Introduction
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, and India to the south, east, and west. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the largest city. Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural state, with Nepali as the official language.
The government system is a federal parliamentary republic; the chief of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. Nepal has a traditional economic system in which the majority of the population engages in subsistence agriculture, and the allocation of available resources is made on the basis of primitive methods.
Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and altitude variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 meters above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8848.86 meters, all within a distance of 150 kilometers resulting in climatic variations from sub-tropical to alpine.
Nepal is a land of ancient history, colorful cultures and friendly people, superb scenery and perhaps one of the best destinations for trekking and mountain expeditions found nowhere else on earth! Also, the country is popular for numerous festivals that are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style highlighting enduring customs and beliefs. Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city alone has 7 UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites which makes Kathmandu a living museum of Nepal's rich art and tradition. In addition, Lumbini - the birthplace of Lord Buddha has also been designated as UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites while the other two natural UNESCO sites are the Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park.
By Air:
Kathmandu is connected by flight from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Osaka, Shanghai, Moscow, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Delhi, Calcutta, Paro, Dhaka, Lhasa, Varanasi, Karachi.
By Land:
Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Sunauli, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar on the Nepal India border and Kodari on the Nepal China border.
Season:
The most popular seasons for travelling to Nepal are spring (Mar-May) and autumn (Sep-Nov). Also, during the monsoon season (June-Aug), tours and treks are possible depending on where you are going.
Nepal at a Glance
Area : 147,516 sq. km.
Geography : Situated between China in the North and India in East, West and South
Capital : Kathmandu
Population : 30 million
Country Dialing Code : +977
Currency : Nepalese Rupees (NRS)
Religion : Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim and others. Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 spoken languages
Language : Nepali is the national language. However, travel-trade people understand and speak English as well
Time zone : GMT+5:45
Electricity : 220 V 50 Hz
Internet Domain : .np
Hotel Accommodations:
In Nepal all categories of hotels are available all-over major cities and towns from star to budget standard with all facilities as per the client's interest, time frame and economic considerations.
What to wear:
Lightweight clothing is recommended for May through October. Warm garments are required throughout October-March. An umbrella or a raincoat is a must for the rainy season.
