf grasses and sedges and alpines, such as Arenaria polytrichoides and Tanacetum gossypinum.

Fauna

Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus. (Source: Stephen Sumithran)

In common with the rest of the Nepal Himalaya, the park has a comparatively low number (28) of mammalian species, apparently due to the geologically recent origin of the Himalaya and other evolutionary factors. The low density of mammal populations is almost certainly the result of human activities. Larger mammals include common langur Presbytis entellus, jackal Canis aureus, a small number of grey wolf Canis lupus (V), Himalayan black bear Selenarctos thibetanus (V), lesser panda Ailurus fulgens (V), yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula, Himalayan weasel Mustela sibirica, masked palm civet Paguma larvata, snow leopard Panthera uncia (E), Himalayan musk deer Moschus chrysogaster, Indian muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, mainland serow Capricornis sumatraensis (I), Himalayan tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus (K) and goral Nemorhaedus goral. Sambar Cervus unicolor has also been recorded. The tahr population is estimated to total at least 300 individuals. Both goral and serow appear to be uncommon. Results from recent surveys suggest that populations of both tahr and musk deer have increased substantially since the park was gazetted and could lead to a recovery in the snow leopard population, probable signs of which were seen in the Gokyo Valley. Smaller mammals include short-tailed mole Talpa micrura, Tibetan water shrew Nectogale elegans, Himalayan water shrew Chimarrogale himalayica, bobak marmot Marmota bobak, Royle's pika Ochotona roylei, woolly hare Lepus oiostolus, rat Rattus sp. and house mouse Mus musculus.
Additionally, there are 152 species of birds, 36 of which are breeding species for which Nepal may hold internationally significant populations. The park is important for a number of species breeding at high altitudes, such as blood pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, robin accentor Prunella rubeculoides, white-throated redstart Phoenicurus schisticeps, grandala Grandala coelicolor and several rosefinches. The park's small lakes, especially those at Gokyo, are used as staging points for migrants and at least 19 water bird species have been recorded.
A total of six amphibians and seven reptiles occur or probably occur in the park. Documentation of the invertebrate fauna is limited to common species of butterfly. Of the 30 species recorded, orange and silver mountain hopper Carterocephalus avanti has not been recorded elsewhere in Nepal, and the common red apollo Parnassius epaphus is rare

Cultural Heritage

The Sherpas are of great cultural interest, having originated from Salmo Gang in the eastern Tibetan province of Kham, some 2,000 km from their present homeland. They probably left their original home in the late 1400s or early 1500s, to escape political and military pressures, and later crossed the Nangpa La into Nepal in the early 1530s. They separated into two groups, some settling in Khumbu and others proceeding to Solu. The two clans (Minyagpa and Thimmi) remaining in Khumbu are divided into 12 subclans. The introduction of the potato to Khumbu in about 1850 revolutionized the economic life of the Sherpas. Until then, the high-altitude Sherpas had lived mainly on barley. Both the population and the growth of the monasteries took a dramatic upturn soon after that time. Another significant influence on Sherpa life has been mountaineering expeditions, which have been a feature of life in the Khumbu since the area was first opened to westerners in 1950. The Sherpas belong to the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, which was founded by the revered Guru Rimpoche who was legendarily born of a lotus in the middle of a lake. It is to him that the ever-present prayers and mani wall inscriptions are addressed: "Om mani padme hum" - "hail to the jewel of the lotus." There are several monasteries in the park, the most important being Tengpoche. However, on 19 January 1989 the main building and courtyard of Tengpoche was burned to the ground. A Reconstruction Committee has been formed and it is planned to commence reconstruction work in 1990.

Hotels
Many hotels are established here for the services of the tourists and visitors

Best time to visit Chitwan NP and cost taken

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Best time to visit Chitwan is November to February. Spring, March to June is very hot in Chitwan due to pre-monsoonal heat. Although rainy season may not be the best time for most it is definitively time when jungle comes alive and all vegetation is lush and vibrant, though rain, mud and swollen streams and rivers make for difficult outings into the jungle. Fall colors and clarity of air bring out a special ambiance in Chitwan.

