Nepal
Your travel source with a personal
touch!
Return to Asia
Return to
the World
Directory
Return Home
|
Nepal |
|
|
|
Passports and Visas
Currency Information and Money
Matters
Electricity
Language
Travel Insurance
Travel Warning
The following information was taken from the CIA World Fact
Book
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary
premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990
established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional
monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, gained traction and threatened
to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the
Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown
prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen,
and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime
minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament
and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing
insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June
2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party
coalition government. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of
progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in
February 2005 dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency,
imprisoned party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently
released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005,
but the monarch retained absolute power until April 2006. After nearly three
weeks of mass protests organized by the seven-party opposition and the Maoists,
the king allowed parliament to reconvene in April 2006. Following a November
2006 peace accord between the government and the Maoists, an interim
constitution was promulgated and the Maoists were allowed to enter parliament in
January 2007. The peace accord calls for the creation of a Constituent Assembly
to draft a new constitution. The Constituent Assembly elections, already twice
delayed, are set for April 2008.
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for 38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. For additional information, visit https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/np.html
|
|
Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
|
Currency Information and Money Matters
The currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR). Nepalese
rupees per US dollar - NA (2007), 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004),
76.141 (2003).
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious! Current Exchange Rate: Check Today's Exchange Rate
The languages include: Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.).
I have found that it helps to know at least a little bit of the language as I travel in other countries. You do not have to be able to be a fluent speaker, but knowing a few key words and phrases will really help. I have found that, although almost everywhere I go I can find someone who speaks English, knowing just a few words of the local language can really be a help. And, it lets others know I am at least interested in their language. Visit the Getting Away Language Learning Center where you can find out how to learn another language, or where to purchase books, dictionaries, electronic translators, software and more
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
Electricity
Be sure to take your adaptor and converter kit. Find the converter you will need in the
Getting Away
Travel Store. Additionally, you will find just about anything and
everything you will need when you travel. Across the state, country, or
to a destination on the other side of the world, you'll find what you
need in the Getting
Away Travel Store!
Travel
Insurance
If you need medical
care while you are away, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not
accept payment through your insurance company and that you will therefore to pay
in full for your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for
reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a credit
card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's local
embassy or representative. For compensation, you must be treated by licensed
medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper documentation
and receipts. It is advisable to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel
insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country. Visit
the Getting Away
Health
and Safety Tips for Travelers
page for additional information about insurance.
Travel Warning
Travel Warnings are issued to
describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or
unstable. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to
assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or
consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. The countries listed below
meet those criteria. Additionally, the State Department issues
Country Specific Information for every
country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions,
crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the
location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country. Check with the U.S. State Department for
Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets & Public
Announcements.
Books, Maps and Other Resources
My favorite guidebooks when I am traveling is
Fodor's. I find them to be quite complete, easy to use, and almost always on the
money with helps and tips for traveling in the country I am visiting. Click on
Fodor's Travel Guides
to find the perfect guidebook for your travels.
|
I always research the destinations to which I intend to travel with books and maps. I normally use Fodor's as I find their guidebooks very informative and easy to read and understand. Click on the Amazon logo to search for travel books and maps. If you don't find what you are looking for, click on the Getting Away Travel Bookshelf to find some of my favorites! Still can't find what you need? Contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com |
Getting
To Nepal
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you
believe I should add to this section, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
The Global Volunteer Network currently has volunteer opportunities available through their partner organizations in China, Ecuador, Ghana, Nepal, Romania and Uganda. Volunteer work is a great way to contribute to the global community and also fosters personal growth. Click on GVN Programs to see what is offered in each of the counties they serve. They also offer a professional course in TEFL through their partner Global English who offers discounts for all of their volunteers. For more information on this program, click here. Additional details are available at www.volunteer.org.nz.
|
|
At
Travelocity, not only can you find
the lowest fare or best schedule on over 400 airlines, but you can also
find
Great
Car Rental Deals, Low hotel rates when you click on |
For Flights, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, Vacations, Tours and Travel Deals, Click on Global Travel International. If the link does not work properly, type www.gettingaway.globaltravel.com in the address line of your browser.
Getting
Around In Nepal
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you
believe I should add to this section, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
|
Cities and
Towns In Nepal Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you believe I should add to this section, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
|
|
Some Things To See And Do In Nepal
| At InfoHub, we believe vacation travel should be much more than just flying you to a tropical beach. Since 1996, we at InfoHub have worked hard to bring you the largest specialty travel portal on the Internet. Today, you can find over 20,000 specialty trips on InfoHub.com, covering activities from Artist Workshops to Yoga Retreats. Whatever your special interest is, you will find it right here! Plus trips you never even knew existed! We continue to expand the exciting array of travel options available by adding hundreds of out-of-the-ordinary trips every week! Our goal is to make Infohub.com "The Ultimate Source of Inspiring Travel Ideas" for your next dream trip. | ||
|
| Worldwide Riding Vacations : A Global Guide - Not just a guide to dude ranches, this handsome updated edition lists more strenuous and interesting equestrian trips by continent and then by country. Printed on heavy coated stock and illustrated with many color photographs, it includes over 100 entries. Each lists the company, address, phone number, E-mail, FAX, closest airports, price, and when available. There are descriptions of accommodations, meals, activities, and the horses and riding equipment, as well as a list of equestrian travel agencies and associations. British equestrian writer Ruler writes frequently on riding vacations and is an amateur horseman. Sacks, a former college professor, now owns a horse farm. Includes some ideas for Nepal. |
|
Some Suggestions For Dining In
Nepal
i-to-i
is one of the world’s fastest growing adventure travel
organizations. It is unique as they specialize in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training and
volunteer placements overseas. Each year, thousands of
i-to-i volunteers
are literally building bridges among communities and earning respect from some
of the most important care agencies in existence. The examples speak for
themselves. When Save the Children approached
i-to-i for
assistance with their on-going development programmed for Intibucá, one of the
poorest regions in Honduras, they supplied volunteers who are now building homes
and teaching English to the indigenous Lenca people. Along with
Nepal, they also operate in several other
countries including:
Australia,
Bolivia,
China,
Costa Rica,
Ecuador,
Ghana,
Honduras,
India,
Ireland,
Korea,
Mongolia,
South Africa,
Sri Lanka, and
Thailand. For additional information, visit their website at
www.i-to-i.com or send them an
E-mail.
