INTRODUCTION The Kingdom of Nepal is a land where nature lovers revel in a unique Himalayan setting of great beauty, choosing from a variety of ways, suitable to their personal ideals of relaxation, meditation and pleasure. Nepal is a land of rare scenic splendor unrivaled in the Himalayas. Bordering the Tibetan Plateau, her territory stretches 800 km east to west, and some of the highest peaks in the world, including Mt. Everest, | |||||||||||
GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Location: Nepal is located in southern Asia and is couched between the two Asian giants of India and China. This small Hindu kingdom is a strategically important country and is surrounded by the Indian mainland on the east, south and western sides respectively. It lies between the latitudes 26°N and 30°N and longitudes 80°E and 88°E.
Physical Features: Nepal has four physiographic belts: the Terai plain along the Indian border, the sylvan Churia foothills and the Inner Terai zone to the north, the mid?mountain region, and the Great Himalayan Range. The Terai plain is low in elevation, flat, and fertile, being a northern extension of the Gangetic Plain and is some 26 to 32 km wide. In the south, it is agricultural, and where it joins the foothills, it is marshy and forested. The sparsely populated Churia Hills and the Inner Terai region rise to the rugged Mahabharata Mountain Range, which has elevations of 600-910 m; the intermountain basins are covered with forests. The mid-mountain region, between the Mahabharata Range and the Great Himalayas, has a complex system of ranges between 2,400 and 4,300 m that enclose the Kathmandu and the Pokhara valleys, two flat basins drained by the Baghmati and Seti rivers, respectively. The densely populated Kathmandu valley is the political and cultural hub of the nation. The Great Himalayan Range, from 4,300 to 8,800 m in elevation, contains several of the world's highest peaks-Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga I, Makalu I, Cho Oyo, Dhaulagiri I, Manaslu I, and Annapurna I-all above 8,040 m. The Kosi, Narayani (Gandak), and Karnali rivers run southward through transverse valleys of the Himalayan chain. They are Nepal's major rivers and have large reserves of hydroelectric power.
Climate: The climate of Nepal ranges from subtropical monsoon conditions in the Terai region to alpine conditions in the Great Himalayas. Annual rainfall ranges from 70 and 75 inches in the eastern Terai and between 30 and 35 inches in western Nepal. Flooding is a serious problem in the low-lying areas of the Terai plain during the monsoon season, from July to mid-October. The winter season extends from November to March, when temperatures vary from 19°C in the southern Terai region to 13°C in the intermountain basins. During the summer season, which lasts through April and June, the mercury varies from 21°C to 28°C, in the same regions.
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Flora and fauna: There are over 6,500 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers in Nepal. The height of floral splendor is during the months of March and April when rhododendrons, the national flower, burst into color. Nepal's principal natural resources are the forests, which cover about one-sixth of the country and provide valuable timber, firewood, and medicinal herbs. At the lowest elevations are tropical, humid, deciduous forests that harbor tigers, leopards, deer, monkeys, and a few Indian rhinoceroses. Above 1,200 m, the forests are evergreen and deciduous (oak, maple, magnolia), with occasional leopards and bears on the central Himalayan slopes. Between 3,050 and 3,650 m are coniferous forests with hare, deer, antelope, and small carnivores; above that are sub-alpine and alpine meadows of rhododendron and juniper, harboring musk deer and wild sheep. One can find around 800 different species of bird life in Nepal.
HISTORY Buddhist and Brahmanic Hindu versions of Newar legends dominate the early history of Nepal. The ancient Indian classics contain references to the Nepal valley and lower hill areas. During the 3rd century BC, the emperor of India, Ashoka, supposedly visited Nepal. |
In 1769, the Gurkhas led by Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the Nepal Valley from the Malla dynasty. He moved the capital to Kathmandu, providing the foundation for modern Nepal. From 1775 to 1951, Nepali politics were characterized by conflict between the royal family and several noble families. Often the Shah rulers were relegated to honorary positions, while the political power was concentrated within a dominant noble family.
With support from the Indian government, royal Nepali sovereignty was restored and revolutionary forces gained a position in the administration in the early 1950s. A constitution was approved in 1959, and parliamentary elections were held. Controversy arose between crown and Cabinet in 1960, and King Mahendra dismissed the congress and imprisoned many members. In 1962, a new constitution was promulgated giving the crown greater authority. Though the country was then nominally a constitutional monarchy, the king for many years exercised autocratic control over the country's multi-tiered system of panchayats, or councils, which extended from the village to the national level. The king was able to dominate the Council of Ministers and much of the National Assembly without opposition because political parties were banned under the constitution. In 1972, King Mahendra was succeeded by his son Birendra. In 1990 a series of demonstrations and protests over the king's autocratic rule forced him to lift the ban on political parties and to accept a new cabinet composed largely of opposition political figures. That year a new constitution was also approved that provided for a multiparty democracy and a bicameral parliament.