Cost:This greatly depends on your choice of accommodation and activities. See Jungle Safari For its cost. A Maximum Budget around US$500 for a week stay should be good enough for Chitwan for Jungle tour, food and accommodation. Add a few more for trekking. But just don't go there with our words, yet! Please get hold of our Nepali Travel Companies get some quotes then compare them.

There are packages starting from 1 night / 2 days to up to 6 nights and 7 days. The 1 night / 2 days will be a fast ride; wake up, get up, go to the jungle, have a lunch, see some culture program then head back to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Chitwan was not developed over-night, it took years to bring what this park is today. We recommend at least 6 nights / 7 days travel program for Chitwan which includes some of the activities we listed above. Give Chitwan the time and it sure will amaze you.

facilities in Chitwan National Park

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Climate of Chitwan National Park

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The park has a range of climatic seasons each offering unique experience. October through February with average temperature of 25C offers an enjoyable climate. From March to June temperatures can reach as high as 43C. The hot humid days give way to the monsoon season that typically lasts from late June until September when rivers become flooded and most of the roads are virtually impassable. Mean annual rainfall of the park has been recorded 2150mm.

In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which offer a better viewing of wildlife to visitors. Also, between September and November, and February and April, migratory birds join the residential birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunities. While the monsoon rains bring lush vegetation, most trees flower in late winter. The palash tree, known as the "flame of the forest", and silk cotton tree have spectacular crimson flowers that can be seen from a distance

features of chitwan National park

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Interest

Though one can visit neighboring Tharu villages in Chitwan, the major interesting focus of Chitwan is still the exploration of the Chitwan National Park.

Flora and Fauna
The flora and fauna of Chitwan makes it a great place for nature lovers. Chitwan has over 50 different species of mammals, 400 different species of birds, and 65 different types of butterflies in its hardwood Sal forests, riverine vegetation, and "elephant grass" savannah. More than 70 different species of grass grow here.

The most famous wildlife in Chitwan is perhaps the single-horned Asian rhinoceros. A few decades ago, their number had fallen to less than 100, but recent count puts them at 400. These animals have thick armor like hide that is hard to penetrate even with a bullet.

A fully grown animal can be as tall as 180cm. In spite of army protection for these animals and severe punishment for harming them, rhino poaching is still a problem as every organ of the animal carries some (probably superstitious) value. The horn fetches about US$10,000 per kilo and is believed to be an aphrodisiac. The dung can be a laxative, the urine cures tuberculosis and asthma. The blood can help cure menstrual problems. The hide keeps away evil spirits. And so on.

Chitwan has about 150 Bengal tigers left of the one time 3000 or so. Though poaching is a serious threat, the real threat for these majestic animals is the gradual loss of its habitat. A male tiger requires almost 60km space, and a female one requires a third of it. Chitwan is simply not big enough to handle many tigers. It is rare for one to actually see a tiger, though looking for one is an interesting part of the trip.

Other wild mammals one may see are leopards, various types of deer, monkeys, sloth bear, and antelope.

Exploring Chitwan
There are several ways to do this; and if you stay there two to three days, as most tourists do, you can try them all out.

An elephant ride is the most popular way of exploring the Chitwan jungle. For about US$15, the government elephants take you around the jungle for an hour and half. There are two trips a day, one in the morning at eight and another at four in the afternoon. During peak seasons, there are long lines for tickets. Your lodge will normally get you one for a dollar or two extra. If you are staying at the luxury lodges inside the Park itself, they have their own elephants too. Note that, other than the elephants owned by these lodges, only the government runs elephant services inside the Park. Privately owned elephant rides (which go for cheaper rates) take you around the outside of the Park, where the chances of game spotting are far less.

Jeep safaris are also very popular. For US$15, they take you around for four hours. A great way to spot wildlife in areas further inside the Park which are less trodden.

Canoeing along the Rapti river is another option. With some luck you will get to see Gharial crocodiles, marsh muggers, and variety of fish. With a lot of luck you may be able to see a Gangetic dolphin. The trip is a paradise for birdwatchers with possible spotting of kingfishers, ospreys, and egrets. Chitwan is known to have 400 species of birds. For less than US$3-US$5, you can canoe downriver for about an hour, and take a three hour guided walk back.

