Introduction to Nepal

The great outdoors' are truly magnificent in Nepal. Rising up between the fertile plains of India in the south and the desert-like plateau of Tibet in the north, Nepal has been described as the biggest natural museum in the world. With its environment ranging from sub-tropical to artic, it's full of surprises. In addition to its infamous mountain range, Nepal has thick tropical jungles teeming with rare and endangered wildlife, thundering rivers inviting you to conquer them, forested hills and some awesome glaciers. That's a striking record for a country only 880km wide (E - W) and between 145km - 241km deep (N - S).While its population of approximately 23m people speak Nepali, Nepal comprises more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 dialects. These dialects can normally be heard more in rural areas outside Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city. Nepal's key religions, Hinduism and Buddhism will add extra colour to your visit as you'll see shrines to the Gods and experience festivals that take place throughout the year. Striving to differentiate itself from India, Nepal's standard time is 15 minutes ahead of Indian standard time and 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT. The Nepali Rupee (Rs.) is available in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees. There are a growing number of ATM's in Kathmandu and other international currencies including the US dollar, Pound sterling and the Indian rupee are readily accepted in most places, although small denominations of the Nepali Rs. are a necessity out of the main cities.Communication is continually improving in Nepal. Internet and telephone services are widespread and reliable in Kathmandu and Pokhara. These facilities are becoming more readily available in other towns although the cost, speed and quality of connection can differ greatly. The same is true of electricity supply, which is found in major towns and some interesting outposts such as Namche Bazaar, 3343m above sea level!
How to reach Nepal
By Air
Most international visitors to Nepal arrive by air into Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Martin Air operate direct flights from Europe. Gulf Air and Qatar Airways (middle eastern airlines) are used my many European visitors. Although there are transfers in the Middle East, your stopover will last no longer than a couple of hours. New Delhi is most often the transfer point for travelers using other airlines from Europe and the east coast of North America where Indian Airlines and Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) operate the onward journey to Kathmandu. Recently, Jet Airways and Air Sahara are another carriers added to fly to Kathmandu from main Indian cities. Travelers from west coast of the States or Australia are likely to change in Bangkok where Thai Airways and RNAC have easy connections to Kathmandu. Flights to Kathmandu are also available from Hong Kong, Singapore, Dhaka, Karachi, Paro and Chengdu/Lhasa).
Overland
There are seven main entry points into Nepal, one from Tibet and six from India. Accessibility overland is dependant on political conditions as well as the weather. For the latest information about overland access, please visit Nepal Immigration.
Entry Requirements
Visa
You'll need a visa to enter Nepal. You can obtain a visa at the Nepal embassy or consulate in your home country or you can get one on arrival at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International airport or at any road border.
Tourist Visa
Visa Facility Duration Fee
Multiple entry 15 days US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 30 days US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 90 days US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency
Tourist Visa Extension

Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day
Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January – December). Gratis (Free) Visa
Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.
Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal.

Transit Visa
Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal's immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency

Children under 10 years do not require a visa

Children under 10 years do not require a visa

To ensure that you are given the most accurate information and obtain the right visa, we advise you to contact on your own, the embassy or consulate. For more general information about the types of visa available visit Nepal Immigration

Medical
As with visa’s, this website aims to point you in the right direction to find professional and accurate advice to suit your own needs. All travel books explain that your state of health on holiday will depend on your pre-departure preparations, your daily health care while you are away and how you handle any medical condition that may develop. Many of these books also provide an extensive list of optional and essential immunisations! We recommend you to visit Lonely Planet to get some general information. We strongly advise that you see your doctor as they have access to comprehensive medical information for travelers and can provide you with the most reliable advice. Leave sufficient time between your appointment and your departure date; some immunisations need to be administered weeks before you set off on your trip and some malaria (advised for parts of the Terai) tablets should be started before your departure too.

Temperature and Weather/When to visit
Many of Nepal’s ‘extreme’ activities will be weather dependent and only available at certain times of the year. Trekking is available almost all year round (although some routes might be inaccessible during the winter) but the weather conditions will influence the type of experience you’re in for!
Nepal basically has two seasons, a dry season that occurs between October to May and a wet season (monsoon) that starts roughly in June and continues until September. Both seasons have advantages and disadvantages; you just have to decide what you're planning to do when you get here.
Kathmandu sizzles at 30°C between May - September particularly just before the monsoon starts. Although the temperature drops to 20°C in the city during the winter, bright sunny days make it a comfortable place to be but it’s much colder at night and it's a very different picture in the mountains. Altitude has a significant impact on temperature. Trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit around Christmas time should be prepared with their down sleeping bags as night-time temperatures can plummet to about -7°C. While that sounds harsh, by braving frosty mornings you are rewarded with incredible mountains views on perfectly crisp days. Worth every moment of the early morning chill!
October to November followed by February to April is tipped as the best times to visit Nepal. The former months present you with Nepal at its most beautiful as the recently finished monsoon leaves the countryside lush and green and the most colourful festivals take place. The latter is especially good for high-altitude trekkers as the weather starts to get warmer and the rhododendrons are in bloom.

