Nepal

Introduction

Nepal, this small country is wedged in between two giants, the arid plateau of Tibet and the hot fertile plains and jungles of India. The Himalaya forms the backbone of Nepal and provides some of the best mountain scenery in the world. There are many ways to enjoy the spectacular beauty of these giants and Nepal offers them all. Active travelers seek Nepal to experience rafting, hiking, mountaineering, and other such adventures, and others come here for the spirituality and the peaceful qualities of this incredible Shangri-La. Rich in scenic splendor and cultural treasures. Nepal lingers in your dreams long after you leave it.

It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great mini kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage.

Behind the Vishnu shrine of changu Narayan, northwest of Swayambhunath in the Kathmandu Valley, rises the 'Abode of Snows' (Himalaya in Sanskrit), a magnet for trekkers and mountaineers the world over. Only in Nepal can you trek for weeks without the need even for a tent. No longer does your name have to be Tenzing or Hillary to set foot in Everest Base Camp. Out of the mountains, get your adrenaline kick from world-class white-water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, or from the spine-tingling sight of your first tiger or rhino in Chitwan National Park.

Nepal is not just a bungee-jumping, apple-pie eating Shangri-la. It's also one of the poorest countries on earth. However, many visitors, drawn to Nepal by the promise of adventure, leave equally enchanted by the friendliness and openness of the Nepali people.

From the natural rhythm you ease into on a trek to the rhythm of a tabla drum at one of Kathmandu's palace restaurants, Nepal is an amazingly diverse country that offers something for everyone. One journey through this land is rarely enough. The first thing many people do after a visit is start planning the next one.

Fasts & Figures

Capital: Kathmandu, it is also the largest city in Nepal.
Area: The area of Nepal is around 147,181 square kilometers.
Language spoken: Nepali is the official language of Nepal, but a majority of the population also speaks and understands English. The prominent regional recognized languages of Nepal are, Nepal Bhasa, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Limbu, Gurung, and Sherpa. Apart from that there are more than 100 indigenous languages spoken in Nepal, making it a linguistically blessed country.
Currency: Nepalese Rupee.
Population: As per the 2010 census, the population of Nepal is about 29,331,000.
National animal: Cow is the national animal of Nepal. It is revered in Nepal, and killing it for meat is a felony in this country.
National flower: Rhododendron arboreum (Lali Guransh), which is a beautiful flower, is the national flower of Nepal.
National bird: Himalayan Monal is the national bird of Nepal. It is known as Danfe in Nepal. The bird is extensively distributed in the Asian continent.
National Anthem: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" is the national anthem of Nepal. It hails Nepalese pride, courage, rich culture, people, scenic beauty, peace and biodiversity. The lyrics of the anthem were written by poet Pradeep Kumar Rai.
Religion: Hinduism is the religion followed by the majority of the population.

Interesting Facts

• Who wouldn't like to be at the top of the tallest peak in the world, the mighty Mount Everest? You will have to book a ticket to Nepal to be there. The tallest mountain in the world, the Mount Everest is in Nepal! Mount Everest is called Sagarmatha in Nepal.
• Nepal is a tiny country and is 93rd largest in the world, considering land mass. Population wise it is 41st most populous country.
• Did you know that the flag of Nepal is the only flag in the world that is not rectangular or not quadrilateral in shape. A description of the Nepalese flag follows next. The crimson red color of the flag signifies the color of its national flower, rhododendron. The color also stands for victory in war and the braveness of the Nepalese people. The blue border of the flag symbolizes peace. The shape of the flag has two triangles which stand for the mountains of Nepal. The shape of the sun and the moon on the flag represents the aggressiveness of the Nepalese warriors and calm and peace loving nature of the Nepalese people.
• Nepal is a land locked country, which means it is surrounded by various countries on all sides and has no sea border.
• Nepal is a secular country, but Hinduism is the religion that dominates Nepal; over 80 percent of the population practices Hindu traditions and rituals. Buddhism is also a major religion in Nepal, which is followed by many people.
• The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the top ten tallest mountains in the world. Amazing, right? The peaks are - Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga (3rd highest), Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, Mount Cho Oyu (fourth, fifth and sixth resp. shared by Nepal and Tibet), Mount Dhaulagiri I, Mount Manaslu and Mount Annapurna (seventh, eighth and tenth tallest respectively). There are over 240 peaks above the height of 20,000 feet in Nepal's mountain ranges.
• The great and revered Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal. Tenzing Norgay, one among the first persons to scale Mount Everest is a Nepalese Sherpa. Tenzing Norgay also has been named in the list of 100 most influential people of the world, by the Time magazine.
• Nepal has a varied climate, and the people are blessed to experience a variety in seasons.
• Unlike in Western countries, people in Nepal do not shake their hands to greet one another or a newcomer. They instead, place their palms together, and say Namaste.
• Nepalese people value their traditions, and respect their customs and traditions above anything else.
• As far is food is considered, majority of the Nepalese are vegetarians. Goat is preferred as meat. Lentils, rice, millet and corn are also preferred by people.