Nepal and Himalayas have been the synonym words for Nepal enjoys the pride of having 8 out of 10 highest peaks of the world! We don't have only mountains but our unique geography has given us green hills and valleys, rivers, subtropical forests and flat lands all adding beauty to our country. Apart from geographical diversity, we have incredible cultural diversity within the boundary of our small Himalayan Kingdom. We have a number of ethnic groups, each with their own languages, cultures, and costumes, all living in perfect harmony.

The best way to experience unbeatable combination of natural beauty and cultural riches of Nepal is to walk through terrain. One can walk along the beaten trails or virgin tracks. Either way you are in for an experience of a lifetime. Along with rhododendron forests, isolated hamlets, small mountain villages, birds, animals, temples, monasteries (Gomba) breathtaking landscape of unsurpassable mountain ranges, you will also encounter friendly people of different cultures and traditional rural life.

The great Mountains with unsurpassable splendor, crystal clear streams and brooks, the high current of rivers, colorful species of flowers, birds and animals, abundance of greenery and forests with much more hidden beauty and mystery with unavoidable adventure and fun will be waiting for you.

The medieval arts and architecture in the temples and palaces, monasteries and stupas are another attraction to the visitors of cultural thirst.

Many people have said about Nepal.

The country of Mount Everest, Roof top of the world, Top Eight highest mountain and 240 peaks exceeding 6094 meters, land of living Goddess, Melting pot of Hinduism and Buddhism, Country of non-stop festivals, Himalayan pilgrimage, "The wildest dreams of Kew" Nature's amphitheatre, heat of Shangri-la, land of yak and yeti, living cultural museum of the world, anthropological treasure land, ecologists dreamland.

As per the size the country possess one of the highest concentration and distribution of bio-diversity

  • Land of the living goddess
  • The country of Mount Everest
  • Himalayas pilgrimage
  • Land of brave Gorkhas
  • Shangri-la
  • Glory of Asia's Past
  • Ultimate Destination pf Mysticism & Exoticism.
  • City of Golden Pagodas & Parasols.
  • Birth place of Janaki
  • Land of Eight- Thousanders
  • Land of 1047 Lamas tries and Monasteries
  • Country of Hidden valley and crystals Mountains
  • Birth place of Apostle of Peace- Lord Buddha
  • Living cultural museum of the world
  • A city which has one of the largest concentration of Buddhist Icons & shrines
  • Abodes of multitude of Gods and Goddess.
  • Only country partciping Mahayana/Bajrayana Tantrik Buddhism.
  • Anthropological Treasure Land.
  • Only country still practicing Bonpo - Pre Buddhistic Spiritism.
  • Country of Tharus wearing richest tribal jewellery comprising 32 items weighting seven kgs.
  • The country of as many temples as many houses, as many gods and as many peoples.
  • The country, which has more festivals than days of the year.
  • Only cherry that flowers winter.
  • Some of the world's highest village.
  • 91 plants that are named after Nepal (Nepal ence)
  • Ecologist' dreamlands
  • And a country of high Mountains consisting 240 peaks exceeding 6094 meters
  • Melting pot of Hinduism & Buddhism
  • Country of non stop festivals
  • The wildest dreams of Kew.
  • Nature's Amphitheatre.
  • Roof or the world
  • Land of Yak & Yeti

Location

Latitude: 2612' to 3027' North Longitude: 804' to 8812' East. Between India & the Tibetan Autonomous region of the Peoples' of Republic China

Area

1, 47,181 Sq. Kms.

Capital: Kathmandu

Population: 23 million
People: 101 ethnic groups and 92 spoken languages

National Birds: Impean Pheasant ( Danfe)

National Flowers: Rhododendron-Arboreum ( Lali Gurans)

Language: Nepali
Currency: Nepalese Rupee

History:

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. In 1768 A.D. the Shah dynasty ascended the throne of the unified kingdom. His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is eleventh King & Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is last king of Nepal in the Shah dynasty.

The new democratic constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. Nepal is one of the founder members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC of which the third summit was held in Kathmandu in Nov. 1987.

Now, Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic state on May 28, 2008, during the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. It was previously a multiparty democracy since 1990

Last Updated (Sunday, 23 August 2009 03:24)