Bamboo Church Collapse Kills Dozens In Nepal

At least 24 people have been killed after a makeshift church building collapsed at a Christian conference in Nepal.

The site of the disaster in Dharan

The three-storey structure, which was specially built to accommodate delegates, gave way after hours of heavy rainfall in the eastern town of Dharan, police said.
The accident happened after many people chose to sleep on top of the extension, made of bamboo and tin roofing, because it was cooler there, church official Moses Rai said.
Police inspector Mohan Bikram Dahal added: "The participants were preparing to sleep when the wall collapsed.
"Most of the victims were on the ground floor of the building.
"The wall was made of bamboo and it could not withstand the weight of the people."
Among the 24 victims were 17 women and four children, police official Arjun Khadka said.
The 62 injured were taken to the nearby BP Koirala medical college hospital.
Police launched an investigation into the incident, which happened about 240 miles southeast of the capital, Kathmandu.
The region is above the northeast corner of India. At least one of the victims was from India, police said.
Around 1,500 Christians, who are a minority in predominantly Hindu Nepal, had gathered in Dharan from throughout the country for the conference.
Actress and Ghurka campaigner Joanna Lumley was welcomed to the town by thousands of Ghurka veterans and their families in July.

The World's Deadliest Volcanoes In History

Volcanic eruptions have shaped human history - and the world's geology - for millions of years

Mount Pinatubo exploded in the Philippines in 1991

Perhaps the most famous volcanic eruption historically was that of Mount Vesuvius in Italy in AD 79.
The explosion killed 10,000 people and wiped out the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
A major eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius today would kill 8,000 people, according to the Willis Research Network.
The deadliest eruption of recent times was that of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in April 1816.
The explosion, which could be felt thousands of miles away, killed 92,000 people and had a profound impact on European history - 1816 became known as the "year without a summer" as the ash circulated around the globe and blocked out the sun.
Famine, disease and poverty spread across Europe and north America while Italy received regular falls of red snow, caused by the volcanic ash.

Mount Ruiz disturbed world weather patterns in 1982
Paintings from the period of dramatic sunsets have been attributed to the eruption.
Massive eruptions, such as Pinatubo in 1991 and Mount Chichon in Mexico in 1982, spewed so much debris into the upper atmosphere that they cooled the planet for months.
Meteorologists say the Mount Mount Eyjafjalljokull eruption will not have such a dramatic impact on global weather patterns.
The explosion of Mount Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883 destroyed much of the island and killed 36,000 people - most of them are believed to have died from the resulting tsunami.
Estimates say more than six cubic miles of debris were thrown into the atmosphere while the sound of the explosion could be heard in Australia.
The eruption of Mount Pelee in Martinique, West Indies, in 1902 killed 29,025 people, mainly through ash flows, making it the world's third deadliest eruption followed by Mount Ruiz in Colombia 1985, in which 25,000 died.
A poison cloud from the eruption of Iceland's Laki volcano in 1783-84 killed thousands of people across Europe and hit farm output by spewing an estimated 120 million tons of sulphur dioxide into the air.
Assessing volcanic eruptions before 1800 is obviously difficult.
Estimates suggest the biggest eruption since the rise of modern humans was Toba in Sumatra about 71,000 years ago.
It is thought to have produced around 2,800 cubic kilometres of ash and may have reduced the world's human population to just 10,000 people.

Dharan

Dharan is a city in Koshi Zone, Sunsari district, eastern NepalAcity of Ex-Gorkhas, unity in diversity, Dharan lies right at the foot of hills, but the transformation when coming from Terai is dramatic. In the distance of 540 KM from Kathmandu, the city is highly rich with different culture, religion, natural beauties and modern development. Beautiful roads, remarkable homes and natural beauty aren't all that makes Dharan. It embraces cleanliness, openness, friendly hill people and their smiles. Dharan grew after British setup the `Gurkha Recruitment Center' in 1953, which helped many Nepalese earn employment. Two ethnic groups namely Rais and Limbus used to constitute the major portion of Gurkah soldiers. These groups came from the eastern region of Nepal, and Dharan was their center for training. The population mainly consists of Mongolian origins. Dharan is Famous for temples, scenery and cleanliness.

