LUMBINI

Visit Nepal In The Year 2011

LUMBINI BIRTH PLACE OF THE BUDDHA

Lumbini is the place where the Buddha, known as the Tathagata was born. It is the place which should be visited and seen by a person of devotion and which should cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence.' Tathagata - One who has found the Truth.

The birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, Lumbini, is the Mecca of every Buddhist, being one of the four holy places of Buddhism. It is said in the Parinibbana Sutta that Buddha himself identified four places of future pilgrimage: the sites of his birth, enlightenment, first discourse, and death. All of these events happened outside in nature under trees. While there is not any particular significance in this, other than it perhaps explains why Buddhists have always respected the environment and natural law.

Lumbini is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in modern Nepal. In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was a beautiful garden full of green and shady Sal trees (Shorea). The garden and its tranquil environs were owned by both the Shakyas and Kolias clans. King Suddhodana, father of Gautama Buddha was of the Shakya dynasty belonging to the Kshatriya or the warrior caste. Maya Devi, his mother, gave birth to the child on her way to her parent's home in Devadaha while taking rest in Lumbini under a sal tree in the month of May in the year 642 B.C. The beauty of Lumbini is described in Pali and Sanskrit literature. Maya Devi it is said was spellbound to see the natural grandeur of Lumbini. While she was standing, she felt labor pains and catching hold of a drooping branch of a Sal tree, the baby, the future Buddha, was born.

The bas relief above epicts Maya Devi with her right hand holding on to a branch of a sal tree with a newborn child standing upright on a lotus petal, shedding an oval halo, around his head, while two celestial figures pour water and lotuses from vessels of heaven as indicated by the delineation of clouds. This nativity scene was installed by Malla Kings of the Naga dynasty from about the 11th to 15th Century in the Karnali zone of Nepal.

In 249 BC, when the Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini it was a flourishing village. Ashoka constructed four stupas and a stone pillar with a figure of a horse on top. The stone pillar bears an inscription which, in English translation, runs as follows: "King Piyadasi (Ashoka), beloved of devas, in the 20 year of the coronation, himself made a royal visit, Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here, a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected to the Bhagavan having been born here, Lumbini village was taxed reduced and entitled to the eight part (only)".

Maya Devi Temple

Lumbini remained neglected for centuries. In 1895, Feuhrer, a famous German archaeologist, discovered the great pillar while wandering about the foothills of the Churia range. Further exploration and excavation of the surrounding area revealed the existence of a brick temple and a sandstone sculpture within the temple itself which depicts the scenes of the Buddha's birth.

It is pointed out by scholars that the temple of Maya Devi was constructed over the foundations of more than one earlier temple or stupa, and that this temple was probably built on an Ashokan stupa itself. On the south of the Maya Devi temple there is the famous sacred bathing pool known as Puskarni. It is believed that Maha Devi took a bath in this pool before the delivery. By the side of the Ashoka pillar there is a river which flows southeast and is locally called the 'Ol' river. In 1996, an archaeological dig unearthed a "flawless stone" placed there by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the precise location of the Buddha's birth more than 2,600 years ago, if authenticated, the find will put Lumbini even more prominently on the map for millions of religious pilgrims.

Recently, several beautiful shrines have been built by devotees from Buddhist countries. A visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is not only for spiritual enlightenment but also for solace and satisfaction that one gets in such a calm and peaceful place.

Mount Everest

ABOUT MOUNTEVERST IN DETAIL

Mount Everest - also called Qomolangma Peak , Mount Sagarmāthā (Nepali: सगरमाथा), Chajamlungma (Limbu), Zhumulangma Peak (Chinese: 珠穆朗玛峰 Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng) or Mount Chomolungma - is the highest mountain on Earth above sea level, and the highest point on the Earth's continental crust, as measured by the height above sea level of its summit, 8,848 metres (29,029 ft). The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in Asia, is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China.

In 1856, the Great Trigonometric Survey of India established the first published height of Everest, then known as Peak XV, at 29,002 ft (8,840 m). In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India at the time. Chomolungma had been in common use by Tibetans for centuries, but Waugh was unable to propose an established local name because Nepal and Tibet were closed to foreigners.

The highest mountain in the world attracts climbers of all levels, from well experienced mountaineers to novice climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb. The mountain, while not posing substantial technical climbing difficulty on the standard route (other eight-thousanders such as K2 or Nanga Parbat are much more difficult), still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. By the end of the 2008 climbing season, there had been 4,102 ascents to the summit by about 2,700 individuals. Climbers are a significant source of tourist revenue for Nepal, whose government also requires all prospective climbers to obtain an expensive permit, costing up to US $ 25,000 per person. Everest has claimed 210 lives, including eight who perished during a 1996 storm high on the mountain. Conditions are so difficult in the death zone that most corpses have been left where they fell. Some of them are visible from standard climbing routes.

Identifying the highest mountain

In 1808, the British began the Great Trigonometric Survey of India to determine the location and names of the world's highest mountains. Starting in southern India, the survey teams gradually moved northward using giant 500 kg (1,100 lb) theodolites (each requiring 12 men to carry) to measure heights as accurately as possible. They reached the Himalayan foothills by the 1830s, but Nepal was unwilling to allow the British to enter the country because of suspicions of political aggression and possible annexation. Several requests by the surveyors to enter Nepal were turned down.

The British were forced to continue their observations from Terai, a region south of Nepal which is parallel to the Himalayas. Conditions in Terai were difficult owing to torrential rains and malaria — three survey officers died from malaria while two others had to retire owing to failing health.

Nonetheless, in 1847, the British pressed on and began detailed observations of the Himalayan peaks from observation stations up to 240 km (150 mi) away. Weather restricted work to the last three months of the year. In November 1847, Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India made a number of observations from Sawajpore station located in the eastern end of the Himalayas. At the time, Kangchenjunga was considered the highest peak in the world, and with interest he noted a peak beyond it, some 230 km (140 mi) away. John Armstrong, one of Waugh's officials, also saw the peak from a location further west and called it peak 'b'. Waugh would later write that the observations indicated that peak 'b' was higher than Kangchenjunga, but given the great distance of the observations, closer observations were required for verification. The following year, Waugh sent a survey official back to Terai to make closer observations of peak 'b', but clouds thwarted all attempts.

In 1849, Waugh dispatched James Nicolson to the area. Nicolson was able to make two observations from Jirol, 190 km (120 mi) away. Nicolson then took the largest theodolite and headed east, obtaining over 30 observations from five different locations, with the closest being 174 km (108 mi) away from the peak.

Nicolson retreated to Patna on the Ganges to perform the necessary calculations based on his observations. His raw data gave an average height of 9,200 m (30,000 ft) for peak 'b', but this did not take into account light refraction which distorts heights. The number clearly indicated, however, that peak 'b' was higher than Kangchenjunga. Unfortunately, Nicolson came down with malaria and was forced to return home, calculations unfinished. Michael Hennessy, one of Waugh's assistants, had begun designating peaks based on Roman Numerals, with Kangchenjunga named Peak IX, while peak 'b' now became known as Peak XV.

In 1852, stationed at the survey's headquarters in Dehradun, Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician and surveyor from Bengal, was the first to identify Everest as the world's highest peak, using trigonometric calculations based on Nicolson's measurements.[8] An official announcement that Peak XV was the highest was delayed for several years as the calculations were repeatedly verified. Waugh began work on Nicolson's data in 1854, and along with his staff spent almost two years working on the calculations, having to deal with the problems of light refraction, barometric pressure, and temperature over the vast distances of the observations. Finally, in March 1856 he announced his findings in a letter to his deputy in Kolkata. Kangchenjunga was declared to be 28,156 ft (8,582 m), while Peak XV was given the height of 29,002 ft (8,840 m). Waugh concluded that Peak XV was "most probably the highest in the world". In fact, Peak XV (measured in feet) was calculated to be exactly 29,000 ft (8,839.2 m) high, but was publicly declared to be 29,002 ft (8,839.8 m). The arbitrary addition of 2 ft (61 cm) was to avoid the impression that an exact height of 29,000 feet (8,839.2 m) was nothing more than a rounded estimate.

Naming

With the height now established, what to name the peak was clearly the next challenge. While the survey was anxious to preserve local names if possible (e.g. Kangchenjunga and Dhaulagiri) Waugh argued that he was unable to find any commonly used local name. Waugh's search for a local name was hampered by Nepal and Tibet being closed to foreigners at the time. Many local names existed, with perhaps the best known in Tibet for several centuries being Chomolungma, which had appeared on a 1733 map published in Paris by the French geographer D'Anville. However, Waugh argued that with the plethora of local names, it would be difficult to favour one specific name over all others. So, he decided that Peak XV should be named after George Everest, his predecessor as Surveyor General of India.[7][10] He wrote:

I was taught by my respected chief and predecessor, Colonel Sir George Everest to assign to every geographical object its true local or native appellation. But here is a mountain, most probably the highest in the world, without any local name that we can discover, whose native appellation, if it has any, will not very likely be ascertained before we are allowed to penetrate into Nepal. In the meantime the privilege as well as the duty devolves on me to assign…a name whereby it may be known among citizens and geographers and become a household word among civilized nations.[11]

George Everest opposed the name suggested by Waugh and told the Royal Geographical Society in 1857 that Everest could not be written in Hindi nor pronounced by "the native of India". Waugh's proposed name prevailed despite the objections, and in 1865, the Royal Geographical Society officially adopted Mount Everest as the name for the highest mountain in the world.[7] Interestingly, the modern pronunciation of Everest /ˈɛvərɨst, ˈɛvrɨst/[12] is in fact different from Sir George's pronunciation of his surname, which was /ˈiːvrɨst/.[13]
 
Aerial view of Mount Everest from the south

The Tibetan name for Mount Everest is Chomolungma or Qomolangma , and the Chinese transliteration is Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng (simplified Chinese: 珠穆朗玛峰; traditional Chinese: 珠穆朗瑪峰), which refers to Earth Mother; the Chinese translation is Shèngmǔ Fēng (simplified Chinese: 圣母峰; traditional Chinese: 聖母峰), which refers to Holy Mother. According to English accounts of the mid-19th century, the local name in Darjeeling for Mount Everest was Deodungha (meaning "holy mountain").

