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The Country itself |
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History |
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Nepal has seen many rulers and
ruling dynasties. The earliest rulers were the Kirantis
who ruled from 9th century B.C. to 1st century A.D.
Legends and chronicles mention that the Indian Emperor
Ashoka had come to Nepal and visited Lumbini, the
place where the Buddha was born, and where he erected
a huge stone pillar to commemorate his visit to
that spot.
The Kirants were replaced by Licchavis who, according
to the earliest evidences in inscriptions of the
5th century A.D. found in the courtyard of Changunarayan
temple which is about 15 km north east of Kathmandu,
ruled this country from 1st century to 9th century
A.D. This period is noted for the many temples
and fine sculptures built around the Kathmandu
valley.
The Licchavis were followed by the Thakuris,
then came the Malla dynasty. The Mallas ruled
focusing mainly on the Kathmandu Valley which
has been the residence for most Nepali rulers
from time immemorial. No other part of Nepal is
as rich in cultural heritage as Kathmandu. Thanks
to the exceptionally talented crafts-men, who
dedicated themselves to construct the many temples
and statues, we have seven world heritage sites
in the Kathmandu Valley itself.
In the 14th century A.D. King Jayasthiti Malla
established a rigid social order. His grandson
tried in every way to protect his country from
suspected enemy states. Unfortunately, all his
efforts were fruitless, everything went beyond
his control and the country eventually divided
up into 50 small feudal states including the three
major ones in the valley.
Then came the Shah dynasty. King Prithvi Narayan
Shah who annexed small principalities including
three states in the Kathmandy Valley and unified
Nepal in a single kingdom. Recognizing the threat
of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European
missionaries from the country and for more than
a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During
the mid-19th century Jung Bahadur Rana became
Nepal's first prime minister to wield absolute
power. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy
movement of the early 1950s.
Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system.
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Nature |
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Nepal covers a span of 147,181
sq. kilometers ranging from altitude of 70 meters
to 8,848 meters. Mountains, mid hills, valleys and
plains dominate the geography of landlocked Nepal
that extends from the Himalayan range in the north
to the Indo-Gangetic lowlands in south. Mt. Everest,
the highest point of the Himalayas is in Nepal.
Physical features also include green paddy terraces,
wind-swept deserts, dense forests and marshy grasslands.
The country is well endowed with perennial rivers,
lakes and glacial lakes that originate in the
Himalayas. Twenty percent of the land in the country
is used for agriculture, where 0.49 percent is
used for permanent crops, mainly rice.
Climatic conditions of Nepal vary from one place
to another in accordance with the geographical
features. In the north summers are cool and winters
severe, while in south summers are sub tropical
and winters mild.
The variety in Nepal's topography provides home
to wildlife like tigers, rhinos, monkeys, bears,
yaks, leopards and different species of insects
and birds. Nepal is a home to almost 10 percent
of the world's bird species among which 500 species
are found in the Kathmandu Valley.
The country has managed to preserve some endangered
species of Asia in its extensive parks and protected
natural habitats. The most abundant natural resource
in Nepal is water. Other resources found here
are quartz, timber, lignite, copper, cobalt, iron
ore and scenic beauty. |
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Geography |
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The country can be divided into
three main geographical regions:
Himalayan Region
The altitude of this region ranges between 4877
meters and 8848 meters with the now line running
around 488848 meters. It includes 8 of the existing
14 summits in the world which exceed the altitude
of 8000 meters. They are: (1) Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest)
- 8848 m (2) Kangchenjunga - 8586 m, (3) Lhotse
- 8516 m, (4) Makalu - 8463 m, (5) Cho Oyo - 8201
m, (6) Dhaulagiri - 8167 m, (7) Manaslu - 8163 m,
and (8) Annapurna - 8091 m.
Mountain Region
This region accounts for about 64 percent of total
land area. The Mahabharat range that rises upto
4877 meters forms it. To its south lies the lower
Churia range whose altitude varies from 610 meters
to 1524 meters.
