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Nepal Map
Nepal lies between China and India in South Asia. The country ended its long-standing constitutional monarchy in June 2008 when King Gyanendra, who'd come to power in 2001 after the tragic murder of the previous king, abdicated the throne. Nepal's first president was chosen by parliament the following month. This precipitous government transformation came after nearly 20 years of political turmoil, including an often violent Maoist insurgency from 1996 until 2005.
Most Nepalese live in the central, hilly region, which embraces the Kathmandu Valley, and in the southern plain known as the Terai. The cutting of trees for fuel—increased by demands of a booming tourist industry—causes erosion. Rivers that spring from the Himalaya generate electricity for local use and potentially for export. Nepal possesses the greatest altitude variation on the Earth, from the lowlands near sea level to Mount Everest at 8,850 meters (29,035 feet). Everest, named after British surveyor Sir George Everest, is known as Chomolungma by the local Sherpas, meaning "Goddess Mother of the World"—related to this is the Chinese name Qomolangma. The Nepali word for Everest, Sagarmatha, is often translated as "Forehead of the Sky." Sherpas benefit from the mountaineering boom and tourism in the Everest region, owning much of the lodging and transportation. They teach visitors about Sherpa culture and Buddhism's love of the land.
Nepal--occupying only 0.1 percent of the total landmass of the earth – is home to:
Nepal Known as the Land of Everest and being “The only Hindu country in the world”, the kingdom of Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, one of the world’s best and Archeologically very important temples, and some of the best walking trails on the Earth. Although the GDP of “The Land of Buddha” is very low, but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures.
People
First shah king prithivi narayan shah called Nepal a garden for all type of people .Its steep mountain and isolated valley preserve a complex mixture of ethnic groups, cast and type ethnologists estimate there are 103 different groups many of the The striking diversity is to result of centuries of inter mingling between two main types of people: Indo-Aryans from south and west and Mongolian peoples from the north. Hindus and Buddhist many religions are Nepal. There are three main culture Zones ranging East to west: The north including High Himalaya, middle hills and terai . Each group adapted its life style and farming practices to each environment but thank largely to Nepal’s tortured topography has returned its own tradition Nepal divers ethnic groups speaks some where between 24 and hundred different language and dialogs depending on how finally the distinction are made. Nepali function as the unifying language. There are different groups of cast and people such as Brahman, chetri, Kumal, Newar, Gurung, Magar,Rai, limbu, Bishokarma, sharki, sherpa, Tamang,Thakali,yadab, Tharu etc.
Languages
It's quite easy to get by with English in Nepal; most of the visitors will have to deal with in the Kathmandu valley and in Pokhara will speak good English. Along the main trekking trails, particularly the Annapurna Circuit, English is widely understood. However, it's interesting to learn at least a little Nepali and it's quite an easy language to pick up. Nepali is closely related to Hindi and, like Hindi, is a member of the Indo-European group of languages. Although Nepali is the national language of Nepal and is the linking language between all the country's ethnic groups there are many other languages spoken. The Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, for example, speak Newari and there are other languages spoken by the Tamangs, Sherpas, Rais, Limbus, Magars, Gurungs and other groups. In the Terai, bordering India, Hindi and Maithali, another Indian language of their region, are often spoken. Even if you can learn no other Nepali, there is one word every visitor soon picks up - Namaste. Strictly translated it means I salute the god in you, but it is used as an everyday greeting encompassing everything from Hello to How are you? and even 'see you again soon'. Properly used it should be accompanied with the hands held in a prayer like position, the Nepali gesture which is the equivalent of westerners shaking hands.
Culture of Nepal
The diversity of Nepals Ethnic groups its isolating geography and languages have resulted in a complex portion of customs and beliefs that make hared to generalize about Nepali people. Perhaps the dominant cultural concepts are those of cast and status, both of which contribute to a strictly defined system of hierarchy and deference cast determine not only a persons status but also their career and marriage partner, how that person interact with other Nepalese and how other get back. This system of hierarchy extend even to the family where clearly defined rank.