In the late 19th century, many European cartographers incorrectly believed that a native name for the mountain was Gaurisankar. This was a result of confusion of Mount Everest with the actual Gauri Sankar, which, when viewed from Kathmandu, stands almost directly in front of Everest.[citation needed]

In the early 1960s, the Nepalese government gave Mount Everest the official name Sagarmāthā (सगरमाथा). This name had not previously been used; the local inhabitants knew the mountain as Chomolungma. The mountain was not known and named in ethnic Nepal (that is, the Kathmandu valley and surrounding areas).[citation needed] The government set out to find a Nepalese name for the mountain because the Sherpa/Tibetan name Chomolangma was not acceptable, as it would have been against the idea of unification (Nepalization) of the country.[citation needed]

In 2002, the Chinese People's Daily newspaper published an article making a case against the continued use of the English name for the mountain in the Western world, insisting that it should be referred to by its Tibetan name. The newspaper argued that the Chinese (in nature a Tibetan) name preceded the English one, as Mount Qomolangma was marked on a Chinese map more than 280 years ago.

Measurement
 
Another aerial view of Mount Everest from the south, with Lhotse in front and Nuptse on the left

In 1856, Andrew Waugh announced Everest (then known as Peak XV) as 29,002 ft high, after several years of calculations based on observations made by the Great Trigonometric Survey.

More recently, the mountain has been found to be 8,848 m (29,029 ft) high, although there is some variation in the measurements. On 9 October 2005, after several months of measurement and calculation, the PRC's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping officially announced the height of Everest as 8,844.43 m (29,017.16 ft) with accuracy of ±0.21 m (0.69 ft). They claimed it was the most accurate and precise measurement to date. This height is based on the actual highest point of rock and not on the snow and ice covering it. The Chinese team also measured a snow/ice depth of 3.5 m (11 ft),[19] which is in agreement with a net elevation of 8,848 m (29,029 ft). The snow and ice thickness varies over time, making a definitive height of the snow cap impossible to determine.

The elevation of 8,848 m (29,029 ft) was first determined by an Indian survey in 1955, made closer to the mountain, also using theodolites. It was subsequently reaffirmed by a 1975 Chinese measurement.[19] In both cases the snow cap, not the rock head, was measured. In May 1999 an American Everest Expedition, directed by Bradford Washburn, anchored a GPS unit into the highest bedrock. A rock head elevation of 8,850 m (29,035 ft), and a snow/ice elevation 1 m (3 ft) higher, were obtained via this device.[20] Although it has not been officially recognized by Nepal, this figure is widely quoted. Geoid uncertainty casts doubt upon the accuracy claimed by both the 1999 and 2005 surveys.

A detailed photogrammetric map (at a scale of 1:50,000) of the Khumbu region, including the south side of Mount Everest, was made by Erwin Schneider as part of the 1955 International Himalayan Expedition, which also attempted Lhotse. An even more detailed topographic map of the Everest area was made in the late 1980s under the direction of Bradford Washburn, using extensive aerial photography.

It is thought that the plate tectonics of the area are adding to the height and moving the summit northeastwards. Two accounts suggest the rates of change are 4 mm (0.16 in) per year (upwards) and 3 to 6 mm (0.12 to 0.24 in) per year (northeastwards), but another account mentions more lateral movement (27 mm/1.1 in),[24] and even shrinkage has been suggested.

Comparisons

Everest is the mountain whose summit attains the greatest distance above sea level. Several other mountains are sometimes claimed as alternative "tallest mountains on Earth". Mauna Kea in Hawaii is tallest when measured from its base;[26] it rises over 10,200 m (6.3 mi) when measured from its base on the mid-ocean floor, but only attains 4,205 m (13,796 ft) above sea level.

By the same measure of base[26] to summit, Mount McKinley, in Alaska, is also taller than Everest. Despite its height above sea level of only 6,193.6 m (20,320 ft), Mount McKinley sits atop a sloping plain with elevations from 300 m (980 ft) to 900 m (3,000 ft), yielding a height above base in the range of 5,300 to 5,900 m (17,000 to 19,000 ft); a commonly quoted figure is 5,600 m (18,400 ft).[27] By comparison, reasonable base elevations for Everest range from 4,200 m (13,800 ft) on the south side to 5,200 m (17,100 ft) on the Tibetan Plateau, yielding a height above base in the range of 3,650 to 4,650 m (12,000 to 15,300 ft).

The summit of Chimborazo in Ecuador is 2,168 m (7,113 ft) farther from the Earth's centre (6,384.4 km (3,967.1 mi)) than that of Everest (6,382.3 km (3,965.8 mi)), because the Earth bulges at the Equator. However, Chimborazo attains a height of only 6,267 m (20,561 ft) above sea level, and by this criterion it is not even the highest peak of the Andes.

Climbing routes

Southern and northern climbing routes as seen from the International Space Station.

Mt. Everest has two main climbing routes, the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet, as well as many other less frequently climbed routes.[28] Of the two main routes, the southeast ridge is technically easier and is the more frequently-used route. It was the route used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953 and the first recognized of fifteen routes to the top by 1996.[28] This was, however, a route decision dictated more by politics than by design as the Chinese border was closed to the western world in the 1950s after the People's Republic of China took over Tibet.

Most attempts are made during May before the summer monsoon season. As the monsoon season approaches, a change in the jet stream at this time pushes it northward, thereby reducing the average wind speeds high on the mountain.[30][31] While attempts are sometimes made after the monsoons in September and October, when the jet stream is again temporarily pushed northward, the additional snow deposited by the monsoons and the less stable weather patterns (tail end of the monsoon) makes climbing extremely difficult.
Southeast ridge

The ascent via the southeast ridge begins with a trek to Base Camp at 5,380 m (17,700 ft) on the south side of Everest in Nepal. Expeditions usually fly into Lukla (2,860 m) from Kathmandu and pass through Namche Bazaar. Climbers then hike to Base Camp, which usually takes six to eight days, allowing for proper altitude acclimatization in order to prevent altitude sickness.[32] Climbing equipment and supplies are carried by yaks, dzopkyos (yak hybrids) and human porters to Base Camp on the Khumbu Glacier. When Hillary and Tenzing climbed Everest in 1953, they started from Kathmandu Valley, as there were no roads further east at that time.

Climbers will spend a couple of weeks in Base Camp, acclimatizing to the altitude. During that time, Sherpas and some expedition climbers will set up ropes and ladders in the treacherous Khumbu Icefall. Seracs, crevasses and shifting blocks of ice make the icefall one of the most dangerous sections of the route. Many climbers and Sherpas have been killed in this section. To reduce the hazard, climbers will usually begin their ascent well before dawn when the freezing temperatures glue ice blocks in place. Above the icefall is Camp I at 6,065 metres (19,900 ft).

From Camp I, climbers make their way up the Western Cwm to the base of the Lhotse face, where Camp II or Advanced Base Camp (ABC) is established at 6,500 m (21,300 ft). The Western Cwm is a relatively flat, gently rising glacial valley, marked by huge lateral crevasses in the centre which prevent direct access to the upper reaches of the Cwm. Climbers are forced to cross on the far right near the base of Nuptse to a small passageway known as the "Nuptse corner". The Western Cwm is also called the "Valley of Silence" as the topography of the area generally cuts off wind from the climbing route. The high altitude and a clear, windless day can make the Western Cwm unbearably hot for climbers.

From ABC, climbers ascend the Lhotse face on fixed ropes up to Camp III, located on a small ledge at 7,470 m (24,500 ft). From there, it is another 500 metres to Camp IV on the South Col at 7,920 m (26,000 ft). From Camp III to Camp IV, climbers are faced with two additional challenges: The Geneva Spur and The Yellow Band. The Geneva Spur is an anvil shaped rib of black rock named by a 1952 Swiss expedition. Fixed ropes assist climbers in scrambling over this snow covered rock band. The Yellow Band is a section of interlayered marble, phyllite, and semischist which also requires about 100 metres of rope for traversing it.

On the South Col, climbers enter the death zone. Climbers typically only have a maximum of two or three days they can endure at this altitude for making summit bids. Clear weather and low winds are critical factors in deciding whether to make a summit attempt. If weather does not cooperate within these short few days, climbers are forced to descend, many all the way back down to Base Camp.
 
A view of Everest southeast ridge base camp. The Khumbu Icefall can be seen in the left. In the center are the remains of a helicopter that crashed in 2003.

From Camp IV, climbers will begin their summit push around midnight with hopes of reaching the summit (still another 1,000 metres above) within 10 to 12 hours. Climbers will first reach "The Balcony" at 8,400 m (27,600 ft), a small platform where they can rest and gaze at peaks to the south and east in the early dawn of light. Continuing up the ridge, climbers are then faced with a series of imposing rock steps which usually forces them to the east into waist deep snow, a serious avalanche hazard. At 8,750 m (28,700 ft), a small table-sized dome of ice and snow marks the South Summit.

