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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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Location
Nepal is a land-locked country bordering with the
Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of
China in the north and surrounded by India in the
east, south and west. |
Language
Nepali is the national language of Nepal. Educated
people understand and speak English as well. There
are hundreds of local dialects spoken by people from
various ethnic groups. |
Climate
Nepal has four major seasons, namely,(1) Winter:
December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3)
Summer: June-August and (4) Autumn:
September-November. Nepal can be visited all the
year round. |
People and Religion
Nepalese people are mainly divided
into two distinct groups, the Indo-Aryans and the
Mangoloids (the Kirats). Before 2007 AD, Nepal was
regarded as the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. But
after that the Government of Nepal has already
announced the country to be secular country. The
Hindu Temples and Buddhist Shrines are scattered all
over the Kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace of Lord
Buddha, Herald of Peace, the Light of Asia. Hindus,
Buddhists, Muslims and Christians live together in
harmony. And other nature worshippers, too, exist
here. |
Currency & Foreign exchange
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25,
50, 100, 500, 1000 denominations. Coins come in Rs.
1, 2 , 5 and 10 denominations.
Foreign currencies must be
exchanged only through banks or authorized money
exchangers. The receipts of such transaction are to
be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange
foreign currency at the foreign exchange counter at
the airport upon arrival. Visitors other than the
Indian nationals have to make the payment in foreign
currency (non-Indian currency) in hotel,
trekking agencies
or travel agencies and for air tickets. |
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Location:
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Southern Asia, between China and India |
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Geographic coordinates:
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28
00 N, 84 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 147,181 sq km
land: 143,181 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Arkansas |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India
1,690 km |
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Coastline:
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0
km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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varies from cool summers and severe winters in north
to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
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Terrain:
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Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south,
central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
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Natural resources:
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quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty,
small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
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Land use:
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arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 0.85%
other: 83.08% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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11,700 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources:
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210.2 cu km (1999) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/ agricultural:
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total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards:
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severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought,
and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and
duration of the summer monsoons |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of
alternatives); contaminated water (with human and
animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial
effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular
emissions |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life
Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks,
including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the
world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders
with China and India respectively |
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Population:
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28,901,790 (July 2007 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.3% (male 5,721,720/ female
5,360,391)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 8,597,037/ female
8,134,115)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 528,113/ female
560,414) (2007 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 20.5 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 20.6 years (2007 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.132%
(2007 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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30.46
births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.14
deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.067 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.057 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.942 male(s)/female
total population: 1.056 male(s)/female (2007
est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 63.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 60.56 years
male: 60.78 years
female: 60.33 years (2007 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.01
children born/woman (2007 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu
6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%,
Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
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Religions:
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Hindu
80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other
0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world
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Languages:
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Nepali
47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana)
5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%,
other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also
speak English (2001 est.) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census) |
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Government
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Flag description:
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 red
with a blue border around the unique shape of two
overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle
bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower
triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun |
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President:
Ram Baran Yadav
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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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
