Elongated along the
Himalayas, Nepal is a landlocked country with a total land area
of 147,181 sq.km.. (56,136 sq.mi.). The country is bordered by the
People's Republic of China to the North and the Republic of India to the
South, East and West. Its topography varies from the high snow-clad peaks
and the mid mountain region with fertile valleys to the southern plains
known as Terai. The world's highest peak Mt.
Sagarmatha (Everest), 8,848 meters (29028 ft.) lies in Nepal.
Its capital, Kathmandu, is a valley
with a pleasant climate. The main rainy season is during the monsoon
period (June to September) with rainfall of over 56 inches a year.
Nepal's climate
varies with its topography. It ranges from tropical to artic depending
upon the altitude. The Terai region has a hot humid climate. The mid-land
regions are plesant almost all the year round, although winter nights are
cool. The northern mountain region, around an altitude above 3,353 m. has
an alpine climate with a considerably lower temperature in winter as can
be expected.There is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and around
Nepal. All seasons are equally good for travelling but Autumn and Winter
are the most rewarding ones.
The geography of Nepal is blessed with
a number of small and large rivers. Three main river systems - Kosi,
Gandaki and Karnali originate in the Himalayas, flow southward and empty
into the Ganges. Nepal has been a habitat of different rare species of
flora and fauna. In order to protect the fragile eco-system, Nepal has set
up thirteen national parks and wildlife reserves in different parts of the
country.
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by
hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms
in 1990 established a multiparty democracy
within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. The refugee issue
of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of these
displaced persons are housed in seven United Nations Offices of the High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.
The civilization
of Nepal can be traced back to thousand of years B.C. A
Hindu-Buddhist culture flourished in the Kathmandu valley by the 4th cent.
A.D. In the Middle Ages many small principalities were established. One of
these, the GURKHAS, became dominant in 1768. In 1816, after a war with the
British, Nepal adopted a policy of seclusion from foreign contacts.
Internal power struggles led in 1846 to the dominance of the Rana family,
which controlled the country until 1951. Under the Ranas, Nepal was
isolated from foreign influence, and there was little economic
modernization. Nepal was granted independence in 1923, and a limited
constitutional monarchy was established in 1951. After a brief period of
democracy (1959-60), political activity was banned. A form of partyless
government, the panchayat system, was set up (1962), with executive power
resting in the king. This system was narrowly approved (1980) in a
national referendum. In 1990 protests led to the abolition of the
panchayat system and the reestablishment of democracy and a constitutional
monarchy. In the subsequent elections (1991) the centrist Nepali Congress
Party won a slim majority in the new parliament, and Girija Prasad Koirala
became prime minister. Long influenced by India, Nepal has recently
developed closer ties with China. During the past 40 years Nepal has
diversified its economy and developed a basic infrastructure with
Herculean efforts.
Nepal has a
population of more than 18 million, made of different races and
tribes, living in different regions, wearing different costumes and
speaking different languages and dialects.The Gurungs and Magars live
mainly in the west and on the southern slopes of Annapurna, Himalchuli and
Ganesh Himal mountains. The Rais, Limbus and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes
and valleys of the eastern mid hills. The Sherpas live in the Himalayan
region up to an average altitude of 4570m. The Newars constitue an
important ethnic group in the capital valley Kathmandu. There are Tharus,
Yadavas, Saar, Rajvanshis and Dhimals in the Terai region. The Brahmans,
Chhetri and Thakuris are spread generally over most parts of the Kingdom.
Hinduism and Buddhism constitute the
two major religions of Nepal. Majority of the Nepali are Hindu 90%,
Buddhist 7% and other 3%. As Nepal is the birth place of Lord Buddha, it
is one of the major attraction for Buddhists all over the world. There is
no distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal. Both play a vital
role in the lifestyle of the Nepali people.
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