We planned to go to Kathmandu for about 3 days in the second week of March as part of a trip around Northern India. We held off booking anything so far as we wanted to see what would happen with the polls in early February.
Now it is getting close to the time that we have to make a decision to either go or not. We planned only to stay in the Kathmandu Valley with Bhaktapur being about as far out of the capital as we would stray.
I am having problems getting much in the way of information concerning the present situation in Kathmandu. One person I spoke to believed that there is a 5PM curfew in effect however I haven’t been able to verify that.
So I would like to ask the forum ..... If you were in our position, would you go or not?
Kind Regards
go to Kathmandu mid-March??
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fyi---we have cancelled our stay in kathmandu for november based on recent happenings....why risk anything when you can always return there when things are more calm....??
According to the website for the US Embassy in Nepal, the curfew was put in place on January 20, see http://kathmandu.usembassy.gov/sec_01-20-2006.html. I could not find any press release indicating that it was lifted.
I have been telling people for at least the last 3 years not to go to Nepal. You have so many other choices for beautiful mountain areas, like Bhutan and Ladkah for one (and Switzerland for another). I have been to Katmandu once, many years ago, and honestly would never return I don't understand what the draw is, and while the mountain scenery is indeed. beautiful, there is lots to be had in many other places. Given the Maoist situation, I really don't understand why anyone would go there.
For other information, go to the website for the embassy generally at http://kathmandu.usembassy.gov. The US State Department is generally quite conservative in its publications, but it is kind of sobering reading. For perhaps another view that might be more balanced (but is still alarming), take a look at the
website for the UK Embassy in Nepal (which is advising against travel to Nepal) at http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1067968460507
BBC News is also a very good source of information on the area that is generally ignored by the US press (http://news.bbc.co.uk)
Hi adwinn-we were planning to be in Nepal Apr or May and have changed our trip plans to Sikkim, Darjeeling & Almora, Kausani area in Uttaranchal. For current info see www.indiamike.com. There are updates under the destination subheadings.
I've been to Kathmandu and would certainly return (not so much for the mountains, though they are spectacular, but for the cultural experiences), but not now. I've been keeping close tabs on the situation in Nepal and it only seems to be deteriorating. Save it for another trip.
After reading all your posts and after researching it more ( nepalhomepage.com was a good portal) we decided to not go.
Unfortunate because although I never say never, it is very likely that it was our one chance to visit it. Oh well, it does on the other hand give me 3 more days in Northern India to play with. Now what to do with them....
Thank you all for your help!
greetings all/Namaste! This is Bonita, American woman living/based in Delhi. Just back from Kathmandu yesterday morning, FEB 13! I was leading an American tour group for 15 days thru North India which concluded with three nights in KTM! It WAS my second visit this year and probably my 30 visit in the past five years post royal massacre and way to many to tally over my lifetime. I have been traveling to this region since 93, speak Nepalese too, and did a year of volunteer work at both Mother Teresa Home and with an organzization which sponsered street children for schooling by western sponsers. Since those early days i have seen so many unforutante changes in NEPAL, but i have returned year after year, thur thick and thin as i just love the Country and the people. These days i lead/manage various cultural-educational and various medical tours in the region of North India and Nepal. Anyways, just to let all know, I just spent three nights from feb 9-12 with a grp of 28 Americans in KTM,the day after the elections and we experinced no problems whatsoever ! YES, there are some protests daily in KTM DURBAR sQUARE, but u can avoid that area and/or the time of the protests daily. The general strike is over, the curfew is over, and yes, the situation is very sad, the people are very unhappy, and yes, the situation can change for the worse, so it is important to stay-tuned. But generally speaking, these days u can still visit the Valley, and the towns around it, and it is imporant too, as it is the livlihood of so many Nepalese. So many people absolutely depend on toursim too!@!!on the ground leve, the country is pretty empty of tourists as of now, but it should slowly build again post-mock-elections,..I wld say toursim may be down approx 95% as per accounts in the papers of NEPAL. Even more sad, the famous YAK AND YETI five star historic hotel has closed down, shut its doors indefinately! on my behalf, I was staying this week at my favorite hotel in the valley, the HYATT, and the hotel waS only 30 % occupancy! We were probably the only tour group still there! Anyways, there are clearly tremednous problems in the country, but for the most part, it is really still okay to go to KTM and the surrounding cities in the valley like PATAN AND bHAKTAPUR and NARGOKOT. mY group loved India, but as usual, the visit to NEPAL was the highlight of the tour for the majority..Anyways, the country really needs tourists and hopefully folks will begin to trickle back in. Anyways, i am affiliated with a company in Delhi that has offices in KTM too, so i stay steadily in touch and up-to date and of course i wld not go to country when they declare it dangerous. But at this time i will stil be in/out of the KTM valley a few more times this year and I am actually returning again (god-willing) with another program in three weeks...Anyways, anyone who has any personal questions or even wld like some advice/assistnace on Nepal travel feel free to drop me a line at Dreamingofindia@aol.com wLD be happy to help!NAMASTE, BONITA.
