Nepal General Information

Located between India and China, Nepal offers a fantastic array of attraction for visiting tourists. Nepal is best known as the home of Mount Everest but there is must more to be country than just one mountain, albeit the highest mountain on earth. From the steamy jungles of the plains to the highest point on earth the range of scenery is so diverse and spectacular as to offer an unforgettable experience to those, who would venture out, on foot into the hills. The people of Nepal are a cosmopolitan mixture of many different ethnic groups, some originating form the north and some having migrated from India. Over the centuries, newcomers have integrated in to present mixture of people collectively known as Nepalese. With more then sixty district ethnic groups speaking over seventy different languages and dialects and each having its own distinct culture, the experience for visitors to Nepal is unlike that to be found anywhere else. Add to this a diverse flora and fauna that defies imagination. Vegetation that ranges from Tropical to Alpine, more then eight hundred bird species, endangered animals, the list goes on. A well-established tourism industry is geared to meet your every need. From luxury hotels to trekking teahouses, from mountaineering expeditions to trekking, from white water rafting to jungle safaris, there is something for everyone.Nepal is among the few countries in the world where Seven World Heritage Sites are situated within 20 kms in a radius.

Culture:

Nepali culture is very similar to the cultures of neighbouring Tibet and India. There are similarities in clothing, language and food. A typical Nepali meal is dal bhat - boiled dal (lentils) served with rice (bhat), vegetables and spicy relish (achar). This is consumed twice daily, once in the morning and again after sunset. Between these main meals, snacks such as chiura (beaten rice) and tea are consumed. Meat, eggs, and fish are considered a treat. In the mountainous region, the staple diet is based on wheat, maize, millet and potatoes. Millet-based alcoholic drinks known as Tongba and other cereal based alcohol drinks are popular, including Chhaang and the distilled Rakshi. Traditional Nepali folklore retains a strong influence in society and its stories are widely acted out in dance and music.

The culture of different ethnic groups is rich in their own ways. Newari culture is the original and the most distinguished culture of Kathmandu.The Newar community enjoys its own special cuisine and the Newar people are well known for masked dance that tell stories of the gods and heroes. The associated music is percussion-based, sometimes with flutes or shawm accompanying the intense, nasal vocal lines. The sarangi, a four-stringed, hand-carved instrument is usually played by wandering minstrels. Popular musical styles are a variety of pop, religious and folk music, among other styles.

Shape is roughly rectangular about 800 km long and about 200 km wide

Area: 147,181 sq. km

Geography: Situated between China in the north and India in the south, east and west.

Capital: Kathmandu

Population: 22 million

People: Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups and speaks 70s diffrent languages

National Language: Nepali

Currency: Nepalese Rupees

Political System:

Nepal Himalaya Region:

The altitude of this region ranges between 4877m - 8848m it includes 8 of the highest 14 summits in the world, which exceed altitude of 8,000m including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and others.

Nepal Mountain Region:

This region accounts for about 64% of total land area. It is formed by the Mahabharat range that soars up to 4,877m and the lower Churia range.

Nepal Hill Region:

This region accounts for about 64% of total land area. It is formed by the Mahabharat range that soars up to 4,877m and the lower Churia range.

Nepal Terai Region:

The low-land Terai occupies about 17% of the total land area of the country.

Nepalese People:

Nepal has a population of more than 22 million people made of different races living in different regions with diverse culture, languages and dialects. The Gurungs and Magars live mainly in the west. The Rais, Limbus and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the eastern mid hills. The Sherpas live in the Himalayan region. The newars constitute an important ethnic group of the capital valley Kathmandu. There are Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajvanshis and Dhimals in the Terai region. The Brahmans, Chhetris and Thakuris are spread generally over all parts of the kingdom The new democratic constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. Nepal is one of the founder members of South Asian association for Regional Cooperation or SAARC, of which the third summit was held in Kathmandu in November 1987.

Religion And Culture of Nepal

Hinduism and Buddhism constitute two major religions of Nepal. A remarkable feature of Nepal is the religious homogeneity what exists, particularly between the Hindu and Buddhist communities. Apart from the Hindus and Buddhists, Muslim from the third largest religious group. The exquisite medieval art & architecture of the Kathmandu valley vividly reflect the artistic ingenuity and the religious tradition of the people.

Climate Of Nepal

Nepal has four climatic seasons

• Spring : March-May

• Sumer: June-August

• Autumn: September-November

• Winter: December-February.

There is no seasonal constraint on travelling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when the winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views.

How to Reach Nepal

Air:

There are 15 International carriers operating to and out of Kathmandu International airport. There are ten passenger airlines operating to almost 30 destination in nearly all parts of Nepal remote airfields to major hub cities. Today it is possible to reach most of the tourist destinations by air.

Helicopter Services:

Nepal with its high mountains and beautiful scenic countryside is known as "Helicopter Country." The helicopter services industry in Nepal is now well established with many types and categories of helicopters. The pilots are very experienced professionals with thousands of flying hours experience in Nepal.

Rail:

Nepal-Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway (NJJR) operates a freight and passenger service in the eastern Terai.

Roads:

Buses, mini-buses and three-wheeler tempos ply on fixed routes at regular intervals. The services, are fairly frequent. The last city buses stop running around 8 pm. City buses that ply within Kathmandu and go to Patan as well as those going to Kirtipur, Banepa, Dhulikhel and Thankot, leave from the City Bus Park located at the eastern side of Tundikhel parade ground. Trolley buses to Bhaktapur leave from Tripureswor near the football stadium. Their are no international Car Rental agencies in Nepal and even the locals usually have a driver assigned to their personal car rather than deal with the terrible traffic conditions around the city.