Kathmandu, Nepal

Summary
Live and volunteer in one of the world's most ancient, mysterious, and friendly capital cities in the world.

Programs
We the following programs in Kathmandu:

Overview
Kathmandu city is the capital of Nepal, located in the Kathmandu Valley which has a population of 1.5 million. The Kathmandu Valley was settled as early as 900 BC, and was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. Kathmandu combines the old and new like few places in the world, with ancient temples, streets, and women in saris, existing with chocking traffic and air pollution, modern high-rises, and mobile phones.

Getting There
Volunteers fly into arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu (KTM) to meet with our local Program Coordinator. Flights from North America, Europe and Australia almost always require travelers to change planes, either in Europe, the Persian Gulf, or India. Round-trip airfare from North America typically ranges from from $1,200 to $1,700 USD.

Language
Nepali is the official language in Nepal and the most widely spoken. However there are over 100 other languages registered in Nepal as mother tongues including Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, and Newari. English is taught as a second language in primary and secondary schools and colleges and is widely understood in business, government, and tourism circles.

Accommodations
You will stay with a local Nepali family who speaks English and will provide you with your own room, all meals, include you in family activities, and generally help you adjust to and learn about their culture and country. The host families have been hand-picked and trained by both Cosmic Volunteers' staff as well as our local Nepali Coordinator. Cosmic's staff has visited the families' homes, shared meals with them, and conveyed to them the unique responsibilities involved with hosting foreign volunteers. Our families can host more than one volunteer at a time, so you can stay in the same house with your friend(s) or partner. You can also stay in separate host families that are very near to each other.

Meals
The standard meal in Nepal is called "dal bhat tarkari" which consists of rice, lentils, and a vegetable. Most Nepalis eat this twice a day, with a snack or two throughout the day. Many families spice it up with chile peppers. The meal can be quite monotonous, but fortunately there is a wide variety of cuisines available such as Chinese, Japanese, India, and western food. Vegetarians are easily accommodated by our host families. There is always a wide selection of seasonal fruits available, like bananas and jackfruit.

Communications
Mobile phones are widely available in Kathmandu. You can buy and activate a mobile phone for about 50 USD from one of the many mobile phone shops in the city. There are many Internet shops for both Internet access and international phone calls. Your host family will also have a phone that you can use to receive international calls from family and friends back home.

Transportation
Our local Nepali Coordinator will accompany you by taxi from the airport to your host family as well as the organization where you will volunteer. On a daily basis, you will likely be within walking distance to the place where you will volunteer. However you can take a bus, mini-bus, or a "tuk-tuk" which are all very inexpensive. We highly recommend that volunteers buy an inexpensive bicycle – riding a bicycle through the streets of Kathmandu is a truly unique experience!

Health & Safety
Kathmandu is very safe in terms of personal safety as well as health. The biggest problem faced by volunteers is usually an occasional upset stomach as their bodies adjust to the food and water. You cannot drink tap water;only drink bottled/boiled water. There are large hospitals and medical clinics throughout Kathmandu, including ones with English-speaking doctors and nurses.

Climate/Weather
Kathmandu has distinct seasons, with night/day temperatures ranging from 2-18 C (35-65 F) in January to 20-29 C (68-84 F) in July. The monsoon season brings rains in July and August. The best weather months are October and November, with moderate temperatures and dry and clear skies which attract international travelers to trekking in the Himalayas.

Sightseeing & Activities
In Kathmandu you can visit popular sites such as Durbar Square, the ancient city of Bhaktapur, Swayambhunath "Monkey" Temple, Boudhanath Buddhist Stupa, the Hindu temple complex Pashupatinath, and Patan city.

Nepal's Himalayas offer some of the best trekking in the world. You can do some wonderful trekking trips, from as little as 3-4 days to a couple of weeks.

Another popular area is Chitwan which is a 6-hour bus ride southwest of Kathmandu. The main attraction is Chitwan National Park with its elephants, rhinos, and tigers. While in Chitwan, you can visit the town of Lumbini which is famous for being the birthplace of Buddha.