Katmandu Exam Center Details
This information is provided as a resource for candidates. CFA Institute and local societies cannot guarantee its accuracy. Candidates should be prepared to independently confirm all critical information before making travel arrangements.
Make sure you have your June exam ticket: Candidates are required to present an exam admission ticket for admittance to the test center (along with a current government-issued photo identification).
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Visas Indian nationals do not require a visa. However, effective from 1 October 2000, Indians travelling to Nepal by air have to show upon arrival at entry point either a passport, voter’s identity card issued by the Election Commission of India, or an identity card with photograph issued by the central or state government of India.
A driver's license will not be accepted as a valid photo identification.
Airlines
Delhi to Katmandu
Jetlite, Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, Gulf Air, Sahara
Mumbai to Katmandu (connecting in Delhi) Jetlite, Jet Airways, Gulf Air, Sahara
Chennai to Katmandu (connecting in Delhi) Jetlite, Thai Airways
Kolkata to Katmandu
Indian Airlines, Thai Airways
Bangalore to Katmandu (connecting in Delhi or
Kolkata) Jet Airways, Jetlite, Thai Airways, Gulf Air
Train and Bus Candidates can reach Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) or Varnasi and travel to the Nepal border by bus. An overnight train links Delhi and Katmandu. Buses link Varanasi with the Nepalese border.
Delhi to Katmandu Day 1: Take a train from Delhi to Gorakhpur. The Vaishali Express leaves Delhi at around 19:45 and arrives at Gorakhpur Junction at 09:10 the next morning, or there's another train from New Delhi at 17:20 arriving Gorakhpur at 06:35 the next morning. The fare is around Rs 2440 in AC1, Rs 1240 in AC2, Rs 785 in AC3 or Rs 315 in Sleeper Class – refer to the Indian Rail site for times and fares.
Day 2: Take a bus or Jeep from Gorakhpur to the Nepalese frontier at (Indian side) Sunauli/Bhairawa (Nepalese side, but also often called Sunauli). Journey time about 3 hours and costs Rs 55.
Walk across the frontier, and it's then a few minutes' walk to the Bhairawa bus station. Take a bus or Jeep on to Katmandu. Buses take 9 to 12 hours, cost about 120 Nepalese rupees or 230 Indian rupees. There are many buses daily, either daytime buses leaving regularly until about 11:00 or overnight buses leaving regularly from about 16:00 until 19:00. Indian rupees may be accepted in Bhairawa, but not further into Nepal.
Varanasi to Katmandu Day 1: Direct buses run from Varanasi to the Nepalese border at Bhairawi (Indian side)/Sunauli (Nepalese side), running several times daily. They take 9 hours and cost about Rs 100. Walk across the frontier, and spend the night in a hotel in Sunauli.
Day 2: The Sunauli bus station is a few minutes' walk from the frontier. Buses to Katmandu take 9 to 12 hours and cost about 120 Nepalese Rupees. There are many buses daily, either daytime buses leaving regularly until about 11:00 or overnight buses leaving regularly from about 16:00 until 19:00.
Mobile Phone/SIM Cards and Payphone Services There are two mobile phone operators in Nepal (rank by market share):
You can easily get a new SIM card and prepaid cards at various stores with name boards of the above companies displayed outside.
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Getting Around the City
Taxi fare is INR 30/km.
Local buses, micros, and mini buses are also available and they are cheap compared with taxis.
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Currency Name: Nepali Rupee (NPR) Denominations: Notes: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, and 1000
Sample Conversion Rates:
Money Exchange All major banks in Nepal exchange convertible hard currencies (including Indian rupees) into Nepalese rupees. There is an exchange counter in the Katmandu airport.
Exchanging Nepalese rupees back to hard currency is not easy: It can be done only at the airport before you leave, and only a certain fraction of what you originally exchanged into Nepalese rupees can be re-converted.
Many tourist-related businesses have started accepting payments in credit cards. It is, however, a fairly recent phenomenon, and cards other than Visa and MasterCard may not be accepted in most places. Please note that usage of credit cards in Nepal can cost you an extra three to five percent in transaction costs.
ATMs Commercial banks, such as Himalayan Bank and Nabil Bank, have installed ATM machines in some places in Katmandu but you may or may not be able to draw money from these machines depending upon the type of machine. Standard Chartered Bank has ATMs and branches in Katmandu.
Standard Charted Bank ATM:
Sample Pricing for Food and Taxi
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Individual candidates should visit the Hotel Association of Nepal website, which lists around 250 hotels, varying in price and services and in different locations in Katmandu. They have a counter in the international airport.
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You should speak to the reception desk where you are staying and try and get a sense of location a day before the exams. We assume that most candidates would be in Katmandu at least a day before the exams.
All timings are calculated at a maximum, taking into account the traffic congestion.
Level I Budhanilkantha School Budhanilkantha, Katmandu. It is situated in the north of Katmandu. You can take taxis, micros, and mini buses. This will take around 90 minutes from Katmandu city centre.
Lalitpur Convention Centre Situated in Lalitpur, south of Katmandu, a city that adjoins Katmandu. Taxis will be required unless you stay in Lalitpur. Again you can take micros, mini buses, and other public transportation. This should take around 60 minutes from any part of Katmandu.
Level II Yak & Yeti is situated in the heart of Katmandu. Most hotels are located close by and candidates should be able to walk to it, but taxis are available. There are also buses and other forms of public transportation, e.g. micros, mini bus. This should take not more than 30 minutes by taxi from most parts of Katmandu.
Level III Lalitpur Convention Centre Situated in Lalitpur, south of Katmandu, a city that adjoins Katmandu. Taxis will be required unless you stay in Lalitpur. Again you can take micros, mini buses, and other public transportation. This should take around 60 minutes from any part of Katmandu
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