The Nepali view of the world is dominated by puja, prayer and ritual and knowledge that the gods are not remote, abstract concept but living, present being, who can influence human affairs in very difficult ways. Nepali perceives the divine everywhere from the Namaste greetings.
Hindu people belief in re-birth that’s why every morning hindus women all over in Nepal can be seen walking thought the street carrying a plate usually cupper filled with an assortment of goddess. These women are no having break fast but are taking part in a important daily, ritual called Puja. The plate might contain flower petals, rice yoghurt, fruit or sweet are the offerings to the gods which is good offering is being made.
Young Nepali people especially in urban area increasingly influenced by western life style. The vast majority people live by traditional customs and principles. In must ethnic groups, joint and extended families live in the same house even in the city. In same smaller village extended families make up the entire community. Traditional family life has been dislocated by the large numbers of Nepali men forced to seek work away from house, whether Kathmandu or Pokhara or India or Gulf states.
Arrange marriage remain the norm in Nepali Hindu society and are generally between member of same cast or ethnic group although there are a growing number of love marriages. Child marriages have been illegal since 1963 and today the average age of marriage are as much a social contract as a personal affairs most families take a advice of astrologers when taking such important decision.
To decide not to have children is almost unheard and Nepali women generally pity, if they are childless. Having a son is particularly important achievement, especially for hindu families where some religious rite can only be performed by the eldest son.
The rich tapestry of the cultural heritage of Nepal is synthesized in the Kathmandu Valley. The three ancient cities of the Valley Patan, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur represent an epitome of harmony in urban design, elegant architecture and refined culture. These cities pack a concentration of religious monuments unequalled in the world. Don/t miss the seven monument zones named as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO all situated within the small confines of the Valley.
There are over 6500 species of trees, bushes and flowers In the temperate areas flowers start blooming when winter ends. The only time that flowers really bloom in the temperate and alpine area is during the monsoon season. During this time the landscape abound with brightly colored flowers. In the higher elevation valleys there are buttercups, polygonums, scrophs, mints, composites and cinquefoils. In the alpine areas there are junipers, saxifrages, primulas, rhododendrons, contoneasters and ephedras.
In the subtropics flowers bloom as the temperature gets warmer.
The main flower season is March and April when the rhododendrons are in their full glory. The large white magnolias, orchids, lavender primuds, and blue irises. There are also flowers on the bushes.
In western Nepal the best time to see flowers is July and August. It gets less rain than the rest of Nepal, so it is more comfortable to visit during the monsoon than other places. At lower elevation there are orchids, roses, campanlas, impatiens, anemones, corydalis and edelweiss. In the alpine areas there are geraniums, saxifrages proliferate, poppies, larkspurs and sediums.
In the Himalaya area there are astragalus, Ionicera (from honeysuckle family) and caragana.
Just after the monsoon in October and November most of the flowers are gone. Some flowers may be seen in the subtropical areas such as mauve osbeckia, yellow St John’s wort and pink luculia. Also there are reds flowers on barberry bushes, flowers on the cherry trees and the yellow of the withering maples. In the temperate areas there are blue gentians.
Nepal's flora and fauna can be divided into four regions:-
1. Tropical Deciduous Monsoon Forest:
2. Subtropical Mixed Evergreen Forest:
3. Temperate Evergreen Forest:
4. Subalpine and Alpine Zone:
Nepal is a land of Festivals with some part of the Kingdom or the other celebrating some festival during everyday of the year. Festivals may be linked with the remembrance of the departed soul, to herald the different seasons, to mark the beginning or end of the agricultural cycle, to mark the national events, or just family celebrations.
On a festive day the Nepalese take their ritual bath, worship different gods and goddesses, visit temple, observe fasting and undertake feasting.
The most important aspect of Nepali culture is the religious harmony and understanding prevailing among the Hindus and Buddhist. Some of the major festivals of Nepal are:
If someone really wants to be away for sometime from the cacophony of modernization, here is Nepal,the best sojourn cradled in the lap of the Himalayas that never cases to offer eternal peace and tranquility.
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