From the South Summit, climbers follow the knife-edge southeast ridge along what is known as the "Cornice traverse" where snow clings to intermittent rock. This is the most exposed section of the climb as a misstep to the left would send one 2,400 m (8,000 ft) down the southwest face while to the immediate right is the 3,050 m (10,000 ft) Kangshung face. At the end of this traverse is an imposing 12 m (40 ft) rock wall called the "Hillary Step" at 8,760 m (28,740 ft).

Hillary and Tenzing were the first climbers to ascend this step and they did it with primitive ice climbing equipment and with ropes. Nowadays, climbers will ascend this step using fixed ropes previously set up by Sherpas. Once above the step, it is a comparatively easy climb to the top on moderately angled snow slopes - though the exposure on the ridge is extreme especially while traversing very large cornices of snow. With increasing numbers of people climbing the mountain in recent years, the Step has frequently become a bottleneck, with climbers forced to wait significant amounts of time for their turn on the ropes, leading to problems in getting climbers efficiently up and down the mountain. After the Hillary Step, climbers also must traverse a very loose and rocky section that has a very large entanglement of fixed ropes that can be troublesome in bad weather. Climbers will typically spend less than a half-hour on the "top of the world" as they realize the need to descend to Camp IV before darkness sets in, afternoon weather becomes a serious problem, or supplemental oxygen tanks run out.
Northeast ridge

The northeast ridge route begins from the north side of Everest in Tibet. Expeditions trek to the Rongbuk Glacier, setting up Base Camp at 5,180 m (16,990 ft) on a gravel plain just below the glacier. To reach Camp II, climbers ascend the medial moraine of the east Rongbuk Glacier up to the base of Changtse at around 6,100 m (20,000 ft). Camp III (ABC - Advanced Base Camp) is situated below the North Col at 6,500 m (21,300 ft). To reach Camp IV on the north col, climbers ascend the glacier to the foot of the col where fixed ropes are used to reach the North Col at 7,010 m (23,000 ft). From the North Col, climbers ascend the rocky north ridge to set up Camp V at around 7,775 m (25,500 ft). The route crosses the North Face in a diagonal climb to the base of the Yellow Band reaching the site of Camp VI at 8,230 m (27,000 ft). From Camp VI, climbers will make their final summit push. Climbers face a treacherous traverse from the base of the First Step: 27,890 feet - 28,000 feet, to the crux of the climb, the Second Step: 28,140 feet - 28,300 feet. (The Second Step includes a climbing aid called the "Chinese ladder", a metal ladder placed semi-permanently in 1975 by a party of Chinese climbers. It has been almost continuously in place since, and is used by virtually all climbers on the route.) Once above the Second Step the inconsequential Third Step is clambered over: 28,510 feet - 28,870 feet. Once above these steps, the summit pyramid is climbed by means of a snow slope of 50 degrees, to the final summit ridge along which the top is reached.

In 1885, Clinton Thomas Dent, president of the Alpine Club, suggested that climbing Mount Everest was possible in his book Above the Snow Line.

The northern approach to the mountain was discovered by George Mallory on the first expedition in 1921. It was an exploratory expedition not equipped for a serious attempt to climb the mountain. With Mallory leading (and thus becoming the first European to set foot on Everest's flanks) they climbed the North Col 7,007 metres (22,989 ft). From there, Mallory espied a route to the top, but the party was unprepared for the great task of climbing any further and descended.

The British returned for a 1922 expedition. George Finch ("The other George") climbed using oxygen for the first time. He ascended at a remarkable speed — 950 feet (290 m) per hour, and reached an altitude of 8,320 m (27,300 ft), the first time a human climbed higher than 8,000m. This feat was entirely lost on the British climbing establishment — except for its "unsporting" nature. Mallory and Col. Felix Norton made a second unsuccessful attempt. Mallory was faulted for leading a group down from the North Col which got caught in an avalanche. Mallory was pulled down too, but seven native porters were killed.

The next Expedition was in 1924. The initial attempt by Mallory and Bruce, was aborted when weather conditions precluded the establishment of Camp VI. The next attempt was that of Norton and Somervell who climbed without oxygen and in perfect weather, traversing the North Face into the Great Couloir. Norton managed to reach 8,558 metres (28,077 ft), though he ascended only 100 feet (30 m) or so in the last hour. Mallory rustled up oxygen equipment for a last-ditch effort. He chose the young Andrew Irvine as his partner.

On 8 June 1924 George Mallory and Andrew Irvine made an attempt on the summit via the North Col/North Ridge/Northeast Ridge route from which they never returned. On 1 May 1999 the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition found Mallory's body on the North Face in a snow basin below and to the west of the traditional site of Camp VI. Controversy has raged in the mountaineering community as to whether or not one or both of them reached the summit 29 years before the confirmed ascent (and of course, safe descent) of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

In 1933, Lady Houston, a British millionaire ex-showgirl, funded the Houston Everest Flight of 1933, which saw a formation of aircraft led by the Marquess of Clydesdale fly over the summit in an effort to deploy the British Union Flag at the top.

Early expeditions — such as Bruce's in the 1920s and Hugh Ruttledge's two unsuccessful attempts in 1933 and 1936 — tried to make an ascent of the mountain from Tibet, via the north face. Access was closed from the north to western expeditions in 1950, after the Chinese asserted control over Tibet. In 1950, Bill Tilman and a small party which included Charles Houston, Oscar Houston and Betsy Cowles undertook an exploratory expedition to Everest through Nepal along the route which has now become the standard approach to Everest from the south.

In the spring of 1952 a Swiss expedition, lead by Edouard Wyss-Dunant was granted permission to attempt a climb from Nepal. The expedition established a route through the Khumbu ice fall and ascended to the South Col at an elevation of 7,986 metres (26,201 ft). Raymond Lambert and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were able to reach a height of about 8,595 metres (28,199 ft) on the southeast ridge, setting a new climbing altitude record. Tenzing's experience was useful when he was hired to be part of the British expedition in 1953.

In 1953, a ninth British expedition, led by John Hunt, returned to Nepal. Hunt selected two climbing pairs to attempt to reach the summit. The first pair (Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans) came within 100 m (300 feet) of the summit on 26 May 1953, but turned back after becoming exhausted. As planned, their work in route finding and breaking trail and their caches of extra oxygen were of great aid to the following pair. Two days later, the expedition made its second and final assault on the summit with its second climbing pair, the New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, a sherpa climber from India and Nepal. They reached the summit at 11:30 a.m. local time on 29 May 1953 via the South Col Route. At the time, both acknowledged it as a team effort by the whole expedition, but Tenzing revealed a few years later that Hillary had put his foot on the summit first.[40] They paused at the summit to take photographs and buried a few sweets and a small cross in the snow before descending.

News of the expedition's success reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, June 2. Returning to Kathmandu a few days later, Hunt (a Briton) and Hillary (a subject of Elizabeth, through her role as head of state of New Zealand) discovered that they had been promptly knighted in the Order of the British Empire, a KBE, for the ascent. Tenzing (a subject of the King of Nepal) was granted the George Medal by the UK. Hunt was ultimately made a life peer in Britain, while Hillary became a founding member of the Order of New Zealand.

On 8 May 1978, Reinhold Messner (Italy) and Peter Habeler (Austria) made the first ascent without supplemental oxygen, using the southeast ridge route.[28][41] On 20 August 1980, Messner reached the summit of the mountain solo for the first time, without supplementary oxygen or support, on the more difficult Northwest route via the North Col to the North Face and the Great Couloir. He climbed for three days entirely alone from his base camp at 6,500 metres (21,300 ft).

In 1980, a team from Poland led by Andrzej Zawada, Leszek Cichy, and Krzysztof Wielicki became the first to reach the summit during the winter season.

During the 1996 climbing season, fifteen people died trying to come down from the summit, making it the deadliest single year in Everest history. Eight of them died on 11 May alone. The disaster gained wide publicity and raised questions about the commercialization of Everest.

Journalist Jon Krakauer, on assignment from Outside magazine, was in one of the affected parties, and afterwards published the bestseller Into Thin Air, which related his experience. Anatoli Boukreev, a guide who felt impugned by Krakauer's book, co-authored a rebuttal book called The Climb. The dispute sparked a large debate within the climbing community. In May 2004, Kent Moore, a physicist, and John L. Semple, a surgeon, both researchers from the University of Toronto, told New Scientist magazine that an analysis of weather conditions on 11 May suggested that freak weather caused oxygen levels to plunge approximately 14%.

The storm's impact on climbers on the mountain's other side, the North Ridge, where several climbers also died, was detailed in a first hand account by British filmmaker and writer Matt Dickinson in his book The Other Side of Everest.

On 14 May 2005, pilot Didier Delsalle of France landed a Eurocopter AS 350 B3 helicopter on the summit of Mount Everest[44] (without any witness) and took off after about four minutes. (His rotors were continually engaged, constituting a "hover landing", and avoiding the risks of relying on the snow to support the aircraft.) He thereby set rotorcraft world records, for highest of both landing (de facto) and take-off (formally).

