GENERAL
Official name of the state
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.
Capital
Kathmandu.
Geography
As a country located in Asia according to topschoolsintheusa, most of the Nepal lies on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and extends from the highest peaks through mountainous land to the upper limit of the Ganges plain. The kingdom is bordered by China to the north and northwest and India to the west, south and east. The country can be divided into five regions: Terai, Siwalik, Mahabharat Lekh, the central region or Pahar and the Himalayas. The mountainous central region is crossed by the southern Himalayas, here are the highest peaks in the world.
Government
Parliamentary democracy. New constitution from 2015. Bicameral parliament, House of Representatives with 205 members elected for 5 years, National Council with 60 members appointed for 6 years. The 1990 constitution restricted royal powers and introduced the multiparty system. In May 2008 the monarchy was abolished and the republic was proclaimed.
Head of state
Bidhya Devi Bhandari, since October 2015.
Head of government
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, since August 2016.
Electricity
230 V, 50 Hz.
Time zone
Nepal Time: CET +6: 45
MONEY
Currency
1 Nepal rupee = 100 paisas. Currency abbreviation: NR, NPR (ISO code). There are banknotes in denominations of 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 NR, coins in denominations of 5, 2 and 1 NR as well as 50, 25, 10 and 5 Paisa. The Nepal rupee is linked to the Indian rupee (1.60: 1).
Credit cards
MasterCard and Visa and sometimes American Express are accepted in tourist areas such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and in the Mount Everest area. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
c- / Maestro-Karte / Sparcard
In the Kathmandu valley you can withdraw money with the ec-card (be careful with the Himalaya Bank, whose ATMs are sometimes unreliable).
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
General Sun-Thu 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Authorized exchange offices are open 12 hours.
Foreign exchange regulations
The import and export of the local currency is prohibited. The import of foreign currencies must be declared for an amount equivalent to US $ 2,000 or more (keep receipts in a safe place). The export of foreign currencies is permitted up to the amount declared on entry, minus the exchange amounts.
Note: The import of banknotes with a value of 500 and 1,000 Indian rupees is prohibited.
Currency Exchange
Money should only be changed at authorized offices (banks, hotels and licensed exchange offices). Tourists should keep exchange receipts carefully as they must be presented for visa extensions or trekking permits. Hotel bills, flight tickets and sometimes trekking permits must be paid by tourists in foreign currency. We recommend that you bring enough cash with you, as credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted everywhere. There are numerous exchange offices in Pokhara, Kathmandu and Chitwan.
CULTURE
Religion
80.6% Hindus, 10.7% Buddhists, 4.2% Muslims, 4.5% others.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: Traditionally, you don’t shake hands for a formal greeting, but hold the palms together – fingers up, as if in prayer – and say Namaste. A guest gift is often set aside unopened, as opening a parcel in the presence of a guest is considered impolite. One should not exchange caresses in public, especially in religious places.
Clothing: Casual clothing is acceptable except for formal social gatherings. Bikinis, shorts, uncovered shoulders and backs are hated to be seen. Men only take off their shirts to bathe.
Taking photos:Always ask permission in advance. Photography is allowed outside the temples and during festivals. Religious ceremonies or temple interiors should not be photographed. However, there are no specific rules, so it is best to ask permission.
Tipping is only expected in tourist hotels and restaurants. Taxi drivers only expect tips if they have been particularly helpful. 10% is sufficient. In all other cases a tip is not appropriate.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
The weather in Nepal is pleasant. Summer, which coincides with the monsoon season, lasts from June to October, the rest of the year is dry. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most beautiful times of the year. In winter (December to February) there is frost and a lot of snow in the mountains. The Kathmandu Valley has a mild climate (19-27ºC in summer, 2-20ºC in winter).
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +977 Area (square km) 147 181 Population 31 551 305 Population density (per square km) 214 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 100