Terai Region
The lowland Terai region, which has a width of about
26 to 32 kilometers and an altitude maximum of 305
meters, occupies about 17 percent of total land
area of the country. Kechanakawal, the lowest point
of the country with an altitude of 70 meters lies
in Jhapa District of the eastern Terai.
All this adds up one interesting fact that there
is no seasonal constraint on travelling in and through
Nepal. Even in December and January, when the winter
is at its severest, there are compensating bright
sun and brilliant views. Winter days often begin
in mist, which can last until noon. Then suddenly,
as if by magic, the fog disappears bringing in to
views snowy peaks, glistening white and fresh against
the large blue sky.
Nepal experiences 4 seasons :
spring (Mar - May),
summer (Jun - Aug),
autumn (Sep - Nov) and
winter (Dec - Feb).
The climate is varied ranging from the sub-tropical
Terai to the cool dry temperate and alpine climate
in the northern Himalayan ranges. In the Terai,
the hottest part of the country, summer temperatures
may rise as high as 40°C. The climate is hot
and humid. In the midmountain region, the summer
climate is mild with temperatures around 25°C
- 27°C.
The winter temperatures range from 7°C to
23°C in the Terai and subzero to 12°C
in the mountain regions and valleys. The northern
Himalayan region has an alpine climate. The valley
of Kathmandu has a pleasant equable climate with
average summer and winter temperatures of 19°C
- 27°C and 2°C - 12°C respectively.
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| Biodiversity |
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The Kingdom of Nepal covers an
area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches
145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers
west to east. The country is located between India
in the south and China in the north. At latitudes
26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88
degrees east, Nepal is topographically divided into
three regions: the Himalaya to the north, the hills
consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia
Hills in the middle, and the Terai to the south.
Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest
point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the
lowest point (70 meters above sea level) is located
at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District. Altitude increases
as you travel south to north. In the north temperatures
are below -40°C and in the Terai, temperatures
rise to 40°C in the summer. During June, July
and August, the kingdom is influenced by monsoon
clouds.
Bird Watching
About 850 species of birds are found in Nepal. With
the opening of Koshi Tappu Reserve, bird watching
is gaining grounds in Nepal. Koshi Tappu alone has
recorded over 250 species of birds. Rare birds include
Impeyean pheasant, the national bird, snow cock,
snow pigeon, giant horn-bill, saras crane and babblers.
The spiny babbler is a rare endemic variety found
only in Nepal. Every year migratory birds from Tibet,
Siberia and the northern mountains fly to the lowlands
and Terai of Nepal. The Koshi Barrage is one of
the most important migratory habitats. Bird watching
is a very pleasant experience during late autumn
and early spring when the migration occurs. Other
parks and reserves also attract more birds and birdwatchers.
Flower Tour
Nepal is rich in vegetation. The country's diverse
terrain provides ideal conditions for varieties
from tropical to hill plants and flowers. Some orchids
and certain varieties of rhododendron are very rare
and found only in Nepal. Lali Guras or the red rhododendron
is the national flower of Nepal. During the right
seasons most visitors who come to explore the natural
beauty of the country, are fortunate to have a glimpse
of spectacular sights of hills covered with rhododendron
flowers. Spring and autumn are the best seasons
for flowers in Nepal. |
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People |
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The population of Nepal was recorded
to be about 25 million as of July 2002. Eighty-six
percent of Nepalis follow Hinduism, while eight
percent follow Buddhism and three percent follow
Islam. The population comprises various groups of
different races which are further divided into different
castes. The distinction in caste and ethnicity is
understood more easily with a view of customary
layout of the population.
Some of the main groups are such: Gurungs and Magars
who live mainly in the western region; Rais, Limbus
and Sunwars who live in the eastern mid hills; Sherpas,
Manangpas and Lopas who live near the mountains
of Everest, Annapurna and Mustang respectively;
Newars who live in and around the capital valley
of Kathmandu; Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajvanshis
and Dhimals who live in the Terai region; and Brahmins,
Chhetris and Thakuris generally spread over all
parts of the country.
