Nepal - Visiting for only 4 days...any suggestions to make it great?

In 4 days the the best way to see Everest is by a fly past - a few airlines do these flights (Yeti Air, Buddha Air for example), early morning from Tribhuvan, a figure of eight route, lasts about an hour, any agent can book this for you, standard prices).

Plenty of other stuff to keep you occupied in KTM and the valley - depending on your interests of course; Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Swayambunath, Durbar square, Patan, Changu Narayan and Bhakhapur (a must see IMO) are examples.

Or just kick back in Thamel while you wait to return to India - you do know about the current two month rule between visits (with exceptions) even though it's in the process of being revoked (hopefully)?

Mt flight one hrs flight

scoodly - my india visa is a 6 month tourist multiple entry visa - are you telling me there is a TWO MONTH RULE before re-entering India? I've never heard of that. My plan is fly for JFK to DEL, spend 2 nights in DEL, then fly to kathmandu for 4 days and then fly to Varanasi.

Is this not possible????!!

scoodly - my Indian visa is a 6 month tourist visa with Multiple Entry. are you saying that I must stay out of India for 2 months before re-entering?! i did not ready that. My plan was to fly from JFK - DEL, spend 2 nights in Delhi, then fly to Kathmandu for 4 days before flying to Varanasi.

Anyone?! This seems absurd! I hope it doesn't mean I have to ditch my plans for Nepal!!

frizbee - the whole business is in a confused and confusing state (well, at least I am). A quick summary:

Some months ago Indian visa rules changed and required a two-month gap even for mulitple entry visas. Anti-terrorism was the stated reason. There was a lot of protest and the rule seemed to be introduced inconsistently. Then an exception was introduced whereby if you could demonstrate that you already had plans/tickets then an exception could be made, later the exceptions were formalised and extended and on payment of a further fee permission could be gained to re-enter India. The latest news seems to be that the Ministry of Tourism intends to abolish, or at least substantially change it but needs another ministry - External Affairs??? - to agree.

I'm open to correction on the above...

There is sticky thread on indiamike.com or you can wade through the TT for more info there are many threads but the search function is clunky.

I'm sure someone else will be along later with a clearer understanding...

Sorry if I alarmed you in my first post frizbee - it was not my intention. Just thought you would appreciate the heads up because of the possibilty of denied boarding or refusal of entry.

It does seem you fit the exception rules (but four days out of India is uncommonly short). It might be worth contacting the visa agency before you travel for re-entry permission but it is also possible to get this in Nepal but it could take up some valuable time in Nepal.

Hello,

If u have only 4 days, maybe you should stay in Kthmandu valley, or u'll loose lots of time on travelling...

Sometimes, you can see Mt Everest from Nagarkot, as well as Langtang range, and it is a nice place to stay for a night.

There are many places to visit in Kathmandu, Patan, and other places of the valley.

If you are looking for accomodation, I live in Nepal with my nepali husband, and we provide accomodation + lunch and dinner in our small nice house with a garden and hot shower! It is 800 rps per night.

Hope you can find your answer about indian visa, it seems quite confusing for many people...

Lise-Marie

In your Post you mention the possibility of a "cheap mountain sightseeing flight" - there all the same price - US$166 now for that one hour - but it is pretty spectacular. Multiple flights daily (weather and visibility permitting) starting at about 7 am until 9, or so. Everyone gets a window seat and a chance to go up to the cockpit for a few minutes to take photos through the windscreen. How close the flight gets to Mt. Everest depends on wind conditions - but it's a big enough rock that a few miles distance doesn't spoil the view! Buddha Air gives an excellent commentary - and a certificate at the end commemorating your flight. It's worthwhile if the budget can stand it.
My understanding of the "two month rule" for India was that once your Visa expires, you could not reapply for another for two months - but maybe I'm wrong. The wording of government communiques often leaves room for misunderstanding. It has been fairly common for people staying in India for extended periods to hop up to Nepal just as their 6 mos. visa was expiring - reapply and be back in India in a week or so. I thought the rule was to discourage that practise....but I've been wrong before. Best to check for an official answer.
There are lots of interesting, World Heritage sites (7) in the Kathmandu Valley - no problem filling 4 days with interesting activities.
And, by the way, the suggestion by some hotels, etc that you can see Mt. Everest from Nagarkot or Damon is wishful thinking even when it is absolutely clear. If you have Superman's eyes or a strong telescope and know exactly where to look, you may be lucky - but from 75 miles away (as the crow flies) it's not going to be very impressive, even if you can find it buried among the other rugged peaks. The view from Nagarkot on a clear morning is amazing but it has nothing to do with the fact that Everest is visible.

Edited by: stilltrekkin

With regards to the Indian Visa, I just received mine yesterday, a six month, multiple entry visa.

A Green entry has been stamped on it stating that there must be two months between visits.

I'm flying through India on the way to Nepal before overlanding back to India, I'm assuming that I won't need a transit visa to enter Nepal through India as my luggage is checked through, but if it is the case that I need one then I'll have to stay out of India for two months. Not the end of the world as I was going to go to Nepal for 6 weeks anyway, but It is confusing, as I had understood it to mean I need to wait two months between Visas.