Nepal is a Himalayan Kingdom with several mountains, exotic wildlife, artistic monuments and varied diverse cultures, popularly known as the land of Gods and Goddess. It is the country, which has such a huge treasure of culture, religion, traditions, arts & crafts, distinctive architecture, natural heritage and warm hospitality of its inhabitants, which render it ideal as the most amazing & interesting destination for sightseeing. Hinduism & Buddhism are the two principal religions of Nepal along with other several religions followed by the people from different ethnic groups. Nepal, therefore, known as one of the multi-religious country which holds temples, stupas & monasteries in uncountable number with variety of God & Goddess depicting the deep faith of the people. So mixing these two greatest religions, Nepal boasts of providing the message of peace and harmony to all the people in the world. The amazing & magnificent sight of the Himalayas, a diversity of beautiful landscape, all are beyond human imagination. Nepal's widespread fame in the world being the birthplace of Buddha - 'Light of Asia' is thing of glory for every Nepalese people.
Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in the terms of flora, fauna and natural bio-diversity due to its unique geographical condition. Nepal houses the world’s deepest gorge ‘Kali Gandaki’ to the highest peak on the earth – ‘Mount Everest’. The Nepalese people are known all over the world for their bravery and kind hospitality.
Nepal is also a paradise for adventure seekers; be it rafting, trekking, kayaking, bungy jumping (presumed to be the scariest and second highest in the world). Nepal offers an astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions and adventure opportunities found nowhere else in the world!!!!
The vast majority of people who visit the Kingdom take away with them truly fond memories, not only of the incredible scenery but also of the warmth, grit and undeniable friendliness of the Nepali people.
Nepal At A Glance Area : 147,181 sq. km Geography : Situated between China in the North and India in the South, East & West. Capital : Kathmandu Population : over 22 million Language : Nepali is the national language. However, travel trade people understand and
speak English language as well. People : Nepal has more than 61 ethnic group and 70 spoken languages. Currency : Nepalese Rupees Political System : Multiple Democracy with constitutional monarchy.
Natural Features
Location:
Nepal is a sovereign independent kingdom situated on the southern slopes of the mid-Himalayas, the formidable range of eternal shows. It is located between 26° 22' and 30° 27' north latitude and 80° 4' and 80° 12' east longitude.
Total land area is 147,181 square kilometers, and its borders are contiguous with the Indian border in the west, south and east and with Tibetan autonomous region of the People's Republic of China in the north.
Nepal's boundary limits are as follows: In the east, the Mechi River and Singallia ridge separate the country from Sikkim and West Bengal.
In the south, the boundary pillars and about nine meters of no-man's land on either side demarcate the Nepalese territory from the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
In the west Mahakali River is the natural border separating the Kingdom from Uttar Pradesh.
Nepal's northern boundary merges with the Tibet Autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Nepal is a land-locked country, the nearest seacoast being 1,127 kilometers away in India.
Features: The major part of the country is of high mountains and rolling hills. It accounts for about 83% of the total land and the plain of Terai occupies the remaining 17%. Altitude varies from 152 meters above the sea level in the Terai in the south to 8848 meters in the north Himalayas.
Himalayas: The Himalayas or "abode of snow" is in fact the youngest and highest mountain system in the world. It extends over 2,400kms as a vast south-facing area between the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers with Nanga Parbat (8,125m) and Namcha Barwa (7,755m) as its terminal high points. Fully a third of 800kms of its central section traverses Nepal and is known as the Nepal Himalayas, Here congregate more than 250 peaks that exceed 6,000m in height-a unique concentration of lofty dazzling summits. Of the thirty one Himalayan peaks over 7,600m, twenty-two like in Nepal Himalayas including eight of the world's fourteen highest giants.
These are:
Sagarmatha(Mt. Everest) 8,848m
Kanchenjunga 8,586m
Lhotse 8,516m
Makalu 8,463m
Cho Oyu 8,201m
Dhaulagiri 8,167m
Manaslu 8,163m
Annapurna 8,091m
The Himalayan range within Nepal fits into a geographic pattern as the culmination of a series of parallel ranges. The main mountain region, represented by the eternal ranges, lies about 90kms north of the Mahabharat Lekh. The intervening space between the two parallel ranges is made up of the lower belt of the low hills (Pahar) and the higher belt of elevated ridges (Lekh) that provide the first intimation of the high snow continuous range but rather a chain of lofty ridges separated by deep gorges. Each of these mountain chains or Himals in turn sends out a maze of spurs studded with numerous peaks.
In the western and central Nepal, there is yet another mountain range that defines the boundary between Nepal and China. This border range has elevations ranging from 5,000 to 6,000m with comparatively less rugged relief but a harsh climate. Between the main Himalayan range and these border ranges lie some of the elevated Bhot Valleys.
Much of the high country above 5,000m is under the realm of snow and ice although the permanent snow line may vary according to aspect and gradient. Winter snowfall occurs up to an elevation of 2,000m and is much heavier in the western part. While winter is harsh and bitter, summer is the season of alpine flowers and is the time of the year when the high pastures teem with grazing animals from lower valleys. For the mountain communities, it is the time for harvesting their main crop before their winter migration to warmer climates.
