Hermitage Travels & Tours

Geography

Nepal is an enchanting country, be it the snowcapped Himalayas, the terraced Mid Hills, the bustling cities, the rushing forests, where wildlife, birds and flowers are abundant.

Nepal's fascinating capital is Kathmandu. Surrounded by former Kingdoms Bhaktapur, Patan and Kritipur, Kathmandu valley is famous for its ancient shrines, temples, palaces and squares.

Nepal is a landlocked country. The Tibet Autonomous Region lies on the North, while to the East, South and West different provinces of India can be found. Apart from the flat Terai. region in the South of Nepal, the country is situated of at least 1,000 meters above sea level. Nepal is divided in three geographical regions.
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Himalayan Region
This region ranges in altitude between 3,000 m and 8,848 m, with the snow line starting at 4,800 meters. It houses eight of the fourteen highest mountains in the world.

Mountain Region
This region occupies 64% of the countries total land. This region is formed by the Mahabharat range soaring up to 4,877 meters. To the South lies the Churia range which altitude varies from 610 meters to 1,524 meters.

Terai Region
At an altitude of maximum 305 meters above the sea level, Terai. occupies 17% of the total land. The countries lowest altitude, just 70 meters above sea level, can be found in the Eastern Terai.

People
The country has a population of about 20 million, representing different races and tribes. The Sherpa's, de Dolpa-pa, de Baragaonli, de Manangi en de Lopa live in the Himalayan region. In the hillside you find the Magar, Gurung, Newar, Tamang, Sunuwar, Rai and Limbu. In Terai there are the Tharu, Darai, Kumhal, Danuwar and Majadadi, most of them coming from India.

Religion & Culture
Although Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world Hinduism and Buddhism are mingled into a complex religious blend. Hindus and Buddhists worships each other deities and celebrate each other's festivals. The best known feature of Nepalese culture is probably the Pagoda, the unique temple architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. The temples and stupas contain a mix of beautiful wood carving, metal work and stone sculpture. They add glory and grandeur to the cultural scene of the Kingdom.
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Climate
Nepal's climate consists of several holiday seasons ;
For trekking and expeditions : the best months are February, March, April, May in spring and September, October, November,December in autumn. The monsoon months June to September are excellent to go on trekking in Dolpo, Mustang and Tibet.

For sightseeing: Kathmandu Valley offers excellent sightseeing trips throughout the year.

For rafting: The best period is right after monsoon, when the water level from the river is high.

For Terai and Chitwan: October through April, when the temperatures are pleasant.
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Getting into Nepal
Nepal lies within reasonable flight distance from any part in the world. Direct connecting flight from Europe and Asia arrive daily at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. Opening Nepal's airspace to private run airline companies will provide, starting September 98, excellent connecting flights with all European Countries.

Formalities
Passport & Visa
All visitors to Nepal, except Indian nationals must hold valid passports and visa. Tourist visas can be obtained from any Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate overseas. A visa can also be obtained at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and at the overland entry points. Tourists van extend their visas at the Central Immigration Office.