Nepal
information for Traveler
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- nepal information for traveller
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Location in the Globe : Asia between India in
south east west and China in North.
Area : 147,181 sq.km.
Capital City : Kathmandu Population some 1
Million known as city of temples.
Population : 23 Million
Language : Nepali is the national Language along
with more than 72 Ethnic Languages and Dialects.
However Travel and trade people understand and
speak English.
Climate : Nepal has four seasons and can be
visited all round the year.
Winter December _ February : It is difficult
season to make the high passes because of the
snow.
Spring March – May : This is great season to
visit the country. The weather is little hot in
the lowland and normal in the higher mountains.
This is the Flowering season and nice to Trek.
Summer June- August : It is rainy season for
Nepal and Trek can be little difficult with the
flood/ rain and insects. But it is the best
season to see the waterfalls/ greenery of the
mountains.
Autumn September- November : This is another
best season to visit Nepal. The weather is the
most appropriate to trek or tour. The mountains
are seen beautiful in this season.
Currency : Nepali Rupees.
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History
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Upto 1990
Nepal carries long history of civilization,
culture, tradition, politics and heritage. The
country that remained divided for centuries got
a chance to merge into one creating a unified
Nepal lying in the lap of the mighty Himalayas
after the energetic work of Unification by
Prithivi Narayan Shah of Gorkha in 1768 AD. Shah
dynasty then rules the country under many Kings.
Before the Unification of scattered small
Kingdoms Kathmandu, the present capital of Nepal
was governed by different dynasties. Kirati who
came from East & believed to be of the Mongolian
origin was the first as far as the establishment
of powerful kingdom is concerned. Then Licchavis
ruled the valley for long period who raised the
enthusiasm for arts and crafts in the heart of
the inhabitants and the examples of the same can
be seen embodied in the heart and soul of the
people living here. It was during the period of
the Licchavis, Araniko, the master of wood
carving went to China to spread the essence that
was born in Nepal in the form of Pagoda
architecture. After the downfall of the
Licchavis Mallas, Who came from the Indian
territories were the ones to give continuance of
the arts and crafts through the addition of more
temples and other structures.
Rana Prime Minister rule for 104 years during
these years ended in 1950's who ruled under
complete tyranny. No educations were allowed and
no legal provisions were active, they did under
their own belief and mood. It was noted as Black
Days for Nepalese history.
Nepalese People demonstration and struggle went
on after 1950's for many times. The king again
started another tyrannical system called
Panchyat banning all movement of political
parties and democracy. In 1990 people's
demonstration could restore little democracy and
formed new constitution with some power to King.
The new democratic movement under Constitutional
Monarch started to show better results in
development than that of previous any system.
After 1990
Nepal improved in Education, Health and
Transportation some but not as expected and
Political Parties and Leaders did not handle the
country with much respect. Nepal Communist Party
(Maoist) a Rebel group started armed struggle
against the Government from 1996 with the aim of
establishing a Republican state.
In 2001, the Royal Massacre happened in the
Royal Palace and the then King / Queen / 02 Sons
/ Daughter and other members of family more than
10 killed. Younger brother was appointed as a
new King of nation. He then started to rule
autocratic way showing the fault of Political
leaders and then terror and fear of armed
Maoist. In Feb 2001, the King seized a total
power and appoints himself as the head of State
ruling with more ambitions sending the leaders
into jail.
In 2006 & 2007
The War of Maoist after 10 years claimed almost
15000 lives. King became more ambitious to rule
in this 21st century by capturing the leaders
and neglecting the human rights and global
pressure. The Political parties signed 12 points
understanding with Maoist (Rebel Group) in Jan
2006 to establish the Democratic Republican
State and go for Constituent Assembly Election
and agreed to demonstrate peacefully against the
King and his Government. According to this
agreement there was huge protest and nationwide
strike from 06th April to 24th April 2006 for 18
days. Millions of Nepalese People demonstrates
in the street against the curfew orders of the
Government. 18 People died in this demonstration
nationwide and the King were forced to save him
and handover the power to people again. The peace talk with Maoist
held successfully and the
settlement of the arms are done under the
supervision of UN Mission to Nepal ( UNMIN) , election of Constituent
Assembly is targeted for June 2007. There is the
interim constitution and interim government with
the Maoists.
