Nepal

A country of breathtaking mountains, culture and old spiritual traditions.

Situated at the core of Himalayas, Nepal is a small, but a wonderful country with unspeakably beautiful nature, interesting history and cross-culture. Nepal is known worldwide due to the fact that the tallest mountain on earth, the mountain Everest, is found within its borders; this is a trekkers paradise, an adventure lover paradise and an extreme spiritual practice paradise. However, what most people do not recognize is that Nepal possesses a flurry of cultural and historical monuments, big cities, and friendly people besides its high-rising mountains.

This complete guide will look at the geography, history of Nepal, the culture, the economy and the most attractive places in Nepal to give you an idea why this beautiful country is a must visit destination.

To obtain all information about Nepal , look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Nepal

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Geographical Location

Nepal is a landlocked state found in South Asia with boundaries bordering China and India, both to the north and the south, east, and the west. It is a comparatively small nation, since it encompasses an area of 147, 516 square kilometers. The geography of Nepal lies in its diversity since it is divided into the Himalayan mountain range, foothills, terai plains, and river valleys despite the size. Nepal is carpeted into three major different regions namely; the Mountain Region in the northern region of the country, the Hill Region in the middle portion of the country, and the Terai Region in the southern portion of the country.

The capital of the country, Kathmandu is in the middle of the country in a valley amid mountains. Kathmandu is the political, cultural and economic core of Nepal.

Natural features and Landforms

Nepal is renowned for its scenic beauty. The Northern side of the country is dominated by the Himalayan mountains, which are home to more than 8 mountains that rise over 8,000 meters above sea level with the highest mountain in the whole world, Mount Everest (8,848 meters). There are other mountains worth mentioning found in the area like Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu and Annapurna.

In the south, the Terai Region is a plain, fertile land inhabited by most of the Nepal population. This is a place that is high in agricultural activities and the economic backbone of the country especially in producing rice and wheat.

Nepal is also blessed with loads of national parks, wildlife preservation areas and trekking trails and places like Sagarmatha National Park (where Everest is situated) Chitwan National Park (known to have its jungle safari) and Lumbini (where lord Buddha was born) are some of the places visited by international tourists.

Ancient and medieval History

Nepal is an old country with its history dating back to the early settlement of humans in the Kathmandu Valley during 300 BCE. Ancient kingdoms existed in the valley and it emerged as one of the major centres of Hinduism and Buddhism. Emperor Ashoka of India was considered as the essential person in creating Buddhist religion in Nepal in the 3rd century BCE and various stupas built by Emperor Ashoka are still scattered throughout the country.

By the 12th century, the Malla Dynasty had become very powerful in Nepal and the Kathmandu valley had won the reputation of a rich cultural and political centre. The Malla kings were also famed in delivering their contributions in art, architecture and religious institutions especially in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.

The Shah Dynasty and unification

Throughout the 18 th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah founder of the Shah Dynasty brought the small kingdoms of Nepal which were divided into pieces together into a single state. Nepal Kingdom was officially founded in 1768 and was headed by its capital Kathmandu. The kings who were Shahs and ruled Nepal were more than two hundred years old and the levels of influence and power they had changed.

This problem was encountered in Nepal during the 19th century when Nepal was threatened by the British Empire, which led to the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816). The Sugauli Treaty was signed by Nepal after the war with the accession of its parts to the British in exchange for its sovereignty recognition.

Summary of Democratic Movements and the Maoist Insurgency

Nepal was one of the monarchies till early in the 21st century. Political instability and marches by the people in the mid 20 th century gave way to the democratic movement of 1951 that ousted autocratic rule of the Rana Dynasty and saw the reinstitution of the monarch under King Tribhuvan. In the following decades, Nepal went through a series of different political regimes such as a stage of constitutional monarchy.

Maoist Insurgency originated in 1996 when the rebels engaged the ruling monarchy in a fight. This ten year old conflict came to an end with the 2006 revolution that resulted in the abolishment of monarchy and making Nepal a federal democratic republic in 2008.

Ethnic Diversity and Religious Diversity

Nepal has a diverse population. Nepal has more than 125 ethnic groups, 123 spoken languages. The most numerous ethnic groups are the Chhetri, Brahmin, Newar and Tamang. Nepal also possesses sub majorities of the Tibetan, Tharu, Magar and Sherpa ethnic groups and their languages, traditions and customs are also different.

Religion is an important factor in the lives of Nepalese. Most Nepaleses are Hindu (approximately 81 percent), and a minority get involved with Buddhism (9 percent) with minor groups living Islam, Christianity, and Kirantism. Nepal is because Lord Buddha was born there and Lumbini is a big pilgrimage place to Buddhists all over the world.

