Nepal has a typical monsoonal two - season a
year. There is a dry season from October to May and there is the
wet season, the monsoon, from June to September. September -
November, the start of the dry season, is in many ways the best
time of the year in Nepal. When monsoon just ends, the
countryside is green and lush. Nepal is at its most beautiful
and during this season there are plenty of colorful festivals to
enjoy.
People, Culture, Religion & Language Nepal's 21milion population
is comprised of diverse ethnic groups having their own languages
and cultures. The Newars, who are acclaimed for their unique
artistry and culture, dominate the Kathmandu Valley, whereas the
Sherpas, who are renowned more for their mountaineering skill,
inhabit in the northern mountains. Brahmins and Chhetris, two of
the nation's most dominant communities, are almost everywhere,
and the Tamangs, Rais, Limbus, Magars and Gurungs - the ethnic
groups known more as brave Gurkha soldiers - dwell mostly in
mid-hills. Maithili, Tharu, Bhojpuri and other ethnic
communities have their dwellings in the Terai plains.
Nepal has always been a dividing line between civilization and
cultures, and a cross roads for the flow of commerce and culture
between them, where the plains of the subcontinent climb up to
the high plateau of Tibet, the languages and people of India
give way to those of China and the Hindu religion blends into
Buddhism. Nepal, the land at the margin, is often a complex
blend of the two influences and this variation is further
complicated by the diversity of ethnic groups within the
country.
Religious practice is an important part of the Nepalese way of
life. Two main religions are dominant in Nepal: Hinduism and
Buddhism. Hinduism is made up of thousand of gods and goddesses.
Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva are three major Gods, but each has a
complex tapestry of manifestations and incarnations. Each deity
also has a vehicle, which is often seen kneeling faithfully
outside the shrine. Buddhism is the second major religion in
Nepal. Shakyamuni Buddha, who was born in Nepal around 6th
century BC, is the founder of Buddhism. The great Buddhist
Stupas of Swoyambhu and Bauddha in the Kathmandu Valley are
among the oldest and most beautiful worship sites in Nepal.
Nepali, like Hindi, is written in the Dev-nagari script. It is
Nepal's national language, apart from being the lingua franca of
the country's divergent communities that speak mutually
unintelligible language and dialects. English is also widely
spoken and understood in urban areas. In Tourism sector people
speaks English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and
other foreign languages.
History Of Nepal
Nepal enjoys the glory of always being a sovereign and
independent country. It has never been under foreign domination.
Ancient Nepal consisted of many small autonomous states. King
Prithivi Narayan Shah unified Nepal by bringing these small
states together into one nation in 1769. Since then Kathmandu
has been the capital of Nepal. After the Anglo-Nepali War
(1814-1816), Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana greatly expanded
his powers and established the Rana lineage of hereditary Prime
Ministers who ruled Nepal until 1951, when the late King
Tribhuvan led a popular revolution which put an end to the Rana
autocracy. In 1959, the first general election was held and the
parliamentary government was set up for a short period. Nepal
experienced the liberal panchayat system for three decades.
The popular people's movement welcomed the new era of democracy
in 1990. A new constitution was written to secure the
sovereignty of the people and a democratic political system with
constitutional monarchy was established.
Geography Of Nepal
The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181
square kilometers, and stretches 145 to 241 kilometers north to
south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is located
between India in the south and China in the north. At latitudes
26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degree east,
Nepal is topographically divided into three regions.
The Himalaya:
The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country
and represents 16% of the total area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt.
Everest (8848 m.) Kanchen Junga (8598 m.), and Dhaulagiri (8167
m.) are found here and sparse vegetation is found up to 4,500 m.
Some of the Nepal's most beautiful animal and plant-life are
also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphe bird
are much talked-about sights among visitors. The people in this
region produce and sell cheese besides working as
mountain-guides and porters. Many also trade Tibet and across
the boarder to sell their gods.
The Hills:
This region covers 65% of the total land area of the country.
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is located here., Elevation
range from 500 to 3,000 m. above sea level. During summer the
temperature reaches an average of 32 degree Celsius. Winter are
cold, temperature sometimes reaches minus 1 degree Celsius.
Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because of the
monsoon clouds, which come from the southeast. The rivers in the
west, which do not receive much rainfall, are dependent upon the
melted snow that flows down the Himalayas. Wild animals to be
found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer, and Himalayan
black bear. The hilly region is also popular for different kinds
of birds. Over four hundred species of birds are found here.
The Terai:
The Terai - Low Land covers 17% of the total land area of Nepal.
It provides excellent farming land and the average elevation of
flatlands is 100 to 300 m. above sea level. In the sub-tropical
forest areas of Terai are found, marshes and wildlife, which
include the Royal Bengal tiger, one horned rhino, and the
Gharial crocodile etc. About 48% of the country's population
occupies this region. Flat farmlands and the region's flexible
topography have given rise to many industries.
|