Double-amputee climber Mark Inglis revealed in an interview with the press on 23 May 2006,[47] that his climbing party, and many others, had passed a distressed climber, David Sharp, on 15 May, sheltering under a rock overhang 450 metres below the summit, without attempting a rescue. The revelation sparked wide debate on climbing ethics, especially as applied to Everest. The climbers who left him said that the rescue efforts would have been useless and only have caused more deaths. Much of this controversy was captured by the Discovery Channel while filming the television program Everest: Beyond the Limit. A crucial decision affecting the fate of Sharp is shown in the program, where an early returning climber (Max Chaya) is descending and radios to his base camp manager (Russell Brice) that he has found a climber in distress. He is unable to identify Sharp, who had chosen to climb solo without any support and so did not identify himself to other climbers. The base camp manager assumes that Sharp is part of a group that has abandoned him, and informs his climber that there is no chance of him being able to help Sharp. As Sharp's condition deteriorates through the day and other descending climbers pass him, his opportunities for rescue diminish: his legs and feet curl from frostbite, preventing him from walking; the later descending climbers are lower on oxygen and lack the strength to offer aid; time runs out for any Sherpas to return and rescue him. Most importantly, Sharp's decision to forgo all support leaves him with no margin for recovery.

As this debate raged, on 26 May, Australian climber Lincoln Hall was found alive, after being declared dead the day before. He was found by a party of four climbers (Dan Mazur, Andrew Brash, Myles Osborne and Jangbu Sherpa) who, giving up their own summit attempt, stayed with Hall and descended with him and a party of 11 Sherpas sent up to carry him down. Hall later fully recovered. Similar actions have been recorded since, including on 21 May 2007, when Canadian climber Meagan McGrath initiated the successful high-altitude rescue of Nepali Usha Bista.


China paved a 130 km (81 mi) dirt road from Tingri County to its Base Camp in order to accommodate growing numbers of climbers on the north side of the mountain. It will become the highest asphalt-paved road in the world. Construction began on 18 June 2007 at a cost of 150 million yuan (US$19.7 million). China also routed the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay over Everest, via the North Col route, on the way to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. A China Telecom cellular tower near the Base Camp provides phone coverage all the way to the summit.

According to the Nepalese government, the youngest person to climb Mount Everest was Ming Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Sherpa girl,[50] and the youngest non-Nepalese was 17-year-old Malibu resident Johnny Strange in May 2009.[51] Apa Sherpa holds the record for reaching the summit more times than any other person (19 times as of May 2009).

The fastest ascent over the northeast ridge was accomplished in 2007 by Austrian climber Christian Stangl, who needed 16h 42min for the 10 km distance from Camp III to the summit, just barely beating Italian Hans Kammerlander's record of 17 hours, accomplished in 1996. Both men climbed alone and without supplementary oxygen. The fastest oxygen-supported ascent over the southeast ridge was Nepalese Pemba Dorjie Sherpa's 2004 climb, using 8h 10min for the 17 km route. The fastest ascent without supplementary oxygen over the southeast ridge was accomplished by French Marc Batard who needed 22h 30min in 1988.

The first descent on ski was accomplished in 2000 by Davo Karnicar.

The oldest climber to successfully reach Mt. Everest's summit is 76-year-old Min Bahadur Sherchan, who did so 25 May 2008 from the Nepal side. Sherchan beat the previous record set in 2007 by 71 year old Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

While conditions classifying an area as a death zone apply to Mount Everest (altitudes higher than 8,000 m/26,246 ft), it is significantly more difficult for a climber to survive at the death zone on Mount Everest.[citation needed] Temperatures can dip to very low levels, resulting in frostbite of any body part exposed to the air. Since temperatures are so low, snow is well-frozen in certain areas and death by slipping and falling can also occur. High winds at these altitudes on Everest are also a potential threat to climbers. The atmospheric pressure at the top of Everest is about a third of sea level pressure, meaning there is about a third as much oxygen available to breathe as at sea level.

In May 2007, the Caudwell Xtreme Everest undertook a medical study of oxygen levels in human blood at extreme altitude. Over 200 volunteers climbed to Everest Base Camp where various medical tests were performed to examine blood oxygen levels. A small team also performed tests on the way to the summit.

Even at base camp the low level of available oxygen had direct effect on blood oxygen saturation levels. At sea level these are usually 98% to 99%, but at base camp this fell to between 85% and 87%. Blood samples taken at the summit indicated very low levels of oxygen present. A side effect of this is a vastly increased breathing rate, from 20-30 breaths per minute to 80-90 breaths, leading to exhaustion just trying to breathe.[citation needed]

Lack of oxygen, exhaustion, extreme cold, and the dangers of the climb all contribute to the death toll. A person who is injured so he can't walk himself is in serious trouble since it is often extremely risky to try to carry someone out, and generally impractical to use a helicopter.

People who die during the climb are typically left behind. About 150 bodies have never been recovered. It is not uncommon to find corpses near the standard climbing routes.
 
Most expeditions use oxygen masks and tanks above 8,000 m (26,246 ft). Everest can be climbed without supplementary oxygen, but this increases the risk to the climber. Humans do not think clearly with low oxygen, and the combination of extreme weather, low temperatures, and steep slopes often require quick, accurate decisions.

The use of bottled oxygen to ascend Mount Everest has been controversial. George Mallory himself described the use of such oxygen as unsportsmanlike, but he later concluded that it would be impossible to summit without it and consequently used it. When Tenzing and Hillary made the first successful summit in 1953, they used bottled oxygen. For the next twenty-five years, bottled oxygen was considered standard for any successful summit.

Reinhold Messner was the first climber to break the bottled oxygen tradition and in 1978, with Peter Habeler, made the first successful climb without it. Although critics alleged that he sucked mini-bottles of oxygen - a claim that Messner denied - Messner silenced them when he summited the mountain solo, without supplemental oxygen or any porters or climbing partners, on the more difficult northwest route, in 1980.

The aftermath of the 1996 disaster further intensified the debate. Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air (1997) expressed the author's personal criticisms of the use of bottled oxygen. Krakauer wrote that the use of bottled oxygen allowed otherwise unqualified climbers to attempt to summit, leading to dangerous situations and more deaths. The 11 May 1996 disaster was partially caused by the sheer number of climbers (34 on that day) attempting to ascend, causing bottlenecks at the Hillary Step and delaying many climbers, most of whom summited after the usual 2 p.m. turnaround time. He proposed banning bottled oxygen except for emergency cases, arguing that this would both decrease the growing pollution on Everest—many bottles have accumulated on its slopes—and keep marginally qualified climbers off the mountain.

The 1996 disaster also introduced the issue of the guide's role in using bottled oxygen. Guide Anatoli Boukreev's decision not to use bottled oxygen was sharply criticized by Jon Krakauer. Boukreev's supporters (who include G. Weston DeWalt, who co-wrote The Climb) state that using bottled oxygen gives a false sense of security. Krakauer and his supporters point out that, without bottled oxygen, Boukreev was unable to directly help his clients descend. They state that Boukreev said that he was going down with client Martin Adams, but just below the South Summit, Boukreev determines that Adams was doing fine on the descent and so descends at a faster pace, leaving Adams behind. Adams states in The Climb: "For me, it was business as usual, Anatoli's going by, and I had no problems with that."

Some climbers have reported life-threatening thefts from supply caches. Vitor Negrete, the first Brazilian to climb Everest without oxygen and part of David Sharp's party, died during his descent, and theft from his high-altitude camp may have contributed.

In addition to theft, the 2008 book High Crimes by Michael Kodas describes unethical guides and Sherpas, prostitution and gambling at the Tibet Base Camp, fraud related to the sale of oxygen bottles, and climbers collecting donations under the pretense of removing trash from the mountain.

Euophrys omnisuperstes, a minute black jumping spider, has been found at elevations as high as 6,700 metres (22,000 ft), possibly making it the highest confirmed non-microscopic permanent resident on Earth. It lurks in crevices and may feed on frozen insects that have been blown there by the wind. It should be noted that there is a high likelihood of microscopic life at even higher altitudes.[66] Birds, such as the Bar-headed Goose, have been seen flying at the higher altitudes of the mountain, while others, such as the Chough, have been spotted as high as the South Col (7,920 m)[67] scavenging on food, or even corpses, left by prior climbing expeditions.
Geology
 

Geologists have subdivided the rocks comprising Mount Everest into three units called "formations".[68][69] Each of these formations are separated from each other by low-angle faults, called “detachments”, along which they have been thrust over each other. From the summit of Mount Everest to its base these rock units are the Qomolangma Formation, the North Col Formation, and the Rongbuk Formation.

From its summit to the top of the Yellow Band, about 8,600 m (28,000 ft) above sea level, the top of Mount Everest consists of the Qomolangma Formation, which has also been designated as either the Everest Formation or Jolmo Lungama Formation. It consists of grayish to dark gray or white, parallel laminated and bedded, Ordovician limestone interlayered with subordinate beds of recrystallized dolomite with argillaceous laminae and siltstone. Gansser first reported finding microscopic fragments of crinoids in these limestones.[70] Later petrographic analysis of samples of the limestones from near the summit revealed them to be composed of carbonate pellets and finely fragmented remains of trilobites, crinoids, and ostracods. Other samples were so badly sheared and recrystallized that their original constituents could not be determined. A thick, white-weathering thrombolite bed that is 60 m (200 ft) thick comprises the foot of the "Third Step," and base of the summit pyramid of Everest. This bed, which crops out starting about 70 m (300 ft) below the summit of Mount Everest, consists of sediments trapped, bound, and cemented by the biofilms of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria, in shallow marine waters. The Qomolangma Formation is broken up by several high-angle faults that terminate at the low angle thrust fault, the Qomolangma Detachment. This detachment separates it from the underlying Yellow Band. The lower five metres of the Qomolangma Formation overlying this detachment are very highly deformed.

