About Nepal

  • Nepal at Glance

    • Nepal is bestowed with abundant water resources. It is said there are over 6000 rivers and rivulets fed by snow or rain and thus the country is also referred to as the 'water towers' of South Asia.
    • Eight of the world’s highest peaks (out of fourteen) that are above 8000m lie in Nepal:  Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Annapurna (8,091 m). 
    • Lumbini is the Birthplace of Lord Buddha
    • Mt. Sagarmatha, the Forehead of Sky, at the Khumbu region in Nepal is the highest point on Earth
    • Dho Tarap 4,080 M at Dolpa Nepal is one of the highest human settlements in the world.
    • Within the population of around 30 million.  125 castes and more than 101 ethnic groups speaking 123 languages and dialects live in Nepal, making Nepal one of the most highly culturally diverse countries.
    • Known for Bravely around the world
    • Extraordinary landscape, diversity in language, Altitude variation, consisting of the highest lake, the highest peak, the deepest lake, the highest valley, the deepest gorge
    • The flag of Nepal is the only triangular flag in the world
    • Living Goddess Ganesh Kumari, Bahirav lives in Nepal.
    • 365 days of Festivals and adventure. 

    Nepal (147,181 square kilometers) is rich in cultural and natural diversity.  A landlocked country located in South Asia with China in the north and India in the south, east and west. Geographically, Nepal is divided into three East-West ecological zones: The Northern Range – the Mountain, the Mid-Range – Hill and the Southern Range – Terai (flat land). The geographic boundary of Nepal starts from the flat southern plains in Terai Mukhiya Patti Musharniya of Dhanusha District at 59 M to the sky-piercing peaks of the Himalayas within a breadth of 200 km in the north at 8848 m Mt. Sagarmatha. Sagarmatha is the highest point on Earth. 

    From Tarai (59M to 305M) Further north, the Siwalik zone (700 – 1,500 M ) and the Mahabharat range (1,500 M - 2,700 M) give way to the Duns (valleys) known as Inner Terai, such as Trijuga, Sindhuli, Chitwan, Dang and Surkhet. The Midlands (600 – 3,500 m), north of the Mahabharat Range, are beautiful valleys of Kathmandu and Pokhara. The mountainous region starts at 3000 M leading up to the alpine pastures and temperate forests limited by the tree line at 4,000 M and the snow line beginning at 5000 M. The inner Himalayan valley (above 3,600 M) such as Mustang and Dolpo is part of the Tibetan plateau.

     

  • The history of Nepal begins with the Gopalas and Mahishapalas,  believed to be the earliest rulers with their capital at Matatirtha in the southwest corner of the Kathmandu Valley. According to records, the Kirantis ruled the valley from the 7th or 8th century BC, and  King Yalammber is mentioned in the epic 'Mahabharat'. In around 300 AD, the Lichhavis overthrew the Kirantis. 

    In the early 7th century, Amshuvarma, the first Thakuri king, succeeded his father-in-law from the Lichhavi dynasty. He established good relations with Tibet by marrying his daughter Bhrikuti to the Tibetan King Tsong Tsen Gampo. While the Lichhavis contributed to the development of art and architecture in the valley, the golden age of creativity arrived in the 12th century with the Mallas.

    During the 550-year rule of the Mallas, numerous temples and magnificent palaces were built, creating picturesque squares. They organized society and cities, introduced religious festivals, and promoted literature, music, and art. After the death of Yaksha Malla, the valley was divided into three kingdoms: Kathmandu (Kantipur), Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon), and Patan (Lalitpur). 

    In 1769, an ambitious Gorkha King named Prithvi Narayan Shah launched a conquest that defeated all the kingdoms in the valley, the Shah dynasty, which ruled unified Nepal from 1769 to 2008.

    In the mid-19th century, Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first prime minister with absolute power, reducing the Shah Kings to figureheads. The Rana Prime Ministers held hereditary reign for 104 years.

    Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal

  • The cultural heritage of Nepal has evolved over the centuries. This multi-dimensional heritage encompasses the diversities of Nepal’s ethnic, tribal, and social groups, and it manifests in music and dance; art and craft; folklore and folktales; languages and literature; philosophy and religion; festivals and celebration; foods and drinks. The 2011 Census listed a population of around 28 million belonging to 125 castes and more than 101 ethnic groups speaking 123 languages and dialects, making Nepal one of the most highly culturally diversified countries.

    Being the center point of the ancient trade route connection between the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan autonomous region of China, the combination of Buddhism philosophy and Eastern philosophy developed in the local context, a land of peace and nature, the variation in elevation, being in between two highly populated nation China and India Nepal is an ethnical melting pot and ecological hotspot in the region. This natural and ethnic diversity has helped develop Nepal as a unique cultural heritage with ancient temples dating back to the first century. These tangible and intangible heritages, knowledge craft, art, and architecture are now sources of inspiration, knowledge centers, and wonder that attract tourists, researchers, and wonders to witness and learn.

  • Nepal is home to diverse floral and faunal species, and natural ecosystems, ranging from the lowland Terai region to the high Himalayas. The diverse climatic and topographic conditions have favored a maximum diversity of flora and fauna in Nepal.