Jungle walks through the jungle is a good way to spot game. Monkeys, birds and deer are assured; rhinos are less common (but not uncommon). A guide is recommended, and you can hire one for $3 per day (or pro-rated for shorter time). They can help you stay safe as well as point out interesting things.

For those who want a more extended experience, and are there for more than a couple of days, overnight jungle hike deeper into the jungle can be rewarding. Most do a two night hike. Designated camping spots inside the park cost US$5 per night. Guides cost US$6-US$8 for the trip. You may have to rent your camping gear in Kathmandu, because there aren't really any such facility in Sauraha itself.

Transportation

Air
There are regular daily flights to Bharatpur, about 25km from the Park area, and to Meghauli (US$75). The flights take about half an hour. One can easily get rides from the airports to the Park area. If you plan to stay in one of the expensive resorts inside the Park, your flights to and from Kathmandu will probably be included in your package.

Land
Public buses go to Tadi from Kathmandu and Pokhara for about US$2 (twice the cost for more comfortable "tourist buses"). The ride takes about seven hours from Kathmandu, six from Pokhara. From Tadi, you will either have to cover the six kilometer distance to Sauraha on an ox cart (takes two hours to cover the distance!) or in a rented jeep for US$0.50. You can also rent a bike for about US$1 a day, or walk. On the way you need to cross a river which can be waded across during offseason, but during seasons with high water, local fishermen will ferry you across in their dugout boats for a couple of cents.

There are some who take a car from Kathmandu for the trip for an outrageous roundtrip price of US$100 (plus or minus US$50, depending upon your bargaining skills!). These are generally arranged by the lodges themselves. You can ask around in Thamel in Kathmandu. Another option is to rent a taxi in Kathmandu or Pokhara for about US$75 or less for a two day roundtrip travel. Split among two or three travellers, this can be reasonable.

River
Package organizers in Thamel will also arrange rafting trips to Chitwan. The trip normally starts at Mugling, 110km out of Kathmandu on the Kathmandu-Pokhara-Chitwan road. The trip itself is an easy river cruise that takes two or three days. The price ranges from US$30-US$75 per day. Before you pay up, shop around, bargain, and ask a lot of questions about the details of the arrangement.

Accommodation

The choices are of a wide range but, as usual, they fall in two general categories: luxury and budget. The luxury hotels in Chitwan are inside the Park itself. They cost about US$150-US$250 per person per night, and provide you quite an exquisite experience. Swimming pool, cocktail bars, safari ambience, organized game spotting trips, orientation by trained naturalists, and all. You will love it if you have the money. These luxury hotels generally package the whole tour for their price, including transportation to and from Kathmandu, meals, park entry fees, daily activities, etc. You need to make your reservations well in advance; if you are going to be there between November and February, the busiest season, a 6-12 month advance booking will be necessary.

The budget hotels in Chitwan are all located just outside the northern border of Chitwan National Park, in a village called Sauraha. Sauraha, in the past few years, is quickly turning into another Thamel or Lakeside. They range between US$3-US$15 per night; reservations are not necessary. Competition is so intense among the dozens of hotels that bargaining is very common. If you take the public bus to Tadi, touts who serve as agents to one of these budget hotels will pounce on you, don't give in. Check the hotel out yourself, and play one tout against another to get the best rate.

Some of the more upscale budget hotels in Sauraha also organize three day packaged tours of the area for about US$75-US$150 from Kathmandu. The price includes all basic expenses including transportation, accomodation, meals, tours of the area, etc. You can obviously do the same for much less, but if you want to go on these tours, the main tourist areas in Kathmandu and Pokahara have booking agents. Shop around, and bargain.

Chitwan national park

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Chitwan national Park (‘Chitwan’ means "in the heart of the jungle’) covers 932 sq. km. in the flat lowland region of southern Nepal. It is one of the most important sub-tropical parks on the Indian subcontinent with populations of the endangered Royal Bengal tiger, Greater One-horned rhinoceros, Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica), Wild Asian elephant, Gaur, Golden Monitor lizard, Gharial crocodile and many more.

