Nepal
The obvious highlight to any trip here are of course the highest
mountains on the planet including the awesome Everest. There are
some remarkable historical sights such as the ancient cities of
Bhaktapur and Patan and the capital Kathmandu has many important
museums and temples Swayambhunath, being one of the most sacred
sights in the valley. Along the southern border with India there
are many wildlife reserves such as Royal Chitwan where you get a
chance to see tigers, leopards and other native animals and bird
life.
Treks can last from half a day to 30, depending on your fitness
and experience, however it is easy to arrange your own permits,
guide and porters. The effort is rewarded with incredible views
and an insight into how the majority of the population live in the
surrounding hills and mountains. Trekking and mountaineering are
of course the main activities but you can combine this with white
water rafting and mountain biking.
Dal bhat - rice with lentil soup is the most common meal on the
menu especially when your trekking but you'll also find tasty breads
such as chapati, roti or tibetan. Surprisingly the country has a
thriving beer industry so you can reward yourself with a bottle
at the end of a hard day's trek even at some of the remotest of
teahouses.
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Where to dance the night away
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Nepal is not really the place to go if you want to party all night,
even Kathmandu is usually all quiet by 10pm, but due to the recent
increase in tourists, especially young backpackers there are now
a few bars which open later. If you go trekking evenings can be
spent with guides, porters and fellow trekkers which can be great
fun.
Whatever time of year you visit you are sure to see some kind of
festival but the two major ones are held in October / November.
Diwali - the festival of lights pays homage to Laxmi the goddess
of wealth, hundreds of oil lamps and candles are lit and firecrackers
set off. Dasain is a 10-day festival when everyone travels to visit
their families to rejoice in the triumph of the goddess Durga's
over evil.
Most souvenirs and clothing are incredibly cheap so leave enough
room in your luggage for bringing items home. From paintings to
prayer wheels, from embroidered western style T-shirts to traditional
woven pieces of clothing you'll find lots to choose from in the
markets and shops of Kathmandu or in the smaller towns and villages
throughout the country.
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Language: Nepali
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Currency: Nepal rupee (Rs)
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Visas: Required
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Time: GMT + 5 3/4 hours
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Vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, Yellow Fever is
required if arriving from an infected Country. Meningitis and
Malaria precautions may be required, depending on area visited
and time of year, consult your Doctor for further details.
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UK Tourist Office: No tourist office in the UK but you may
be able to get some information from the Embassy at 12 Kensington
Palace Gardens, London W8. Tel: 0171 229 1594
Call us on 0870 1999 038 for further details
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