    Nepal is divided into three East-West ecological zones: The Northern Range – the Mountain, the Mid-Range – Hill and the Southern Range – Terai (flat land). The geographic boundary of Nepal starts from the flat southern plains in Terai Mukhiya Patti Musharniya of Dhanusha District at 59 M to the sky-piercing peaks of the Himalayas within a breadth of 200 km in the north at 8848 m Mt. Sagarmatha ‘the highest point on Earth’.  This ecological variation has created Nepal as an ecologically diverse country.

    Nepal occupies about 0.1 per cent of the global area but harbors 3.2 per cent and 1.1 per cent of the world’s known flora and fauna, respectively. Nepal is considered the 11th richest in Asia and the 25th in the world in terms of biodiversity.

     

  • In Nepal, Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, is the first national park of Nepal to protect the diverse Flora and Fauna and the depleting wildlife population of one-horned rhinoceros and royal Bengal Tigers. Whereas in 1976 Langtang National Park was established to protect a unique Himalayan landscape.

    Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) is the responsible body to safeguard the ecosystem of Nepal. Currently there are 20 protected areas.

    These 20 protected areas cover landscapes and ecosystems from the Himalayas and high mountain watersheds to the flood plains of Tarai with low representation in the mid-mountain area. These protected areas are major destinations for tourism in Nepal. 

     

  • Culture is a system of behaviors, nature of the interpersonal relationships, customs, manners, mores, and values developed over the millennia of history shared by people speaking different languages, following different faiths, observing a host of fairs, festivals, and rituals, and preserving specific cultural clues and cues. Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and Heritage is knowledge passed down from one generation to the next. We are known to the world through our culture, tradition, and cultural heritage sites. Cultural heritage shows our identity, what we are, how we live, and what we do. These sites need protection and preservation from a cultural or natural perspective for contributing to humanity for which they are identified as World Heritage Sites. 

    UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal

    Natural World Heritage Sites in Nepal

    1. The Sagarmatha National Park (1979)
    2. The Chitwan National Park (1984)

    Cultural World Heritage Sites in Nepal

    1. Kathmandu Valley (1979)
    2. Lumbini (1997)

     

  • The Himalayan landscape of Nepal has tremendous topographic diversities, followed by diversities of Lakes and wetlands, way down from the Himalayan high altitude to the lowland Terai. Lakes/wetlands provide water for irrigation, maintain biodiversity, and enhance livelihoods through eco-tourism, cultural and spiritual connection. There are more than 6000 rivers, 3,252 glaciers, 2,323 glacial lakes, and several tectonic and ox-bow-lakes. Among them, the National Lake Conservation Development Committee (NLCDC) has enlisted 5,358 lakes in Nepal during its map-based inventory conducted in 2009.

    The highest lake in the world: Tilicho 4949M

    10 Ramsar sites listed wetlands of Nepal

    1. Bishazari and associated Lakes
    2. Ghodaghodi Tal
    3. Jagdishpur Reservoir 
    4. Kosi Tappu
    5. Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley 
    6. Mai Pokhari
    7. Phoksundo Lake 
    8. Rara Lake
    9. Gokyo and associated Lakes 
    10.  Gosaikunda and associated Lakes 

  • Unique landscapes, diverse cultures, and exotic flora and fauna are the prime attractions of Nepal.

    • Art and Architecture 
    • Spiritual escape 
    • medication 

    Adventure 

    • Bunjee Jumping (Khusma)
    • Rock climbing
    • Ziplining 
    • Cannoning
    • Kayaking 
    • Trekking
    • Boating 
    • Paragliding 
    • Hot-air Balloon
    • Ultra-light Flight
    • Rock Climbing

     

    Trekking Destinations

    Nepal is known worldwide for its highest mountains. 8 of the 14 highest peaks over 8000m are located in Nepal. Thus, there are many trekking locations you can choose from, and some of the most popular trekking destinations are 

    Annapurna Region

    • Annapurna Base Camp 
    • Round Annapurna 
    • Annapurna Circuit 
    • Ghandruk-Poonhill Trek
    • Tilicho Lake Trek (Manang)
    • Mardi Himal Trek 

    Sagarmatha Region is home to the highest peak in the world

    • Everest Base Camp Trek
    • Gokyo Lake - Gokyo Ri Trek
    • Three Passes trek 
    • Pikey Peak Trek 

     Langtang National Park: the first Himalayan national park in Nepal 

    • Langtang valley Trek
    • Godaikunda Trek 
    • Tamang Heritage Trail 
    • Pach Pokhari Trek
    • Gauri Shankar Conservation Area 
    • Tsho Rolpa Trek 
    • Rolwalling Valley Trek
    • Manaslu Trek 
    • Tsum Valley Trek

    Western Nepal

    • Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Trek 

    Far western Nepal

    • Badimalika Trek 
    • Khaptad 
    • Api base camp
    • Saipal base camp

    Eastern Nepal

    • Kanchanjunga Trek
    • Mundum Trail 




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