The bulk of Mount Everest, between 7,000 and 8,600 m (23,000 and 28,200 ft), consists of the North Col Formation, of which the Yellow Band forms its upper part between 8,200 to 8,600 m (26,900 to 28,200 ft). The Yellow Band consists of intercalated beds of Middle Cambrian diopsite-epidote-bearing marble, which weathers a distinctive yellowish brown, and muscovite-biotite phyllite and semischist. Petrographic analysis of marble collected from about 8,300 m (27,200 ft) found it to consist as much as five percent of the ghosts of recrystallized crinoid ossicles. The upper five metres of the Yellow Band lying adjacent to the Qomolangma Detachment is badly deformed. A 5–40 cm (2–16 in) thick fault breccia separates it from the overlying Qomolangma Formation.

The remainder of the North Col Formation, exposed between 7,000 to 8,200 m (23,000 to 26,900 ft) on Mount Everest, consists of interlayered and deformed schist, phyllite, and minor marble. Between 7,600 and 8,200 m (24,900 and 26,900 ft), the North Col Formation consists chiefly of biotite-quartz phyllite and chlorite-biotite phyllite intercalated with minor amounts of biotite-sericite-quartz schist. Between 7,000 and 7,600 m (23,000 and 24,900 ft), the lower part of the North Col Formation consists of biotite-quartz schist intercalated with epidote-quartz schist, biotite-calcite-quartz schist, and thin layers of quartzose marble. These metamorphic rocks appear to the result of the metamorphism of late Middle Cambrian deep sea flysch composed of interbedded, mudstone, shale, clayey sandstone, calcareous sandstone, graywacke, and sandy limestone. The base of the North Col Formation is a regional thrust fault called the "Lhotse detachment".

Below 7,000 m (23,000 ft), the Rongbuk Formation underlies the North Col Formation and forms the base of Mount Everest. It consists of sillminite-K-feldspar grade schist and gneiss intruded by numerous sills and dikes of leucogranite ranging in thickness from 1 cm to 1,500 m (0.4 in to 4,900 ft).

Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar (नाम्चे बजार−also Nemche Bazaar or Namche Bazar) is a village and Village Development Committee (Namche) in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. It is located within the Khumbu area at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) (the low point that is), populating the sides of a hill. Namche is the main trading center for the Khumbu region with many Nepalese officials, a police check, post and a bank.

At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 1647 people residing in 397 individual households.

Geography

Immediately west of Namche is Kongde Ri at 6,187 metres (20,299 ft) and to the east is Thamserku at 6,623 metres (21,729 ft). Namche has a permanent population of around 800.

Transport

On a hill overlooking Namche Bazaar is the Shyangboche Airstrip (3,750m / 12,303 ft). This is not generally used as its surface of loose pebbles makes it unsuitable for fixed wing aircraft, but it does enable visitors to reach Namche Bazaar by helicopter.

Tourism

Almost everyone trekking in the Khumbu region will visit Namche Bazaar, as it is the gateway to the high Himalaya. Visitors are likely stay at least one night, if not two for altitude acclimatization. The village has many shops and lodges where one can find almost anything required for trekking (no camera repair shops), although prices are higher than in Kathmandu. However, the higher you go up into the Khumbu, the more expensive everything gets so by the time you reach Lobuche (4,930m/16,175'), the prices in Namche will seem quite reasonable. Near the top of the village is the headquarters for Sagarmatha National Park as well as Nepalese army barracks. From the bridge over the Dudh Kosi, the trail winds its way up a "big" hill, finally cresting at a small building which also serves as an army/police check point.
 

Many trekkers get up before sunrise and walk up to the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters to take in the impressive views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Thamserku, Ama Dablam (6,856m/22,493') and other magnificent peaks (though these can only be seen on a clear day) and to visit the museum. Pictures of peaks to the west from this vantage point such as Kongde Ri, cannot be taken as the army barracks are between you and these mountains. The army does not permit pictures to be taken of the barracks. Because of the proximity of the army barracks, the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarters is surrounded by a large amount of barbed wire.
 

A good acclimatisation walk from Namche Bazaar goes to Everest View Hotel, which is at an altitude of 3,800m / 12,467 ft. As the name suggests, the hotel gives good views of Everest (when it is not enveloped in cloud) and this is generally considered the best view in the surrounding area. Everest View Hotel is a luxury hotel, which has had mixed success. Although the rooms are oxygenated, many guests have become sick. The hotel does, however, have the only decent restaurant serving western food in the region.

On Saturday mornings, a weekly market is held in the center of the village. People from all around the Namche area come to sell their wares, to locals and to visitors alike. The market usually starts around sunrise and begins to break up around 11 am. Also, there may be a daily Tibetan market where clothing and cheap Chinese consumer goods tend to be the main articles for sale. Tibetan merchants have traditionally come to the market by way of high passes through the Himalayas, however the Chinese currently disallow this passage.

Namche Bazaar has many internet cafés, making it the one of the few places in the region where trekkers can access the internet. The internet cafés connect via satellites and so the resulting connection speed is slow.

The village also contains a German bakery, well known in the region for providing good quality western food, including pizza.

RULES FOR TOURIST IN NEPAL

Provisions of Immigration Regulation -1994

Right of Nepal Government:
All powers to grant or not to grant visa to any foreigner shall be vested in Nepal Government
Nepal Government May allow to enter into Nepal to the citizen of any friendly country with out visa on the basis of reciprocity.

Immigration regulation clause 3, 1994

Power to refuse to issue visa or to grant permission to enter into Nepal:
Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in these Rules, the Immigration Officer may, at the every entry point, refuse to issue a visa to, or to grant permission to enter into Nepal , to the following foreigners:
Whose passports and visas have been found doubtful,
Who have been expelled for the commission of any acts contrary to the Act or these Rules, or who have been prohibited from entering into Nepal.
Who have already expended the period of stay according to this regulation.
The traveling documents of the foreigner willing to enter, seems doubtful

- Immigration regulation clause 13, 1994

Power to prohibit the departure from Nepal:
The Department or Immigration Office may prohibit the following individuals from departing from Nepal:
Who have not valid passport and visas to enter into the country which they have intended to enter into,
About whom information, with the reason therefor, has been received from any authorized official for the prohibition of the departure from Nepal.

- Immigration regulation clause 14, 1994

Visa Issuing, Regularising and Renewing Authority
The following visa shall be issued and granted by the following authority Category of Visa and its issuing and renewing authority-
Category of visa
Visa Issuing, Regularising and Renewing Authority

a. Diplomatic visa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Provided, however, that the mission or the Immigration Office at the entry point may issue the diplomatic visa (as an entry visa) for a period of up to 30 days.

b. Official visa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Provided, that the mission or the Immigration Office at the entry point may issue the official visa (as an entry visa) for a period of up to 30 days.

c. Tourist visa The Immigration Officer of the entry point or the mission for fifteen days, thirty days, and ninety days entry visa in visa year.
The Director General for renewal the validity of visa and regularize to the tourist who have already entered into Nepal by obtaining entry visa.
But the immigration officer of the entry point may regularize the visa for fifteen days at departure time if the validity not exceeding 150 days.

d. Study visa
The Director General,

e. Non tourist visas In the case of foreigner pursuant to Clause (g) of Rule 8, Nepalese Embassy or Permanent Diplomatic Mission located in the foreign country or Director General,
In the case of foreigner pursuant to Clause (1) of Rule 8, the Director General with the approval of Nepal Government.
In the case of foreigner pursuant to other Clauses of Rule 8, the Director General.

f. Business visa
The Director General,

g. Transit visa
The mission or Immigration Officer,

h. Residential visa
For first one year the Department by obtaining approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs and The Department for renewal.
But the Department shall issue visa on the recommendation of the Department of Industries to the foreign invester as per clause (1) of sub-rule (1) of rule 11 and their dependant family.

i. Non-Residential Nepalese visa
For the first time, the Mission or the Department with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department for renewal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall, on a monthly basis, furnish the Department with the details setting out the name, nationality, passport number and visa period of the persons to whom visas have been issued under clauses (a) and (b) of sub rule (1).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall, on a monthly basis, furnish the Department with the details of revenue collected while issuing visas by the mission under the clauses other than clauses (a) and (b) of sub rule (1)
If the recommendation for visa has been made from the concerned agency, the Visa Issuing Officer shall have to decide visa generally within seven days from the date of registration of such recommendation.

- Immigration regulation clause 12, 1994

Provisions Concerning Visa
Diplomatic visa:
Except be issued to a person holding a diplomatic passport issued from any country and recommended from the concerned foreign diplomatic mission for the diplomatic visa, to a person considered fit to be granted diplomatic privileges by Nepal Government and the family members of such person holding the diplomatic passport.
The diplomatic visa shall be issued on the basis of reciprocity; the term thereof may be extended at a time or from time to time for the term of the assignment in Nepal.
An application for the diplomatic visa has to be made in the format as referred to in Appendix 1. Provided, however that the application as referred to in Appendix 1 is not required to be submitted if request or recommendation, accompanied by the details, is made by a foreign diplomatic mission or a body authorised therefor.

- Immigration regulation clause 4, 1994

Official visa:
1. The official visa shall be granted to the persons considered fit the following foreigners and their family upon recommendation of the concerned foreign diplomatic mission

Administrative, technical and non diplomatic officials serving in a residential or non residential diplomatic mission, Consulate for Nepal and incumbent Nepalese honorary Consul Generals, Consuls and their family who visit Nepal from a foreign country,
Consultant experts who stay in Nepal under an agreement with Nepal Government,
Employees serving in the Nepal based offices of the United Nations or its agencies and the persons holding the laissez passez granted by the United Nations,
Employees serving in the international institutions or regional organizations located in Nepal.
Persons to come to participate in assembly, conference, training or meeting organized by Nepal Government or Nepal Government's undertaking agency or United Nations Organizations or Regional Organization or other agencies there under.

