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History
For centuries the Kingdom of Nepal remained divided into many
principalities. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in Kathmandu
Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. The Kirats ruled
from 300 BC and during their reign, Emperor Asoka arrived from India to
build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Kirats were
followe
d 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.
Geography
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 Mahabharata range and
the Churia Hills in the middle, and the Tarai 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 to the north temperatures are below -40 degrees Celsius and in
the Tarai, temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. During
June, July and August, the kingdom is influenced by monsoon clouds.
The Himalaya:
The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and
represents 16% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest
(8848 m), Kanchenjunga (8598 m), and Dhaulagiri (8137 m) are found here
and sparse vegetation is found up to 4,500 m. Some of Nepal's most
beautiful animal and plant life are also found here. Although rare, the
snow leopard and Danfe, (Lophophorous) bird are much talked-about sights
among visitors. The people in this region produce and sell cheese
besides working as porters and guides. Many also trade with Tibet and
travel across the border to sell their goods.
The Hills:
This region covers 65% of the total land area of the country. Kathmandu,
the capital of Nepal is located here. Elevations range from 500 to 3,000
m above sea level. During summer the temperature reaches an average of
32 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold; temperature sometimes reaches -1
degree Celsius. Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because
of the monsoon clouds which come from the south-east. The rivers in the
west which do not receive much rainfall are dependent upon the melted
snow that flow down the Himalaya. Wild animals to be found here are the
spotted leopard, barking deer, and Himalayan black bear. The hilly
region is also popular for different kinds of birds. Over four hundred
species of birds are found here. The people in this region have gained
from the growth in the tourism industry. The people here work as
trekking guides and porters and also sell garments and carpets to add to
their income.
Tarai:
The Tarai covers 17% of the total land area of Nepal. It provides
excellent farming land and the average elevation of flatlands is 100 to
300 m above sea-level. In the Sub-tropical forest areas of Tarai are
found, marshes and wildlife which include the Royal Bengal tiger, one
horned rhino, and the gharial crocodile etc. After the eradication of
malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Tarai in search of
farming land. Today, about 48% of the country's populations occupy this
region. Flat farmlands and the region's flexible topography have given
rise to many industries. The main industrial towns are Biratnagar,
Butwal, Bhairahawa, Birgunj, and Janakpur. Calcutta, a metropolitan city
in India is the closest sea-port. It lies 1,000 kilometers away from
Birgunj.
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Flora and Fauna
Nepal is a land of geographical extremes, ranging from near sea-level
elevations in the southern Terai to the world's highest mountains. The
country contains a variety of ecosystems; treeless sub-alpine pastures
and dense fir forests of the high valleys, oak and rhododendron woods of
the middle hills, and tall sal forests of the south. Along the southern
borders of Nepal are preserved much of the lowland jungles and
grasslands that once covered this part of the sub-continent. Here one
can see birds and mammals found nowhere else. Although animal habitat
has been somewhat depleted as a result of agriculture, deforestation and
other causes, through Nepal's extensive and effective park and reserve
system, the country still has more varied flora and fauna than any other
places in Asia.
Tropical Deciduous Monsoon Forest.
This includes the Tarai plains and the broad flat valleys or Duns found
between hill ranges. The dominant tree species of this area are Sal (Shorea
robusta), sometimes associated with Simal (Bombax malabricum), Asna (Terminalia
termentosa), Dalbergia spp. and other species, and Pinus roxburghi
occurring on the higher ridges of the Churia hills, which in places
reach an altitude of 1,800 meters. Tall coarse two- meter-high elephant
grass originally covered much of the Dun valleys but has now been
largely replaced by agricultural settlement. This tropical zone is
Nepal's richest area for wildlife, with gaurs, wild buffalo four species
of deer, tiger, leopard and other animals, Rhinoceros, swamp deer and
hog deer are found on the grasslands and two species of crocodile and
the Gangetic dolphin inhabit the rivers.
Subtropical Mixed Evergreen Forest.
