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Information About Nepal |
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Welcome To Nepal
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Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of
bio diversity due to its unique geographical position and
latitudinal variation. The elevation of the country ranges from
60m above the sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt.
Everest 8,848m, all within a distance of 150km with climatic
conditions ranging from sub tropical to arctic. This wild
variation fosters an incredible variety of ecosystems, the
greatest mountain range on earth, thick tropical jungles teeming
with a wealth of wildlife, thundering white water river,
forested hills and frozen valleys.
Within this spectacular geography is also one of the richest
cultural landscapes anywhere. The country is a potpourri of
ethnic groups and sub groups who speak over 70 languages and
dialects. Nepal offers an astonishing diversity of sightseeing
attractions and adventure opportunities found nowhere else on
earth. And you can join in the numerous annual festivals that
are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style
highlighting enduring customs and beliefs. |
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About Nepal
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Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is a
land of sublime scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best
walking trails on earth. It's a poor country, but it is rich in
scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The kingdom has long
exerted a pull on the Western imagination.
It's the kind of country that lingers in your dreams long after
you leave it. This is why so many travellers are drawn back to
Nepal, armed the second time round with a greater appreciation
of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking
boots and a desire for sculpted calf muscles.
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Full Country
Name |
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal |
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Area |
147,181 sq km |
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Population |
26.46 million |
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Population |
Newars, Thakalis,
Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus,
Sherpas, Bahuns, Chhetris, Tharus. |
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Language |
Nepali, English |
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Religion |
90% Hindu, 5%
Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% other |
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Government |
Parliamentary
democracy and constitutional monarchy |
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GDP |
US $ 27.4
billion |
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GDP per capita |
US $ 1,100 |
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Annual Growth |
6 % |
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Inflation
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2.1 % |
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Major Industries |
Tourism, carpet, textile,
small rice, jute, sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement
and brick production, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root
crops, milk, water buffalo meat |
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Major Trading
Partners |
India, US,
Germany, UK, Singapore, Japan |
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President:
Ram Baran Yadav s Mr Yadav became the first
president of republican Nepal in
July 2008, nearly two months after
the country's new constituent
assembly had voted to abolish the
239-year-old monarchy.
He is an ethnic
Madheshi from Nepal's southern
lowlands and was backed by the
centrist Nepali Congress - the
second largest party in parliament -
as well as two smaller parties.
Mr Yadav is a trained medical
doctor and has twice served as
health minister. He has also held
senior positions in the Nepali
Congress. The presidency is a largely
ceremonial position.
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Prime minister: Prachanda
Prachanda is the nom-de-guerre
(the name means "The Fierce One") of
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepal's first
Maoist prime minister.
The former rebel leader finally
reached high office in August 2008
after the protracted political
negotiations that followed Nepal's
transformation from a monarchy into
a republic. His apparently mild manner stands
in stark contrast to the reputation
for ruthlessness that he acquired as
a guerrilla commander during a
decade-long violent insurgency. Born into a high-caste but poor
farming family in the Annapurna
region, Prachanda trained as a
teacher but was driven to politics
by the extreme poverty he witnessed
in rural Nepal.He derived his inspiration from
Peru's Shining Path rebels and
dreamt of setting up a communist
republic. He envisaged the erosion
of class, caste and gender barriers.
He is seen as high-minded, even
puritanical, with a markedly ascetic
outlook. But as talks with the government
progressed - following a peace deal
in 2006 that brought an end to the
king's direct rule - signs emerged
that Prachanda was willing to
compromise.
He said then that Nepali Maoists
were not "dogmatic communists" and
that he accepted that globalisation
was a fact of life.
And one of his first moves after
the Maoists won elections in April
2008 was to reassure foreign
investors and privately-run
businesses that he would not
eradicate the private sector.
His main challenge now is to
tackle the chronic poverty that
still prevails in Nepal which, like
other countries in the region, is
suffering from rising food prices
and high unemployment.
Prachanda is married and has
three daughters and a son. His wife,
whom he met through the party, is
also a Maoist official, and his
children all support the Maoist
movement. |
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Major Trading
Partners |
India, US,
Germany, UK, Singapore, Japan |
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When to Go
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Climatic factors are very
important in deciding when to visit Nepal. October-November, the
start of the dry season, is in many ways the best time of year:
the weather is balmy, the air is clean, visibility is perfect
and the country is lush following the monsoon. February-April,
the tail end of the dry season, is the second-best period:
visibility is not so good because of dust, but the weather is
warm and many of Nepal's wonderful wild flowers are in bloom. In
December and January the climate and visibility are good but it
can be chilly: trekkers need to be well prepared for snow, and
for cheaper hotels in Kathmandu - nonexistent heating makes for
rather gloomy evenings. The rest of the year is fairly
unpleasant for travelling: May and early June are generally too
hot and dusty for comfort, and the monsoon from mid-June to
September obscures the mountains in cloud and turns trails and
roads to mud. |
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Events
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Nepal's festive calendar is
hectic. Dasain, celebrated nationwide in October, is the most
important of all Nepalese celebrations and features the biggest
animal sacrifice of the year. Running a close second is Tihar
(November), but unlike Dasain, animals are honoured rather than
slaughtered. Other festivals celebrated nationally include the
water-tinged Holi (March) and Chaitra Dasain (April), which is
yet another bad day for animals. Hindu festivals number the
Haribodhini Ekadashi (November) and Maha Shivaratri (March),
both celebrated in Pashupatinath, the Gai Jatra (August) in
Kathmandu and the Krishna Jayanti (August/September) in Patan.
Buddhist celebrations are just as thick on the ground, and
include Mani Rimdu (November) in Solu Khumbu, Buddha Jayanti
(May) in Kathmandu, and Losar (Tibetan New Year) (February) in
Swayambhunath, Jawalakhel and highland communities. |
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Activities
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Templed out? Sick of stupas? Try
trekking instead. The best trekking season is between September
and early December, although March and April are also popular.
Popular treks from Kathmandu include the Everest Base Camp, and
the Helambu and Langtang treks. From Pokhara, the most popular
are the Annapurna Circuit and the Jomsom trek. Less-travelled
alternatives require more planning, but include the Kanchenjunga
Base Camp trek, the Dolpo region, Mustang and Rara Lake.
Remember to minimise your impact on the environment by avoiding
use of non-biodegradable items, disposing of your garbage
responsibly, staying at lodges that use kerosene instead of
firewood, and by not using toilet paper.
Rafting and kayaking are incredibly popular, especially on the
Trisuli River near Kathmandu and the Sun Kosi in Dolalghat. More
remote challenges include the Karnali (a two-day trek from
Surkhet) and the Tamur (a three-day trek from Dobhan in eastern
Nepal). Other activities include mountain biking in the
Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and near the Tibetan border; and
safariing in the Terai. A range of language, spiritual,
medicinal and yoga courses can be taken in Kathmandu and at
various temples and monasteries. |
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Nepal
