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  1. #1
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    Phuketrichard's Avatar
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    Anyone been up to Nepal recently?

    Heading up the 23rd, will be my first visit in 20 years so expecting lots of changes.
    will mostly be around Thamel & Patan with brief trips to Bhaktapur and Nagarkot

    Have heard there is now a $15 admission charge to Bhaktapur durbur square
    and $10 to enter Patan Durbar square..
    "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol or insanity, but they've always worked for me" HST

    View my pics

  2. #2
    R.I.P. Luigi's Avatar
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    Not recently, no.

  3. #3
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    Was there a couple months ago and I don't recall any entrance fee to anywhere except to Pashupatinath temple (NPR 1000).

  4. #4
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    Phuketrichard's Avatar
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    fuck;
    that really sucks, everywhere is expensive
    $1=113 NPR

    Kathmandu Durbar Square 1,000 npr
    Pashupatinath Temple 1,000 npr
    Patan Durbar Square 1,000 npr
    Bauddhanath Stupa 400 npr

  5. #5
    I'm in Jail

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    Cant help ya. My last visit was 30 years ago. Stayed in the backpacker area known as pie & chai ally. It was a welcome relief from india where i travelling previos but i did over indulge on the hashish So memorys a bit blurry. Never went trekking never saw a fucking thing really. Was off me nut most of the time.

  6. #6
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    I think hettyboo was there recenty. He m8ght have current info

  7. #7
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    happynz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Phuketrichard View Post
    Kathmandu Durbar Square 1,000 npr
    This past August I had a wander around the streets there and I don't recall any entrance fees. A lot of the temples are still in a poor state from the earthquake several years ago, but nonetheless if you're a photographer you'll be in heaven. Place is atmospheric AF.
    pues, estamos aqui

  8. #8
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    Bettyboo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker View Post
    I think hettyboo was there recenty. He m8ght have current info
    Recently being a couple of years ago (a couple of years ago being 7 or so years ago... ) - how time flies...

    Considering the difficulties they've had, getting in some money from tourism to help repair their main tourist sites is ok, imho. $10 - it's nearly $40 to enter The Tower of London, add in the London Eye, The London Dungeon and HMS Belfast on a day trip and you're talking about entries fees alone of $130+ dollars...
    Cycling should be banned!!!

  9. #9
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    Phuketrichard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by happynz View Post
    This past August I had a wander around the streets there and I don't recall any entrance fees. A lot of the temples are still in a poor state from the earthquake several years ago, but nonetheless if you're a photographer you'll be in heaven. Place is atmospheric AF.
    Yea, looking forward to the trip and seeing the changes,
    in 85-88 had an apt in KTM when was living in Thailand as was traveling up there so much :-)

    Even thou before all places were free, nothing bad with charging for UNESCO sites, if it helps with the reconstitution.
    Bagan, Inle lake in Burma charge, Angkor wat is $37/day!!!
    Actually surprised Luang Prabang doesn't charge , $10/person would go along way to keep it nice

  10. #10
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    I have a good friend (Sherpa) who lives there.
    I asked him and here is his reply:
    "I guess Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan and other World Heritage sites inside Kathandu valley charge entrance fees."

    I do have a hard time believing they would somehow charge for Durbar Square.
    It is just a place where many vendors sell their trinkets to the tourists and women come with their babies and wash clothes there.
    Now Bodnath Stupa? I could see them charging there.

  11. #11
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    Phuketrichard's Avatar
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    FYI: :-(
    just back last night, very very disappointed . The city/country is worse off now than it was 20 years ago.
    Terrible traffic in KTM and surroundings, roads really suck, really bad smog and dust problem. Tourism less now than 20 years ago, (this is from talking to Nepalese and Tibetans in the businesses) and my observations. All the squares that used to be free (KTM<Patan, Bhaktapur) now charge for entry
    Lots of damages from the earthquake in 2015 still not repaired.

    2020 is visit Nepal year and there all wishfully hoping.

    pics to follow after some time

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    ^ Sad to hear that.

    Still looking forward to the Pics though.

  13. #13
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    Phuketrichard's Avatar
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    Spent 13 days in late Oct, early Nov in Nepal, stayed in Thamel, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot and Patan.
    113 rps= $1
    Never paid more than $20 for a nice room. I like my own bathroom, hot water, windows, clean...you can easily stay for under $10 a night if your willing to give up some of these things. Even less if ur ok with a dorm room.

