NEPAL - 9 Days

The Nepal flag is the only national flag that is not quadrilateral in shape.
The abominable snowman, also known as the yeti, is a legendary apelike creature that is believed to frequent the high valleys of Nepal.
Cows are sacred in the Hindu religion and cannot be killed. Once a cow stops providing milk they are often released and the community is responsible for feeding her. Cows roam all over Nepal, even in the busy city of Kathmandu. Many people have water buffalo for milk, manure, and meat. Since cows are sacred, so is their manure. It is common practice to clean the home with water and cow manure, to clean and bless it at the same time.
Nepali is the chief or official language. There are many ethnic groups in Nepal and they speak hundreds of different languages. Not accents, but languages. Sometimes Nepali people can’t communicate as they speak different languages.
Marijuana plants grow in gardens, on the side of the road, in ditches, on mountainsides, pretty much everywhere in Nepal.
Nepal has the only living goddess in the world, the Kumari. Kumari means virgin in Nepali and is the tradition of worshiping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy in Hindu religious traditions.
About 90% of marriages in Nepal are arranged and the bride and groom will usually not meet or see each other before the wedding day. Although, ‘love’ marriages (choosing your own partner) are becoming slightly more popular.
It is the country of The Many Highest Mountains on Earth possessing 8 peaks of the 10 highest in the world called ‘Eight-thousander’, which is known in this way for having a land elevation higher than 8000 meters Mount Everest the highest known as Sagarmatha in the local language – 8848 m. Kanchenjunga – 8586 m Lhotse – 8516 m Makalu – 8481 m ,Cho Oyu – 8201 m ,Dhaulagiri I – 8167 m ,Manaslu – 8156 m ,Annapurna I – 8091 m
Kali Gandaki canyon with 4,375 meters is the second deepest canyon in the world. This canyon is formed by the Kali Gandaki River located across the Himalayas between the largest summits on the planet, which are Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.
Kathmandu – the capital Of Nepal was once a lake,

Nepal Climate: In northern Nepal summers are cool and winters are severe, while in the south, summers are very hot while winters are mild to cold. Nepal has five seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, and winter.
Summer:
March to mid-June. Temperatures –minimum 13 to maximum 42 degrees. The northern hill area is cool and pleasant. But southern Tarai plains are hot and humid.
Monsoon:
Monsoon prevails from late June to early September. Annual rainfall is 1400 to 1600 mm on average.
Winter:
October to February. Winters are heavy in Nepal. The temperature ranges from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 12 degrees. The northern regions have heavy winters.

Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Nepal is between October and December when the skies are a clear blue and the views spectacular. The weather remains dry until about April, with temperatures varying between regions. January and February can be very cold.
Local Languages: The official language of Nepal is Nepali, formerly called Khas-Kura, then Gorkhali. According to the 2011 national census, the percentage of Nepali-speaking people is about 44.6%. Maithili is the second most spoken language in Nepal at 11.67%. English is spoken in tourist places.
Clothing: Tapālan is a long shirt worn with tight-fitting pants, a waistcoat, and a topi. While the dhoti and lungi are used on a daily basis, the tapālan is a festive outfit worn for weddings, celebrations, and similar occasions. The women’s traditional costume of Nepal is called “Kurta Suruwal”. Some communities also wear traditional Nepali caps.

By air – There are multiple flights from Delhi and other big Indian cities to Nepal on a daily basis, and many of them are direct. Flights are the best means of transport to reach Nepal, especially if you are not from the northern part of the country.
By rail – There is no direct India to Nepal train. However, Gorakhpur and Raxaul being the closest stations on the Nepal route, one can take trains up to there and make the rest of the journey by road. There are trains from Howrah Station near Kolkata to the Raxaul Junction at the border.
By road – India to Nepal distance from Delhi to Kathmandu via roadway is around 21 hours. Coincidentally, this is also one of the better routes to get into Nepal. The most-used India-Nepal border is the one at Sunauli, Uttar Pradesh. This can be reached via Gorakhpur by train from Delhi. Other borders that can be used to get into Nepal are Raxaul which can be reached from Kolkata or Patna. Raxaul and Gorakhpur are the nearest railway stations to Nepal in India.
.

Moving around: Distances aren’t great, but the roads are poor and extremely slow, and public buses are crowded and uncomfortable. Tourist buses are available on the main routes, however, and you can always hire a motorcycle, or charter a taxi, car, or 4WD vehicle.

Permits-
Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal. As per the Nepalese Immigration, Indian Nationals Traveling to Nepal by air must possess any one of the following documents. Passport Election Commission Card. Indian nationals do not require a visa to enter Nepal.

Health Precautions-
Drinking Mineral water is recommended in Nepal. If traveling to high mountain regions breathing issues can be a problem. Keep the necessary medicines handy. It is also advisable to visit a doctor before you embark on your journey. Owing to the zigzagging hilly roads, motion sickness is another challenge. Keep the necessary medication along with you. Keep yourself hydrated. If going trekking keep all the necessary medication with you. Hire a local guide for moving around and for adventure activities.

About Expenses –
Nepal is expensive. The price per day may vary considerably between Rs 2800 to RS 4000 depending on your hotels, vehicles; sightseeing, etc. meal depends entirely on where you eat and what you order. A nice quaint restaurant will cost you between Rs.300 to Rs.500 per person depending on what is ordered. Eating at the smaller eateries in the market will be much cheaper and you will find a number of small eateries run by locals that work out easy on the pocket.

ATM & Credit cards-
ATM services are available in major places and bigger towns. India debit cards work at some places but chargeable. Carry cash for remote places & mountain sightseeing areas.
Credit cards are accepted by very few hotels and tour operators but there will be a 2% service charge.

Mobile & Inetrnet Connectivity –
Fixed broadband, wireless broadband, mobile broadband has the highest market share in the country. Users are using mobile data in the country. 4G is available in all of the seven provinces present in Nepal. You can also use Whats App calls and Skype calls to stay connected with friends and family as soon as you get Internet access during your trip. Even when the connection is very slow, WhatsApp messages will always work. Most of the hotels offer WIFI networks free of cost for their guests. If you try to call India from your phone it will be an International call.

Culture & Festivals –
Mahashivratri , Fagun Pournima or Holi , Bisket Jatra at Bhaktapur , Buddhajayanti , Janai Purnima , Gai jatra , Indra Jatra , teej , Dashain or Dusserah , Tihar , Losar & many other fairs.

Shopping: There are numerous things to buy in Nepal but the following are the most popular amongst tourists- Thangka paintings, Khukuri knife, Pashmina shawls, Tea, Tibetan prayer flags.

Accommodation –
Nepal offers a wide range of accommodations. Right from guesthouses to all ranges of hotels From basic to luxury hotels. Many hotels offer to stay with breakfast & dinner plan packages. There are many 5 star deluxe hotels of many International chains with casinos.