Traditional beliefs and Cultural Practices

Nepal is a culturally endowed state that has a lot of festivals year round. The key festivals of Hindus are Dashain (the victory festival) and Tihar (the festival of lights). Buddha Jayanti (the birthday, enlightenment and death of Buddha) is a major event, celebrated by Buddhists, given special importance in Lumbini and the Kathmandu Valley.

All the major parts of the culture revolve around Nepali dance and music with the Folk music and classical dance making a major role in the aspect of religion and social life. Some of Nepali traditional forms of music and dance are Dhime, Bhairab dance and Tamang Selo.

Another part of the Nepal culture is the Nepali food, and the most popular dishes are the dal bhat (lentil soup and rice), momo (dumplings) and sel roti (sweet rice ring). The Nepali cuisine reflects the multicultural traditions of Nepal and demonstrates the influence of India, Tibet, and China.

Agriculture

The economy of Nepal has always been agrarian with approximately 66 percent of the people active in that industry. Most of the agricultural activities in the country including rice, wheat, and maize are grown in the Terai region. Tea, coffee and its fruits such as apples and citrus are also exported by Nepal. This is done in a big way because of livestock farming especially in the countryside.

Nevertheless, farming in Nepal is marred with a number of problems, which include land fragmentation, depending on the monsoon rains, and the lack of access to modern techniques of farming.

Tourism

Nepal has a lot of natural beauty and cultural landmarks which have contributed to tourism that is the main contributor to the economy of Nepal. Nepal is also famous as trekking routes as there is Everest base camp trek, Annapurna Circuit as well as Langtang Valley trek. Adventure lovers come to these routes world over.

Some of the world treasures present in Nepal include the Kathmandu Valley and the Chitwan National Park and this park is famous in wildlife safaris and the endangered Nepal tigers and one-horned rhinos.

Remittances and Industry

Besides agriculture and tourism, the area of remittances of Nepali workers, performing abroad, has a great role in the country ‘s economy with more than 25 percent of GDP. Nepali workers are employed in the Gulf states, Malaysia and India.

There is no developed industrial sector in the country, however, such industries like hydropower, textile industry, carpet weaving and construction are on rise.

Old Monuments and Sites of Interest

Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage site consists of temples, palaces, and old to ancient architecture, among them Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath Temple and Durbar square.

Lumbini -Lumbini is one of the holiest pilgrimages of Buddhists all over the world as it is the birthplace of lord Buddha.

Patan- Patan is the city with a rich history and represents breathtaking temples. It is a gorgeous city with a thriving artistic legacy.

Natural Attractions

Everest Base Camp The most popular trekking destination in the world, a place to enjoy the amazing vistas of the sacred Mount Everest and the neighboring Himalayas.

Chitwan National Park – This is a UNESCO world heritage status situated park that is well known for its rich wildlife such as tiger, rhino and crocodile.

Pokhara This lakeside city has mountains and guaranteed activities: boating, paragliding, and mountaineering.

Healthcare System

The healthcare sector in Nepal is getting better, and the government is interested in the development of the health facility not only in big cities but also in rural settlements. Access to healthcare is a problem in the country, especially in remote areas but the quality of treatment is also rising in urban areas such as Kathmandu.

Education System

Nepal has recorded a tremendous achievement in enhancing the literacy level and education at basic level is free and compulsory over to the 10th grade. Nevertheless, there are still some problems connected with the education system: lack of resources in villages, overcrowded classrooms, etc. The government is trying to ameliorate these problems and make the country’s education much better.

Ideal Seasons

Autumn months (September to November) are the finest months to be in Nepal since weather is clear and trekking conditions are perfect. It is also an excellent time to visit in the spring (March to May), when the weather is fine, and the rhododendrons are out in flower.

conclusion:

Nepal is a country of contrasts, as ancient traditions are mixed with the modern development, peace of the mountains is combined with the rich culture of the cities. Nepal can please every type of traveler whether it is an adventure, spiritual or history you are looking for. It is an attractive place in South Asia with beautiful scenery, diverse history and people.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to travel to Nepal?

The ideal moment to visit Nepal is autumn (September to November) or spring (March to May). During these seasons, the weather is comfortable and cloudless in most cases, which is great when it comes to trekking and external matters of interest.

So what are the attractions in Nepal?

Popular attractions in Nepal are Kathmandu Valley, Mount Everest Base Camp and Lumbini.

Which languages are found in Nepal?

Nepali is the official language of the country and the English language is generally spoken in cosmopolitan regions and the tourist sector.