Visit Nepal 2011

Facts for the visitors-Activities-Legal Matters

Higher than the Himalaya
 
In Kathmandu’s flower-power era in the 1960s and early 1970s, the easy availability of marijuana an d hashish was undoubtly a major attraction for many visitors. In its hippy hay-day Kathmandu had hash shops and hash calendars--and hash cookies appeared on every hip restaurant menu. Many of the ‘freaks’ who congregated in Nepal those days were high in places other than the Himalaya.

The herb had always been easily available, but its users were mainly sadhus, for whom it has religious importance. Then, in the run-up to King Birendra’s coronation, hashish was banned. The next night, possibly in protest, the huge Singh Durbar building-- a palace from the Rana period-- burnt down.

However, possession of a small amount involves little risk, although potential smokers should keep the less-than-salubrious condition of Nepali jails firmly in mind. Don’t try taking any out of the country either--travellers have been arrested at the airport on depature.