The Chitwan region has had a long history of conservation. For many years it was the Royal hunting grounds for the Kings and dignitaries of Nepal and therefore was not hunted by the general public. It did however become a favorite spot for big game safari hunters in the late nineteenth and early to mid-twentieth centuries. This was coupled with a surge in local human populations following the development of anti-malaria medicines in the mid-twentieth century. The long-term effect was a drastic decrease in jungle habitat and animal populations in the Chitwan valley as jungles were converted to farmland and big game were hunted and poached to dangerously low numbers. The falling rhino (less than 200) and tiger (less than 30) populations in the present park region, focused attention on the Chitwan region and in 1963 the southern two-thirds of the park were declared rhino sanctuary. With sanctuary status came the relocation of 22,000 people from the Chitwan valley and a moratorium on hunting. Since 1963 wildlife populations and ecosystems have been rebounding. In 1973 Chitwan became Nepal’s first National Park. The relatively pristine state of the modern park and its unique ecosystems prompted UNESCO to declare the park a World Heritage site in 1984.

Manang

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Manang District, a part of Gandaki Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. The district, with Chame as its district headquarters, covers an area of 2,246 km² and has a population (2001) of 9,587.
The pass of Thorung La at 5415 meters above the sea connects the district to Mustang District by providing a route between the towns of Manang and Muktinath.
The Manang Valley, which lies close to the Nepal-Tibet border, offers tremendous opportunities due to its rich natural flora and fauna. Three tracks start from here. The first, via Thorangla, Muktinath, and Mustang to Lhasa—a journey that takes four days; the second via Naur Khola and Naurgaon, which takes five days to Lhasa; and finally the third via Larkiya bazar, which is the one most commonly used by the people of Central Nepal.
Along with the Marwaris who have migrated from India to Nepal in large numbers, the Manangies are the best known traders of Nepal. They have received special dispensation from the King to trade in South East Asia, and travel abroad with precious stones and metals, musk, herbs and other items. They import ready-made garments, watches and electronic goods. Many of the Manangies spend as much as six months away from home, returning only during the summers. Many of them reside in Kathmandu, where their children study in the English medium schools. The parents' lack of proficiency in the English language is irrelevant as it in no way affects their trading skills.
Since the area was opened to outsiders in the late 1970s, many have switched from the traditional agriculture to hoteleering.
The trail from Manang to Muktinath has been used by the locals for hundreds of years to transport huge herds of sheep and yak in and out of Manang. It is an important route for the people of the region.
The northern parts of Manang Valley are dry, brown and desolate places, very different from the thick forests and brown green valleys of Sikkim and Eastern Nepal.

Pokhara

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Pokhara

Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of 827m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city is known as a center of adventure. The enchanting city with a population of around 95,000 has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panaromic views of Himalayan

peaks. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic. So today the city has not only become the starting point for most popular trekking and rafting destinations but also a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their entrepreneurship.

The climate of Pokhara is slightly warmer than Kathmandu with daytime temperature hovering around 15 degrees Celsius in winter and 35 degrees in summer. The monsoon season which lasts from mid-June to mid-September is very wet; in fact Pokhara records the

highest rainfall in the country. Best time to visit is between October and April.

The activities of foreign visitors to Pokhara focus around two districts known as Damside and Lakeside (or Pardi and Baidam, in Nepali, respectively). These two areas, with their strips of hotels and restaurants, are a few kilometers south-west of the main Pokhara bazaar.

Bhaktapur

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Bhaktapur—locally known by Khwopa—is world renowned for its elegant art, fabulous culture and indigenous lifestyle. For its majestic monuments, colorful festivals and the native Newars best known for their long history of craftsmanship, the ancient city is also variously known as the "City of Culture", the "Living Heritage" and "Nepal’s Cultural Gem". Given such unequaled opulence in ancient art and culture, Bhaktapur is more like an open museum, and the ambiance here is such that it instantly transports visitors back by centuries the moment they step into its territory.
Bhaktapur has its gem in the Durbar Square—a World Heritage site listed by the UNESCO. Strewn with unique palaces, temples and monasteries best admired for their exquisite artworks in wood, metal and stone, the palatial enclave has bewitched pilgrims and travelers for centuries. Yet, they are not all though. Adding to the mesmerizing environs is the holy Himalaya that makes the backdrop of the city. Stretching all along the township, the panoramic Himalaya levitates in the skyline as if to keep vigilance on the city’s enviable beauty and splendor.
Bhaktapur, at 1,401 meters above sea level, spreads over an area of 6.88 square kilometers. It grows from a collection of villages strung along the old trade route between India and Tibet. The capital city of the Greater Malla Kingdom till the 15th century AD, Bhaktapur was founded in the 12th century by King Ananda Malla, but it was only in the early 18th century that this city took its present shape. It was at that time that many of Bhaktapur’s greatest monuments were built by the then Malla rulers.

