About Nepal
Location: Between India & the Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.
Area & Population: 147,181 Sq. Kms & Approximately 22 Million
Latitude & Longitude: 26'12' and 30'27' North & 80 degree 4' and 88 degree 12' East
Capital: Kathmandu
People: Over 40 Ethnic Groups & 70 Spoken Languages.
Political-System: Multiparty Democracy.
Topography: From the World's Deepest gorge 'Kali-Gandaki' to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest (8848 m). Vegetation: Possesses some of the world's most outstanding bio-diversity, ranging from sub-tropical Rain-forests to Alpine Deserts.
Climate: Ranges from sub-tropical in the low lands to Arctic higher altitudes.
Seasons: Winter (Dec-Feb), Summer (Mar-May), Monsoon (Jun-Aug), Autumn (Sep-Nov)
National Bird: Impean Pheasant (Danfe)
National Flower: Rhododendron Arboreum (Lali Gurans)
World Heriatge Sites: 3 Durbar Squares (Kathmandu, Patan & Bhaktapur), 2 Temples (Pashupatinath & Changu Narayan), 2 Stupas (Boudhanath & Swayambhunath), 2 National Parks (Chitwan & Sagarmatha), and Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha.
Flora and Fauna: 840 different species of wet-land, migratory or residential birds, 8% of the world's population of birds.
Home to Endangered Species: Royal Bengal Tiger, One horned Rhino, Snow-leopard, Red Panda, Brown Bear, Assamese Macaque, Gangetic Dolphin, Wolf, Wild Elephant, Giant Horn-Bill, Swamp Deer, Wild Yak, Tibetan Antelope, Black Buck, Four Horned antelope, Musk Deer, Pigmy Hog, Haspid Hare, Pangolin, Gharial, Indian Bustart, Saras Crane, Impean Pheasant, Python etc.
A Living Cultural Heritage: Nepal's Heritage is alive and dynamic. Shamanism, Pan-animism & Witchcraft 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. The only country that has living goddess "Kumari"
Brief History Of Nepal
Nepal remained divided into many principalities for many centuries. Kirats ruled in the east, Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. In the 300 BC when the Kirats ruled, emperor Ashoka came from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Buddha. The Lichchhavis whose descendants today are believed to be the Newars, followed the Kirats. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarving 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 who also contributed tremendously to Nepal's art and culture. After almost 600 years of rule 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 invasion, 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 and oligarchy and the Shah kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s.
