Do’s & Don’t
Whilst Nepal is a very busy tourist destination, culturally the country continues to welcome visitors. There is an understanding by everyone of the importance of tourism economically.
Whether you are trekking in the mountains or touring the cities we suggest you that you treat the land its people with care & respect.
Below are some tips on how you can keep the environment clean and show appreciation for age-old culture and traditional religious beliefs. Nepal’s Culture might be astonishing and surprising for newcomers therefore these tips are sometimes necessary.
Do
- To show gratitude and respect, use both of your hands rather than one when giving or receiving something, even money. It seen as a gesture of respect.
- Remove your shoes when entering a home, temple or monastery (and leather items in Hindu temples)
Don’t
- Remember not to point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand especially to indicate a sacred object or place.
- Among Hindus, avoid touching women and holy men. People, especially women, do not normally shakes hands when they greet one another, but instead press palms together in a prayer-like gesture known as “Namaste” greeting is preferable.
- Don’t eat with your left hand. The left hand is for toileting only.
- Never eat beef in front of Hindus & Buddhist because beef is strictly prohibited among both Hindus and Buddhists. Cows are sacred in Nepal.
- Try not to step over or point your feet at another person, a sacred place or a hearth.
- Smoking and wearing scant dress in religious settings. Remember, some of the temples entrance may be prohibited for non-Hindus.
- It is better not to touch offerings or persons when they are on way to shrines, especially if you are non-Hindu.
- Don’t offer food to a Nepalese after tasting it, nor eat from a common pot, and avoid touching your lips to a shared drinking vessel.
- The sight of men holding hands is common, but men and women holding hands, and general acts of affection, are frowned upon.
- Do walk around monastery or temple clockwise, so that the outer walls are always on your right. If you encounter a stone wall covered with Tibetan inscriptions, do the same: Walk past with the wall on your right (and don’t take any of the stones).
- Don’t lose your control. Raising your voice or shouting is seen as extremely bad manners in Nepal too and will only make any problem worse.
- Do get a receipt of in authenticity when purchasing an antique replica? otherwise, you will not be allowed to take it out of the country. And don’t buy ivory or fur from endangered species? Your purchases encourage the trade in such illegal goods, and you won’t be allowed to bring them back home anyway.
- Don’t give in to children who ask for just one rupee. Although a rupee is a small amount that anyone can spare, successful begging leads young children to drop out of school and take up panhandling as their trade. If you want to help, give to a trustworthy charity or a school.
- Don’t take photographs of locals, holy shrines & temples unless consent has been provided.