Now onward this beautiful country of Mount
Everest with magic Himalayan ranges, Birthplace
of Buddha wait for everlasting peace, progress
and development.
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People
& Religion
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Here different threads of human life seem to
belong in one fabric.
Nepal is the museum of the human races or even
said as the anthropological pilgrimage. The
population of the country is 23 million with the
density of 156.27 per square kilometers as the
National Census 2001 A.D. roughly the majority
of the peoples are the Indo-Aryans and the
remainder is of Mongoloid origin. The peoples in
the Himalayan are called Tibeto-Mongoloid by
races and Tibeto-Buddhist by religion. They
speak Tibetan language and their own dialects.
Their life is based on the Trans- Himalayan
trade and Cis- Himalayan trade. It was believed
that the people called the Sherpas of the North
East Nepal were the migrants of the eastern
Tibet.
In the midhill region the peoples are living
with agriculture. Newars are the main ethnic
group of Kathmandu and are mostly associated in
business. Magars, Gurungs, Rai and Limbus form
the warrior class and are famous throughout the
world as Brave Gurkhas. Terai had been poorly
inhabited for long time because of the fear of
so-called disease Malaria .It was covered with
the dense forests for many years and now mass
deforestation has made this region better place
to live. During the course of time people from
mid-hills started migrating to this region as
they found the land there rich enough for
cultivation. Rapid migration is affecting the
density of population.
Nepal is regarded as the only Hindu Kingdom.
Officially, large number of the population is
believed as the followers of Hinduism. It is
believed as the oldest religion and guided by
the oral tradition for long time. For Hindus
Himalayas has been described in the Epics as the
playground of the Gods and Goddesses. There are
so many sacred places, temples shrines and
monuments for Hindus in all around this
Himalayan country.
Though Buddhism was founded some 2600 yrs back
by the lord Buddha in the southern part of the
present Nepal, Buddhism occupies second place in
the country and chiefly dominant in the northern
part and in the Kathmandu Valley. Lumbini the
birth place of Lord Buddha is now the best and
most important pilgrimage for Buddhists. In the
southern part there is some number of the Islam.
The practices of Animism and Shamanism are
another type of practice which is very rare with
the modern attack in the society .Now the
increasing numbers of the Christianity belief
shows its influence upon Nepalese. In fact
Hinduism and Buddhism exist side by side along
with others and showing the perfect harmony of
the religious practices.
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Economy
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Nepal is a landlocked country situated within
the Latitude of 26°20’N to 30°26’N & longitude
of 80°03’E to 88°15’E between the Asian Giants
India and China. She occupies 147,181sq.km of
the surface of the Earth and is rectangular in
shape carrying long history of her origin. It
was believed that there was the Tethys Sea
between Indian and Tibetan Plateau. During the
course of time the smaller Landmass (India)
started moving towards north to join itself with
the bigger Asian Landmass. During such course of
action that took thousands of years and due to
the pressure of those great plates coming
together the bottom of the Sea started to rise
slowly and formed the Mighty and Majestic
Himalayas. This fact has been amply proved by
the fossils of the marine life found in the Kali
Gandaki Gorge. She has the highest mountain in
the world as well as the deepest George.
Nepal is divided into 3 topographical regions.
Himalayan Region which is the most attractive
region covers 15% of the whole land and is
decorated with the snow capped mountains for all
season where the highest point on earth (Mt.