2. An application for the official visa has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Appendix 1.

Provided, however that the application as referred to in Appendix 1 is not required to be submitted if request or recommendation, accompanied with the details, is made by a foreign diplomatic mission or a body authorized therefor.

- Immigration regulation clause 5, 1994

Tourist visa:
The foreign tourist visiting Nepal shall be granted the tourist visa.
The tourist visa shall be granted for a period in maximum of 150 days in a visa year.
A tourist who has departed before the expiry of the period specified in the visa issued in a visa year shall not be allowed to use the visa by adding the remaining period to another visa year.
If any foreigner who has entered into Nepal towards the end of a visa year desires to spend even the period during which he may stay in Nepal with the tourist visa of the other visa year, he may use such facility.

Provided, however, that the computation of the fees for such period shall be made on the basis of the total period of his stay.
An application for the tourist visa has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Appendix 1.

- Immigration regulation clause 6, 1994

Study visa:
The study visa shall be granted to the foreigners and their family who, having obtained the approval of Nepal Government, come to study, teach or conduct research in any educational institute in Nepal.
Except for the foreigners who visit Nepal under the award of scholarship by Nepal Government or the accepted program of Nepal Government or Students and researcher under the agreement within the two universities or students from SAARC member countries or students studying up to secondary level the foreigners intending to study and conduct research at their own will shall be granted the study visa only on the basis of the authentic source, in the case of the foreigner, to make expenses of at least three thousand American Dollars, grossly or on a monthly installment basis, per annum during their stay in Nepal, and in the case of their family, that of at least two thousand American Dollars per annum, or on the basis of the submission of a certificate of the exchange of foreign currency equivalent thereto or bank statement equivalent thereto.
The study visa shall be granted for one year at a time. In cases the visa has to be granted for a period in excess thereof, the term of the visa may be extended by taking into consideration of the study and research progress report of such person, his activities as well as other necessary matters. Provided, however, that in the case of a researcher or student, such extension of the term shall be only for up to the Period of research or that of educational degree under study.

3a. Not withstanding anything written in clause (3), study visa may be granted to the student studying with technical subject, for total educational tenure of study.
The recommendation of the Ministry of concerned has to be submitted for the study visa.
An application for the study visa has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Appendix -2.

- Immigration regulation clause 7, 1994

Business visa:
The business visa shall be granted to the following foreigners and their family on the recommendation of concerned agency:
Foreigners having obtained license to make investment in any business or industrial enterprise within Nepal or authorised representatives of such business or industrial enterprise.
Foreigners having obtained license to invest to carry on export trade from Nepal.
Foreigners visiting Nepal from third country who export goods manufactured in Nepal through purchase or who place a purchase order for export.
Except as otherwise provided for in these Rules, the business visa shall be issued for a period not exceeding five years at a time; and its term may be extended as per necessity.
Notwithstanding anything contained in Sub-rule (2), a multiple business visa of five years shall be issued for 90 days at one time for the foreigners pursuant to Clause (c) of Sub rule for stay in Nepal.

· Application for the business visa has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Appendix 2.

- Immigration regulation clause 9, 1994

Transit visa:

Foreigners, who have entered In Nepal to stay for a night in Nepal and willing to use Nepal's Air port to visit another country with plane ticket or Foreigners, traveling in the accidentally force landed plane for any circumstances shall be issued transit visa for one day.
An application for the transit visa has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Appendix 3.

- Immigration regulation clause 10, 1994

Non-residential Nepalese Visa :
If any foreigner of Nepalese origin residing in foreign country wish to reside or conduct business, profession or Study, teach in any subject in Nepal, non-residential Nepalese visa may be issued to him and of his family.
An application in the format under Appendix 3b may be submitted through Nepalese mission located in the foreign country or directly to the Department for the visa pursuant to Sub-rule (1).
The visa pursuant to Sub-rule (1) may be issued for up to 10 years at one time, and such visa may be extended as per necessity.
The format of non-residential Nepalese visa shall be under Appendix 3b.

- Immigration regulation clause 10(a), 1994

Residential visa:
The following foreigners and their family intending to spend life in Nepal shall be granted the residential visa:
Persons with international reputation,
Persons capable of rendering outstanding contribution to the economic, social and cultural growth of Nepal ,
Person, who has invested minimum one hundred thousand US dollars or convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto in industrial enterprise of Nepal at once.
Any foreigner intending to spend life in Nepal without carrying on any business.
The mission recommending for residential visa to the foreigner as mentioned in other clauses save the foreigner as mentioned in clause (d) of sub-rule (1) shall send the recommendation along with the application filled up by such foreigner to the Department through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Any foreigner intending to obtain the residential visa under clause (e) of sub rule (1) has to submit a certified document of the source to be spent in Nepal and any foreigner intending to renew has to submit a certificate showing that he will spend or has spent in Nepal at least 20 thousand American Dollars or convertible foreign currency thereto at one time per year.
Any foreigner intending to obtain the residential visa has to submit to the Department or the concerned mission an application in the format as referred to in Appendix 4.
The format of the residential visa shall be as referred to in Appendix 4 (a).

- Immigration regulation clause 11, 1994

Documents to be produced:
In cases where the officials of the Department or the Offices thereunder and the authorised Officers of the District Administration Office in such places where such personnel are not available, the police officials and border administration officials require any foreigner to show his passport, visa, trekking permit and documents relating thereto, such foreigner has to show such documents immediately.

- Immigration regulation clause 18, 1994

Notice of change in address:
If a foreigner except in tourist visa, permitted to stay in Nepal more than six months, makes change in his Nepal based residential address mentioned in the application submitted for the issuance of visa or the extension of the term of visa, such foreigner shall compulsorily furnish the Department, Office or local police office with a notice containing his name, passport number and new address as well, within seven days.
If a foreigner having stayed in Nepal for more than 120 days goes to any other place of Nepal for spending more than 24 hours, he has to register with the local Police Office of such place his presence along with the detail showing his name, passport number and address as well.

- Immigration regulation clause 19, 1994

Restriction to work:
(1) A foreigner having obtained a visa as a tourist or his family member pursuant to these Rules shall not be allowed to work, with or without receiving remuneration, in any industry, business, enterprise or organisation during his stay in Nepal .
A foreigner having obtained a visa pursuant to these Rules shall not be allowed to carry out any work other than that for which purpose he has obtained the visa.

- Immigration regulation clause 20, 1994

Recommendation for and issuance of visa provisionally:
In cases where it takes time to make recommendation for the study, non-tourist and business visa, the concerned Ministry may, upon assigning the said reason, make recommendation for the provisional study, non-tourist and business visa for a period not exceeding three months.
In cases where it take time for the foreigner referred to in sub-rule (1) (h) of Rule 8 to submit the marriage registration certificate, the Department may, on the basis of the recommendation of the authority or the embassy of the concerned country, issue the non-tourist visa for a period not exceeding three months.

- Immigration regulation clause 24, 1994
Issuance of travel permit:
The Department may issue the travel permits to those foreigners who are not able to obtain new passports due to the loss, deface or expiry of the term thereof or due to any other reasons, in order to enable them to depart out side from Nepal. Provided, however, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall issue such permit in the case of the person holding diplomatic and official passport.

- Immigration regulation clause 25, 1994

Application for extension of the term of visa:
An application has to be submitted in the format as referred to in Appendix 8 for the extension of the term of a visa except a diplomatic and official visa.

- Immigration regulation clause 27, 1994
Circumstances in which a visa may be cancelled:
The Department may cancel a visa of any foreigner in the following circumstances:
If he fails to produce an international health certificate as and when required to do so.
If he becomes insane or goes mad.
If he is found to have absconded after committing any serious criminal offence.
If he is found to be suffering from any contagious or communicable disease.
If his presence seems to cause detrimental effect in peace and security or Nepal or in the mutual fraternity of the people if Nepal.
If his conduct is found to be suspicious or if he carries out, or causes to be carried out, any undesirable activities.
If his presence seems to result in adverse impact on the social and culture environment in Nepal.
If he violates, or causes to violate, the Act, these Rules and other prevailing law.
If he carries out any other acts or things not in consonance with the purpose for which the visa has been issued or the purpose of visa ends before the provided visa period.

In the case of cancellation of a visa pursuant to sub-rule (1), the fees paid therefor shall not be refundable.

- Immigration regulation clause 28, 1994

Visa Fee
The visa fees or other fees to be charged for the issuance of a visa for the entry into or presence in Nepal, for the extension of the visa or the regulation of the visa of the foreigner who has over-stayed or the issuance of the travel permit or the transference of the visa shall be prescribed in Appendix -9.
Provided, however, that the children below the age of ten years shall be exempted from visa fees.
The visa fees chargeable for the citizens of the countries which charge fee higher or lower than the fees prescribed under sub-rule (1) shall be based on reciprocity.

