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Immigration
Regulations
The department
is located at Bhrikuti Mandap.
Tel: 4223681,
4222453, 4223590
Fax: 4223127
Pokhara
Immigration Office
A visa
extension may be requested from the Department and Pokhara Immigration
Office. Tel: 061-21167
Airport Tax
The airport tax
levied on all passengers departing from the Tribhuvan International
Airport is NRs 1356 to SAARC countries and NRs 1,695 to all other
International destinations. Airport tax for domestic departures is NRs
170. Nepalese nationals going to SAARC countries are requested to pay NRs
791 and NRs 1130 to all international destinations.
Visa Fee
Foreigners
intending to visit Nepal must hold valid passport or any travel document
equivalent to passport prior to applying for a visa.
(a) No
foreigner is entitled to enter into and stay in Nepal without a valid
visa. Tourist entry visa can be obtained from the Royal Nepalese
Embassy, Consulate, Mission Officers or Immigration Officers located at
entry points.
(b) Free visa
for tourist from SAARC countries as well as China is in effect from
August 6, 2003. Likewise, the government has also waived visa fees for
any tourist entering into Nepal for a period of 3 days. Free visa for
any national for re-entry, who have stayed at least for 15 days and more
in the country in a visa year (Jan-Dec).
Visitors
entering Nepal for the first time in a visa year:
Single entry
: 60 days - US $ 30
Multiple
entry : 60 days - US $ 80 (Valid for 150 days in a visa year).
Visa extension
fee
Visa extension
without re-entry facility for 30 days-US$ 30
Visa extension
with multiple entry facility for 30 days-US$ 80
*Children below 10 years are
exempt from paying visa fee.
Trekking Permits
A trekking
permit is required to visit the interior of the country except the
Annapurna, Everest and Langtang regions. They are obtained at the
Immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Office Hours
Working hours
for all government offices, immigration offices and corporations are from
:
Sunday to
Friday
(10.00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. in summer)
(10.00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. in winter)
Getting Around in
Kathmandu
i. Airport to
Downtown
a) Airport
Facilities
A coffee
shop, confectionery shop, restaurant, post office, and pre-paid phones
are located for the convenience of passengers both at the arrival and
departure lounges at the airport.
b) Airport to
Downtown
There are
taxis and pre-taxis which take passengers anywhere in the city area of
Kathmandu Valley.
ii. Local
Transport
There are
metered taxi, private taxi available in most hotels, auto rickshaw
(meter tempo), hired motorbike or hired mountain bike/ordinary bicycle.
Long distance day or night service from Kathmandu to major cities of
Nepal is available at Gongabu Bus Terminal.
Souvenirs to Buy
One can buy
souvenirs like carpets, pashmina, thankas, tea, woodcarvings, garments,
gems, jewellery, khukuris, metalware, music (audio & CD), paper products,
pottery, statues, etc. of superior qualtiy.
Banks, Money
Changers and Credit Cards
Banks are open
from 10 am to 2:30 p.m. and (until 1:00 p.m. on Fridays) for business
transactions.
One can also
change money in major hotels, banks and licensed money changers.
Major credit
cards are also acceptable at major hotels, restaurants, carpet and
handicraft shops.
There is one
bank counter at the departure lounge and three bank counters at the
arrival lounge.
There are also
many Western Union Money Transfers branches for easy money remittance from
abroad.
Post Office,
Communication Centers and Courier Services
The General
Post Office is located near Sundhara for stamps, postcards and mails.
Express Mail Service (EMS) is also available.
There are also
many courier services.
Telephone, fax
and email are available at major hotels, communication centers and cyber
cafes.
There are
private postal care services with branches in different parts of Kathmandu.
Pre-paid
Telephone Cards
Pre-paid
telephone cards can be purchased at different branches of Nepal Telecom
Offices. Rs. 200, 500 and 1,000 pre-paid telephone cards which includes
STD and ISD calls are available.
Restaurants, Pubs and
Entertainments
The best eatery
places are located in Thamel, Durbarmarg, Kantipath and Pulchowk and not
forgetting the restaurants at different hotels.
Varieties of
mouth-watering foods like Chinese, Thai, Continental, Typical Nepali and
Newari food, Mexican, etc. can be easily found. One can make a choice from
one's own budget whether to eat at a reasonable priced restaurants or at
star hotels.
At night, the
pubs at Thamel are alive with people of all nationalities. This is one
interesting place to go.
There are also
live bands at star hotels and pubs on a Friday night. You can check it out
for details in the daily papers.
For those who
love to gamble, then a visit to one of the 6 casinos is a must. The
casinos are located in different parts of Kathmandu.
Nepal Tourism
Board Information Centers
The counters are located at
Tribhuvan International Airport, Bhrikutimandap and other towns like
Pokhara, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Janakpur and Kakarvitta for the tourists.
Trek Safely
• Never trek
alone. Hire a guide if you can't find a companion.
• Become
informed about high altitude sickness.
• Carry a good
medicine kit and any drugs you need.
• Watch where
you are walking. Don't step backward blindly when taking photos.
• Time your trek generously.
Taking rests is not a sign of weakness.
Entry
Fees
BHAKTAPUR ENTRY
FEE
For Foreign
Nationals: NRs. 750 per person
For SAARC
Nationals: NRs. 50 per person
PATAN ENTRY FEE
For Foreign
Nationals: NRs. 225 per person
For SAARC
Nationals: NRs. 25 per person
BOUDHANATH
STUPA ENTRY FEE
For Foreign
Nationals: NRs. 100 per person
For SAARC
Nationals: NRs. 20 per person
SWAYAMBHUNATH
ENTRY FEE
For Foreign
Nationals: NRs. 75 per person
For SAARC Nationals: NRs. 30
per person
Number of
Tourist Arrival and Length of Stay
|
Year
|
Total Number
|
Tourist Arrival |
Tourist Arrival |
Average length of |
Annual Growth |
|
(Dec.)
|
|
by Air |
by Land |
stay ( In days) |
Rate (%) |
|
1989 |
239945 |
207907 |
32038 |
12.00 |
-9.78 |
|
1990 |
254885 |
226421 |
28464 |
12.00 |
6.23 |
|
1991 |
292995 |
267932 |
25063 |
9.25 |
14.95 |
|
1992 |
334353 |
300496 |
33857 |
10.14 |
14.12 |
|
1993 |
293567 |
254140 |
39427 |
11.94 |
-12.20 |
|
1994 |
326531 |
289381 |
37150 |
10.00 |
11.23 |
|
1995 |
363395 |
325035 |
38360 |
11.27 |
11.29 |
|
1996 |
393613 |
343246 |
50367 |
13.50 |
8.32 |
|
1997 |
421857 |
371145 |
50712 |
10.49 |
7.18 |
|
1998 |
463684 |
398008 |
65676 |
10.76 |
9.91 |
|
1999 |
491504 |
421243 |
70261 |
12.28 |
6.00 |
|
2000 |
463646 |
376914 |
86732 |
11.88 |
-5.67 |
|
2001 |
361237 |
299514 |
61723 |
12.00 |
-22.09 |
|
2002 |
275468 |
218660 |
56808 |
7.90 |
-23.74 |
|
2003 |
338132 |
275438 |
62694 |
9.60 |
22.75 |
|
2004 |
385297 |
297335 |
87962 |
13.50 |
13.95 |
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