Nepal: tips for tourists

Welcome to Nepal, a country embraced by the grandeur of the Himalayas, offering a unique blend of nature, culture, and adventure. In this article, we'll take you on a journey through Nepal's stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and ancient traditions. Whether you're drawn to the towering peaks or the bustling markets of Kathmandu, Nepal has something for everyone.

Nightlife

Kathmandu has several movie theaters that run mostly Indian films. Western films are in the programs of European and American cultural centers. Most people go to bed at 22:00. Nightlife is very limited, with some temples, restaurants and hotels offering entertainment programs and occasional performances of Nepali national dances and music shows. Selected 5-star hotels in Kathmandu have casinos open daily and around the clock, playing baccarat, nine-ball and roulette. And if it’s above your budget, online casinos and their no deposit bonuses are not restricted here. 

Food

Despite its isolated location and variety of local products, Nepal has not developed a distinctive national cuisine. The most popular food is Dal Bhat (lentils and rice). The exception is the cuisine of "Newar" (Newar), whose dishes can be very refined and spicy. Rice is the main staple, and some dishes - dal (lentil soup), peppered vegetables, chapatis and tsampa - are common Highland dishes, which are ground raw grains poured over milk, tea or water. Sweets and spicy snacks include jelabi, laddus and mukdals. Traditional food is gurr (a Sherpa dish of raw potatoes mashed with spices and fried like pancakes on a hot flat stone). Tibetan dishes include thukba (thick soup) and momos (fried or boiled stuffed ravioli). Goat, pork, chicken or buffalo meat is eaten, but beef is forbidden. Unlike other cities, Kathmandu and Pokhara have a wide range of restaurants. A government tax of 12% is included in all bills.

Drinks

The national drink is chiya (tea brewed with milk, sugar and spices; in the mountains it is topped with yak fat). Another popular drink in the mountains is chang (beer brewed from fermented barley, maize, rye or millet). They also drink arak (agak) (potato alcohol) and raksi (wheat or rice alcohol). You can get Nepali beer, local rum, vodka and gin. Local whisky does not taste very good, but there is a wide range of imported drinks available.

Shopping

There are stores where you don't have to fear buying fakes, and there are stores that sell low-quality souvenirs. Locally made clothing items such as one-sided "topis" (top hats), knitted mittens and socks, Tibetan robes, woven shawls, Tibetan colored jackets and men's shirts that button diagonally are especially popular among tourists; In addition to clothes, you can buy thin blankets made of goat's wool - pashmina, khukri - national knives, saranghi - small four-stringed violins played with a bow made of horsehair, Tibetan tea pots, papier-mâché dance masks, Buddhist figurines and filigree ornaments, bamboo flutes and other traditional art objects. Stores are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Sunday through Friday (some stores are open on Saturdays and holidays).

When to go

Climatic factors play a very important role when deciding to travel to Nepal. The best time of year seems to be October and November - the beginning of the dry period: the weather is good, the air is clean, visibility is excellent, and nature is in full bloom after the monsoons. The end of the dry period - February to April is also quite good: visibility is not as good, but the weather is warm and many gorgeous wild Nepali flowers bloom. In December and January the weather and visibility are good, but it can be chilly: travelers should be well prepared for snow and note that cheap hotels in Kathmandu have no heating. The rest of the seasons are bad for traveling: May and June are too hot and dusty, and from mid-June to September, the monsoon clouds the mountains and muddies the roads.

What to watch out for

Dangers

Popular methods of political expression in Nepal are demonstrations and strikes, which occur for any number of reasons. These demonstrations are usually non-violent and do not target foreigners. But stone throwers sometimes aim at cars, and there have been known cases of intimidation of tourists by strike participants.

Crime

Although the crime rate is quite low, street crime is common in Kathmandu - as in any place flooded with foreigners. To avoid becoming a victim of a criminal, proper safety precautions should be followed. It is advisable to avoid walking alone at night and not to carry large sums of money or jewelry. It is also recommended to exchange currency only in banks and hotels and try to make purchases only during the day. Valuables should be kept in hotel safes and never left unattended in hotel rooms. It is necessary to be on the alert in places of the greatest concentration of tourists, as there are pickpockets. Passport and cash are best carried in a safe purse, but never in a backpack.

Health

Possible health threats: altitude sickness, hepatitis A, malaria (in the lowlands only), infectious meningitis (in the Kathmandu Valley area) and typhoid.

Customs, laws

It is always necessary to ask permission in advance to take photos or videos. This can usually be done outside temples or at festivals, but never at religious ceremonies or inside temples; however, there are no clear rules and it is easy to avoid causing offense by asking in advance and getting an answer.

One must take off one's shoes before entering houses and tombs. Kitchens and eating areas should also not be entered with shoes, as the heart of the home is sacred. Bikinis, shorts, bare shoulders and backs are not welcome. Men may remove their shirts only when bathing. Public displays of affection, especially around holy sites, are not welcome.