- Immigraion regulation clause 29, 1994
Fees to be levied while issuing tourist visa by the Mission and entry point:

For foreigners desiring to come to Nepal first time in visa year,
US Dollars 25 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 15 days multiple entry visa.
US Dollars 40 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 30 days multiple entry visa.
US Dollars 100 or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto for 90 days multiple entry visa.
Not withstanding anything written in clause (a) and (b), no visa fee shall be applicable to the passport holder of member country of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for 30 days .
Fees to be levied for renewal or regularization of tourist visa
Nepalese currency equivalent to 2 US dollars per day in addition to renew the validity tourist visa.
In case where request has also been made for the facility of multiple entry, just valid for the renewal period an additional amount in Nepalese currency equivalent to U. S. Dollars 20 to the fee as referred to in Clause (a).
In regularizing visa of any foreigner stayed without renewal of validity of the tourist visa, Nepalese currency equivalent 3 US dollars per day shall be levied in addition to the normal amount to be paid for renewal of the validity of visa as per these Regulations.
Foreigners, who have already been overstayed more than 150 days without renewing the tourist visa shall be levied the fees referred in clause 2(c) and penalty amount as referred to in section 10(4) of Immigration act in addition.
Not withstanding anything written in clause 2(a), the period of visa fee shall be levied, for the purpose to renew tourist visa as 15 days and as referred to in clause 2(a) for more than this.
Fees chargeable while issuing, or extending the validity of, the study visa:
If the study visa has to be issued at the time of entry, 30 US$ or other convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto.
In issuing or extending the study visa to the student studying in Degree programme and to their dependants, Nepalese currency equivalent to 20 US$ per month, to the student studying in Non-Degree programme and to their dependants, Nepalese currency equivalent to 50 US$ per month.
For the student from Bangladesh and to their dependants Nepalese currency equivalent to US$ 15 per year with multiple facility, on the basis of reciprocity.
For the students from Maldives and to their dependants Nepalese currency equivalent to US$ 25 per year on the basis of reciprocity.
For the students from Bhutan and to their dependants Nepalese currency equivalent to US$ 10 per month.
Not withstanding anything written in clause 3(b), for the students from Sri Lanka and Pakistan should provide study visa without any fee on the basis of reciprocity. But the dependants of these students shall be levied Nepalese currency equivalent to US$ 10 per month as visa fee.
For the dependants of foreigners, who are permitted to get study visa without fee in Nepal within the teachers exchange progrmme with Nepal based Universities and foreign Universities shall be levied Nepalese currency equivalent to US $ 10 per month.
Foreigners to come to teaching and to do research and to their dependants shall be levied Nepalese currency equivalent to US$ 40 per month
Fees chargeable while issuing, or extending the validity of, the non-tourist visa:
If the non-tourist visa of 30 days has to be issued at the time of entry, 30 American Dollars or convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto.
Nepalese currency equivalent to five (5) American Dollars per month for the foreigner of Nepalese origin and the foreign passport holding child of Nepalese father or mother.
Nepalese currency equivalent to ten (10) American Dollars per month for licensed journalists.
Nepalese currency equivalent to twenty (20) American Dollars per month for the foreigners who serve in an office or project of Nepal Government being directly involved in such office or project .
In issuing the non-tourist visa to a foreigner who gets married with a Nepalese citizen, Nepalese currency equivalent to ten (10) American Dollars per month.
In the case of other foreigners, Nepalese currency equivalent to sixty (60) American Dollars per month for the first year and to one hundred (100) American Dollars per month from the second year.
Nepalese currency equivalent to five (5) American Dollars per month for the citizens of Tibetan origin who come to meet their relatives.
Fee to be paid for issuing or renewal of Business visa.
While issuing or renewal business visa, US dollar 100 or Nepalese currency equivalent thereto with multiple entry facility and if one desires to obtain multiple entry visa for five years US dollars 250 or Nepalese currency equivalent thereto."
Fees chargeable while issuing the Transit visa:
Five American Dollars or convertible foreign currency equivalent thereto.
Fee to be paid for Non-Resident Nepalese Visa:
US $100 (on hundred) or convertible foreign currency for one year, but 50% (percent) of above fee shall be charged for the student.
Fee to be paid for issuing or renewal Residential visa with multiple entry facility: - For the first time, Nepalese currency equivalent to 200 US dollars annually and in getting renewal Nepalese currency equivalent to US dollars 100 annually, provided that for foreigner as referred to clause (e) of sub-rule (1) of Rule 11, for the first time, Nepalese currency equivalent to US dollars 700 and in getting renewal Nepalese currency equivalent to US dollars 1200 annually shall be levied.
While regularizing the visas of those foreigners who have stayed without getting the validity of business, study and non-tourist visas extended:
In the case of those who have stayed without getting the validity of business, study and non-tourist visas extended, an additional fee at the rate of 50% of the fees chargeable pursuant to these Rules for the visas on which they have stayed for the period not exceeding 30 days and at the rate of 100% for the period thereafter shall be charged.
If single entry and multiple entry facility has to be obtained in other visa except the tourist and business visa:
Nepalese currency equivalent to 25 and 60 American Dollars respectively.
Other fees:
(c) If the tourist visa or other visa has to be issued to the foreigner who enters without obtaining the visa from the entry point, Nepalese currency equivalent to the fees chargeable pursuant to these Rules plus an additional 25 percent fees thereof. (d) Nepalese currency equivalent to 20 American Dollars in issuing the travel document. (e) Nepalese currency equivalent to one American Dollar in certifying arrival or departure or transferring visa.
Computation of visa fees:
The fees shall be computed, in computing the period for purposes of the fees of the visas other than the tourist visa, so that visa fees shall be charged for up to 15 days if the visa be of a period less than 15 days and for one month if the visa be of a period more than 15 days but less than one month.

- Immigration regulation clause 29, 1994 (Appendix – 9)

Provision relating to facility of single entry, multiple entries:
While issuing visas under these Rules, the facility of single-entry and multiple entries may also be granted.
The facility granted under sub-rule (1) shall remain valid only until the entrance validity period of the visa, in the case of the visa issued by the mission, and until the validity period of the visa in the case of the visa issued by the Official or Department.
Provided, however, the total period of stay of the foreigner having obtained such facility shall not, except in case of having obtained other facility or got the term extended, exceed the period of stay in Nepal mentioned at the time of issuance of the facility.

- Immigration regulation clause 30, 1994

Provisions Concerning Trekking
Application for trekking permit:
Any foreigner desiring to trek in permissible trekking region shall have to submit application in the format as referred to Appendix 10 for trekking permit and in the case of group, the trekking operating agency shall have to submit application to the Department in the format as referred to in Appendix 11.

- Immigration regulation clause 32, 1994
Trekking only the prescribed routes:
No foreigner shall trek along any route other than the route prescribed in the permit issued under Rule 33 or enter into any prohibited area. Even any agencies making the foreigners trek shall not make them trek along the routes other than those prescribed in the permit or bring them into any prohibited area.

- Immigration regulation clause 35, 1994

Circumstances of permit cancellation:
The Department may cancel the trekking permit issued to any foreigner in the following circumstances :
If his visa is cancelled under Rule 28.
If he treks along the routes or in the area other than those prescribed in the trekking permit.
If he fails to fulfill the conduct and terms as set forth in Rule 41.
If he fails to uphold other terms as set forth in the trekking permit.
If he contravenes the provisions of the Act and these Rules.

The fees paid up for the trekking permit cancelled under sub-rule (1) shall not be refunded.

- Immigration regulation clause 37, 1994

1. Exemption from visa fee:
The fees for the trekking permit shall be as prescribed in Appendix 12. Provided, however that the Department may exempt the following foreigner from the trekking permit fees: -
A foreigner holding a diplomatic visa.
A foreigner being affiliated with an agreement, if any, entered into with Nepal Government, which exempts any fees, and requesting for the trekking permit for access to the area concerned with his undertaking.
Such foreigner as is affiliated with the plan and program of Nepal Government and whose working place itself is within the trekking area.
A child under the age of ten years going to trek with his father or mother.

2. Restricted areas which have been opened for Group Trekking
The following restricted areas are open only for group trekkers. And a trekking permit will not be issued to individual trekkers for such areas. The areas and required fees are as follows:

-Immigration regulation clause 31, 1994

3. Trekking Permit FeesS.N. Area Fee (per person)
1 i)Dolpa district Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.

For the first 10 days per person US $500 and After 10 days per day per person Us$50
a) Areas of lower Dolpa
b) Areas of Upper Dolpa
ii)Taplejung District

Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
Kanchanjanga Region
(Areas of Olangchunggola,
Lelep, Papung and
Yamphudin Village
Development Committee)
2.. iii)Mustang district. For the first 10 days per person US $500 and After 10 days per day per person Us$50.
Upper Mustang
3.. iv) Gorkha District: From September to November per week perperson US$ 70 and After 7 days per day perperson US$ 10.and From December to August per week per person US$ 50 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 7 /Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
A. (Manaslu Area)
B. (Chhekampar &
Chunchet VDC (Sirdibas-
Lokpa-Chumling-
Chhekampar -Nile-Chhule
Area) From September to November per person US$ 35 for first 8 days and From December to August per person US$ 25 for first 8 days Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
4.. v)Dolakha District Per week per person US$ 10 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
(Gauri Shankar &
Lamabagar)
5 vi)Humla District (Simikot and Yari):- For the first 7 days per person US$ 50 and After 7 days per day per person US$ 7 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..
Areas of Limi and Muchu
village Development
Committee, and area way to
Tibet via Tangekhola of
Darma Village Development
committee.
Trekking fee of other restricted areas imposed by Nepal government
6 vii)Rasuwa District :- Thuman and Timure per week per person US$ 10, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
7 .viii)Sankhuwasabha District For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and After 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
(Makalu Region):-Areas of
Kimathanka, Chepuwa,Hatiya and
Pawakhola Village
Development Committee.
8 ix)Solukhumbu District For the first 4 weeks per week per person US$ 10 and After 4 weeks per week per person US$ 20, Or equivalent convertible foreign currency.
(Everest Region):-All north-
west area way from Thame
to Nangpala of Namche
Village Development
Committee
9 x)Manang District:- Areas of Nar, Phu, and Northern
area of Tilche Village of
Thochhe Village
Development Committee From September to November per week per person US$ 90 and December to August per week per person US$ 75 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..
10 xi)Mugu District:- Areas of
Mugu, Dolpu, Pulu and
Bhangri. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..
11 xii)Baihang District:-Areas
of Kanda, Saipal, Dhuli. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..
12 xiii)Darchula District:- Areas
of Byas Village
Development Committee. For the first 7 days per person US $90 and After 7 days per day per person Us$15 Or equivalent convertible foreign currency..



