About Nepal

Geography, Climate and Ecology :
Elongated along the Himalayas, Nepal is a landlocked country with a total land area of 147,181 sq.km. (56,136 sq.mi.). The country is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the North and the Republic of India to the South, East and West. Its topography varies from the high snow-clad peaks and the mid mountain region with fertile valleys to the southern plains known as Terai. So is the climate ranging from the alpine in the north to hot and humid in the southern plains.

World's highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest), 8,848 meters (29028 ft.) lies in Nepal. Nepal has a typical monsoonal two - season year. There is a dry season from October to May and there is the wet season, the monsoon, from June to September. September - November, the start of the dry season, is in many ways the best time of the year in Nepal. When monsoon just ends, the countryside is green and lush. Nepal is at its most beautiful and during this season there are plenty of colorful festivals to enjoy. During monsoon, it mostly rains at night, making the following days crispy clean and fresh. Most of the northern belt of the Trans-Himalayan zone is rain-shadowed and ideal for trekking.

The geography of Nepal is blessed with a number of small and large rivers. Three main river systems (Kosi, Gandaki and Karnali) originate in the Himalayas, flow southward and empty into the Ganges. Nepal has a habitat of different rare species of flora and fauna. In order to protect the fragile eco-system, Nepal has set up thirteen national parks and wildlife reserves in different parts of the country.

History :
For centuries the kingdom of Nepal remained divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the eastern part, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, While Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west of Nepal. The Kirats from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Lichchhavis whose descendants today are believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley followed the kirats. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era. With the end of the Lichchhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed tremendously to Nepal's art and culture. However, after almost 600 years of rule, the kings were not united among themselves and during the late 18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one kingdom. Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-19th century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first prime minister to wield absolute power. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s. Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.

Flag and National Emblems :
The national flag of Nepal consists of two juxtaposed triangular figures with crimson coloured base and deep blue borders, there being a white emblem of crescent moon and a white emblem of sun in the lower part. Rhododendron Arboream is the national flower, Crimson is the national colour, Cow is the national animal and the Danphe (Lophophorus) is the national bird.

People :
The people of Nepal are made up of may different races and ethnic groups living in different Regions with diverse culture, languages and dialects. The Newars constitute an important ethnic group of the Kathmandu Valley. The Gurungs and Magars live Mainly in the West. The Rais, Limbus and Sunwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the eastern hills. Himalayan region is settled by Sherpas. The Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajbanshi and Dhimals live in the Terai region. The Brahmins, Chhetris and Thakuris are generally spread over all parts of the kingdom.

Language :
Nepali, like Hindi, is written in the Dev-nagari script. It is Nepal's national language, apart from being the lingua franca of the country's divergent communities that speak mutually unintelligible language and dialects. English is also widely spoken and understood in urban areas. (In Tourism sector people speak English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and other foreign languages.)

Culture And Tradition :
The cultural and traditional art and heritage dates back to thousand of years. Nepal, the home of deities and demons, famous for its snowy Himalayas, the legendary Gurkhas is a mystic country known as the Shangri-La of the east. The pagoda style architectures scattered all over the Kingdom, the amazing temples dedicated to various deities, the breathtaking sculptures, the undying creations of the unknown masters who lived and worked made the nation known to the world for its unprecedented and wonderful creations.