NEPAL

Geography: The Kingdom of Nepal is found on the southern side of the Himalaya between China and India. A small interesting country with the world's tallest mountains, Everest and Annapurna. Nepal has plains in the south, fertile valleys in the midlands and deserts in the high-altitudes. With over 6500 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers, the floral glory is March - April. A wide diversity of animal life, with 800 bird species and exotic mammals such as the Royal Bengal tiger and the snow leopard, as well as the rhinoceros, elephant, bear, deer, monkey and jackal are usually only found in national parks and reserves.

 Climate: Nepal has a typically monsoonal two-season year. October-November, the start of the dry season, is the best time with clean air, good visibility and the country looking it's best. December-January can be chilly with cheaper Kathmandu hotels having no heating can be gloomy in the evening. February-April is the end of the dry season but visibility is not so good because of dust. However the warm weather sees many of Nepal's wild flowers in bloom. May - early June are generally too hot and dusty for comfort. Mid-June to September the monsoon time.

Currency: Nepalese rupee. Major international currencies such as the US$ and GB£ are readily accepted, and the Indian rupee is also considered a 'hard' currency. Large denomination Nepalese notes may be difficult to use.

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