About Nepal, Nepal Information, facts of Nepal, Nepal Info

Nepal Information

Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and altitudinal variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 meters above the sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters, all within a distance of 150 kilometers resulting into climatic conditions from Sub-tropical to Arctic.

Nepal is mountainous country located in the south Asia. It is land locked country between the China to the north and India to the south, east and west. The areas of Nepal are 147181 sq. km which covers 0.3 present of Asia and 0.03 present of the world.

Nepal--occupying only 0.1 percent of the total landmass of the earth – is home to:

2% of all the flowering plants in the world;
8% of the world’s population of birds (more than 848 species);
4% of mammals on earth;
11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species);
600 indigenous plant families;
319 species of exotic orchids.

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
Culture
Climat & Weather
Language
Flora

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.

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.

Nepal has a typical monsoonal, two-season year. The dry season runs from October to May and there's the wet (monsoon) season from June to September. Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) bring almost perfect weather and are definitely the best times to come to Nepal.

October to November, the start of the dry season, is in many ways the absolute best time. With the monsoon only recently finished, the countryside is green and lush, the air is sparkling clean and the Himalayan views are near perfect. Furthermore, the weather is still balmy. There are some important and colourful festivals to enjoy, though the Dasain festival in October can be disruptive if you are on a tight schedule. For obvious reasons this is also the high tourist season but in recent years, due to the political problems, even Nepal's 'high season' has been pretty quiet.

In December and January the climate and visibility are still good, though it can get very cold at high altitudes.

Spring (between March – May):
The temperature is mildly warm in low lands while moderate in higher altitudes with plenty of opportunities to have tryst with the mountain views. It is also the time for flowers to blossom and the national flower of Nepal – rhododendron sweeps the ascending altitudes with its magnanimous color and beauty.
Summer (between June – August):
This is also the monsoon season in Nepal. The weather is hot and wet at times. It rains almost everyday with occasional thunderstorms in the evening. The rain spreads the pleasantness around with lush green vegetation.
Autumn (between September – November):
This is the best tourist season in Nepal with the summer gone by and the winter to set in. The weather is highly pleasant so are the mountain views. This is the peak season for trekking as mountain views are guaranteed so better book your flight in advance. This is also the season of festivities as Nepal celebrates the biggest Hindu festivals Dashain followed by Tihar.
Winter (between December – February):
The weather is cool and the sky is clear with occasional snowfalls at higher elevations. This season is good for trekking in lower elevations. The morning and night is cold and the days are warm when sunny.

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.

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.