General Information
about Nepal Official name: Nepal Adhirajya (Kingdom of Nepal) Area: 147.181 Square km Population: 23.5 million Capital: Kathmandu Political System: Multiparty Democracy with
Constitutional Monarch Language: Nepali, English Religious Groups: Hindus (89.5%), Buddhists
(5.3%), Muslims (2.7%), Jains (0.1%), Christians and
others (0.023%) Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NR)
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National Holiday: 07 July
(Birthday of the King)
Information
about Nepal
Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world. Nepal is spread
across the main heights of the Himalayas and has always been a
land of fascination. Nepal is a land of great contrasts with
high Himalayan mountains, vast and icy glaciers, tiny houses,
ancient history, artistic monuments, exotic wildlife
sanctuaries, greenery and diverse cultures. It is the land
where Lord Buddha was born over 2,500 years ago. Nepal is
rectangular in shape, landlocked and covers an area of 147,181
square km. Nepal is situated between Tibet in the north and
India in the South and has thus produced a remarkable mixture
of people and culture thus offering a fascinating diversity of
ethnic and cultural groups. After Nepal's long period of
isolation Kathmandu has become the gateway to Nepal. The Kathmandu Valley is the cultural and political centre of
Nepal. The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu. About half a million
people lives in Kathmandu. Every aspect of Nepali life can be
seen in Kathmandu, which is the center of travel and adventure
activities. The Kathmandu Valley is magnificent for its wealth
of unique temples. Nepali is the official language of Nepal
and is spoken by most of the people. Till 1951, Nepal was a
closed book for foreign visitors. Till 1964, it was reserved
only for hardy climbers and explorers. In recent years, the
country has opened its doors to foreign and Indian tourists
and millions of them visit this country every year. The
experiences of the travelers who visit the Nepal for the first
time are very different. Some of the tourists feels like
stepping out of a time machine, some are thrilled by the
pleasant atmosphere, while, some of them feel like living in a
permanently air-conditioned state. Nepal can be visited
throughout the year and in any season.
History of Nepal
In the earlier days, Nepal was divided into small
principalities which were fighting against each other.
It was not till the arrival of the Mallas from north
India that Nepal was launched into its first flowering
of social and artistic creativity. The Mallas also took
control of a major part of Nepal and Tibet. But, pattern
of small, independent kingdoms continued and Nepal could
not be unified. The Mallas had three separate kingdoms
in the Kathmandu Valley itself, with their capitals at
Kathmandu, earlier known as Kantipur, Patan, known as
Lalitpur and Bhadgaon, known as Bhaktpur. The Mallas
left their stone inscriptions in temples and carved them
on the bases
of statues.
As the Mallas grew weaker due to family feuds, they were
replaced by the Shahs. It was during the rule of King Prithvi
Narayan Shah (1730-75) that Nepal became more unified. He came
from the Gurkha region. He was the first to use these tough
fighters to strengthen his rule. The Gurkhas are still valued
as great fighters and a large number of them are serving in
the Indian and British armies. The King Prithvi Narayan Shah
was responsible for the exclusion of European traders from the
country. As the Shah dynasty became weak, the Ranas took over
Nepal in 1846. The monarch only became a figurehead while the
Ranas ruled the country. Nepal lost war to the British in 1857
and accepted their nominal allegiance. As a result, the
Gurkhas fought several wars for Great Britain. They sided with
them during the first War of Indian Independence in 1857. The
British were so pleased with their loyalty that they returned
some of the territories they had occupied after the defeat of
the Nepalese. Subsequently, the Gurkhas fought other battles
for Britain, including World War I & II. They fought in all
parts of the World. After a popular revolution made by the
ninth King Tribhuvan of Shah dynasty in 1950-51, the Ranas
were defeated. The King Tribhuvan died in 1955 and was
succeeded by his son Mahendra. Nepal became a member of the
United Nations in 1955. The King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
was the 10th king in the dynasty. The King Birendra abolished
party system. In 1990, a popular democratic revolt led to the
re-establishment of a multi-party democratic system based on
adult franchise. The new democratic Constitution of the
kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. The king remains
the titular head of the government. In 1994, Nepal elected
communist party to form the government which has since been
replaced by coalition government.