Lalitpur

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Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city, popularly known as Patan is currently one of the most vibrant cities of the kingdom of Nepal. It is located in about 5 kilometers south-east of Kathmandu. With its urban history dating back to as far as 2300 years, LSMC is one of the three major cities located inside the Kathmandu valley, besides Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
Rich historic past, centuries old living culture of the people, thriving city development are what this historic city today boasts of. Of the fifty-eight municipalities of Nepal, Lalitpur is the third largest city.
Lalitpur, since ancient times has been preserving its unique place and role in the geo-political and economic arena of the country. For many centuries, Lalitpur was a sovereign city-state. In 1768 AD, King Prithivi Narayan Shah assimilated it into the Kingdom of Nepal.
Lalitpur is extremely rich in its arts and architecture and boasts on the largest community of artisans, especially metal and wood workers. In fact, the literary meaning of Lalitpur means the city of fine arts. It nurtures a large number of sacred buildings, temples, pagodas, Stupas and Shikharas, monasteries, math and Chaitya.
The city is renowned the world over for its art and craftsmanship and has produced number of famous artists and master craftsmen, the most famous being Arniko, who spread the legacy of this city far and wide.
In other words, Lalitpur may be termed the artistic capital of the country. In recognition, UNESCO has enlisted the conglomerate of the buildings in Patan Durbar Square as a World Heritage Site, one of the seven Heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley.
Located adjacent to the capital city of Kathmandu, LSMC has today become an integral part of the valley capital region, called Greater Kathmandu, consisting of two major cities Kathmandu, and Lalitpur.
According to tradition, Patan is the oldest city in the Kathmandu Valley. This claim has not been verified but the association of the four main Stupas with Ashok seems plausible. In fact, it seems not unlikely that having had Stupas built in widely separate places in India, and certainly having visited the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini, legend has it that Ashok could also have erected these. The simple form of the mounds is also consistent with an early date of origin, though it remains to be seen whether the present earth covering masks an earlier brick structure.
The history of the Valley, in a proper sense, begins only with the Lichhavi and the inscriptions of Manadeva in the 5th century. The palace of this ruler, the Managriha or House of Mana , referred to in the inscriptions , may, perhaps, be identified with the Mansiggal which was later used by the Malla kings and which may have given its name to the area now called Mangal Bazaar adjoining Darbar Square. Two other palaces mentioned in the inscriptions cannot be identified although the name of one –Kailasakuta-seems to indicate a building with a high tower, supporting the view that even at that early date there were timber structures in the peculiar Nepalese style.
In any case, Patan has from very early times been a principal town, if not the capital city. It was known as Lalita Patana-the beautiful Patan-or Lalitpur. Some idea of its antiquity and of the growth of its religious institutions can be gained from inscriptions. J.C Regmi lists more than a dozen from Buddhist Vaishnavaite, and Shaivaite foundations in Patan of the period 464 –783 A.D. and many more of the period 987-1475.
Apart from the Stupas, it is not easy to determine which one is the oldest structure. The inscriptions of some of them point back to the 14th century or earlier, but even when organizations are old, the buildings, which house them, may have been reconstructed. Certainly the great period dates from the time of the Mallas, particularly the 16th -18th centuries when almost all of the most celebrated palaces and temples in the city were erected as well as many of the older religious buildings reconstructed or refurbished.
Perhaps because of its Ashokans tradition, Patan has remained a great center of Newari Buddhism, as shown by the large number of surviving Bahals, and also for Buddhist arts and crafts. The Lichhavi rulers seem to have been followers of Vishnu or Shiva. Their attitude to Buddhism is not clear, but in Patan, it seems to have held a special place. Neither has it been clear what form the Vihars took in early times nor what relations they had with the monastic communities of early or Himalayan Buddhism. The old courtyard plans remain, even when contained in an urban setting (itself unusual in early Buddhism), but the Sangha which gave rise to the form has long since departed. The modern Bahal is simply a combination of shrine and family residence, the modern Sangha an association of priests and laity descended from and retaining an attachment to its ancestor.
Lalitpur is believed to have been founded in the 3rd century B.C. by the Kirat dynasty and later expanded during Lichhavis period. It possesses a history of further expansion by the Mallas during the medieval period.
There are many legends after its name. The most popular one is the legend of the God Rato Machhindranath, who was brought to the valley from Kamaru Kamachhya, located in Assam, India, by a team of three people representing three kingdoms of the valley. One of them is called Lalit, a farmer who carried God Rato Machhindranath to the valley all the way from Assam, India. The purpose of bringing the God Rato Machhindranath to the valley was to overcome the worst drought in the valley. There was strong belief that the God Rato Machhindranath would make rain in the valley. It was Lalit's effort that the God Rato Machhindranath was settled in Lalitpur. Many believe that the name of the town is kept after his name Lalit and Pur means township in Nepal.
Lalitpur is said to have been founded by King Veer Deva in 299 A. D. but, there is unanimity among scholars that Patan was a well established and developed town since ancient times. Several historical records including many other legends also indicate that Patan is the oldest of three main cities of Kathmandu Valley. According to a very old Kirat chronicle edited by a noted research scholar Daniel Right, Patan was founded by Kirat rulers long before the Lichhavi rulers came into the political scene in Kathmandu Valley. According to Mr. Subba the earliest known capital of Kirat rulers was Thankot. Kathmandu, the present capital was most possibly removed from Thankot to Patan after the Kirati King Yalamber came into power sometimes around second century A. D. It is interesting to note that one of the most used and typical Newar name of Patan is Yala. It is said that King Yalamber named this city after himself and ever since this ancient city was known as Yala.

