37 questions on the things that actually come up — temple etiquette, festival moments, dal bhat refills, helicopter-scam pushback, who to tip and when, how to refuse a fake monk politely. Each correct answer has a short explanation linking back to the relevant page on the site.
Not graded — pick the answer you’d actually choose. The explanations are where the real learning happens.
Pick the most appropriate response
1. You're introduced to an elderly Nepali host family member. Hands together at chest, slight bow. What's the right greeting?
2. You enter a Nepali home for the first time. What do you do at the door?
3. During Dashain, an elder offers tika (red rice mixture on the forehead). What's the right response?
4. Handing something (money, a gift, a document) to a Nepali shopkeeper. Which hand?
5. You arrive at Pashupatinath temple as a non-Hindu foreigner. What can you do?
6. At Boudhanath stupa, locals walk around it. Which direction?
7. A young monk at Swayambhunath is reading. You want a photo. What's the right approach?
8. Entering Bhaktapur's Nyatapola temple. What goes off?
9. Dashain is Nepal's biggest festival. What does it typically center on?
10. During Tihar, you'll see houses lit with oil lamps. What's the most distinctive day?
11. Holi (festival of colors) in Nepal — where's the most intense celebration?
12. Indra Jatra in Kathmandu features a famous appearance. Of whom?
13. You finish your first plate of dal bhat at a teahouse. The didi comes by with the rice pot. What happens?
14. At a Newari home, the host serves you samay baji on a metal plate. How do you eat?
15. On the EBC trail above Dingboche, you want to order vegetarian. What works?
16. You walk into a lodge in Manang. You want a pot of tea, not single cups.
17. Eating dal bhat at a Nepali home. Your feet are pointing at the food. What do you do?
18. You see your porter's bag is bigger than yours. What's the right move?
19. End of a 10-day trek. When and how do you tip the guide?
20. At Dingboche (4,400m), you feel dizzy and have a bad headache. What do you say?
21. A lodge in Lobuche has free rooms. What's the catch?
22. Mild headache at 4,500m. Your guide insists on calling a helicopter. What's the right pushback?
23. Outside Tribhuvan airport, taxi quotes NPR 2,000 to Thamel. Meter is 'broken.'
24. Someone in robes hands you a red string bracelet near Boudha and asks for $20.
25. Best place to change USD to NPR if you've already arrived in Kathmandu?
26. A Thamel shop quotes 8,000 NPR for a pashmina shawl. You want to bargain politely.
27. How do you ask 'how much?' in Nepali at a shop?
28. Dinner at a Thamel restaurant, bill is NPR 1,500. Tip?
29. You're addressing a Nepali elder you just met. Which pronoun for 'you'?
30. When should you NOT over-use 'dhanyabad' (thank you) in Nepal?
31. What's the difference between 'namaste' and 'namaskar'?
32. Visiting Pashupatinath or Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Dress code?
33. Trekking the Annapurna Circuit as a solo female traveler. Dress norms?
34. Smart way to carry cash on a Nepal trip?
35. Visiting a Tamang village in Langtang. You want to photograph an elderly woman weaving.
36. You're at a fixed-price shop in Pokhara (sign says 'Fixed Price'). What do you do?
37. You drop a 100 NPR note on the ground in a Newari neighborhood. What's the etiquette?