Buddhist circuit of Nepal

Useful Information: The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Area:  1,47,181 sq kms Elevation: 60m to 8,848m above the sea level Natural divisions: Terai region (Plains), Elevated Flatlands and Hills and Mountain region Capital: Kathmandu           Population: 27 million (more than 91 ethic groups and 70 different languages) Language: Nepali (native as well as official) and English Currency: Rupees         National  flower, bird and animal: Rhododendron, Lophophorous (Danphe) and Cow Neighboring countries: Republic of India (east, south, west) and Peoples’ Republic of China (north) Popular tourist destinations: Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan, Janakpur, and Gorkha Destinations listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Lumbini, Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. Mountains: 8 out of world’s 10 tallest mountains including Mt. Everest. 240 peaks over 20,000ft Best travel seasons: Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (September, October, November) are the best seasons; however, Nepal can be travelled any time of the year. Climate: The climate of Nepal varies according to the elevation. The humid, tropical Terai receives the most monsoonal rain and records the country’s highest temperature. The lower hills (900-2,700meters), including Kathmandu Valley are sub-tropical, with hot summer and moderate winters with only the occasional frost. The higher hills (2,700-4,000 meters) are temperate as the hills get plenty of rain, fog and frost. Above 4,000meters, the mountains  have cooler, drier alpine climate and daily temperatures vary wildly depending on sunshine, wind and altitude. Flora: 6,000 species of plants (out of which 245 species are only found in Nepal), 118 ecosystems, 75 vegetation, 35 forest types, 319 species of orchid, 50 different species of grasses, 30 species of Rhododendron Fauna: Over 500 species of butterflies, 850 species of birds, 185 species of mammals Boudhanath: Located in the northeastern outskirt of the Kathmandu Valley, Boudhanath, another UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal, is one of the largest  spherical stupas  in Nepal  and  one of the largest stupas in the world. This Stupa is an important holiest Tibetan site located outside Tibet. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. With a diameter exceeding 100 meters, the area of the Boudha is almost equal to the size of a football field. The monument rises 36 meters above the street. The portion like the pinnacle, spire, square harmika, dome  and the base represent the five elements and the 13 tires of the spire symbolize the stages to enlightenment. The umbrella on the top symbolizes the royalty. Along with Swayambhunath, the stupa of Boudhanath is one of the major tourist drawcard of Nepal. Swayambhunath: Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple is one of the most sacred Buddhist Pilgrimage sites located in the Kathmandu Valley. The Swayambhunath complex is made up of the main Stupa,  a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Lichchhavi period, a Tibetan monastery, museum, and library. This hilltop Stupa has two entrance points: east and southwest. If you choose eastern entrance, you will have to climb up the staircase containing 365 steps; however, if you choose to enter via the southwestern entrance you can hire a car. This complex is an important site for Newar Buddhists as well as Hindus in Nepal. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. Lumbini: It is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites located in the Rupandehi District of Nepal. It is the birth place of Lord Buddha. This place is a great place to know about the life of Gautam Buddha. It has a number of temples and out of these temples, the temple of Mayadevi is the most important one. The Puskarini pond, the Sacred Garden, the Ashoka Pillar are the major attractions of Lumbini. Other religious and archaeological sites around Lumbini include, Tilaurakot, Gothihawa, Kudan, Nigilhawa and Sagarhawam are equally important sites for Buddhist Pilgrims. Lumbini is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal. Communication Facilities: Postal, Freight and Cargo Services: The Central Post office is located in Kathmandu near Dharahara Tower. It is open Monday to Friday. The opening and closing time from Monday to Thurday is 10:00 am and 5:00 pm respectively; however, on Friday the office is closed after 3:00 pm. Stamps, aerograms and postcards can be purchased from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. You can enjoy the services like registration and insurance of mail and packages and IRCs exchange. Large parcels are handled by the Foreign Post Office, which is open Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available at GPO and at Thamel, Bashantapur and airport postal counters. Postal counters are also situated at the airport in Kathmandu. Telephone Services: Both landline and mobile phone services are available in Nepal. Nepal Telecommunication Corporation located at Tripureshwor is a national service provider that provides telephone, fax, telex, STD, ISD and telegraph services. Some private sectors also provide telephone services. Network coverage is good throughout Nepal except in some rural Himalayan places. Almost all the hotels and private communication sectors provide long distance telephone and fax facilities. During your stay in Nepal, you can buy and use a local SIM card, that is prepaid phone cards (requires 2 passport size photos and passport visa copy to purchase the SIM). The country code for Nepal is 00977 and the area code of Kathmandu is 01. For other inquiries regarding the telephone number 197 can be used. Long distance call rates can be quite expensive, therefore, it is best to use the internet phone. Internet phones are easily accessible in the major cities of Nepal. Internet Services: Email and Internet services are very popular in most part of the country these days. All you need to do is find an internet café. Most of the hotels in the major cities of Nepal provide internet service for the convenience of their guests. The rates in the cities are much lesser compared to the rates in the rural areas. Most of these internet cafes also provide fax, photocopy, and scanning services. Medical Facilities: It is very easy to find a hospital or a private clinic  in the Kathmandu Valley. In fact, Nepal’s top general hospitals and private clinics are located in Kathmandu. These hospitals and private clinics provide top quality service. Other major cities also have a good number of general hospitals. However, in the rural areas of Nepal, health posts have been set up by the government to provide health and medical facilities for both local and visitors. All kinds of medicines are available in Kathmandu.  