PEOPLE:-
ETHNICITY
The early settlement of Nepal was accomplished by large-scale emigrations of Mongoloid groups from Tibet and of Indo-Aryan peoples from northern India. Nepalese of Indo-Aryan ancestry constitutes the great majority of the total population. Tibeto-Nepalese peoples form a significant minority of the country's population. Nepali, a derivative of Sanskrit, is the official language; Newari, a language of the Tibeto-Burman family, and numerous other languages are spoken. About 90% of the population is Hindu, and the remaining Buddhist.
The population is located mainly in rural areas. The urban population is primarily concentrated in Kathmandu. Nepalese people are divided into two distinct groups: the Indo-Aryans and the Mongoloids. Kathmandu Valley is the spiritual and cultural meeting point of all these groups. Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. It is also the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
MUSIC & DANCE
Music and dance are favorite pastimes in Nepal. Drums and wind instruments required in religious ceremonies have been preserved from ancient times. Devotional songs with folk and classical elements are an important feature of most religious and family occasions. Muttered chants, esoteric tantrik hymns and Nepalese music, whether it is the twang of a four-stringed saringhi or the plaintive notes of a flute, are very popular. Traditional folk musicians or gaines gather for an evening of singing and socializing, classical dancing and trance-like masked dances enliven the Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur regions, while no wedding would be complete without the raucous damais-Nepal's modern ensembles.
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Nepal's festive calendar is frenzied and exciting. Dasain, celebrated nationwide in October, is the most important of all Nepalese celebrations and features the biggest animal sacrifice of the year. It is the same festival of Durga Puja in India. Tihar is celebrated in the month of November, where animals are honored. Other festivals celebrated nationally include the colorful Holi in March, Chaitra Daisan (or Basanti Puja) in April, Haribodhini Ekadashi in November, Maha Shivratri in March, Gai Jatra in August, and Krishna Jayanti in August/September. Buddhist celebrations include Mani Rimdu in November (in Solu Khumbu), Buddha Jayanti in May (in Kathmandu), and Losar or the Tibetan New Year in February (in Swayambhunath, Jawlakhel and highland communities). Other important festivals are New Year's Day (April 14), Mother's Day (April), Rath Jatra (May-June), Guru Poornima (August), Krishnashtami (August-September), Father's Day (August-September), Indra Jatra (September), Constitution Day (November 9), Bala Chaturdarshi (November-December), Birthday of His Majesty the King (December 28), Basanta Panchami (January-February), National Democracy Day (February 18), and Ghode Jatra (March-April).
ATTIRE
Nepalese men wear daura, suruwai, topi patuka (waist coat) and a khukri, while the women wear chowbandi choli, gunew tied by patuka, hembari (shawl tied round the chest) majetro. The ornaments include chyapte sun, gadavari (ear rings), tilhari kantha, chura, dungri, mundri (nose ring), kallis (ankle ornaments), sirbandi charrani har and tikmala. The sindur (vermilion) and the potey (bottle green) are the signs of married women.
CUISINE
Most of the regular meals consist of a combination of lentil soup, rice and curried vegetables. Nepal has adapted to Western tastes, markedly evident in Kathmandu's smorgasbord of menus: Mexican tacos; Japanese sukiyaki; Thai chocolate; Chinese marshmallows; onion and minestrone soup; borscht, quiche and soy burgers; and some of the best desserts-apple and lemon pies, almond layer cakes, fruit cakes. Lassi (a refreshing mixture of curd and water), the locally produced beer or chang, a Himalayan home brew made from barley, are the most famous draughts.
POLITY
Nepal is a democratic constitutional monarchy. The constitution provides for a bicameral government consisting of a House of Representatives or the lower house with 205 elected members and a 60-member National Council or the upper house, a third of whose members retire every two years. The king is generally the titular head. A two-thirds majority in the lower house can only amend the constitution.
ECONOMY
Nepal has an agrarian market economy. Agriculture accounts for about one-half of the GNP and employs more than nine-tenths of the workforce. Less than one-fifth of the total land area is arable, and agricultural productivity is very low. A hydroelectric station southeast of Kathmandu has proved to be very beneficial for the farmers.
Rice is the staple food. Maize, wheat, potatoes, sugarcane, and millets are also widely grown. Nepal is a major producer of medicinal herbs, which grow on the Himalayan slopes. Cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep are raised. Forestry is an important industry.
The growing industrial sector accounts for much less than one-tenth of the GNP and employs less than 1 percent of the total workforce. The government has promoted the use of domestic raw materials in manufacturing, and leading manufactures include cotton garments, bricks, tiles, paper, construction materials, and processed foods. Traditional products such as baskets, edible oils, and cotton cloth are produced by cottage industries.
Tourism is becoming an increasingly important source of foreign exchange. The Kathmandu valley is equipped with the necessary amenities for foreign tourists.
