Month: September 2018

Tips to find a Best Trekking Agency in Nepal

Trekking in Nepal is an amazing opportunity to experience Nepal’s natural beauty, enjoying the Himalayan topography, cultural elements in spectacular customs, customs and the religion. Through the trekking, gorgeous Himalayan topography of Nepal are breath-taking in every step and every way. After deciding to do trekking in Nepal for your next holiday, there are many fraud deals sites which display misleading travel deals of the trip packages and in real present very poor value-for-money. If you have confusion to select a good trekking agency among the thousands of companies in Nepal, than this article will give you some ideas to help you out with choosing the best trekking agencies in Nepal. Here are listed down some helpful tips to aid you make the best decision for your upcoming trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal.

  1. Registration, Licenses and Associations (Nepal Government Authorized Trekking Agency)

This is very important for you to know that, Your Trekking agency are authorized with proper licenses and registration from various Authorities or not? A Trekking agency has Company Registration Certificate, Permanent Account Number (PAN), and License from Department of Tourism of Nepal (NTB) and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) to conduct their services. But If Trekking agency sells the Climbing packages then need to be registered with Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). You can see the legal documents in the profile in website, if not present ask them for certificate before the final booking and don’t forget to check the date of expiry.

  1. Read Client Reviews and testimonials

Not only Register Company offers good service for trekking. Reviews and testimonials may help you to get the basic ideas about the trekking company and their services. The testimonials may help you get the basic idea about their business and their strengths. Read the reviews from the past clients and find out the reliable trekking agency based on the reviews and rating.  Trip Advisor and Lonely planet may be a good way to get the reviews from the past clients and find out the reliable trekking agency based on the reviews and rating.

  1. Year of Experience of the Agency

The years of Experiences may be the important factors to determine the services of trekking company. While old company doesn’t mean they provide better services, a momentous years of experience will assure the reliable expertise of the company. So some new trekking agencies opened by experienced guide can provide the value of money. Also, check the Founders of Company, whether they are simply a businessman or adventure leaders or experts. Do they have earlier adventure trip leading experience or are they leading the trip.

  1. Cost and services

First, let’s not forget the value of your holiday, Cheapest may not always give you best value for the money. To find the reasonable cost it is necessary to compare your needs with the facilities provided by the agency. Check about their services and prices clearly which gives you the overview of your total expenses. Check carefully the cost inclusion and make sure it fulfill your requirement for the trip. Be sure no hidden cost will apply on the service.

  1. Safety standards of the company

Before booking your trip assure that your trekking agency have great safety standards and good safety records. Before heading to Himalayas the company does carry the Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) or Oxygen with comprehensive first aid kit and medical trained trek leader on all high altitude treks to handle any emergencies or health issues in the Himalayas. Make sure that, during the emergency case they provide helicopter rescue or not?

  1. Send an Inquiry Email

It is very important to know that how they reply your email and responds the answer of your question. Communication will not just let you know about their facilities and services but their response to your inquiries will help you clear all your doubts, know them more closely and get a clear picture about your upcoming adventure.

  1. Agencies and their Guides

Guides are the one of the most important factors that determine your experience while you trek so, assure that, your trip leader who is reliable competent professional with government license holder and medically trained capable of handling any adverse situation on trek. Guides are not just to show the way and to tell the mountains name or only charm smiling. Guides must have communication skills Specially-English and multiple languages are pulse points. Because, they know their cultures but they can’t tell or describe on properly its spoil your whole journey. Finding a multilingual guide will make your trek more comfortable. They must have general knowledge of politics, cultures, lifestyle, movies, international events, news so they can make a nice conversation.