For the reduction of deaths among trekkers, an association named Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) was founded in the year 1973. The head office of HRA is located in Lazimpat near the north gate of the Palace Museum. During peak season, it operates aid posts in Pheriche (Khumbu region)  and Manang (Annapurna region) managed by expatriate physicians. However, its main job is to provide free advices to trekkers on altitude sickness, equipments and the condition of trekking routes. Travel Insurance: If you are planning this trip in Nepal, a travel insurance policy that covers all the added expenses that might result due to various health issues, injuries or accidents is a must. Moreover, it should also cover death, misplaced luggage, theft and liability, cancellations, medical treatment (including hospital charges, cost of medicine, doctor’s fees) as well as repatriation cost.  It is also necessary to ensure that the insurance policy covers all extra activities that you are planning to accomplish throughout your stay in Nepal.  Food and Accommodation: We always make sure that our customers get the right value for their money. Therefore, we always attempt to make some of the best arrangements for our customers. To ensure a comfortable stay, we book a tourist standard hotel in Kathmandu, before and after your trip. Normally, the rooms are twin share, where you will have to share your room with another member of your group. However, this totally depends on the size of your group and the availability of rooms in the hotel. On request, triple share can also be arranged. But, extra charges will be applicable for a single supplement. Breakfast is provided in the accommodation in Kathmandu. In Lumbini, your accommodation is arranged in a tourist standard hotel. Normally, the rooms are twin share and you will have to share your room with another member of your group. Full board meal (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee) is provided after leaving Kathmandu. Usually breakfast and dinner are provided in the accommodation itself and lunch are ordered from local restaurants. Both, typical Nepali and Western food will be served during the trip, depending upon your choice and availability.  Vaccination and Medicines: Although you will be consulting your doctor before planning the trip, we highly recommend you to get few vaccinations like Hepatitis A, Japanese Encephalitis, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and Malaria before planning your trip to Nepal. Moreover, we also recommend your to carry few medicines like Aspirin or Panadol –for pain and fever; Antihistamine – as a decongestant for cold allergies and to prevent motion sickness; Antibiotics, Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomotil – for upset stomach; Rehydration mixture- for the treatment of severe diarrhea; Antiseptic, Mercurochrome and antibiotic powder or similar dry spray – for cuts and grazes; Calamine lotion for irritation from bites or stings; bandages, band aids, a pair of scissors, tweezers - for minor injuries; insect repellent, sun block lotion, lip balms, water purification tablets, throat lozenges, moleskin, Sulamyd 10% eye drops, and Acetaminophen (Paracetamol, Antacid tablets) in your personal first aid kit.  Why choose Amigo Treks and Expedition as your next travel partner? Amigo Treks and Expedition presents a wonderful opportunity to help you visit those areas, culture and traditions of Nepal that have seldom been explored before. The trip itineraries are fully customized to meet each customer’s requirements, needs and interest. We also partner with local people to help you explore more unseen places of the region you choose to travel. We are highly dedicated and offer years of experience to plan an outstanding adventure trip for you. Nevertheless, customer service is our top priority, therefore, we cater to every possible needs of yours, during your stay in Nepal, be it food, accommodation, varied destination or your communication needs. We highly believe in responsible tourism and also dedicate our service for the development and betterment  of the community. Despite all these facilities, our best packages are offered at  very competitive rates with special group discount. When should I plan this trip? This trip in Nepal can be planned any time of the year. However, the best season to plan this trip is either spring (March-May) or Autumn (September-November). These seasons support us with good weather, climate and better visibility. What should I wear? From May through October, lightweight clothing is recommended; however, warm garments are required if you are planning your trip sometime in between October and March. An umbrella or a raincoat is a must during the rainy season (June-August). Your pack list should contain following items: Head:  Hat (with a wide brim), Sunglasses with UV protection, Sunscreen lotion, Lip balm Accessories: Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries, small padlock or combination lock, basic First Aid Kit, Daypack (you will carry your own small daypack), water bottles (2) Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, small wash towel Extras: Camera with extra batteries and cards/films, Binoculars, Reading books, City map, Journal & Pen, Travel games.  Our legal documents: Registered under the government of Nepal, Amigo Treks & Expedition is a fully licensed and certified company. Therefore, this company holds complete authority to operate treks, tours, expedition, hiking and many other tourism related services in the Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. In addition to this, we are also a very active member of the following organizations. Nepal Tourism board (NTB) Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) Kathmandu Environment Education Project (KEEP) Ministry of Finance, Department of Taxation Company Registration Office, Pvt. Ltd. Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Department of Tourism Industry Passport and Visa Information: It is very easy to obtain Nepal’s visa. You may either apply for a visa at your nearest Nepalese Embassy/Consulate or Mission offices in your own country or you can buy this upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. To apply for a visa, you need 2 passport size photographs, Visa fees in US dollars and your passport that is valid for at least 6 months before the trip. However, nationals of SAARC countries (India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Afghanistan) and China do not require any visa to visit Nepal. Transit visa for foreign nationalities is only provided for 3 days. Therefore, visa is required for longer stays. However, for the convenience or foreign nationals, a visa is also provided from the borders listed below: Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu) Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal) Birgunj, Parsa (Central Nepal) Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border of Nepal) Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Western Nepal) Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Mid Western Nepal) Mohana, Dhangadhi (Far Western Nepal) Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Far Western Nepal) Tourist Visa Fees: Transit visa (3 days) – Free of cost Multiple entry (15 days) – 30 USD or equivalent convertible currency Multiple entry (30 days) – 50 USD or equivalent convertible currency Multiple entry (90 days) – 100 USD or equivalent convertible currency