Kathmandu, Nepal: current info?

The insiders for Nepal seem kinda dated (2000, 2001, etc)? I'd love to hear from anyone who has been recently? I'd particularly like to know rants&raves for Kathmandu? I've read the US State Depts warnings but am still planning on visiting in July08. What are your thoughts about a family of 4 (42M, 38F, 16f, 12m) spending a week there? THANKS!!!

Hello Scott,

Pleased to hear that you are heading to Nepal on July 08.Well,the matter about rants& raves for Kathmandu is absolutely fine compare with previous years. In fact still the condition of Nepal is unstable because of election been pospond and it was supposed to be held on 22nd of Nov.

But the Maouist leaders were argued and had 22 point of demand which was not so suitable for Government of Nepal and they warn to Nepal Government not to begin the election process.

Therefore, there have some misunderstand between nepal government and the maouist leaders and still maouist cadres are terroirsing the people and use to kidnapping the reporters,different political partie's workers and some more.

And recently the maouist cadres have began to ask with tourist to donate them to make their party strong.

So, these are the latest news of Nepal and just because of all these events American Government warning their people not to visit Nepal,but still I am sure(as I am nepalese)there never been happened any kind of serious case for tourist by maouist. That's why you can come here as your second part the home town and you can travel all over Nepal without any hesitation...please write here for more details...
thank you

My new friend NakulNepal,
Thanks for your information. I read about the Maoist, the reporters, and the elections. I do hope they can have the election so everyone in your country can decide their fate. Please send me any news about Nepal. Thank you again for your advice.

Scott

Hello Scott,

It's really very glad to hear from you again. Well, that would be my great honour to let you know the latest news of Nepal as you are heading here for travel purpose and as I am working in tourism I should have all the news about Nepal right?

So,Scott I would be very appreciate to hear from you and if you need any kind of travel information of Nepal like as some tour and some more excrussion,I really feel glad to share my work experiences with you and wish your reply again thank you..
Regards
Nakul Devkota
nakulnp@gmail.com

P.S We are celebrating the festival here in Nepal which is callDeepawali here I like to let you know the meaning of it please look on below:

Deepawali
It lasts for five days and is marked by worship to different animals such as crow, the dog and the cow, five various days. The most important day is Laxmi puja. The most endearing sight of this festival is presented by the illumination of the entire town with rows of tiny flickering lamps on Laxmi puja. In the evening of this day, the Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi is worshipped at every household and it is on her welcome that myriad of lamps are burnt. On the fifth day sister show their affection towards their brothers with puja and feed them with delectable food. They pray for their brothers long life to Yama, the Hindu God of death.

We were there early October, and Kathmandu seemed quiet enough. There were a couple of demonstrations that went through the Durbar Square area, and military presence was heavy during the Indra Jatra festival.

The one thing I would do differently would be to purchase my exit ticket out early. Thai Airways to Bangkok was booked up weeks in advance; ditto for anything going into China (Lhasa, Chengdu, Guangzhou). Royal Nepal's planes had been grounded for a while—not sure if that has changed in the last month—creating an even longer wait list on the other airlines. We were there in the high season though, maybe July is better.

We were also thinking of going to Chitwan but heard on the news that the Maoists had set up road blocks on the way to the park. We didn't end up going...I'd say just be flexible in your plans and enjoy.

I've been there trekking the past two springs. Generally the tourist/trekking trade is not too affected by Nepali politics, other than the Maoist "donation" scam. If you have only a week. you won't have time for trekking, and in addition July is monsoon season.

Airline tickets will be easier to obtain at that time of year as well.

There's plenty to do and see in KTM area for a week.

Hey guys,

I will be traveling to Nepal in July as well! How crazy...Nekulnepal is your invitation for travel information open to anyone? If I come to Kathmandu, I will certainly need some travel and tourist information. Expect an email or two from me. Right now my biggest concern is the rain in this region during July/August, any thoughts on that?

Thanks

Hello Josh,
Greetings from Nepal..

Thank you so much for your kind coments.Well, it will be my great pleasure to share my work experience with the people who like to travel my country. So, I will always welcome your anykind of necessary information of tour about Nepal as well as some other tour like as Tibet,Bhutan and some part of India.