    Example, had a great room in Bhaktapur $15, hot water, wifi, in the old town with windows overlooking a small lane and a great breakfast, with shared bathroom it would have been only $11.
    In Patan, 2 blocks to durbar square, I had a studio apt with huge bedroom, windows, wifi & kitchen all for $19/night, his monthly rate was $300 and sure you could get him down to $250

    Food; Nepali/Newari set meal 300-500 rps, other meals never more than 400, large beer 350-500, many average restaurants in Thamel and tourist areas tag on another 24% tax!!!!! Momo's under 200 rps, Fried rice or noddle under 200 rps, Pizza 350-500 rps, American Chowmein 200-300 rps, spaghetti carbonara 350 rps, Chicken burger with fires & coke 270 rps, soft drinks 50-80 rps, Lassi 80-120rps....all no tax

    My Ncell sim cost me $5.50 for the sim and 6 gigs of data as well:-)....Often faster then the hotels wifi...

    I paid over 55,000 rps total for admission tickets; ( Katmandu Durbar square, Patan Durbar square, Bhaktapur durbar square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa ++)

    Taxi's average $1/km, BUT Bus's VERY cheap;;;; (example Ktm- Bhaktapur) 15 kms 25 rps..

    Huge numbers of trekking shops in Thamel, you could show up in shorts and a tee shirt and fully equip yourself for an expedition to a mtn peak. Thamel is a shoppers paradise nowadays.

    Its my first trip back since 1999 and was not exactly pleased. terrible traffic ( huge influx of motorcycles and taxi's), bad roads, western tourism down from what it was in the 90's, (lots of Indians and Chinese now). The city has really expanded.
    Lots of earthquake damage still not repaired. Speaking with Tibetan an Nepali friends and ex business partners and they all agree it was better 20 years ago.

    Its a lovely country, friendly people and lots to see and do BUT do suggest you get out on a trek and really experience the country. For better or worse; you can now drive all the way to Lo Manang in Mustang near the Chinese border.
    You can do the full Annapurna circuit by motorcycle!! There are over 17 flights/day KTM-Lukla (the starting point for the Everest base camp trek), so your sharing the route with hundreds of trekkers.

    Namaste'

    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-bodhnath-stupa-sunset-jpg

    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-bodhanath-buddha-eyes-airplane-jpgAnyone been up to Nepal  recently?-sadhu-jpg
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    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-himilayas-above-bhaktapur-1-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-basantapur-sqaure-earthquake-damage-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-hindu-front-pashupatinath-temple-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-kathmandu-traffic-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-monk-pagoda-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-nepali-statue-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-old-man-statue-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-patan-durbar-square-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-tibetain-lady-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-thrashing-rice-jpg
    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-selfie-sadhus-jpg
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-bodhnath-stupa-sunset-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-bodhanath-buddha-eyes-airplane-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-sadhu-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-cremation-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-1st-flames-cremation-1-jpg  

    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-himilayas-above-bhaktapur-1-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-basantapur-sqaure-earthquake-damage-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-hindu-front-pashupatinath-temple-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-kathmandu-traffic-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-monk-pagoda-jpg  

    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-nepali-statue-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-old-man-statue-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-patan-durbar-square-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-tibetain-lady-jpg   Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-thrashing-rice-jpg  

    Anyone been up to Nepal  recently?-selfie-sadhus-jpg  

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Great trip report ... inspirational.

  15. #15
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    Still on the bucket list.
    Must go one day with the Mrs, before it gets too bad, and more spoiled.
    I hope and i'm sure she would, get the spirituality of the place.
    Thanx for the write up and wonderful pics, very informative.

  16. #16
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    Excellent pics. Thanks for the thread and report.

  17. #17
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    Great pics PR, brings back many memories. Used to go to Bhaktapur to get away from the traffic, nice and peaceful as they don't allow cars in the city. When i was there they were still rebuilding and repairing the temples from the big one in 1934!!! and i understand many buildings were badly affected by the last one undoing all the work that's taken place over decades; sad.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by happynz View Post
    but nonetheless if you're a photographer you'll be in heaven. Place is atmospheric AF.
    ...as evidenced by PhuketRichard's fabulous photos.

  19. #19
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    Phuketrichard's Avatar
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    Thanks guys;
    view more here
    https://phuket.zenfolio.com/p275499884

  20. #20
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    Good stuff.

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