Go Nepal e-Magazine

POST EARTHQUAKE:
SITUATION UPDATE
Can I visit Nepal this year?
Yes! Nepal is open to tourists! Much of the tourist
and trekking infrastructure has escaped disaster
and is back in business. Hotels and restaurants in
the Kathmandu valley, including Pokhara, Lumbini
and Chitwan—major tourist destinations—are
open.
When is the best time to visit Nepal?
It is recommended to skip the monsoon season
(mid-June to mid-August), particularly for trekkers.
But for visitors looking for a cultural tour
and peaceful environment to enjoy a relaxed vacation,
Nepal is an ideal destination throughout the
year. Right now it’s the off season and the start
of the monsoon. Airfares, hotels tariff, restaurants
bills and tour packages cost are relatively cheaper
during this period. The peak tourist season is in
the autumn (September-November). This is just
after the monsoon season so the air is dry and
clear. This is the perfect time for visiting Nepal if
you are going trekking or culture sight seeing.
Nepal has Four Climatic Seasons.
Spring (March-May): The temperature is mildly
warm in low lands, while moderate in higher altitudes
with plenty of opportunities to have tryst
with the mountain views. It is also the time for
flowers to blossom. It is also Nepal’s second peak
tourist season as it offers best climate for Mt Everest
expedition, including other peaks.
Summer (June-August): This is also the monsoon
season in Nepal. The weather is hot and wet at
times. It rains almost everyday with occasional
thunderstorms in the evening.
Autumn (September-November): This is the best
tourist season in Nepal with the summer gone by
and the winter to set in. The weather is highly
pleasant so are the mountain views. This is the
peak season for trekking.
Winter (December-February): The weather is cool
and the sky is clear with occasional snowfalls at
higher elevations. This season is good for trekking
in lower elevations. The morning and night is cold
and the days are warm when sunny.
Where should I avoid the disaster zones?
Gorkha, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha and the Langtang
valley has been hit by worst April 25 earthquake and
subsequent aftershocks. It is recommended to adopt
precautionary measures while visiting these areas in
terms of tourism. Popular cities like Kathmandu,
Bhaktapur, Patan, Chitwan, Bardia, Lumbini, Trishuli
and Pokhara are all open to tourists and you will not
be in any disaster zone.
Kathmandu: The Kathmandu valley comprises three
ancient cities—Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
The historic value of the three Durbar Squares of
Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan has been very
badly affected by the earthquake. Most of Kathmandu
Durbar Square has been destroyed, Bhaktapur
has lost many of its fine historic buildings and Patan’s
Durbar Square is severely damaged. However, Nepal
government on June 15 re-opened some of its centuries-old
cultural heritage sites, including these three
Durbar Square that were closed after the country was
hit by a series of earthquakes in April, in an effort to
attract foreign tourists. It is estimated to take at least
seven years to fully restore these damaged golden era
architectures.
Pokhara: The city is famous in the world for a plethora
of adventure sports activities like paragliding,
para-hawking, zip-flyer, trekking, stand up paddle,
ultra-light flights, boating and many more. You can
experience the most exciting and thrilling bungee
jump experience with the first tower bungee of Nepal
in Pokhara. It is also the gateway to the Annapurna
circuit, Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp, which is
fully open.
Chitwan: The city literally means “heart of the jungle”.
In recent years Chitwan tops the list of things to
do in Asia. It is a truly wildlife adventure of a different
kind – jungle safaris on elephant backs or jeeps,
bird-watching, canoe rides and jungle walks. The
Chitwan National Park is Asia’s best preserved conservation
area, where wildlife thrives and their habitats
remain intact.
Bardia: The jungles of Bardia are completely unaffected
by the earthquake. Elephant sanctuaries, jungle
treks, tiger spotting and so much more are all open!
Lumbini: The birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha is
open and unaffected.