So, Please feel so comfortable to write me here. Similarly, as you have mention the time you are heading to Nepal is absolutely monsoon season and lots of rain and you should prepare to encounter with rain, I hope you will be able right? Thank you any way and really appreciate your message here..
Regards

Josh and NekulNepal, I guess we need to have a BnA get-together in Kathmandu? I know it's the monsoon season, but that's when I can go, so I'll see you there! We are all packing rain gear. I think the temperature will be between 5 to 20c? We can't wait!! Josh, when are you going to be there? Traveling with friends? NakulNepal, I'd appreciate your help with a leisurely itinerary. There are 4 in my group, traveling on a very limited budget. We want to have 1 to 3 planned visits or events each day but don't want to ever have a busy day. I have been looking for accomodations but have not made a choice. So if you have recomendations, I would like to hear them. Finally, if you can please tell me more about you and what you do in the tourist industry, and most importantly I need to know how you are paid. I want you and I to establish a professional relationship, so financial matters need to be clearly understood between us BEFORE we do any business.

Hello Scott,
Namaste and Warm Regards from Nepal.

Thank you so much for your kind reply here on this message board. I am really appreciate it. Well,yeah that will be my great pleasure to meet you and your family as well as Josh.

Regarding your intention to know about me, here I like to let you know somethings about me okay.

I am Nakul Devkota live in Kathmandu(Capital of Nepal)since 1985 A.D and use to live with my parents until 1998, and then later my parents moved to the home town call Gorkha which is 165Km far from kathmandu and i think you should know the shoulders for Gurkha's use work from British Government in 2nd world war. So, this is the place where I was born in 1978 and move to Kathmandu on 1985 A.D

Similarly, I complete my graduate here in Kathmandu on 1999A.D and then inter to the tourism sector since then.

So, I had been worked as mountain porter as well as slowly upgrade as a guide and now I have my own company and still some of my friends who were working with me since many years, they still doing the trekking belong to my company and here I have to say that name of my company is "Corsa Nepal Adventure Pvt.Ltd" which is base in major tourist area in Kathmandu call Thamel.

So that I really feel so flexible to share my work experience with the new people and ofcourse that will be my great opportunity to tell you what I got the experiences from my work.

And Scott, the time you are coming here is pretty hot like as 32Degree Celcious at the afternoon and about 19d.c in the evening,but still we get fresh and cool air in the evening time.So, there won't be any problem for you to find the nice and budget accomodations while you are here in Kathmandu and even some other cities.

Similarly, if you wish me to arrange your trip in really budget cost I feel so nice and hope I do my best to make your trip wonderful and unforgettable. Som please write here if you need some more information and also like to inform you that this site is pretty much strict to talk about any business. So, would be nice if you can contact me via my own mail address like nakulnp@gmail.com or info@corsanepal.com...thank you so much for your kind understand again and would be much appreciate to hear from you..thankyou
with best rgds
Nakul Devkota

I am currently sitting in Kathmandu as I type this and have been here for over a month. On the Annapurna Circuit which I completed two weeks ago, the Maoist are still requesting donations. Although it is now much less. I paid 25 rupees. I also did a trip to far west Nepal and got held up in a banda. It was nonvoilent and cars were allowed to continue after a four hour wait. I think Kathmandu is currently okay and Thamel is full of foreign tourist. As with everything you just have to use sense. Don't approach any demonstrations and if you are traveling make sure you have essentials like toilet paper and snacks in case of being held up by a strike. You will just have to wait patiently until it is over as there is nothing you can do about it.

Hi dear,

I have come across your comments and I have seen that you have visited Nepal before, hopefully that was during the monsoon season.
 
I am planning to travel to Nepal around the 20th of August for 8 days. I am booking a pre arranged trip through a company I found on the internet with transportation and everything. During the trip I will be visiting Kathmandu, Kathmandu valley, Chitwan, Pokharat, and Nagarkot. I will not be doing any trekking, only sightseeing. 
 
Can you please advise based on your experience and or other people you know who went there in August about the weather. Is it really bad? Will it effect the scenery? I haven't confirmed my trip yet since I am really confused about the weather.
 
Many thanks in advance for your help.
 
Regards,
Aboud