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Scale the heights together with a honeymoon in
Nepal, home to the highest mountains in the world. This enchanted land strikes a chord in
every honeymooner's heart with its natural beauty. The landscape is astounding - wildlife
and floral forests, terraced farms carved off the hillside, gushing rivers and waterfalls
and the ever-present aura of the majestic Himalayas. As for the cities, choose between the
historical and the cultural, the rustic and the scenic. The capital, Kathmandu, is a
throbbing cosmopolis where you can spend many an hour enjoying
the rush of adrenalin at one of the famous casinos, browsing through the bazaars and
shopping malls, and dining at the amazing eating joints. |
The ancient city of Patan, with its rich cultural
legacy; Bhaktapur, the city of devotees; Pokhra, with its gorgeous lake, a take-off point
for trekkers, rafters and mountaineers; Chitwan, the wildlife paradise where you can live
in the lap of nature or the lap of luxury; Tansen and Gorkha with their panoramic
Himalayan views; and Lumbini with its Buddhist heritage. Nepal has a little of everything
for that special honeymoon experience.
Travel
docs
Passports are mandatory for all but Indians, who can use a
voter’s identity card or drivers’ license for identification. Nepal issues
60-day single-entry visas but getting an extension is usually easy.
Getting there
The only international airport in Nepal is Kathmandu’s
Tribhuvan International. You can enter Nepal by road through the Indian border at one of
the numerous entry points at Kakkarbhitta (West Bengal), Biratnagar (Bihar), Birgunj
(Bihar), Sunauli, Nepalgunj, Dhanagadi and Mahendranagar (all across the border from Uttar
Pradesh).
Getting around
Nepal is well connected by domestic air services. Helicopters can be
chartered at Kathmandu. Kathmandu is easy to get around by bus, taxi and rented cars.
Outside Kathmandu there are only chauffeured services available. Bike hire at tourist hot
spots and middling sized market towns is quite easy. Train services are woefully
inadequate.
Best season
Autumn (late September-November) and spring (February-April) are the
best seasons in Nepal. Pleasant breezes sweep the plains and while autumn brings the
hectic festival season, spring (February-April) brings the bloom of flowers to the
countryside. The best time for trekking is between October and May, when the weather is
relatively stable. Avoid the rainy season from June to August.
Accommodation
Luxury accommodation is at a premium in Nepal and
restricted to Kathmandu, Pokhra and Chitwan. Five star properties are present only in
Kathmandu. Much accommodation in Nepal is mid-rung and distinctly domestic in flavour.
Along trekking trails there are few options apart from camping. Tariffs range from
US$15-30 for economy rooms, to $100-200 for deluxe.
For detailed country and visitor information, see Nepal.
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