Everest 8848 m.) situated along with other
numbers of mountains over 6000 m. Mid Hill
Region is rich for green landscapes. It covers
68% of the total land. The major cities like the
capital of the country Kathmandu and scenic city
Pokhara lie in this region. This is the region
with the reflection of Nepal’s reality of being
the kingdom in Himalaya along with the Nepalese
life. Terai Region lies in the southern part of
the country. It covers 17% of the total land.
The climate is tropical here and the life is
more comfortable. The density of population is
more here now days. Once it was covered with the
dense forest so no people lived there with the
fear of Malaria. Some of the National Parks and
Wildlife Reserves are situated in this region.
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Geography
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Nepal is a landlocked country situated within
the Latitude of 26°20’N to 30°26’N & longitude
of 80°03’E to 88°15’E between the Asian Giants
India and China. She occupies 147,181sq.km of
the surface of the Earth and is rectangular in
shape carrying long history of her origin. It
was believed that there was the Tethys Sea
between Indian and Tibetan Plateau. During the
course of time the smaller Landmass (India)
started moving towards north to join itself with
the bigger Asian Landmass. During such course of
action that took thousands of years and due to
the pressure of those great plates coming
together the bottom of the Sea started to rise
slowly and formed the Mighty and Majestic
Himalayas. This fact has been amply proved by
the fossils of the marine life found in the Kali
Gandaki Gorge. She has the highest mountain in
the world as well as the deepest George.
Nepal is divided into 3 topographical regions.
Himalayan Region which is the most attractive
region covers 15% of the whole land and is
decorated with the snow capped mountains for all
season where the highest point on earth (Mt.
Everest 8848 m.) situated along with other
numbers of mountains over 6000 m. Mid Hill
Region is rich for green landscapes. It covers
68% of the total land. The major cities like the
capital of the country Kathmandu and scenic city
Pokhara lie in this region. This is the region
with the reflection of Nepal’s reality of being
the kingdom in Himalaya along with the Nepalese
life. Terai Region lies in the southern part of
the country. It covers 17% of the total land.
The climate is tropical here and the life is
more comfortable. The density of population is
more here now days. Once it was covered with the
dense forest so no people lived there with the
fear of Malaria. Some of the National Parks and
Wildlife Reserves are situated in this region.
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Climate
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Nepal has the sub-tropical climate .But the
climatic conditions vary considerably form place
to place. To be so the country has the varied
altitude like from less than 100m.upto more than
8000m.and the slope and the direction of the
mountains also affect the climate. North facing
mountains are comparatively cooler than south
facing mountains. Kathmandu the capital of Nepal
has nice climatic condition. The coolest night
in Kathmandu is -4° c and in summer it is
approximately 30° / 32 °. Pokhara is the
rainiest place of Nepal
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Art
& Architecture
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Nepal’s artistic beauty is worthy to explain.
Inspiration for arts and crafts obviously came
from India and Tibet. But the most important are
the indigenous arts and crafts of this Himalayan
Kingdom. From the time of the Licchavis there
was the great change in Arts and architecture.
Propagation of stone sculpture was tremendous
during this era. The Religious sites were
decorated superbly. The temples and Stupas of
Kathmandu valley are the examples of the great
effort of the medieval artisans. Wood carving in
the temples depicting the forms of Gods and
Goddesses as well as the life of the then people
is another feature of the Nepali arts and wood
carvings.
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Why Nepal to Travel ?
• Nepal is one of the richest countries in terms
of its bio-diversity.
• Nepal has the top most Trekking routes on the
earth.
• The Highest Mountain on the earth Mt.
Everest 8848 m. 29058 ft. with other 7 mountains
over 8000 meters.
• Nepal Occupying only 0.1 % of the earth
is the home to:
• 2% of all the flowering plants / 4% of
mammals on earth / 600 indigenous plant
families.
• 8% of the world’s population of birds
(more than 848 species)
• 11 of world’s 15 families of butterflies
and 319 species of exotic Orchids.
• Nepal the birth Place of the Buddha the
founder of Buddhist Philosophy.
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