Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% note: many in government and business also speak English

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9%; only official Hindu state in the world

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line.

Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service); Nepalese Police Force

A passport and visa are required.  Travelers may obtain visas prior to travel or purchase fifteen-day multiple-entry visas ($25), one-month multiple-entry visas ($40), or three-month multiple-entry visas ($100) upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at the following land border points of entry: Kakarvitta, Jhapa District (Eastern Nepal); Birgunj, Parsa District (Central Nepal); Kodari, Sindhupalchowk District (Northern Border); Belahia, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi District, Western Nepal); Jamunaha, Nepalgunj (Banke District, Mid-Western Nepal); Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali District, Far Western Nepal); and Gadda Chauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur District, Far Western Nepal).  Visas and information on entry/exit requirements can be obtained from the Embassy of Nepal at 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 667-4550 or the Consulate General in New York at (212) 370-3988.

Before departure from the Tribhuvan International Airport, all foreigners, regardless of their length of stay, must pay an airport exit tax (currently approximately $17) if traveling to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.  The departure tax for all other international destinations is slightly higher (currently approximately $21).  The departure taxes shown above are subject to fluctuation, depending upon the exchange rates, and are now collected directly by travel agents.  Tourists may stay in Nepal no longer than 150 days in any given calendar year.  Visa overstays carry a heavy fine and, in some cases, can incur jail time.  The Department of Immigration in Kathmandu is authorized to make that decision on a case-by-case basis.  Active duty U.S. military and Department of Defense contractors must obtain a country clearance from their parent units to be forwarded to the Defense Attaché’s Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu for both official and unofficial travel to Nepal.

Travelers occasionally report immigration difficulties with Chinese authorities when crossing the Nepal-China border over land in either direction.  There have been reports of travelers being detained and subsequently deported by the Chinese authorities for possessing items deemed to have incited anti-Chinese rhetoric.  Chinese authorities often require American and other foreign tourists to organize "group" tours through established travel agencies as a prerequisite for obtaining visas and entry permits into Tibet.  U.S. citizens planning to travel to Tibet from Nepal may contact the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu for current information on the status of the border-crossing points.  Travelers may also wish to check with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nepal for current regulations on entry into Tibet. Visit the Embassy of Nepal web site for the most current visa information. 

Information about dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information Sheet.

Airports: 48, Airports w/paved runways: 10Kathmandu – Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT)Kathmandu Airport, Nepal, Kathmandu, NEPALTel: +977 (0)1 470274

US Dept of State Travel Warning NEPAL issued May 7, 2008 and was updated 22 May 2009.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_927.html

