Nepal – The Most Amazing and Beautiful Place on Earth and Naturally, Culturally Nepal once is not enough!

Nepal officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 31 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolitan city. Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Sagarmatha, known in English as Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000ft (6,096 meters) above sea level. By some measures, Hinduism is practiced by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation. Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. A holiday in Nepal offers romance and adventure from the spectacular Himalayas to a wildlife safari and exotic culture. There is something for everyone. Visit Nepal in search of your personal Shangri-La.

Some do’s and don’ts

• The form of greeting in Nepal is "Namaste" and is performed by joining the palms together.

• Before entering a Nepalese home, temple, and stupa remember to remove your shoes.

• Be careful not to use your spoon, fork or a hand being used for your eating to touch other's food, plate, cooking utensil or the serving dish. Do not eat from other people's plate and do not drink from other people's bottle or glass. It is considered impure by the Nepalese.

• Never touch anything with your feet. This is considered an offence among Nepalese.

• While traveling dress appropriately. Women should specially avoid dressing in skimpy outfits.

• Seek permission first before entering a Hindu temple. Many Hindu temples do not allow westerners or non-Hindus to enter.

• Leather articles are prohibited to be taken inside the temple precinct.

• Walking around temples or stupas is traditionally done clockwise.

• Take photographs only after receiving permission for the object or person being photographed.

• Public displays of affection between man and woman are frowned upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to our environment.

• Remember, many times, when a person shakes his head from left to right, he may mean "Yes".

• Develop a genuine interest to meet and talk to Nepalese people and respect their local customs.

NEPAL COUNTRY INFO

Location : Between India and the Tibetan autonomous region of the people's Republic of China.

Area : 147, 181 SQ.KM

Latitude : 26D 4' to 30D 27' North.

Longitude : 80D 4' to 88D 12' East.

Capital : Kathmandu.

People : 40 Ethnic Groups and 70 Spoken Languages.

Political System : Multiparty Democracy with Constitutional Monarch.

Topography : From the world's deepest Gorge "Kaligandaki" to the highest point on the earth Mt. Everest 8848m high.

Vegetation : As per the size of the country, Nepal possesses the most out - standing bio-diversity in the world, ranging from sub-tropical rain forests to alpine deserts climate ranges from tropical in the low lands to Arctic in highest altitudes.

Season: Winter (December to February) Summer (March to August) Monsoon (June to August) Autumn (September to November)

Monsoon : Mostly rains at night making the following day crispy clean and fresh. Most of the northern belt of the Trans-Himalayan zone is rain-shadowed and ideal for trekking.

National Bird: Pheasant (Danfe)

National Flower: Rhododendron (Laliguras)

Adventure highlights of Nepal:
Ultimate adventure - trekking, mountaineering, Flying adventure - paragliding, mountain flight, rescue flight, charter flight, ultra-light flight, Bungy jumping, air hot ballooning, Helicopter tour, River adventure – Rafting, Caoning, Kayaking, boating, Adventure tours – Nepal package tours, Nepal safari tours, Buddhist pilgrimage tour, bird watching, Mountain biking, horse back riding adventure, Christmas tours, festival tour, Nepal honeymoon tours and many others more.
 

Nepal has a short spring (March mid April) when the days are pleasant but the mornings and evenings are still chilly. This is followed by a summer that is cut short by the monsoon rains which normally arrives at the end of May or early June. The rains last until late September after which the best time of the year arrives. From late September the skies are clear until November. The ideal time to be in Nepal is October-November. According to altitude, the climate changes from sub-tropical in the lowlands to arctic conditions in the high Himalayas.

The country of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is located between India in the south and China in the north. At latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees east, Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: the Himalaya to the north, the hills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills, and the Terai to the south. Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 meters above sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District. Altitude increases as you travel south to north to the north temperatures are below - 40 degrees Celsius and in the Terai; temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. During June, July and August, monsoon clouds influence the kingdom.

The Himalayan Region: The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and represents 19% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), and Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) are found here and sparse vegetation is found up to 4,500m. Some of Nepal's most beautiful animal and plant life are also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphe bird are much talked about sights among visitors. The people in this region produce and sell cheese besides working as porters and guides. Many also trade with Tibet and travel across the border to sell their goods.

The Hilly Region: This region covers 65% of the total land area of the country. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is located here. Elevations range from 500m to 3,000m above the sea level. During summer the temperature reaches an average of 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold, temperature reaching - 1 degree Celsius sometimes. Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because of the monsoon clouds, which come from the southeast. The rivers in the west, which do not receive much rainfall, are dependent upon the melted snows that flow down the Himalayas. Wild animals to be found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer, and Himalayan black bear. The hilly region is also popular for different kinds of birds. Over four hundred species of birds are found here. The people in this region have gained from the growth in the tourism industry. The people here work as trekking guides and porters and also sell garments and carpets to add to their income.

Terai Region: The Terai covers 16% of the total land area of Nepal. It provides excellent farming land and the average elevation of flatlands is 100 to 300 m above sea level. Sub-tropical forest areas, marshes, and wildlife, which include the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhino, and the Ghadial (crocodile), are found here. After the eradication of malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Terai in search of farming land. Today, about 48% of the country's population occupies this region. Flat farmlands and the region's flexible topography have given rise to many industries. The main industrial towns are Biratnagar, Butwal, Bhairawa, Birgunj, and Janakpur. Calcutta, a metropolitan city in India is the closest seaport. It lies 1,000 kilometers away from Birgunj.

For centuries the Kingdom of Nepal was divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. The Kirats ruled from 300 B.C. and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Lichhavis 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 Lichhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in 1200 AD and they also con tribute 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 11th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one kingdom. Recognizing the threat of the British rule in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-I9th 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 multi party democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.