Some of the terrific features of the city, A Queen of Eastern Nepal, have been succeeded to attract the domestic and international tourists including south Asian in thousands of number with in a year. Bhedetar hill, all season cold, in the north of city is mostly liked by domestic and Indian tourists. View tower and Charles point are popular to view the whole hill, mountain and tarai of eastern region. A total view of Dharan, Itahari and Biratnagar towns are possible from these points. The Tamor and saptakoshi rivers running from the north and west border of Dharan have always been dream of courageous rafters for white water rafting and bath.
Dharan is Famous for: It is known for having B. P. Koirala Institute of Health and Science, over 25 Temples and holy sites, and scenery making it one of the important pilgrimage destinations of Nepal, and Dharan is also the gateway to Nepal's popular tea growing region `Dhankuta'. It is also known as environmentally friendly city, and a land of friendly and lovely hill people with with smiling faces.
How to Reach Dharan: By bus or micro-van from Kakarbhitta or Biratnagar. From Itahari, Dharan is only 20 minutes bus journey and Itahari is well connected to all the other cities of Nepal. So anybody can come to Itahari and then take a micro van or bus to Dharan. Kakarvitta and Biratnagar both are on India-Nepal border and both are well connected to other major cities from Indian side. There are direct long distance bus routes from Kathmandu and Pokhra .
What to See and Do:Temples like Dantakali, Budhasubba, Pindeshwori are places you shouldn't miss. Budhasubba is famous for bamboos that dont have tips. Couples write their names on the bamboo with the belief that they will have a long relationship. B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan is one of the best medical colleges in Nepal. You will find the institute great.
While you are in Dharan do not miss to go for rafting from Tamor river to Koshi.
Bhedetar (Sheep's Butte) is a beautiful hillside only about 15km (and straight up) from Dharan. It marks the end of the Tarai (plains) and the beginning of the foothills of the Himalaya. There are a number of lodges along the way providing a nice view down to the south.
You can view the scenic beauty of Dharan from Charles Point Bhedetar. You can visit many greenery parks like the Hariyali Park, Yalambar Park and Saptarangi park. You can see many wild animals wondering around in these parks. Places to Visit in Dharan
Temples: Dharan is one of the holy places of Nepal. It has numerous temples; Pindeshwar temple, Dantakali temple, Pancha Kanyan temple, and Buddha Subba temple. Many Hindu pilgrims visit holi temples located in this region as well as those located in other parts of Makwanpur District of Nepal
The Mountain Views of Bhedetar: Bhedetar is located 9 Kilometer away from Dharan. When the sky is clear (especially during Autumn season), one can witness magnificent views of the Himalayan range, and enjoy fresh Himalayan breeze.
Pakhri Bash: Small hill village which had the British base camp built to Recruit Gurkha Army. Some British monuments can be found here.
Dhankuta / Hile - Tea Gardens and Bazaar: From Dharan, about 50 Kilometers of what is the most scenic drive in Nepal takes you to a place where your imagination of greenery gardens are revealed. Some say, come to Dhankuta, if you want to walk in the clouds. Meet the clouds, village folks, and greet the awesome enchanting tea gardens here, and learn some on organic tea and tea processing units in Nepal. If you are a tea lover, you will enjoy visiting a privately owned tea garden and factory named Guranse. Also visit Hile, a hill town situated at 1850 meter altitude, which is just 6 Kilometer from Dhankuta for the Hile Bazaar and gracious people.
Basantapur: This hill is located about 90 KM from Dharan, and about 1 KM from Hile. It is the starting point for trekking to Kanchanjunga base camp. Beyond the hill, beautiful forests Rhododendrons (Guranse in Nepali) can be seen. Guranse is the Nepal's national flower.
Raja Rani Hill: Excellent spot to view Kanchenjunga, Khumbakarna, Makalu and Mt. Everest. The hill is located 20 Kilometer from Dharan.

What is Dharan known for?

It is known for having B. P. Koirala Institute of Health and Science, over 25 Temples and holy sites, making it an important pilgrimage destination, and Dharan is the gateway to Nepal's popular tea growing region `Dhankuta'. It is also known as environmentally friendly city, and a land of friendly hill people.

