About Nepal



Nepal is Famous for Mt. Everest, Outdoor Adventure, Natural Beauty, & Diverse Cultures.

Nepal’s official name is the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. It is home to Mt. Everest, the highest mountain on the planet. To go to Mt. Everest is literally to go to the top of the world. Best Himalayan panoramic views. Nepal has always allured visitors by its unparallel natural beauty and rich cultural heritage .Located in South Asia, Nepal is a land-locked country had Tibet, China to its North and India to its East, West and South as immediate neighbors. Nepal has always remained a sovereign state throughout its history.


Geography

Despite being a land-locked country between India and China, Nepal is an oasis of geographic diversity including mountains, rivers, tropical forests, plains, dessert, and home to many species. Nepal’s land ranges from about sea level o the top of world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest (known as Sagarmatha in Nepal) which stands at 8,848 metres (29,029 feet). Nepal is 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 square miles) making it the 93rd largest country in the world. Eighty percent of Nepal is occupied by the Himalayan peaks.

Nepal can be divided into three geographical areas; Himalayan Mountain Region, Pahadi (the hill region, or foothills), and the Terai (the lowland plains). The northernmost section is the Himalayan Mountain Region which borders China and contains Mt. Everest along with numerous other high mountain peaks. Sherpas are from this section of Nepal. The Pahadi, or foothills, region is highly populated in valleys, and ranges from 800-4,000 metres high (2,600-13,125 feet). This region is home to a wide range of ethnic groups and contains many cultures. The Mahabharat Lekh, at the southernmost part of the Pahadi region is a subtropical (at 1,500-3,00 metres). The southernmost region of Nepal is the Terai, which borders India and is part of the Indo-Gangetic plains, fed by the three major Himalayn Rivers; the Karnali, Naravani, and Kosi, and small riviers from eblow the permanent snowline. This region has a subtropical to tropical climate. There is a lot of farming in this region of Nepal.

Himalayan rivers green valleys, mid hills and Terai plains makes Nepal one of the most bio –diversity rich countries in the world.19.70% of the total area of the country Nepal is covered by protected areas that include nine national parks, three wildlife reserves, one hunting reserve and three conservation area and eleven buffer Zones. Among these Sagarmatha National Parks in Himalayas and Chitwan National Park in Terai are the world heritage areas.



Mt. Everest

Nepal opened its doors to the foreigners in 1949 when Himalayan mountaineering expeditions were first allowed. Nepal gained global notice with the successful ascent of Annapurna (8091m) and Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachaenal in 1950 as well as from the successful ascent of Mt Everest (8848m the highest peak in Earth) by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey Sherpa in 1953.


The period 1950-196 is termed as golden era of climbing in Himalayas when all the highest 8000 meter peaks were climbed .The account of the early mountaineering and explorers caught world attention and soon tourism started flourishing in Nepal. Initially it was the trekkers who followed the trails pioneered by the early mountaineers.


Outdoor Adventure


Nepal offers a wide variety of outdoor adventure including:
  • Trekking
  •  Climbing
  •  Sightseeing
  •  Religious Pilgrimages
  •  Mountain Flying
  •   Rafting
  •  Famous National Park
  •  Large Variety of Wildlife

Diverse Cultures & Religions

Hindu Shrine Buddhist Shrine

Nepal's 23 million inhabitants belong to dozens of different ethnic groups. They can be divided roughly into Hindu peoples (who live mainly in the lowlands) and Buddhists, who live in mountain villages close to Tibet. Hindus, who make up 90 percent of the population, dominate political and religious life. Buddhism has a special connection to Nepal: Siddhartha Gautama, who was later revered as the Buddha, was born in the Terai in 543 BC. Perhaps the most well-known Buddhist ethnic group are the Sherpa, who have long been associated with Himalayan mountaineering expeditions. The vast majority of Nepal's population makes a living from subsistence agriculture.

Later fascinated by the accounts of great cultural and geographical diversity people with varied interest started making Nepal as their choice for a holiday destination. Highest mountain in the world, thundering
Kathmandu Valley 9with 7 world heritage sites), Lumbini –birth place of Lord Buddha , Pokhara –the lake city and Chitwan National Park are the Popular tourist places among several others. Nepal is fast emerging as great holiday destinations .The warm hospitality of the Nepalese people has drawn praises from visitors across the globe.
Nepal is offers visitors a wide range of experiences in different parts of the country in a safe and quality manner.


History and People


While there is evidence that Nepal was inhabited in prehistoric times, there has been little archeological research on early indigenous peoples. In the 8th century BC, migrants from India settled in the region of Kathmandu. Indian influence in the region was further consolidated by the Licchavi Dynasty (300-900 AM), who introduced Hindu traditions and culture (including the caste system). By the 13th century, three kingdoms, all under the control of the Malla Dynasty, dominated the Kathmandu Valley. Over the next five hundred years, the Malla rulers proved to be important patrons of the arts, building elaborately-decorated temples and palaces that survive to this day. Throughout the centuries, Nepal's topography protected the country from outside invaders. The Himalayas provided an impenetrable boundary to the north, while endemic malaria in the Terai kept out attacks from the south.

Nepal's kingdoms were unified in 1769 by Prithvi Narayan Shah, an ancestor of Nepal's present-day king. Inspired by India's independence, a nationalist movement grew in Nepal in the 1940's, but the king remained in control of the country. It was not until 1991 that a new constitution was introduced and multiparty elections were held for the first time.


Ancient Temples, Shrines, and Hidden Cities


There are numerous ancient temples, shrines, and hidden cities for you to explore in Nepal. We take trekkers to the ancient kingdom of Mustang, a city hidden kingdom only recently opened to the world. The Kingdom of Mustang rests on the border of China in Nepal. Tightly sealed off from the outside world until 1992, the tiny kingdom of Mustang has preserved within its boundaries, a culture and a way of life that has changed little over the centuries. Still presided over by its hereditary dynasty, this unique kingdom-with-in-a-kingdom has ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries (that predate any monasteries within Tibet) and a well preserved Tibetan Buddhism which has thrived with little influence from the outside world. In fact, it is said by many that there is more of Tibet in Mustang than in there is in today’s Tibet. On top of all this, the trekking in Mustang’s territory is fabulous, and only moderate in difficulty. This is truly a connoisseur’s trek. No matter where you decide to go in Nepal, you are sure to find a friendly people, fascinating culture, and see wondrous sights!



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