The Department of State warns US citizens of the risks of traveling to Nepal and urges caution when traveling in country. The Department of State remains concerned about the security situation in Nepal and urges American citizens to obtain updated security information before they travel and to be prepared to change their plans on short notice. This replaces the Travel Warning for Nepal dated November 21, 2008 and updates safety and security information.
Political violence remains a problem in Nepal. The Young Communist League (YCL), a Maoist Party subgroup, continues to engage in extortion, abuse, and threats of violence, particularly in rural areas. Youth groups from the other two main political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML), have also formed and clashes continue among these political rivals. Violent actions by multiple armed splinter groups in the Terai region along the southern border with India remain a significant concern.
Protests, demonstrations and disruptions frequently occur. The May 4, 2009 resignation of the Prime Minister and the resulting caretaker government has created an environment of increased political instability and the potential for demonstrations to be called without advance notice. During demonstrations, protestors have used violence, including damaging vehicles, throwing rocks, and burning tires to block traffic. Given the nature, intensity, and unpredictability of disturbances, American citizens are urged to exercise special caution during times when demonstrations are announced, avoid areas where demonstrations are occurring or crowds are forming, avoid road travel, and maintain a low profile. Curfews can be announced with little or no advance notice. American citizens are urged to consult media sources and to register with the Embassy (see instructions below) for current security information.
Crime in the Kathmandu Valley, including violent crime and harassment of women, continues to rise. Police resources to combat such crime are limited. Police have reported a number of robberies by armed gangs, sometimes resulting in injury to the victims. Petty theft and muggings occur in popular tourist areas such as Pokhara and the Thamel area of Kathmandu. Visitors to Nepal should practice good personal security when moving about, especially at night, and avoid walking alone after dark, carrying large sums of cash, or wearing expensive jewelry. In several reported incidents tourists have had their belongings stolen from their rooms while they were asleep. There has been an increase in the number of fraudulent schemes perpetrated against tourists. These schemes involve requesting the traveler’s assistance in establishing shipping routes, or business contacts with the US or other countries, involving jewelry, antiquities, or carpets, promising huge returns. Solo trekkers have been robbed by small groups of young men, even on some popular trails. There have been reports of groups, primarily the Maoist Young Communist League, stopping foreign tourists along some popular trekking routes to extort money as donations to a political party, or toll for passage. Political parties or community groups frequently call strikes, or bandhs, and have threatened physical violence to Nepalis and non-Nepalis alike for violating these strikes.
Travel via road in areas outside of the Kathmandu Valley is hazardous due to erratic drivers and frequent road accidents. Public transportation, such as microbuses and tuk tuks, should be avoided because they are often overfilled, driven unsafely, and mechanically unsound. American citizens should use taxis with meters or negotiate a price with the taxi driver before starting a trip.
Most US official travel outside the Kathmandu Valley, including by air, requires specific clearance by the US Embassy’s Regional Security Officer. As a result, The US Embassy’s ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens may be limited. Active duty US military and Department of Defense contractors must obtain US Embassy clearance in advance for official and personal travel to Nepal.
The US Government’s designation of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” organization under Executive Order 13224 and its inclusion on the “Terrorist Exclusion List” pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act remain in effect. These two designations make Maoists excludable from entry into the United States without a waiver and bar US citizens from transactions such as contribution of funds, goods, or services to, or for the benefit of, the Maoists.
For additional information, please refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” found at http://travel.state.gov. Americans living or traveling in Nepal are encouraged to register with the US Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website (https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs). The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is located at Maharajgunj. The telephone number is 977-1-4007200, 4007201. The number for after-hours emergencies is 977-1-4007266, 4007269. The fax number is 977-1-4007281. The Consulate’s e-mail address is consktm@state.gov and its Internet web page is http://nepal.usembassy.gov. US citizens should also consult the Department of State’s latest Country Specific Information for Nepal and the Worldwide Caution, available at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the US and Canada or, for callers outside the US and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00a to 8:00p Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except US federal holidays).

Infant MR total: 63.66 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: TOTAL 60.56 years (male 60.78/female 60.33)

Malaria risk area in Nepal: Risk in rural areas at altitudes below 1,200m (<3,937 ft) in the Tarai and Hill districts bordering India and in the areas of the inner Tarai valley areas of Udaypur Sindhupalchowk, Makwanpur, Chitwan, and Dang. No risk in Kathmandu or on typical Himalayan treks.

Dengue fever has caused epidemics in most South Asian countries. Filariasis is common. A sharp rise in the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis has been observed in several South Asian countries. Japanese encephalitis occurs widely except in mountainous areas of South Asia.

Indigenous wild polio was present in 2005-2006 in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan; cases from Bangladesh and Nepal were confirmed in 2005-2006.

Measles occurs in the South Asia region and can be a source of infection for unvaccinated travelers.

Medical care in Nepal is extremely limited and is generally not up to Western standards. Typical travelers' complaints can be addressed by the clinics in Kathmandu, and some surgeries can also be performed in the capital.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) continues to cause outbreaks in domestic and wild bird populations and has caused human cases in several South Asian countries. Avoid all direct contact with birds, including domestic poultry (such as chickens and ducks) and wild birds, and avoid places such as poultry farms and bird markets where live birds are raised or kept.

Country Calling Code:  +977
Internet Country Code:  .np