This includes the Mahabharata Lekh which rises to a height of about
2,400 meters and comprises the outer wall of the Himalayan range. Great
rivers such as the Karnali, Narayani, and Sapta Koshi flow through this
area into the plains of the Terai. This zone also includes the so called
"middle hills", which extend northward in a somewhat confused maze of
ridges and valleys to the foot of the great Himalaya. Among the tree
species characteristic of this region are Castenopsis indicia in
association with Schima wallichi, and other species such as Alnus
nepalensis, Acer oblongum and various species of oak and rhododendron,
which cover the higher slopes where deforestation has not yet taken
place. This zone is generally poor in wildlife. The only mammals which
are at all widely distributed are wild boar, barking deer, serow, ghoral
and bear. Different varieties of birds are also found in this zone.
Temperate Evergreen Forest
Northward on the lower slopes and spurs of the Great Himalaya, oaks and
pines are the dominant species up to an altitude of about 2,400 meters.
Above these are found dense conifer forest of Picea, Tsuga, Larix and
Betula spp. Abies and Betula are usually confined to higher elevations,
with Betula typically marking the upper limit of the tree line. At about
3,600 to 3,900 meters rhododendron, bamboo and maples commonly mingle
with the conifers. The composition of the forest varies considerably,
with coniferous predominating in the west and eracaceous in the east.
The wildlife of this region includes the Himalayan bear, serow, ghoral,
barking deer and wild boar, with the Himalayan tahr sometimes being seen
on steep rocky faces above 2,400 meters. The red panda is among the more
interesting of the smaller mammals found in this zone; it appears to be
fairly well distributed in suitable areas of the forest above 1,800
meters. The rich and varied avifauna of this region includes several
spectacular and beautiful pheasants, including the Damphe pheasant,
Nepal's national bird.
Subalpine and Alpine Zone.
Above the tree line, rhododendron, juniper scrub and other procumbent
woody vegetation may extend to about 4,200 meters where they are then
succeeded by a tundra-like association of short grasses, sedge mosses
and alpine plants wherever there is sufficient soil. This continues up
to the lower limit of perpetual snow and ice at about 5,100 meters. The
mammalian fauna is sparse and unlikely to include any species other than
the Himalayan marmot, mouse hare, tahr, musk deer, snow leopard and
occasionally blue sheep. In former times, the wild yak and great Tibetan
sheep could also be sighted in this region and it is possible that a few
may still be surviving in areas such as Dolpa and Humla. The bird life
at these altitudes includes several interesting species such as the
lammergeyer, snowcock, snow partridge, chough and bunting, with
redstarts and dippers often seen along the streams and rivulet.
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Religion
Religious practices are an important part of the lives of the Nepalese
people. Mythologies of various Hindu gods and goddesses abound in this
country and cultural values are based on the philosophies of holy books
like the Gita, Ramayana, etc.
Women and children visit neighborhood shrines at dawn to offer worship
to the gods. Holding plates of rice, flowers, and vermilion powder, they
perform puja by lighting incense, ringing the temple bell, and applying
' tika', a red paste, on their foreheads. Passers-by stop at temples and
show their reverence to the gods by spending a few minutes praying.
Occasionally, groups of' men sit near temples playing music and singing
hymns until late night.
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.
Though Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, many other
religions like 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.
As a result, visitors to this country may often find the religious
practices in Nepal difficult to follow and understand. But this does not
prevent one from enjoying the -different traditional ceremonies and
rituals of Nepalese culture. It is indeed a totally new experience of
religious fervor.
Hinduism
Thousands of gods and goddesses make up the Hindu pantheon. Brahma,
Vishnu, and Shiva are the three major Hindu gods who have their own
characteristics and incarnations. Each god has his own steed which is
often seen kneeling faithfully at the feet of the deity or sometimes
outside that god's temple. Symbolic objects are carried by the multiple
hands of each deity which empowers them to perform great feats.
Buddhism
Sakyamuni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism who lived and taught in this
part of the world during the sixth century BC. The great stupas of
Swayambhunath and Bouddhanath are among the oldest and most beautiful
worship sites in the Kathmandu Valley.