Kathmandu

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Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ, pronounced: Nepal Bhasa: येँ महानगरपालिका) is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas, which also contains two sister cities namely Patan or Lalitpur, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its southeast (an ancient city of fine arts and crafts) and Bhaktapur, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to its east (city of devotees). It is also acronymed as 'KTM' and named 'tri-city'. Kathmandu valley is only slightly smaller than Singapore in terms of area.
The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal surrounded by four major mountains, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. It is inhabited by 671,846 (2001) people. The Kathmandu valley with its three districts including Kathmandu District accounts for a population density of only 97 per km² whereas Kathmandu metropolitan city has a density of 13,225 per km². It is by far the largest urban agglomerate in Nepal, accounting for 20% of the urban population in an area of 5,067 hectares (12,520 acres) (50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi
Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal but also the headquarters of the Central Region (Madhyamanchal) among the five development regions constituted by the 14 administrative zones of Nepal located at the central part of the country. The Central region has three zones namely, Bagmati, Narayani and Janakpur. Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone.
Kathmandu, as the gateway to Nepal Tourism, is the nerve centre of the country’s economy. With the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal, Kathmandu's economy is tourism centric accounting for 3.8% of the GDP in 1995–96 (had declined since then due to political unrest but has picked up again).
The city’s rich history is nearly 2000 years old, as inferred from an inscription in the valley. Its religious affiliations are dominantly Hindu followed by Buddhism. People of other religious beliefs also live in Kathmandu giving it a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the common language of the city, though many speak the Nepal Bhasa Newari as it is the center of the Newar (meaning: citizens of Nepal) people and culture. English and Hindi are understood by all of the educated population of the city. Besides a significant number of the population speaks any of the foreign languages like : French, German, Chinese, Hebrew, Korean etc. The literacy rate is 98% in the city.
Kathmandu is now the premier cultural and economic hub of Nepal and is considered to have the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal. From the point of view of tourism, economy and cultural heritage, the sister cities of Patan(lalitpur) and Bhaktapur are integral to Kathmandu. Even the cultural heritage recognition under the World Heritage list of the UNESCO has recognized all the monuments in the three urban agglomerates as one unit under the title “Kathmandu Valley-UNESCO World Heritage Site.