Nepal — Currency & Money

The Nepalese rupee (NPR) is pegged at 1.6 to the Indian rupee. It is a cash economy: cards work in upscale hotels and restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara, nowhere else. ATMs impose per-transaction caps (commonly around NPR 35,000) with fixed fees, so large amounts mean repeated withdrawals or an over-the-counter advance inside a bank. Note that high-denomination Indian rupee notes (INR 500 and above) are banned in Nepal — don't bring them. Tipping: around 10% in tourist restaurants; guides and porters expect end-of-trek tips by convention.