I am so sorry to hear that the Yak and Yeti has closed its doors. I have many fond memories of my time there.
These are sad times for Nepal.
is that a permanent closing? or just one to allow things to calm down??
Hi Bonita & thanks a lot for the update. Maybe we'll get there if things are calmer than we have heard, previously. Stay well!
lyndie---if the authorities find out that rough riders like you guys are visiting they will hold off any disturbances for the period of your visit...
not much to drink there either...
Haven't you heard of duty free grog, Bob?
And, in the Hunter we all grow our own grapes & make our own wine, didn't you know? So there will never be a shortage of good quaffing red in my backpack!
And, pray tell, what the heck is a rough rider? My bottom (fanny to you!!)is sore just thinking about it!
cowboys is another name for it....
now i know why you have back packs for your clothes....your rollies are full of vino...
Pls go to bed. Elderly folks need their sleep AND......
Your jokes are getting worse!
HELLO THERE! Namaste! Nobody really knows if it is a permanent closing or not, but the YAK and YETI Hotel has been have many other problems since December, labor disputes with employees, etc, so the drop in tourisM is another part of the picture. I had another grp booked at the YAK late December and there was a walk-out and we switched the group on the fly to the Radisson. Anyways, as u may recall those who have stayed at the YAK and YETI there are a whole market/street of stores that cater to the hotel clients, so needless to say these folks too are sadly out of business. Anyways, i will be returning to KTM in three weeks, so will continue to follo-up with updates on the ground situation, and the status of the fabled Yak and YETI. namaste to all, bonita
Contrary to what someone said earlier- I've been telling everyone interested in Nepal to visit. The Maoists have NEVER targeted tourists, which is more than many other so called safe tourist destinations can say. And other than the occasional "tax" tourists have to pay, the Maoists will not hassle you. Nepal is a breath takingly beautiful country, and one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is largely dependent on tourism, and especially now with many other sources of income depleted because of the conflict, tourism is ONE of the ONLY options Nepalis have to survive. If Nepal is a place you are interested in visiting now is the time to go.
The thing about travel advisories is that they often paint the picture to be far more dire than it is. I'm not saying Nepal is not in a political quagmire, but I don't think you should cancel your trip either. Such travel advisories have basically killed off the tourism industry in Nepal, which is a major source of income for a large percent of the population, and thus unfortunate. Where are you really free from violence nowadays? I was living in London during the subway bombings, and am now back in New York. Safety in today's world is mainly an illusion!
Being vigilant and staying away from any rallies that may occur would be wise (never understood the tourists who walk into the mass rallies armed with cameras... that's just asking for trouble)... It's almost like Nepalis have gotten used to the unrest, life goes on as usual for people, and adjusting to various circumstances has become a way of life. Getting to the airport is never an issue for tourists- the Tourism Authority arranges buses from hotels around the city to the airport for tourists.
During my last trip, a bandh (day where vehicles are not allowed in the city streets) turned out to be my favorite day as we could just roam the city walking on the streets (rather than the often crowded/nonexistant sidewalks) and people were having fun riding their bicycles on the road w.o worrying about cars. Lots of smiles as people walked to work taking in the morning sunshine. That's Nepal for you- through it all the people are resilient and continue about life with a smile.
Also a good source of info on whats going on in Nepal is www.nepalnews.com or www.nepalitimes.com