Nepali is the official language of the state, spoken
and understood by 100 percent of the population.
Multiple ethnic groups speak more than a dozen other
languages in about 93 different dialects. English
is spoken by many in government and business offices.
It is the mode of education in most private schools
of Kathmandu and some other cities.
Ethnic Distribution
The Northern Himalayan People
In the northern region of the Himalayas are the
Tibetan-speaking groups namely Sherpas, Dolpas,
Lopas, Baragaonlis, Manangis. The Sherpas are mainly
found in the east in the Solu and Khumbu region;
the Baragaonlis and Lopas live in the semi-deserted
areas of Upper and Lower Mustang in the Tibetan
rain-shadow area; the Managis live in Manang district
area; while the Dolpas live in Dolpa district of
West Nepal, one of the highest settlements on earth
at 4,000 meters.
The Middle Hills and Valley People
Several ethnic groups live together in harmony in
the middle hills and valleys. Among them are the
Magars, Gurungs, Tamangs, Sunuwars, Newars, Thakalis,
Chepangs and majority of Brahmans and Chhetris.
The Brahmans and Chhetris have long dominance in
all pervading social, religious and political realms.
There are also some occupational castes namely:
Damai (tailor), Sarki (cobbler), Kami (blacksmith)
and Sunar (goldsmiths). Though, there exist numerous
dialects, the language of unification is the national
language, Nepali.
Ethnic Diversity in the Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley represents a cultural cauldron
of the country, where, people from varied backgrounds
have come together to present a melting pot. The
natives of the Kathmandu Valley are the Newars.
Newari culture is an integration of both Hinduism
and Buddhism. The Newars of Kathmandu Valley were
traders or farmers by occupation in the old days.
The Terai People
The main ethnic groups in Terai are Tharus, Darai,
Kumhal, Majhi and other groups that have roots in
India. They speak north Indian dialects like Maithili,
Bhojpuri. Owing to the fertile plains of Terai,
most inhabitants live on agriculture. There are,
however, some occupational castes like Majhi (fisherman),
Kumhal (potter) and Danuwar (cart driver). |
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Religion |
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In Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism
are the two main religions. The two have co-existed
down the ages and many Hindu temples share the same
complex as, Buddhist shrines. Hindu and Buddhist
worshippers may regard the same god with different
names while performing religious rites.
Nepal has been declared as a secular country
by the Parliament on May 18, 2006. Religions like
Hindusim Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Bon
are practiced here. Some of the earliest inhabitants
like the Kirats practice their own kind of religion
based on ancestor worship and the Tharus practice
animism. Over the years, Hinduism and Buddhism
have been influenced by these practices which
have been modified to form a synthesis of newer
beliefs.
For centuries the Nepal remained divided into
many principalities. Kirats ruled in the east,
the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs
and Magars occupied the mid-west. The Kirats ruled
from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka
arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini
in memory of Lord Buddha. The Kirats were followed
by the Lichchhavis whose descendants today are
believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley.
During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many
of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that
are found in the country belong to this era. With
the end of the Lichchhavi dynasty, Malla kings
came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed
tremendously to Nepal's art and culture. However,
after almost 600 years of rule, the kings were
not united among themselves and during the late
18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha,
conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one
kingdom. Recognizing the threat of the British
Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries
from the country and for more than a century,
Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-19th
century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first
prime minister to wield absolute power. He set
up an oligarchy and the Shah kings remained figureheads.
The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement
of the early 1950s.
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Religious Festivals |
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Most of the festivals celebrated
in Nepal have religious significance. The dates
of most festivals are fixed by famous astrologers
after consulting the lunar calendar. The biggest
and most popular festivals are: Dashain, a celebration
of Goddess Bhagabati's victory over evil Mahisashur;
and Tihar, a celebration of lights dedicated to
Goddess Laxmi. |
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