Social Conventions
Be careful to respect local customs: Never step over the feet of a person - always walk round; never offer food and drink that you have tasted or bitten; never offer or accept anything with the left hand - use the right or both hands; it is rude to point at a person or statue with a finger (or even with a foot).
Often when people shake their head, it means 'yes'. Footwear should be removed when entering houses, especially kitchens and shrines. Do not stand in front of a person who is eating. Shaking hands is not a common form of greeting; instead, press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture (Namaste).
Casual-wear is suitable except for the most formal meetings or social occasions. However, bikinis, shorts, bare shoulders and backs may not be appreciated. Men only remove their shirts when bathing. Overt public displays of affection, especially near religious places, are inappropriate.
Seek permission before entering a temple, and do not take leather articles inside them.
Photography: Always ask permission first. In general, photography is allowed outside temples and at festivals, but not inside temples or at religious ceremonies; however, there is no hard and fast rule, and the only way to be sure of not giving offense is to ask first and accept the answer.
International Travel
Getting There By Air
The national airline is Royal Nepal Airlines (RA) (www.royalnepal.com).
Departure Tax
Rs791 for international flights to Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka; Rs1,695 for flights to all other countries. Children under two years are exempt.
Main Airports
Kathmandu (KTM) (Tribhuvan) (www.tiairport.com.np) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) east of the city (journey time - 20 minutes).
To/from the airport: Buses and taxis to the city are available.
Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, duty-free shop, post office, refreshments and tourist information.
Getting There By Rail
Two stretches of the Indian Railway (www.indianrail.gov.in) line run to the border with Nepal, but only one is serviced with a passenger train. Tourists can't cross the border by train, but cycle-rickshaws are available for onward journeys.
Getting There By Road
Kathmandu is connected with India and Tibet by new and picturesque highways.
Bus: A great number of services operate from all border points to Kathmandu and can be booked locally. However, during the monsoon season, landslides can often make border points impassable. Visitors are permitted to drive their own cars provided they are in possession of an international Carnet. For information on how to obtain an international Carnet, visitors should contact their national Automobile Association.