India dominates Nepal's foreign trade and has granted only limited transit rights. Nepal's major exports include cotton garments, cereals, jute, timber, oilseeds, ghee, potatoes, medicinal herbs, and hides. Capital and consumer goods, mineral fuels, and chemicals dominate imports.
SITES TO VISIT
Nepal has three main cities of tourist attraction-Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The capital city of Kathmandu offers many attractions to the visitor. It is the seat of the world famous Pashupatinath Temple. Kathmandu's core is Durbar Square, with the Vishnumati River to the west and Ratna Park to the east. The Baghmati River forms the southern boundary, while Thamel, the budget travelers' hangout, sprawls to the north.
Patan has many pleasant attractions like the Durbar Square, Royal Palace, Jagannarayan Temple, Golden Temple, Kumbeshawar, a collection of Buddhist stupas, Nepal's only zoo, and the Tibetan carpet market at Jawlakhel.
Bhaktapur, 35 km from Kathmandu, offers attractions like the Durbar Square, famous for its temples, squares, statues and columns, Taumadhi Tole Square, Nyatapola Temple, Til Mahadev Narayan, Potters' Square, and Tachupal Tole Square.
In the Terai region, the Royal Chitwan National Park and Janakpur, the legendary birthplace of Goddess Sita of the Ramayana, are the oft-visited sites. Pokhara is famous for its picturesque setting, Tibetan settlements, hilltop monasteries, the Devi Falls, caves and lakes. The Dakshina Kali Temple, south of the Kathmandu Valley, attracts hundreds of pilgrims everyday. The Nagarjuna forest reserve is also a treat for the nature lover.
ADVENTURE SPORTS
Nepal provides a large range of adventure sports. Trekking is possible in the months of September and December and March and April. The Everest region boasts of the highest mountains of the world such as Mt. Everest, Lotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam and is the home of the Sherpas, Lamas and Buddhist culture. In the Annapurna region, most of the treks commence from the Pokhara Valley, and one has to cross the Throng La at 5416 m here. Towards the north of Kathmandu, the Central region covers the treks in the Kathmandu Valley, Langtang, and Gosaikunda. In the far western region, the Phoksindo National Park covering an area of 3555 sq km is an oft-visited site. It boasts of the Rara Lake, Upper and Lower Dolpo, Mt. Kailash and Simikot. In the far eastern region, one can find the spectacular peaks of Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Junu.
For those who cannot withstand the rigorousness of mountain climbing, there are mountain flights from Kathmandu that fly around the Mount Everest and provide a close look of the top of the world. From Nagarkot (32 km east of Kathmandu) and Daman (80 km southwest of Kathmandu) one can have a distant view of Mount Everest and beautiful Himalayan ranges. Trekking is the best way to get to interesting and remote mountain villages of Nepal and to have a glimpse of their lifestyle untouched by modern civilization.
Rafting and kayaking are immensely popular, especially on the Trisuli River near Kathmandu and the Sun Kosi in Dolalghat. Remoter 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 and safari in the Terai.
HOW TO REACH
Royal Nepal Airlines, the national flag carrier of Nepal, and other International airlines operate scheduled flights to Kathmandu from Bangkok, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Dubai, Varanasi, and several other cities. The international airlines operating their flights to Kathmandu include Aeroflot, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, China South West Airlines, Druk Air, Indian Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai International.
Public buses are the main form of transportation and are cheap, although uncomfortable and tedious. Buses ply almost on every road-paved or unpaved. There are several services between Kathmandu and Pokhara aimed specifically at tourists. There are no trains and no drive-yourself rental cars in Nepal. Cars with drivers can be hired.
Bike riding is gaining popularity with visitors for short jaunts and a bike is often quicker than using local buses, especially in the Kathmandu Valley. Walking is still the most important and most reliable method of getting to places and for moving cargo. In several parts of Nepal walking is the only option. Human porters carry more goods than by every other form of transport combined.
Local transport in the Kathmandu Valley and around Pokhara includes taxis, buses, tempos (three-wheeled buses), auto-rickshaws, rickshaws and bicycles.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Department of Immigration located at Tridevi Marg, Thamel (Ph: 412337) issues trekking permit for the tourists who intend to trek any part of the country. Trekking permit fee for different trekking areas are fixed.
Trekking to Dolpa, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Mustang can be undertaken through registered trekking agencies only. To trek in a national park area an entrance fee has to be paid separately. Likewise, an entrance fee is also collected from every trekker going into the Annapurna Conservation Area. There are several government registered trekking agencies in Nepal to conduct such trekking programs.
All foreign nationals (except Indians) require visas. Single-entry tourist visas are issued for up to 30 days and can be extended for a maximum of three months. They permit travel around the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and Chitwan National Park in the Terai. Trekking permits are required if one intends striking out from the main roads. They can be obtained from immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Altitude sickness, hepatitis A, malaria (low-lying areas only), meningococcal meningitis (Kathmandu Valley region) and typhoid are the general health risks.