Festival of Colors

It is also known as Phagu Purnima which is a festival of colours and water. This festival is celebrated from Falgun Shukla Ashthami to Purnima (full moon) as a celebration of Basanta (Spring) season. People have gathered with their friends and family since early morning today and commenced the celebration by applying colours on each other and making merry amongst themselves. This is joyful festival for children; they used Pichakari (water Gun of Bamboo or plastic) with colorful water throw each other. Even they filled balloon with water (Lola) and smeared over them. The festival is celebrated on two different days. Hilly region of the nation celebrates the festival on the day of the full moon while the Terai region celebrates it the next day.

According to Hindu Mythology, the demon king Hiranya kashyapu , who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the Lord Vishnu, he ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad.Holika had the power of emitting fire. She took Pralhad into her lap intending to burn him but with Lord Vishnu’s immortal blessings instead she was burnt to ashes. From then onwards, the Fagu Poornima celebration begins with a Holika dahan or making a bonfire commemorating the death of Holika on the eve of Holi, the symbol of triumph of good over evil.

The Holi start one week before than main celebration. As traditional rituals a long bamboo stick (lingo) decorated with colorful flags/cloths called Chir (Holi pole) which is standing in the three heritage squares of Nepal namely Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhakatpur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square. At the end of the festivities the Chir is taken to a bonfire. It is called Chir Haran or Holika Dahan.

This is great experience for every tourist from different world, who would like to know about unique Nepali culture.

Maha Shivaratri: Festival of Lord Shiva

Mahashivratri is one of the largest and most significant among the sacred festival nights of Nepal. It is a festival that honors Lord Shiva. Mahashivratri is known as the ‘Great Night of Lord Shiva’ and according to Gregorian calendar, falls in February. According to Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated in the month of phaguna. As per astrological tenets, the cosmos is said to be replete with divine energy on the night of Shivaratri, and devotees offer prayers to tap into this energy.

This tradition has been followed till today and no worship of Lord shiva is considered complete without the offering of the six items- bael leaves, vermilion, unbroken rice and fruits, incense, diya and betel leaves. Rudraksha is the symbolize of the three eyes of Lord Shiva. Therefore, devotee wear a Rudraksha mala also (rosary created with the seeds of Rudraksha tree) on this day. Devotees and general pilgrims mark this festival on a grand scale by fasting and keeping vigil (Jaagran); that is staying awake the whole night in praise of Mahadeva (Shiva). Lord Shiva who is known by the name of Bholenath and is the supreme embodiment of perfect spirituality fulfills all the desires of a person who prays to Him sincerely. On this day, Married women pray to Lord Shiva for the well-being and long life of their husbands and children. While Unmarried girls offer their prayers to Lord Shiva to be blessed with an ideal spouse like Him.

This day and more so the night is dedicated by the devotees of Lord Shiva for his worship, practice of various austerities & meditation. Pashupatinath Temple is considered to be one of the major centers of pilgrimage for Hindus, especially Shaivaites. Thousands of devotee come to the Pashupatinath Temple to celebrate Maha Shivaratri and the Shiva Shakti Peetham nearby. The temple is open only to Hindus with several shrines and pavilions where yogis and priests chant or meditate. Thousands of sadhus from Nepal and India come to Pasupatinath to celebrate the festival of Mahashivaratri by smoking marijuana, smearing their bodies with ash and offering prayers to the Hindu Deity Lord Shiva.Devotees of Lord Shiva dance and sing on the Eva of Mahashivaratri festival inside Pasutaptinath temple and the Shiva Shakti Peetham nearby.

Foreigners heading to Pashupatinath Temple should be aware, because only Hindus are allowed inside the main temple. Tourists can access the Bagmati River site and the Sadhu area. Government will charge NRs.500/- entry fees for foreigners to entry pasupatinath complex.

Rice Plantation (Ropai) and Mud Festival

Nepal is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Also agriculture is considered one of the important occupations in Nepal.  The arrival of monsoon season in the month of Asar (Nepalese Calendar) which is usually falls around June-July. The rice plantation generally begins from the first week of Asar. It is cultivated as rice plantation needs lots of water. It is the time when farmers plant new seedlings of rice crops in their paddies with the hope of growing quintals of rice by planting kilos. The plantation is done by the female, the male will plow and level the field to ease plantation. During rice plantation, People Singing Ashare jhyaure geet (a traditional monsoon song) splashing each other with muddy water and relishing dahichiura (curd and beaten rice) farmers plant rice with joy and merriment.