** In other trekking region, except the region as mentioned above s.no.1 to 5, the trekking fee is as prescribed by Nepal Government in the notification published in the Nepal Gazette time to time.

Fee can be paid in Nepalese currency:
Notwithstanding any thing contained in serial numbers 1,2,3,4 and 5, the Indian national can pay the fee in Nepalese currency equivalent to US dollars as mentioned in the same serial numbers.

- Immigration regulation clause 39, 1994 Appendix -12

RULES CONCERNING MISCELLANEOUS

1. Stamp to be affixed to passport at departure and entry point:
Every Nepalese citizen who departs from and enters into the Nepal with a passport shall have to get his passport endorsed by the Immigration Office at his departure and entry point

- Immigration regulation clause 40, 1994
2. Conduct and terms to be upheld by foreigners:
Every foreigner entering into, presenting in, trekking in or departing from, Nepal shall, in addition to the provisions laid down in the Act and these Rules, uphold the following conduct and terms:

Not to enter into any trekking area without the permit.
Not to take part in politics.
Not to keep or use such articles or to do such acts as are prohibited by the prevailing law.
Not to carry out or cause to be carried out any activity contrary to local customs an usages.
To observe the directions given by the competent authority in the trekking area.
To provide identity, Photo-graph, Thumb print and the document relating to arrival, presence or departure on the time of his/her arrival, presence or departure, requested by the office.

- Immigration regulation clause 41, 1994
3. Conduct and terms to be upheld by agency :
Each agency shall uphold the following conduct and terms, in addition to other provisions and terms laid down in the Act and these Rules:

Each Nepalese or foreign company or association or driver/pilot operating or handling aeroplane or motor vehicle or similar other vehicle taking or carrying passengers from or to Nepal shall, while entering into and departing from, submit to the concerned office at the time in advance to the office, the name list of the Nepalese or foreign passengers being carried into or taken from Nepal by their vehicle, and crew as well as helpers.
The agency shall not carry such foreigners who do not have valid passports, who have been expelled, or prohibited from entering into.
If the persons having been prohibited from entering into under these Rules are carried in, it shall be the liability of the party carrying them to return them back at such time as directed by the Department or Office.
The agency shall not keep the foreigner without having passport, visa or permit at own hotel or house on rent or provide him with any service.
The agency has to submit to the Department a monthly list of the foreigners who are living with them or to whom service is being provided by them, within the first week of the next month.
The agency has to handover the person to immigration office with related documents, who have deported or entry refused by other countries.

Immigration regulation clause 42, 1994

4. Special provision relating to mountaineers:
If the foreigners who have obtained expedition permit, while going toward the permitted snow pick and coming back require to go to the trekking region, the trekking permit shall have to be obtained. Provided that no fee shall have to pay for such permission.
The foreigners going out for mountaineering have to pay the visa fees also for the period of mountaineering Provided, however, that the period or mountaineering shall not be counted in the term of the tourist visa.

- Immigration regulation clause 43, 1994
5. To stay at the place specific by the Department:
A foreigner to whom to be departed or an order of expulsion to be issued under the Act or these Rules has to stay at such place as specified by the Department until he departs from Nepal and such a foreigner himself has to bear the expenses needed for him to get departed from Nepal.
The expulsion order shall be in the format as prescribed in Appendix 13

Kathmandu

Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ, Nepal Bhasa: येँ महानगरपालिका) is the capital and the largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley, in the Himalayas, which also contains two other sister cities namely Patan or Lalitpur, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its southeast (an ancient city of fine arts and crafts) and Bhaktapur, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to its east (city of devotees). It is also acronymed as 'KTM' and named 'tri-city'.

The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,350 metres (4,400 ft) in the bowl shaped valley in central Nepal surrounded by four major mountains, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. It is inhabited by 671,846 (2001) people. The Kathmandu valley with its three districts including Kathmandu district accounts for a population density of only 97 per km². but Kathmandu metropolitan city has a record density of 13,225 per km². It is by far the largest urban agglomerate in Nepal accounting for 20% of the urban population in an area of 5,067 hectares (12,520 acres) (50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi)).

Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal but is also the headquarters of the Central Region (Madhyamanchal) among the five development regions constituted by the 14 administrative zones of Nepal located at the central part of the country. The Central region has three zones namely, Bagmati, Narayani and Janakpur and Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone.

Kathmandu, as the gateway to Nepal Tourism, is the nerve centre of the country’s economy. With the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal, Kathmandu's economy is tourism centric accounting for 3.8% of the GDP in 1995-96 (had declined since then due to political unrest but has picked up again).

City’s rich history is nearly 2000 years old, as inferred from an inscription in the valley. Its religious affiliations are dominantly Hindu followed by Buddhism. People of other religious beliefs also live in Kathmandu giving it a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the common language of the city, though many speak the Nepal Bhasa Newari as it is the center of the Newar (meaning: citizens of Nepal) people and culture. English is understood by all of the educated population of the city. Literacy rate is 98% in the city.

Kathmandu is now the premier cultural and economic hub of Nepal and is considered to have the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal. From the point of view of tourism, economy and cultural heritage, the sister cities of Patan and Bhaktapur are integral to Kathmandu. Even the cultural heritage recognition under the World Heritage list of the UNESCO has recognized all the monuments in the three urban agglomerates as one unit under the title “Kathmandu Valley-UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Place To Visit

PASHUPATINATH
Lying 6 Km from central Kathmandu, Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati river, the temple, which was built in pagoda style, has a gilded roof and beautifully carved silver doors. Visitors will be permitted to view the temple from the east bank of the Bagmati river, as entrance into the temple is strictly forbidden to all non-Hindus. Pashupatinath is the centre of an annual pilgrimage on the day Shivaratri, which falls in February or March. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds.

Dakshinkali

Literally meaning the Kali of the south, this temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kali, the Hindu goddess of power. Goats, chickens, ducks etc. are sacrificed on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The temple itself is located in a forested canyon and lies 19 Km. from Kathmandu.

Boudanath
This stupa, situated 11 Km. from the center of Kathmandu, is one of the biggest in the world of its kind. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal directions, keeping a lookout for righteous behavior and human prosperity. This Buddhist stupa was built by King Man Deva at the advice of the Goddess Mani Jogini. It is built on an octagonal base and is contains inset prayer wheels. The shrine is surrounded by the homes of Lamas, or Buddhist priests.

Swayambhunath
Located approximately 3km from the center of Kathmandu, this Buddist stupa is said to be 2000 years old. The stupa which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth which supports a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of gilt copper.

BHAKTAPUR
Also known as BHADGAON meaning the city of devotes, this place is the home of medieval art and architecture. Lying 14Km east of kathmandu city. This place was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell. The city is at the height of 4600 ft. Above sea level. In Bhaktapur you will visit the Durbar Square with its array of temples overlooked by the palace of 55 Windows built by King Bupatindra Malla, the Nytapola Teple. This temple, which was also built by king Bhupatindra Malla, is the best example of the Pagoda style and stands on five terraces, on each of which stands a pair of figures, famous strong men, elephants, lions, griffins and goddesses. Time permitting, a visit to the museum of Thanka painting can also be considered. A 30 minute walk brings you to the Dattatraya temple and Pujari Math which can also be done provided there is plenty of time at the clients' disposal.

Nagarkot
It is situated about 35Km. east of Kathmandu city and from here one can see Mt. Everet and other peaks of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is located between Kathmandu valley in the west and Indravati in the east.

Dhulikhel
It is situated at an altitude of 1600 m. above from sea level and 32 Km. From Kathmandu City. Dhulikhel is famous for its vantage location in viewing the Himalayan ranges, from Cho Oyu in the east to Himalchuli in the west. It is popular for viewing the sunrise and sunset.

Patan
5 Km. away from Kathmandu city. Patan, also known as Lalitpur, is a city of fine arts, enclosed within 4 stupas, which are said to have been built in the 3rd century A.D. by Emperor Ashoka.

You will see Durbar square, the Patan durbar (palace), which houses a bronze collection, the Krishna temple built by King Siddi Narsinh Malla, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, and Mahaboudha Temple.

A trip to the Tibetan Refugee Centre and the Handicraft Centre will be included during your visit to Patan, where you will witness the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets and molding of metal statues. There are many other place to vist which are:

Kathmandu Darwar Square
Sleeping Bishnu
Ason Bazar
Kopan Monasteries; http://www.kopan-monastery.com
Pahrping Monasteries
Daksin Kali Temple
Orphans schools in Kathmandu
Nepal National Museum
Freak street
New road (Cheapest place to buy electronics goods)
Chitwan National Park Jungle safari