Geography of Nepal
Nepal is bounded in the north by Tibet – the autonomous region
of China, in the east by Sikkim and West Bengal, in the south
by Bihar and in the west by Uttar Pradesh. The land extends
approximately for 885 km from east to west, and 193 km from
north to south. The land in Nepal can be broadly divided into
three regions which are Himalayan region, Mountain region and
Terai region. The altitude of the Himalayan Region ranges
between 4877 metres and 8848 metres with the snow-line running
around 4877 metres. It includes all the major peaks of the
Himalayas. The mountain region covers about 64 percent of the
total land area of the country. It is formed by the
Mahabharata Range which soar up to 4877 metres. The lowland
Terai region lies at an altitude of 305 metres and occupies
about 17 per cent of land area. Kachanakawal, the lowest point
in the country, has an altitude of only 70 metres. It is
located in Jhapa district of eastern Terai. The land rises
from the Terai, the southern plains covered with tropical
jungles and fertile farm land at almost sea level to the high
Himalaya mountains in the north with valleys and lush hills in
between within a distance of less than 200 km. The lowlands of
the Terai are about one hundred metres above sea level. This,
together with monsoon rains along the slopes facing south has
resulted in compacting virtually all climate zones on the
earth. Except the Terai region in the extreme south, the
mid-valleys are seldom higher than 1220 metres above
sea-level. Out of the ten peaks, eight highest peaks lies in
Nepal. The Himalayas are the youngest and the highest mountain
chains in the world. About a third of its 1000 km. long
Himalayan range lies within Nepal. It has a convergence of
1310 magnificent pinnacles and peaks over 6000 metres
including the world’s eight of the 14 giant peaks over 8000
metres high. Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak and
Kanchanjunga, the third highest peak lies in Nepal. The other
six peaks in Nepal are Lohtse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri,
Manalsu and Annapurna I. Some of these unconquerable mountain
peaks provide a vivid contrast with hand-sculpted landscape of
farms in mountain valleys.
Flora and Fauna in Nepal
Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in
terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical
position and altitudinal variation. The elevation of the
country ranges from 60m above sea level to the highest
point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 m, all with in a
distance of 150 km resulting into climatic conditions
from Sub-tropical to Artic. Nepal, occupying only 0.1%
of the earth is home to 2% of all the flowering plants
in the world, 8% of the world’s population of birds
(more than 848 species), 4% of mammals on earth, 11 of
the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500
species), 600 indigenous plant families, 319 species of
exotic orchids.
Climate in Nepal
Nepal is a land of extreme contrasts as far as the
climatic conditions are concerned. Nepal has four major
seasons, namely, Winters from December to February,
Spring from March to May, Summers from June to August,
Autumn from September to November. The climate in Nepal
ranges from the subtropical
monsoon
conditions in the Terai region to cool temperate conditions in
the higher areas and an alpine climate with snow and extreme
day temperature in the mountains. As Nepal is situated in the
northern hemisphere, so during the summers, it is the rainy
season in Nepal. The monsoon lasts across the whole country
from June to September when over 75% of the annual rainfall
occurs. The amount of rainfall decreases from south to north
and from east to west. The Mahabharat Lekh forces the moist
monsoon air stream to rise that causes heavy rains on the hills
in the south, especially in the Terai region. The Spring
season is warmer than the autumn. In the high mountains in
winters, the temperature drops below zero, while in the
Kathmandu valley, daytime temperature rarely drop below 10
degrees Celsius. Pokhara is lower and warmer and more pleasant
than Kathmandu in winter but hotter, more humid and less
comfortable in summer. The post-monsoon period from October to
November is characterized by settled weather, clear skies, no
rain and moderately high temperatures. As winter approaches it
gets cooler, especially at night. This is an ideal time to
visit Nepal. Nepal can be visited the whole year round. Light
weight clothing is recommended for May through October. Warm
garments are required in October – March. An umbrella or a
raincoat is a must for the rainy season.
