Planning Information

Introducing Kathmandu

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ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU

A living museum, the Kathmandu valley is permeated by a blend of religions, from the possession less saddhus searching for nirvana, to the ritualist Brahmin priests and the learned Buddhist lamas on paths to enlightenment.

Complementing the interwoven cultures are sacred monuments and the Newari architecture of palaces, pillars and pagodas. Parts of Kathmandu are developing rapidly (especially the tourist facilities) but it still retains its ancient and distinctive flavour, as do the towns and villages of the valley.

Arrival by air info

Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) provides a drab, untraditional welcome and long lines for the traveller. Into the airport building queue up in the appropriate queue. One for travellers with a Nepal visa, one for without. You will be getting your Visas on entry as it is so easy and cheaper in the long run. Simply fill in the form you will receive on the plane, have two passport sized photos handy, your $US30 and wait in line. If you were first in the lines or rushed thru, relax, the baggage unloading takes ages.

It is not necessary to change money into Nepali rupees at the airport as you will be able to do this in the hotel or at one of dozens of places close by when you arrive!

You will NOT be able to obtain Nepali rupees anywhere outside Nepal so bring your spending money along in American dollars travellers cheques or US cash.

Perhaps have some small coins handy to give to any little person who might end up holding part of your bag pretending to help when we move to the waiting vans. In spite of their protestations, do not feel obliged to give them $US 1 as they often ask for and whatever you do DON’T open your wallet in front of them. Have some coins (I gave Japanese Yen) handy if you really want to give something.

Customs don't usually want to check in your bags, but your bags, including your carry-on luggage are passed thru a film-safe X-ray machine.

Through customs is the quiet main hall where the tourist information booth gives out free copies of tourism-orientated magazines. Feel free to pick some of these up although we can always get hold of them in Thamel the tourist area.

The city centre and hotel areas are approximately a 20 minute drive from the airport. Get yourself organised and prepared for the ride of your life.

Outside the building I will be waiting with our sirdar and the bus. Things have improved on the security front at the airport and it is relatively organised compared to a few years ago. I will have a sign saying Annapurna Dreaming Group and will probably be the only European waiting there wearing an Indian outfit.

For our group, the key will be to hold onto your bags and stick together and look out for me behind the barrier.

If something goes missing in transit and things get a little confusing in there get someone with all their gear intact to come out to find me and we will see what we can do! Don’t let anyone get hold of your bags as some overzealous taxi drivers send even more overzealous young boys to “collect” bags and their owners! Its not really that bad but for the uninitiated it pays to be aware of what is going on.

Where we stay.

We will be heading for Thamel which is where most travellers usually head for unless you have booked into a swanky four star hotel. If you have never been to a third world country before, the drive to a Thamel, in fact the whole first day, will be quite a shock. Be prepared for the ride of your life! Don’t worry you will get used to it in time. Car horns are the most valuable item on a car and you will find out very quickly why.

Thamel Most travellers find Thamel the most convenient area to stay in, although it's now largely a tourist ghetto. Everything you could want is available here, with over 100 guesthouses and hotels (from $1 to $90 per night), good restaurants, souvenir shops and book shops. There are also a large number of places to buy/rent any last minute trekking gear you might need as well as a small supermarket close by and stacks and stacks of internet cafes and email centres!

Settling in

Once we get people settled into the hotel (which is located off the main drag and is surprisingly quiet) we will have a quick look around the immediate surroundings. Chances are you will be pooped and need to get to bed early.

Can I suggest you “invest” in couple of pairs of earplugs for the nighttime as Kathmandu is renowned for dogs barking. The earplugs will also come in handy for any noisy nocturnal habits you may discover your roommate has.

The hotel is modern, but not plush and has flush sit down toilets. They supply towels of a certain quality and there is separate bathroom with each room. Hot water is not guaranteed at all hours of the day as they use solar panels on the roof.

Please take special care not to brush your teeth using water from the taps and avoid ingesting any water while in the shower. The water in Kathmandu is among the dirtiest in the world and it is so simple to avoid becoming sick by being careful in this regard.

After you have settled in we will get some money changed (there are loads of places to do this and I will be able to give you an idea of how much to change as there are some interesting rules with regards to working with Nepali rupees) I will point out a couple of restaurants close by that have good reputations for the hygiene standards of their food prepartion.

The KEY for the first day and a half in Kathmandu is not to pick up any nasty bugs from food and that means no meat, no salads, wiping the tops of drink bottles and cups with steriwipes, drinking bottled water (I will show you the reputable brands as some are incredibly dodgy)

The other thing I will insist on people having with them is antiseptic hand gel that you should carry where ever you go and using it after obvious activities or if you have been in contact with something dirty. It is so easy to get sick here as most travellers to Nepal can testify to. This hand gel can be bought at most chemists.

And so will end the first day! Namaste Welcome to Nepal.

Please note this material has been taken and modified from the website www.project-himalaya.com with permission from the author Jamie McGuinness.