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Planning a trip to Nepal but wondering if it’s safe? With basic knowledge and understanding of the country and culture, visitors can generally have a safe and enjoyable journey. The article covers all the essential information you need to know before you go, from climate and government regulations to security tips on staying safe while travelling in Nepal.
Is Nepal Safe to Visit?
Overall, Nepal is a safe destination for travelling. However, as with any country, staying alert and aware of your surroundings is sensible. Do your research beforehand and get to know the local culture and customs – this will help you make informed decisions when you are there. Talk to local people before heading out, and don’t wander into unfamiliar areas alone or after dark. This way, you can minimize risk or potential danger and have a worry-free trip!
What Safety Precautions Should I Take When Visiting Nepal?
Safety precautions should always be taken when travelling to a foreign destination. Accustom yourself to the local laws and customs, use caution when interacting with strangers, and don’t carry large amounts of money or valuable items. Carry smaller bills to pay for your items and avoid overpaying for souvenirs at tourist hot spots. It is also important to have travel insurance for emergencies or illnesses. Finally, always check the safety conditions of your hotel and transportation before departing.
What Should I Wear in Nepal?
Appropriate clothing should be worn when travelling in Nepal. It is important to show respect for the local culture by dressing modestly; ladies should cover their legs and shoulders, while gentlemen should have shirts with sleeves. During cooler months, it is advised to bring multiple layers of clothing and a waterproof jacket or coat in case of sudden rain showers. For religious sites, gentlemen and ladies may need to wear a scarf to show respect.
Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Nepal?
Drinking tap water in Nepal is not recommended, as it may contain parasites, bacteria and other contaminants. Instead, use a reusable bottle and opt for bottled water or boiled and filtered water. As an additional precaution, avoid eating unpeeled fruits or vegetables with uncooked food from street vendors. These are simple yet highly effective ways of preventing health issues when travelling in Nepal.
Are Transportation Methods in Nepal Secure and Reliable?
The transportation methods in Nepal are generally safe and secure, although road conditions in some rural areas can be uneven and unpredictable. However, most popular places tourists visit have well-maintained roads with reliable public and private transportation services, including buses and taxis. It’s also possible to rent a car, taxi, motorcycle, or bicycle, depending on your needs.
Updated: January 05, 2023
Old Post
The deadly disease, CORONAVIRUS or COVID-19, has been rapidly crashing the world lately. Firstly discovered in WUHAN city in Hubei province in mainland China, this disease has outbreak in more than 170 countries and territories, causing 219,345 confirmed cases, 8,969 deaths and 85,745 recoveries as of March 19 2020.
Signs and Symptoms of Coronavirus
As stated by World Health Organization (WHO) and multiple health institutes, the virus can be transmitted from people with no symptoms. The virus can be transmitted to 3 people by an infected person with direct contact.
Signs and Symptoms of Coronavirus are
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Prevention
“Prevention is better than cure.”
- Wash your hands frequently
- Practice respiratory hygiene
- Maintain social distancing
- Avoid touching eyes, nose & mouth
Most Affected Countries:
This CoronaVirus 2019 has affected more than 170 countries and territories. Unfortunately, this disease spreads so rapidly that the number of confirmed and dead cases increases speedily. Some of the countries most affected by the disease are listed below.
China
The first case of the novel COVID-19 was diagnosed in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019. As the most affected country globally, China has 80,928 cases, 3,245 deaths and 70,420 recoveries as of the latest report.
Italy
The Coronavirus disease has affected European countries. This deadly disease has widespread so rapidly in Italy, making it the second most affected country with 35,713 confirmed cases, 2,978 deaths and 4,025 recoveries.
South Korea
The outbreak of the disease in South Korea has roughed people’s lives. The latest report shows that the country has 8,565 confirmed cases, 91 deaths and 1,947 recoveries.
Iran
Iran has been placed in the third position on the list as the country has 17,361 confirmed cases, 1,135 deaths and 5,710 recoveries.
Japan
The outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan has caused 986 confirmed cases, 33 deaths and 191 recoveries as of March 19 2020.
Is Nepal Safe From COVID-19? How safe is Nepal from Corona Virus 2019?
Is the neighbouring country of China, Nepal, safe from Corona Virus?
Every person may ask this question or have a concept that Nepal is unsafe from CoronaVirus. However, Nepal is on the list of least affected countries globally, carrying only one confirmed case. In addition, a Nepali student returning from Wuhan on January 5 was diagnosed with COVID-19, kept in a quarantine zone for 14 days, and recovered.
On February 16 2020, 175 Nepalese citizens evacuated from the epicentre of Wuhan, Hubei province in China. They were monitored at the quarantine zone in Kharipati, Bhaktapur, for two weeks. All the results came negative, and they got discharged.
Recently, 4 suspected people (3 Nepali citizens & a French national) landed from South Korea, UAE and Qatar, but the results tested negative.
Luckily, Nepal is safe from this deadly disease to date. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Coronavirus may outbreak in Nepal. And if the disease enters the country, it will be epidemic as Nepal is a developing country and lacks proper healthcare institutes, modern technology and the necessary equipment in sufficient amount to diagnose the person with highly infectious COVID-19.
Governmental Works to Prevent COVID-19
The global tension has been alarming the whole world for a few months. Though the disease has not affected Nepal, the Government of Nepal, and many health organizations and agencies have taken steps to prevent the disease from spreading.
The Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Control Hospital and Epidemiology and Disease Control Division are the two major health institutions involved in preventing the virus from crashing in the country. In addition, temperature screening via thermal cameras and self-reporting has been initiated in Tribhuvan International Airport for passengers flying from other countries. Furthermore, Nepal Government has also assigned other hospitals like Bir Hospital, Civil Hospital, Patan Hospital and TU Teaching Hospital to coronavirus outbreaks in Nepal.
On March 9 2020, Government declared that on-arrival visas to Nepal from 8 countries that have been highly affected are suspended temporarily. In addition, ON-arrival-visas from the following countries are suspended for some time.
- China
- Iran
- Italy
- South Korea
- Japan
- France
- Germany
- Spain
Government’s Policy
The Government will implement the action from March 10, 2020, for the first five countries, whereas for France, Germany and Spain, it will be effective from March 13, 2020.
A day after, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus a Pandemic Outbreak. It warned the world to take preventive action. As a result, the Government of Nepal has decided to suspend all on-arrival tourist visas to all countries, excluding diplomatic and official visas. The meeting on late Thursday night on March 12 also ended up cancelling all the spring expeditions and Everest climbing.
According to the officials, the Government also decided to cease on-arrival tourist visas to Nepal through land routes. The visa suspension will be effective from March 14 and will last until April 30, 2020. However, anyone wishing to visit Nepal must have a medical certificate/report showing the person is COVID-19 negative.
Is Nepal Safe From COVID-19? How safe is Nepal from Corona Virus 2019?
Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 disturbing the peacefulness in the world, people are willing to travel to fulfil their desires of travelling. Nepal, the land of the Himalayas, is linked with China and listed in the danger zone by the World Health Organization (WHO).
However, the outbreak of the Corona Virus disease has not affected the country. Only one case was seen till this date and was recovered with timely treatment. Otherwise, the suspected cases have resulted in negative.
The Government’s immediate actions and medical assistance are working to protect Nepal from the disease. The Hon. Tourism Minister of Nepal, Yogesh Bhattarai, has invited all travellers without hesitation and fear in a press release by Nepal Tourism Board. It concludes that “Nepal is Safe to travel”.
Please click the link below for the suspension of Visa-On-Arrival.