°C
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Day
22
24
26
29
28
28
31
30
31
28
26
23
Night
-5
-1
-2
6
7
8
10
18
19
14
5
-3
Rainfall
1
5
2
6
10
15
21
20
12
4
1
0
Economy of Nepal
Nepal is primarily an agricultural country. About 90% of the
population is engaged in agriculture, and there are very
little industries. The Terai region occupies 23% of the land
area and contains 42% of the population, is the most
productive region. It accounts for over 80% of Nepal’s rice,
and 65% of its wheat. Cash crops like sugar cane, jute,
tobacco and tea also important. The Hill region occupies 43%
of the area and contains 50% of the population. The fertile
Kathmandu Valley contains 10% of the hill population and is
the center of government. The mountain region occupies 34% of
area, but only 8% of its people. This region is inhabited by
the pastoral nomads. Most hill and mountain farm households
own livestock whose main contribution to human existence is
through their provision of manure and draught labour. A small
surplus of grain and industrial products are exported to
India. Carpet, jute, brick, sugar, cigarette, saw mill, rice
mill, oil mill, beer and garments are the major industries.
Tourism is one of the biggest foreign exchange earners.
People of Nepal
Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 spoken
languages. It is believed that the first inhabitants of
Nepal were Mongoloid or Tibetan who migrated to the
fertile valleys in the south. They were mainly Buddhists
who follow the Tantric rituals of Tibetan Buddhism. In
the early centuries of the Christian era, they were
joined by Indo-Aryans or Hindus from northern India, who
took the charge of the country. They were followed by
the Lichhivis who were Buddhists converted by Lord
Buddha himself. The people were charming, naturally
friendly and virtually untouched by the social,
political and commercial changes taking place beyond its
borders. Those early travelers were effusive in their
praise of this wonderful but economically backward land.
Today, the different races and tribes of people
live in
different regions of Nepal. They follow varied customs,
traditions, wear different costumes and speak different
languages. The Rais, Limbus, Magars and Gurungs mainly lives
in the eastern mountains and on the southern slopes of
Annapurna Himachulti and Ganesh Hamal. They are popularly
known as the Gurkha soldiers. The Sherpas popularly known as
“tigers of snow” live to a height of 4000 metres and are the
tough mountain climbers. The Sherpas have easy access to Bhot
(Tibet) for trade and social intercourse and therefore Tibetan
influence on their culture and civilization remains distinct.
The Newars and Tamangs mostly inhabit the Kathmandu valley.
The Tharu and Dhimals live in the Terai region. Brahmins,
Chhetris and Thakuris are spread over the hills and valleys.
The midlands are inhabited by various Tibeto-Burman and
Indo-Aryan speaking hill and valley people. The people of
Nepal mostly wear the handmade natural fiber cloth men and
women in cotton, hemp, and wool.
More...
Religion in Nepal
About ninety per cent of the people are Hindus, 5.3 per cent
are Buddhists, 3% are Muslims and the rest of the people
comprises of other religion. Hinduism and Buddhism are the two
major religions in Nepal. There is a complex blend of Hinduism
and Buddhism in Nepal. Although a Hindu kingdom, all deities
are worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike. A remarkable
feature of the land is the mutual bond of friendship between
the people of the two religions. Buddhists are mainly found
along the northern border area and in the eastern part of the
country. Hindus are found in the south and west and Muslims
are mainly concentrated along the border with India.
Festivals of Nepal
The rich cultural heritage of Nepal is manifested by the
diverse social customs and festivals. Some of the festivals
which are celebrated in Nepal are Nepalese New Year, Linga
Jatra or Bisket, Buddha Jayanti, the Red Machhendranath Rath
Jatra, White Machhendranath Rath Jatra, Dhumji, Losar
Festival, Gai Jatra, Desain, Durga Puja, Indra Jatra, Diwali
and Shivaratri.