Rice is a major staple food of Nepali people, thus planting of the important food is celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and fun. Nepal Government has decided to celebrate the 15th day of Asar as a Ropain festival – rice planting festival. The tourists who come to Nepal for the visit in this rainy season took part and enjoyed planting rice. This is the completely new experience for the local as well as tourists who participate in this festival besides hiking, trek, and sightseeing.

Likewise the every year, the “Ropai Mahotsab” was organized by Tourism board in pokhara. In between plantation, you can enjoy a friendly mud wrestling, tug of war, splashing the muddy water on each other, and plow racing competition.

Drone operation permission in Nepal

fWith using the Drone, Many travelers and Trekkers make beautiful travel vlogs. Using this drone footage, different travel agencies and travelers are promoting their business. In Nepal, It is illegal to fly the drone over the Nepalese sky without permission. We can use drone inside our home and in our personal garden. However you need an approval from the civil aviation authority (CAAN) when taking aerial photographs. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) maintains and regulates these rules of requirements to fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/ drones in Nepal. This permission is rarely granted to foreigners. Those flying illegally risk arrest or massive fines.

General Rules/Law in Nepal

  1. You cannot fly your drone over airports or in areas where aircraft are operating and Military Air Space, army, military or securities areas and Archaeological areas are strictly prohibited.
  2. You cannot flying your drone around temples without prior permission.
  3. You do not need permission to use drone from CAAN, if you are flying drone is less than 2 kg kilograms and flown at the height of 400 meters and a distance of 500 meters on your personal purpose and properties like inside your house, land, and garden
  4. You cannot fly your drone over people or large crowds, keep 150 meters away from people or crowds.

Process to obtain drone flying permission in Nepal:

Documents required:

  1. Filled form
    1. Request letter addressed to Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal asking for permission to use drone.
    2. A copy of Operation Specifications of Drone.
    3. Copy of map of intended drone operation area.
    4. No Objection letter or Recommendation letter from concerned owner if drone operation area is over private/public place or property.
    5. Letter from the concerned authority for security clearance or other clearance. This security clearance is taken from the operation areas Police Headquarters.
  2. Cost/Time:
    1. Cost: Free
    2. Time: After submit your required documents and accepted by CAAN, you should get the permission within 3 days.
  3. Process to get permission:
    1. Get a permission letter from the Municipality of the places that you want to fly drone.
    2. You need to take recommendation letter from the CDO (central district office) office. CDO will provide recommendation letter only after getting the permission letter from the municipality.
    3. After showing these 2 letters to police headquarters, they will provide security clearance letter (For larger production) if needed.
    4. All the documents listed above you should submit your application to the Drone operation permission department within Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

Is Travel Insurance is necessary to visit Nepal?

Nepal is also known as a Land of Himalayas. Nepal has carved out its own distinct culture. Nepal is a dream destination for adventure seekers and for those bitten by the travel bug. If you’re planning to travel in mountains and the Himalayas area. There might be risk and chances of problems like health issues, injuries and even altitude sickness. Therefore, travel insurance is the most important for your trip. In Nepal, most medical treatment must be paid for at the point of delivery.

If your insurance company does not provide upfront payment, be sure to obtain receipts so you can reclaim later be sure that the Travel Insurance must cover both the medical and emergency evacuation via a helicopter(rescue from the high altitude ) cost. Make sure that, you choose the correct plan and/or adventure sports option with hiking & trekking cover. Taking out a Travel Insurance before you go on a trip will protect you from such unforeseen expenses. Also, always make sure to inquire about the hidden costs as some insurance companies try to fleece the customers with unnecessary burdens.