Frequently Asked Questions | Post Quake

As a group, we have tried to assimilate the most common questions that are coming from travelers who are planning trips to Nepal. If your particular question is not here, please ask us a question and we shall put it on the list as well.

1. Are the ATMs working?
   YES all as normal, just ensure you have told your bank you are travelling and will be using ATMs in Nepal
2. Is there a Cholera Outbreak?
   NO but follow all the usual precautions as previously advised
3. Is electricity still working?
   YES but we are still subjected to the normal ‘load-shedding’ schedules.
4. What is the drinking water situation? Mineral water is still available for travellers but if you want belt and braces there are many makes of water purification units around and readily available in the market (some are now in Nepal)
5. Can I get from point A to point B?
   Travel is fine at the moment, the monsoon will no doubt loosen hill sides as it always does but there are many geologist groups in Nepal monitoring the situation, and will continue to do so after the monsoon. ICIMOD expect that there will be a very high risk of landslides in the 14 worst earthquake affected districts but the rest of Nepal will be at the same level of risk as pre-earthquake.
6. Is Everest Buried? It is believed that Everest has sunk about a centimetre but so far no scientific surveys have been completed with published results. It’s definitely still there
7. Is Kathmandu flattened?
   Definitely not! Most parts of the city are working as normal. In many places you would not know there had been an earthquake - this includes the major tourism hub of Thamel
8. Are you living above a rubble mound?
   No and there are very few piles of rubble around, the majority have now been managed or are in the process of being managed and removed.
9. Which ones are the safest hotels in Kathmandu, Nagarkot?
   Nearly all of the top end  hotels have been checked and are now open as before, certainly the high profile (not necessarily the most expensive) ones are. The majority of Thamel hotels have not yet had  government engineers surveys but they are open for business as normal. When considering a hotel choice please look for the ‘Green Sticker’, the official survey stamp that the building is safe. http://www.drupartment.com/nepal-hotel-status  Check our portal for hotels that are open for business as normal
10. Is Wifi free at all the hotels and restaurants?  
    Those that have this service are still providing it
11. What about food?
    Most of the favourite and popular restaurants are open for business as usual but the same travel advice applies as it always has done – use hand gel and avoid small ‘local’ back street restaurants to stay healthy. Many restaurants are closing early (9pm) but only because there is so little trade
12. Does the phone and Internet work? All communication systems work as you would normally expect.
13. Is there lawless behaviour like looting? NO!
14. Is there a likelihood of aftershocks during my visit?
    Nepal has always had earthquakes, on average it gets over twenty per year, many under 4 magnitude so there always have been tremors. These are now happening in a very short and mostly gentle form on a regular basis however most people are not even aware of them happening.