More...
Languages of Nepal
Most of the people speak the Nepali language. The Nepali is
written in Devanagri script and is the official language of
Nepal. Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang and
Nepalbhasa are the various languages which are spoken by more
than half a million people. English and Hindi are widely
understood in the urban centers.
Tourist Attractions in Nepal
Nepal offers an incomparable scope to connoisseurs of art and
culture to see and study the different aspects of fine arts in
its painting, sculpture, woodcarving and architecture. The
three main historic cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur
with numerous historical monuments, old places and palace
squares, shrines and temples, ageless traditions and legends
make it a veritable living museum. The city of Nepal comprises
of three royal cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The
tourist attractions in Nepal are Kathmandu, Nagarkot,
Dhulikhel, Daman, Pokhra, Royal Chitwan National Park, Lumbini,
Patan and Bhaktapur. The famous tourist attractions in
Kathmandu are the Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa, Bodhnath
Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Temple of Living goddess Kumari
and Changu Narayan temple.
Wildlife in Nepal
The main vegetation found in the Terai region are
deciduous forests. The sal and teak are the main trees
that are found in the Terai region. The grasslands are
found in the far west and smaller areas in the mid west.
The wide variety of wildlife is also found in the
national parks in the Terai region. There are few wild
animals in the central zone because of the lack of
forest and other natural vegetation. Nepal is also home
of a wide range of bird life like Impeyan pheasant,
mahseer, snowcock, snow partidge, choughs, buntings and
redstart. The country has managed to preserve more
endangered species of flora and fauna than any other
area in Asia. Nepal has nine National Parks and three
Wildlife
Reserves, which include areas in the highest mountains in the
world as well sub-tropical lowland of the plains. Some of the
famous national parks are Bardia National Park, Chitwan
National Park, Sukla Phanta National Park, Koshi Tappu
Wildlife Reserve, Everest National Park, Langtang National
Park, Shey – Phoksundo National Park, Rara National Park,
Khaptad National Park, Makalu – Barun National Park and
Conservation Area, Annapurna, Manaslu Conservation Area,
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.
More...
Entry Regulations in Nepal
All the tourists, except the Indian nationals must have a
valid passport and visa, before entering Nepal. But, now
Indians traveling 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 Nepal – based Indian diplomatic
mission for identification of Indian nationals will also be
considered in case of exceptions. Children under 10 years need
not show any identification. Foreigner who intends to visit
Nepal must hold valid passport or any travel document
equivalent to passport issued by the Govt. for visiting a
foreign country prior to apply for visa. No foreigner is
entitled to enter into and stay in the Kingdom of Nepal
without valid visa. The tourist visa can be obtained from any
Royal Nepalese Embassy or Consulate valid for a period of 30
days. Visas can also be obtained for 15 days on arrival at the
Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu or at the other
places. Chinese citizen are requested to apply in Royal
Nepalese Embassy or other Nepalese diplomatic missions as
there is no provision of on arrival visa for them. On arrival
at the airport, you must produce the disembarkation card and
fill up the embarkation card when you depart. All the tourists
are also required to pay an airport tax.
Currency in Nepal
The main currency of Nepal is the Nepali rupees (NR). The
facilities for converting foreign currency into the Nepali
Rupees are available at the international airport, banks and
hotels. The hotel bill can also be settled in the foreign
currency. Tourists are also advised to obtain the encashment
receipt in the exchange of foreign currency. It will help them
to reconvert the leftover Nepali Rupees into dollars. The
Indian Nationals can also bring the Indian rupees which can be
easily accepted in the shops and hotels. Foreign currencies
must be exchanged only through the banks or authorized foreign
exchange dealers. The receipts from such transaction are to be
obtained and retained.