The spinning of prayer wheels, prostrating pilgrims, collective chants
and burning butter lamps are some Buddhist practices often encountered
by tourists. A slip of paper bearing a mantra is kept inside the wheels
so that prayers are sent to the gods when the wheel is spun. Scenes from
the Buddha's life and Buddhist realms are depicted on thanka scroll
paintings which are used during meditation and prayer ceremonies. Many
Buddhist followers are seen performing these practices in Swayambhunath,
Bouddhanath and at other Buddhist sites around the Valley.
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Economy
Nepal is a developing country with an agricultural economy. In recent
years, the country's efforts to expand into manufacturing industries and
other technological sectors have achieved much progress. Farming is the
main economic activity followed by manufacturing, trade and tourism. The
chief sources of foreign currency earnings are merchandise export,
services, tourism and Gurkha remittances. The annual Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) is about US$ 4.3 billion.
Agriculture
Eight out of 10 Nepalese are engaged in farming and it accounts for more
than 40% of the GDP. Rolling fields and neat terraces can be seen hills
all over the Tarai flatlands and the hills of Nepal. Even in the highly
urbanized Kathmandu Valley, large tracts of land outside the city areas
are devoted to farming. Rice is the staple diet in Nepal and around
three million tons are produced annually. Other major crops are maize,
wheat, millet and barley. Besides food grains, cash crops like
sugarcane, oil seeds, tobacco, jute and tea are also cultivated in large
quantities.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is still at the developmental stage and it represents less
than 10% of the GDP. Major industries are woolen carpets, garments,
textiles, leather products, paper and cement. Other products made in
Nepal are steel utensils, cigarettes, beverages and sugar. There are
many modern large-scale factories but the majority are cottage or
small-scale operations. Most of Nepal's industry is based in the
Kathmandu Valley and a string of small towns in the southern Tarai
plains.
Trade
Commerce has been a major occupation in Nepal since early times. Being
situated at the crossroads of the ancient Trans-Himalayan trade route,
trading is second nature to the Nepalese people. Foreign trade is
characterized mainly by import of manufactured products and export of
agricultural raw materials. Nepal imports manufactured goods and
petroleum products worth about US$ 1 billion annually. The value of
exports is about US$ 315 million. Wooden carpets are Nepal's largest
export, earning the country over US$ 135 million per year. Garment
exports account for more than US$ 74 million and handicraft goods bring
in about US$ 1 million. Others important exports are pulses hide and
skins, jute and medicinal herbs.
Tourism
In 1998, a total of 463, 684 tourists visited Nepal, making tourism one
of the largest industries in the Kingdom. This sector has been expanding
rapidly since its inception in the 1950s, thanks to Nepal's natural
beauty, rich cultural heritage and the diversity of sightseeing and
adventure opportunities available. At one time, tourism used to be the
biggest foreign currency earner for the country. Nepal earned over US$
152 million from tourism in 1998.
Places To Visit In
Kathmandu And Pokhara
Kathmandu : Pashupatinath Temple,
Dakshinkali and Chobhar (The temple of Dakshinkali is dedicated to the
Hindu goddess Kali and is one of the most popular places of worship in
Kathmandu. Located 22 km from the city center on the southern rim of the
Valley), Changu Narayan Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa (Gumba),
Budhanilkantha, Swayambhu Stupa, New Road, Hanuman Dhoka.
Pokhara : Mahendra Cave, David
Fall, Shiva Cave, Lake Side (Enjoy Boatride), Setee River, Bouddhanath Stupa,
Fish - tail, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manokamna Temple (by cable Car).
Packages Tour
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Exotic Kathmandu
- 3 Nights/4 Days in
Himalayan City
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The Land Of Pokhara
- 3 Nights/4 Days Package tour to Pokhara
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Jungle Safari
- 2 Nights/3 Days at Royal Chitwan National Park
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Sunrise & Sunset
From Nepal -
Nagarkot, Dhulikhel and Jomsom
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Overnight
Packages - to
Daman, Mugling, Kurintar and Godavari.
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Mystical
Himalayan Tour
- 7 Nights/ 8 Days Package
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The Bonanza Tour
- 7 Nights/ 8 Days
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