FAQ's
1.What is the population and main language used in Nepal?
The population of Nepal was estimated at just over 28,000,000 in July 2006. When the population in Nepal was surveyed in 1981, the population was only 15,000,000.
Nepal is an incredibly diverse country with respect to culture and language. There are 125 different documented languages spoken in Nepal. The primary language of Nepal is Nepali which has been the push of the King and government for about 50 years now.
2. What is the climate like?
Nepal has a great deal of variation in climate... and a tropical and subtropical climate exists.Nepal’s weather is generally predictable and pleasant.
There are four climatic seasons:
- March–May (spring)
- June–August (summer)
- September–November (autumn) and
- December–February (winter).
3. What is the proper clothing to wear in Nepal’s climate?
From April to the end of October, it is warm in Kathmandu. In Nepal clothing for traveling purpose should be comfortable and light. You can also wear longer shorts provided that it is weather- friendly. In the months of November to the end of March, days are usually warm and evenings are cool. Put on your summer clothes during the day time but in the evening and night it is advisable to carry a light jacket. Winter season starts from December to February. One must be equipped with sufficient winter wears like jackets, sweaters, trousers etc to stay protected from the cold. In accordance to Nepali weather you can have your clothes well-packed in your luggage or you can also purchase clothes of your choice and needs from the clothing stores in Nepal.
4. What are the regular business hours in Nepal?
Government Offices
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the way it is in the USA)
Banks
Sunday to Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but most close by 12 p.m. on Friday
Business Offices
Monday to Friday, offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. but some private companies are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Embassies and Foreign Organizations
Monday to Friday, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shopping Centers / Shops
Major shopping centers open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and are closed on Saturdays, but convenient local shops are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. everyday.
5. How safe is drinking water in India?
If you are from a foreign country, you may not be used to drinking the water here. Hence, we advise that you pick up a bottle of mineral water, which is cheap and widely available and usually provided in hotel rooms. Order the same when you are at a restaurant. As far as possible, avoid drinking any kind of water or juices from roadside carts and vendors; and, avoid ice outside touristy places!
6. How should I tip waiters at restaurants / hotels?
Every region in the world has a different tipping culture. It is very important to know at hand the local tipping customs of the place/region/city you are traveling to.
While visiting hotels and good restaurants, you must remember that a tip of around 10-15 percent of the total bill is customary and be given to the waiters.
7. How safe is it to eat non-vegetarian food in India?
The food of Nepal is as diverse as the country itself. The Nepalese recipes are quick to cook and good to eat. Nepalese food is famous for its nutrition level and tempting taste. Whilst Nepalese cuisine is somewhat basic, it certainly does not lack in flavor, making extensive use of spices and flavorings such as ginger, garlic, coriander, pepper, cumin, chilies, cilantro, mustard oil, ghee and occasionally yak butter.
8. What is the economy of India like?
Nepal ranks among the world's poorest countries, with a per capita income of around $470 in 2009. Based on national calorie/GNP criteria, an estimated 31% of the population is below the poverty line. An isolated, agrarian society until the mid-20th century, Nepal entered the modern era in 1951 without schools, hospitals, roads, telecommunications, electric power, industry, or a civil service. The country has, however, made progress toward sustainable economic growth since the 1950s and is committed to a program of economic liberalization.
Some 75% of Nepal's people engage in agriculture, which contributes about 40% of the GDP. In the Terai, the main agricultural region, rice is the chief crop; other food crops include pulses, wheat, barley, sugarcane, and oilseeds. Jute, tobacco, cotton, indigo, and opium are also grown in the Terai, whose forests provide sal wood and commercially valuable bamboo and rattan. In the lower mountain valleys, rice is produced during the summer, and wheat, barley, oilseeds, potatoes, and vegetables are grown in the winter. Corn, wheat, and potatoes are raised at higher altitudes, and terraced hillsides are also used for agriculture. Medicinal herbs, grown on the Himalayan slopes, are sold worldwide. Livestock raising is second to farming in Nepal's economy; oxen predominate in the lower valleys, yaks in the higher, and sheep, goats, and poultry are plentiful everywhere.
9. What is the current currency exchange rate?
The currency of Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee. The current exchange rate is 1 US Dollar = 80.78500 Nepalese Rupee
10. How much money should I budget for meals?
Usually $25-$30 US per day would be enough to cover both lunch and dinner.