Customs Formalities
All baggage must be declared and cleared through the customs
on arrival at the entry. Personal effects are permitted free
entry. A tourist may bring in dutiable goods, such as tobacco
and liquors, within the prescribed quantity free of duty.
Carrying narcotics, arms and ammunitions are strictly
prohibited. Visitors can export souvenirs to their respective
countries. The export of antiques requires special
certificated from the Department of Archaeology, Kathmandu.
Time in Nepal
The time in Nepal is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of the Greenwich
Mean Time and 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time.
Cuisine of Nepal
The cuisine of Nepal is similar to Indian cuisine. Some
of the dishes are prepared in similar way like the
Indian dishes. The Nepalese cuisine is quite simple. The
cuisine varies according to ethnic groups and castes,
depending on ingredients available and affordable.
Indian, Chinese and Tibetan flavors and aromas can
easily be detected in Nepalese meals although Nepal's
cuisine maintains its own flavour. Nepal's climate has
made it possible for the country to grow crops such as
rice, lentils, wheat, corn and potatoes. In Nepal, rice
is the most common food and in most of the hotels almost
all the 3 meals comprise of rice. The menu comprises of
varieties of
Indian,
Chinese, Mexican, Italian and German dishes. The Nepali food
is generally very spicy and hot. It is eaten without starters,
soups or courses. Whilst Nepalese cuisine is somewhat basic,
it certainly does not lack in flavor, make extensive use of
spices and flavorings such as ginger, garlic, coriander,
pepper, cumin, chilies, cilantro, mustard oil, ghee and
occasionally yak butter. A typical Nepali meal consists of
rice, at least one lentil curry called Dal, Bhat (rice), Sag
(green vegetables), Tarkari (curried vegetables), chutneys,
pickles and desserts. Juju Dau, Dahi or curd and Sikarni are
various desserts. Most of the people in Nepal are vegetarian
and non-vegetarian dishes are not a part of the daily menu.
Beef is typically not eaten in Nepal for religious reasons.
Local liquor, tongba and thon (rice beer) are popular drinks
of Nepal.
Shopping in Nepal
Kathmandu is a shopper's paradise. While roaming in the
markets, one could see that Nepal is highly influenced by the
Hinduism & Buddhism. All the masks, figures and various items
are based on Hinduism and Buddhism. The most popular shopping
items in Kathmandu are the Tibetan carpets, Jewellery,
pottery, art and craft items, leather jackets, hand made
belts, statues of Lord Buddha, wooden toys, decorated metal
knives and varieties of hand-made garments like shawls,
sweaters, trousers and caps. The customers can get a better
bargain as the first price quoted is always higher than the
price that will eventually be accepted for commodities.
Accommodation in Nepal
Nepal has every category of accommodation facilities. These
range from the international standard star hotels to budget
hotels and lodges. In order to have an assured quality
service, it is advisable to use the facilities and services of
government registered hotels, lodges, travel agencies, the
licensed tour guides only and engage an authorized trekking
guide or porter only through a registered travel or trekking
agency.
How to reach Nepal
Nepal is adequately served by major international airlines
besides its own national carrier - Royal Nepal Airlines. Some
of the airlines which operates flight to Kathmandu are China,
Lufthansa German Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines,
Indian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Thai International and
Singapore. It also operates flight to Europe, USA, India,
China and Japan. The tourists can also enter into Nepal from
India through the Terai region by a picturesque highway built
by India. It is also not difficult to reach any part of Nepal
through any means of transport, but there is no railway
network within Nepal. All visitors entering Nepal by land must
use no other entry points other than Kakarbhitta, Birgunj,
Belhiya, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, Mahendra Nagar in
the Nepal-India border and Kodari in the Nepal-China border.
The overland tourists entering the Kingdom with their vehicles
must possess an international carnet.
Mountain Flight
Royal Nepal Airlines and other domestic Airlines in the
private sector operate breath-taking mountain flights for
tourists round the year.
