kunzum's video: Road Trip to Nepal: Travel Tips WhereisAJ

Try this: Head out from New Delhi, the capital of India, at the crack of dawn in your car, cross into Nepal at midday, and go in to the Shuklaphanta National Park for a safari in your own car the same afternoon. That is how close Nepal is. I know it because I have done it. Read on to plan a road trip to Nepal of your own - or tune in to the video. ** A road trip across Nepal has been rated as amongst the on the planet by me. Click here (http://kunzum.com/nepal-road-trip/) to read more. ** ** Border crossing to take your car into Nepal ** There are many land border crossings into Nepal including: Banbassa in the Himlayan state of Uttarakhand (you cross into Mahendranagar and Shuklaphanta National Park on the Nepal side) Sonauli (ahead of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh), and Kakarbhitta (near Siliguri in West Bengal.) ** Documents required to drive to Nepal ** If you are an Indian citizen in a car registered in your name in India, you just need your car registration, insurance, passport photos and driving licence. You have to buy a Nepali permit costing about Nepalese Rupee 300 per day of planned stay. Indian citizens require a valid Photo ID - can be your driving licence, Voter ID, Aadhaar card, or even a passport. No visa is required. For non-Indians, a visa and other documents may be required. ** Places to drive to in Nepal ** There is an attraction waiting every few hours: wildlife, rivers, lakes, temples, festivals, people, history, architecture, mountains, artists and coffee. This is an overview of what I covered and recommend. SHUKLAPHANTA NATIONAL PARK This can be your first stop when you enter Nepal. The reserve is home to about 24 mammal species and 350 bird species. BARDIA NATIONAL PARK A wonder of a park, Bardia is home to 53 species of mammals including the Royal Bengal Tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros and over 400 species of birds and several varieties of reptiles and water animals. LUMBINI Believed to be the birthplace of the Buddha in 623 B.C. TANSEN (KALPA) Built on a hill, its undulating cobblestoned streets and houses with exquisite doors and windows make for pretty picture postcards. POKHARA Settled around the beautiful Fewa Lake at an altitude of 3,000 feet with the 23,000 feet high Machhapuchre (Fish Tail) peak dominating the landscape, the setting leaves you starry-eyed. A dream destination for thrill seekers and leisure travellers. BANDIPUR AND GORKHA Bandipur is a pretty town where happy people reside. Hike to the Siddha Caves nearby and drive to Gorkha, a historical town, where the famed Gorkha soldiers come from. MANAKAMANA Take a cable car ride up to Manakamana Temple with its wonderful panoramas. KATHMANDU Visit Thamel for its coffees, food and shopping. And also Patan (the City of Fine Arts), Bhaktapur (with its temples and courts and a potter’s village), Pashupatinath temple (one of holiest sites for Lord Shiva) and Boudhanath (Buddhist stupa). CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK One of the best wildlife reserves in the world - go for jeep, foot and river safaris. JANAKPUR Janakpur is believed to be the birthplace of Sita, wife of Hindu Lord Rama. KOSHI TAPPU A paradise for bird lovers. ** What are the accommodation options in Nepal? ** Nepal has a place to stay for everyone - backpacker hostels, budget to quality hotels, camps, homestays and even caves. The most luxurious of places can be found in Chitwan, Kathmandu and Pokhara. ** How much should you budget for a trip to Nepal? ** Nepal can suit every traveller’s budget. You could manage in 10 dollars a day, and indulge with a spend of even a thousand dollars a day. It is for you to choose. ** What is the best time to visit Nepal? ** There is an attraction waiting in Nepal all year round. If you are visiting the plains or the lower Himalayas, avoid the summers and the monsoons; the period from autumn to spring is best. However, if you are going to higher altitudes like the Everest, Annapurna and Mustang, your window is the summer months. ** Currency in Nepal ** The country has its own currency - the Nepalese Rupee commonly referred to as NC. You can convert your currency into the Nepalese one easily especially in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The Indian Rupee is freely accepted at most places. However, you cannot carry denominations of INR 500 and 2000 into Nepal. The NC is pegged to the Indian Rupee: One INR gets you 1.6 NC. ** Tips for road-tripping in Nepal ** When driving across Nepal, you may want to keep the following in mind: * Don’t go too low on fuel. * Carry clean drinking water, some food, first-aid kit and essential medicines. * It may be a good idea to take a few blankets and warm clothes should you get stranded at night especially in cold weather. * Nepal is very safe to be in. * Nepalis are very welcoming and friendly, and hospitality runs in their blood. CONTACT wetravel@kunzum.com +91.9650702777 http://kunzum.com