Here are the most FAQs and basic information you need to know about Nepal, ranging from the capital to electrical currants, and don’t forget about the weather!

Nepal
Nepal, officially known as the Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a federal republic. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

Language
The national language of Nepal is Nepali or Nepalese (नेपाली), belonging to the Indo-Aryan family of languages.

Currency
The standard currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee.
In August 2013, 1 US Dollar = 101.02 Nepalese Rupee.

Weather
There are a total of five seasons in Nepal: Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Winter, and Spring.

The monsoon season is June to August, at which time it is constantly hot and wet.

The main trekking seasons are October to November (with September and December being on the edges – weather being more chance-y) and March to April. The springtime offers more opportunities for snow at the mid-level elevations. It is also more likely that the lakes along the Frozen Lakes Trail will still be frozen.

Vaccinations

Yes, you need to be up to date on the usual vaccinations along with a few more! What vaccinations you need does depend on the length of your stay and areas you will be traveling. For detailed information, please read more at our Vaccinations for Nepal blog.

Electricity

The average current in Nepal is 230 V, ranging from 220-240 Volts, with an electrical frequency of 50 Hz(U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts). An American appliances will need both an adaptor and transformer. The plugs used in Nepal are the “Type D ” / “3 round pins” (Indian BS-546) and the “Type C” / “2 round pins” (European CEE 7/16 Europlug).

Calling Nepal
The international dialing code for Nepal is +977.

Religions

The main religion is Nepal is Hindu, with approximately 80% of the population identifying themselves as belonging to the faith. The second most common religion is Buddhism, approximately 10% of the population. The smaller majorities include Islam (Muslim), around 4% of the population, and Kirant, an indigenous religion that 3.6% of the population identify with.

As in India, where the main religion is also Hindu, cows are seen as a holy object and are not eaten or killed. The penalty of killing a cow is severe. Act respectfully.