Glaciers: The Himalayan region abounds in glaciers. Most of the big glaciers lie in the eastern Himalayas. As the western Himalayas receive only a small amount of rainfall, barring the formation of vast snowfields, the source of some of the big rivers of Nepal are in fact glaciers.
Nepal's largest glacier lies in the Mahalangur and the Kumbhakarna ranges. Khumbu is the biggest glacier and Langtang the longest. Kanchenjunga, Yalung, Nupchu and Lamtang are some other glaciers belonging to the eastern Himalayas. Tukche and Hidden valley glaciers belong to the central Himalayas but these are comparatively small. Eating into the land along their course, the glaciers have been partly responsible for changing the Himalayan landscape, and for evolving various geo-patterns ranging from big cirques and rock basins to hanging valleys and morainic ridges
Rivers of Nepal: Nepal's rivers can be broadly divided into three categories in accordance with their origins. The first category comprises the three main river systems of the country-the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river systems, all of them originating from glaciers and snow-fed lakes.
The Koshi river system consists of the Tamor, Arun, Dudhkoshi, Likhu, Tamakoshi, Sunkoshi and Indravati rivers. Of these, the Arun and Sunkoshi originate in Tibet. The confluence of these rivers is at Tribeni (near Dharan) in Sagarmatha Zone. Flowing for almost 10kms through a narrow gorge before entering the plains, the "Sapta Koshi" or the "Koshi" swollen with the waters of the seven rivers finally merges into the Ganges.
The Gandaki river system in central Nepal consists of the Kaligandaki, Budhigandaki, Marsyanghi, Trishuli, Seti, Madi and Daraundi rivers. The Kaligandaki is the longest river and the Trishuli, the main tributary of this system.
The Kaligandaki originates in Mustang and converges with the Trishuli at Devghat in Chitwan. The river is then called the Narayani and goes on to meet the Ganges. The Karnali river system in western Nepal consists of the Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Seti and Bheri rivers and is the longest river system in the country. The Humla Karnali, which rises in Tibet, is the main tributary. After entering India, this river assumes the name Gogra.
Rivers like the Mechi, Mahakali, Bagmati, Kamala, Rapti, etc., most of which have their origin in the Mahabharat range, constitute the rivers of the second category. The Bagmati, which rises at Bagdwar and drains out through the Chobhar gorge, is the principle river of the Kathmandu Valley.
Streams and rivulets originating mostly from the Chure hills make up the third category; these rivers rely on monsoon rains and are otherwise dry.
Lakes: There are number of lakes and tanks of glacial and tectonic origin in Nepal. Mountain lakes like Rara, Phoksundo, Phewa etc., are majestic in extent and beauty. Rara in Mugu district of western Nepal is the country's largest lake. Phewa at Pokhara is another equally famous lake. Phoksundo in Dolpa Distric is yet another big lake but is less well known than Phewa Lake due to its difficult approach. Rupatal and Begnastal (Pokhara), Gaduwaltal (Chitwan), Satyavatilal (Palpa), Khaptadtal (Doti), Barhakunetal (Dang), Surma Sarobar (Bajhang) and Tilichotal (Manang) are some of Nepal's other well-known lakes.Gosainkunda and other lakes in the Langtang Himal region are of religious significance.
A Living Cultural Heritage: Nepal's heritage is alive and dynamic. Shamanism, animism & Witch craft are still practiced in remote regions Temples, shrines monuments and monasteries are extremely active with devotees burning butter-lamps, singing hymns, chiming temple bells and playing drums.
World Heritage Sites (Natural):
1. Everest National Park (1148 Sq. Kms.)
2. Royal Chitawan National Park (923 Sq. Kms.)
National Parks:
1. Royal Barida National Park (968 sq. Kms.)
2. Langtang National Park (1710 sq. Kms.)
3. Shey-Phoksundo National Park (355 sq. Kms.)
4. Rara National Park (106 sq. Kms.)
5. Khapted National Park (225 sq. Kms.)
6. Makalu-Barun National Park (2330 sq. Kms.)
Wildlife:
This country harbors one of the world's best habitat for One horned rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, Show-Leopard, Clouded-Leopard, Red panda, Blue-sheep and long snouted fish eating Gharial. Other wildlife includes wild elephant, buffaloes, bisons, blue bell, Brown, bear, Sloth bear, Leopard, crocodiles and many varieties of cat, dog, deer and antelope families. And 840 different species of wetland, migratory and residential birds.
Endangered Species:
Tiger, Rhino, Snow Leopard, Clouded Leopard Red Panda, Brown Bear, Asamese Macaque, Gangetic Dolphin, Wolf, Wild Elephant, Giant horn-bill, Swamp deer, Wild yak, Nayan, Tibetan antelope, Black buck, Four horned antelope, Musk deer pigmy hog, Haspd hare, Pangolin, Gharial, Indian bustard, Saras Crane, Impean Pheasant, Python.