Places to Visit and Things to do in Dharan
Sightseeing : Temples
Dharan is one of the holy places of Nepal. It has numerous temples; Pindeshwar temple, Dantakali temple, Pancha Kanyan temple, and Buddha Subba temple. Many Hindu pilgrims visit holi temples located in this region as well as those located in other parts of Makwanpur District of Nepal
Heavenly Drink!
Drink Tongba : In Dharan and also in north of Dharan, find a special Limbu culture of drink known as Tongba, which is another name for Limbu's homemade wine. Fermented millet seeds are put in a wooden or plastic mug which is filled with hot water. One sips through a bamboo straw as more hot water is added which makes Tongba go down easily and has more influence. Many consume this drink during winter season, and is also a favorite drink of the domestic tourists in the region.
Sightseeing of Bhedetar - The Mountain Views
Bhedetar is located 9 Kilometer away from Dharan. When the sky is clear (especially during Autumn season), one can witness magnificent views of the Himalayan range, and enjoy fresh Himalayan breeze.
Sightseeing : Pakhri Bash
Small hill village which had the British base camp built to Recruit Gurkha Army. Some British monuments can be found here.

Dhankuta / Hile - Tea Gardens and Bazaar

From Dharan, about 50 Kilometers of what is the most scenic drive in Nepal takes you to a place where your imagination of greenery gardens are revealed. Some say, come to Dhankuta, if you want to walk in the clouds. Meet the clouds, village folks, and greet the awesome enchanting tea gardens here, and learn some on organic tea and tea processing units in Nepal. If you are a tea lover, you will enjoy visiting a privately owned tea garden and factory named Guranse. Also visit Hile, a hill town situated at 1850 meter altitude, which is just 6 Kilometer from Dhankuta for the Hile Bazaar and gracious people.
Hiking : Basantapur
This hill is located about 90 KM from Dharan, and about 1 KM from Hile. It is the starting point for trekking to Kanchanjunga base camp. Beyond the hill, beautiful forests Rhododendrons (Guranse in Nepali) can be seen. Guranse is the Nepal's national flower.
Hiking : Raja Rani Hill
Excellent spot to view Kanchenjunga, Khumbakarna, Makalu and Mt. Everest. The hill is located 20 Kilometer from Dharan
How to get to Dharan?
Dharan is linked by road with the East-West highway of Nepal. Dharan can be reached by a two hours drive from Biratnagar.

About Dharan City :

At the east of Nepal, right at the foot of hills, at an altitude of 1148 ft (349m) lies this beautiful city, Dharan. Beautiful roads, remarkable homes and natural beauty aren't all that makes Dharan. It embraces cleanliness, openness, friendly hill people and their smiles. Dharan grew after British setup the `Gurkha Recruitment Center' in 1953, which helped many Nepalese earn employment. Two ethnic groups namely Rais and Limbus used to constitute the major portion of Gurkah soldiers. These groups came from the eastern region of Nepal, and Dharan was their center for training.
Dharan has a tropical monsoon climate with maximum temperature of 35 to 36 Degree Celsius in April, and minimum of 10 to 12 Degree Celsius in January. The maximum rainfall is about 460mm which is usually seen in August. Nepal's one of the largest river, Saptakoshi, runs near Dharan.

Dhahran Girl Scouts from the Early 1960s

Dhahran Girl Scouts, circa 1960

Photo submitted by Sheri (MH Wahba) AndersonFront Row: Fatin Basrawi,
Cathy Osha, Antoinette Lafrenz, Sheri WahbaMiddle Row: Mrs. Lafrenz, May
Dequine, Janet Kemp, Claudia Gyorek, Twig Held [?], Ann Leslie Burba, Cindy
Kriesmer, Widad [?], Mrs. YaegerBack Row: Gail SchenSheri (MH Wahba) Anderson
sent us this wonderful photo of her Dhahran Girl Scout troop, taken in the late
50s or early 60s. Sheri is seated in the front row on the right. “My hair had
been bleached from swimming in our pool while it was filling up with chlorine,”
she says. She also remembers that the troop had recently had a sleepover on the
beach of Half Moon Bay.
Sheri currently resides in Bali. She
would love to reconnect with these girls that she knew during what she describes
as “the best time of her life.”
If you recognize any of the girls in this
photo, please identify them by Row (Front, Middle or Back) and Number in Row
from the left. Below are two zoomed-in versions of the troop photo for aided
identification. Email us at info@aramcoexpats.com if you can help us
figure out who’s who or if you would like to get in touch with Sheri.ewark,
Julie Yeager, Maureen Mc Quade [?], Linda Vormwald, Mary Barger, Ilona Haydon,
Jane Hawkey, Becky Andrews