Nepal, at a glance, is beautiful. Small, quaint, yet surprisingly large for a traveller to unearth, its trove of knowledge and serenity shall take one a lifetime to experience.
The thrill of an adventure is always the unknown. But it's good to gather some quick facts and tips about your destination. It shall allow you to truly absorb it, connect with the people better and add value to your trip.
HERE ARE SOME QUICK FACTS AND HELPFUL TIPS
Area: 147,516 km2
Estimated Population: 28 Million (Estimated)
Ethnicities: 103+
Dialects: 93 + spoken languages
National Language: Nepali
Nepali phrases to charm:
Namaste!
Ma (your home country) bata ayeko ( I came from _____ )
Sanchai Hunu Huncha? (Are you well?)
Ramro Cha (It is beautiful)
Dhanyabad (Thank you)
Best time to travel: Specific regions of Nepal can be travelled through out the year while others are best in spring and autumn.
Climatic Zones
Special Climatic Zone: Transhimalayan (Land that falls in the rainshow of high ranges)
The treks that fall in this region are called Transhimalayan trails. Some of these trails can even be traversed during the monsoon season due to low precipitation in the area. However, other parts of Nepal experience rainfall.
Seasons:
As per rainfall:
1.Wet Season (June to September)
2.Dry Season (October to June)
Specific to Nepal:
1.Spring (Mid-March to Mid-May)
2.Summer (Mid-May to Mid-July)
3.Monsoon (Mid-July to Mid September)
4.Autumn (Mid-September to Mid- November)
5.Pre-winter (Mid-November to Mid-January)
6.Winter (Mid-January to Mid-March)
Attractions:
Major Trekking Areas
1. Annapurna Conservation Area
a) Annapurna Round
c) Lower and Upper Mustang Trek
d) Manang Region
e) Lamjung Region
f) Ghandruk Region
2. Rolwaling Valley
3. Everest Region
4. Kanchanjunga Region
6. Manaslu Region
7. Dolpa Region
Major Festivals
1. Dashain
2. Tihar
3. Indra Jatra
4. Rato Matsyendranath Chariot Festival
5. Seto Matsyendranath Chariot Festival
6. Biska Jatra
7. Losar
8. Chhat
9. Janai Purnima
10. Holi
11. Buddha Jayanti
12. Mataya
Major Lakes of Nepal
1. Gosaikunda
2. Rara
4. Tilicho
5. Phewa
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Museums in Kathmandu
1. National Museum: Located in Chauni, Kathmandu
2. Patan Museum: Located in Mangal Bazar, Lalitpur
3. Hanuman Dhoka Museum: Located in Basantapur Durbar Square
4. Bhaktapur Museum: Located in Bhaktapur Durbar Square
5. Narayanhiti Palace Museum: Located in Durbar Marg, Kathmandu
6. Jyapu (Farmer Community) Museum: Located in Chyasal, Lalitpur
Reliable Cellular Providers: NTC, Ncell
In case of emergency:
1144: Tourist Police Hotline Number (They also have a mobile application, Tourist Police Nepal)
100: Local Police
101: Fire
102: Ambulance Service
103: Traffic Control
197: Telephone Inquiry
Also,
Have the number of your embassy on speed dial
What to wear:
Light clothes from April to September
Warm clothes from November to March
Certified specialized clothes while travelling to the Himalayan region
What to carry:
A raincoat, poncho or umbrella from March to July
Windcheater from September to March
Map of the visiting or trekking region
What to avoid:
Street hawkers, local stores, and street food
Be careful about:
Public transportation, pesky tourist guides, shady trekking agencies, shopping online, being extra-overcharged!
Do not forget to:
Have fun!
Best souvenirs from Nepal:
Good times and great memories!
