Warm Welcome to Country of Himalayas, Nepal !!!
Welcome to Nepal ” Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in the South Asia. With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 27 million (and nearly 2 million absentee workers living abroad), Nepal is the world’s 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People’s Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. Specifically, the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim border Nepal, while across the Himalayas lies the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and largest metropolis. Nepal has a rich geography with diversity in flora and fauna. The mountainous north has eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in Nepali. It contains more than 240 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanised. Location: • Latitude: 26 degree 22′ N to 30 degree 24′ N • Longitude: 80 degree 4′ E to 88 degree 12′ E Border: • India in the South, East and West. China in the North Size: • Area: 147,181 Sq. Km. • Length: 885 Km. (East to West) • Width: Non-uniform, mean width of 192 Km. North to South • GENERAL INFORMATION • ITINERARIES • USEFUL INFO TOUR AND TREKKING PROGRAMS All the tour / trek programs included in this tariff are tentative. Some alteration may be required during exact period of operation due to several unforeseen circumstances such as weather condition, availability of the desired service and any other force majeure. Everest Express reserves the right to such alteration. TREKKING SEASON Nepal can be visited throughout the year. However, Mountain views are at their best during the period of October through April. VACCINATION You may need to obtain certain injections before visiting this area. Such may include Cholera, Typhoid, Gamma Globulin, Tetanus,Malaria and Meningitis. Exact details will be availed on request. INSURANCE None of our tour and trekking covers your travel insurance. You are strongly recommended to subscribe an appropriate insurance policy that covers medication, hospitalization, emergency evacuation expenses during your trip in these areas. LANGUAGE The official language of Nepal is Nepali and written in Devanagari script. English is understood and spoken by majority of people in Kathmandu valley and other major cities. CLIMATE The climate of Nepal varies from area depending upon the altitude of the place. A visit to Nepal is possible all the year round. But activities like mountain flight, jungle safari excursions, rafting and trekking are best from October till April. CLOTHING Warm clothing is required from November to February and tropical wear from March till October. WATER In Nepal tap water is not potable. All the major hotels and restaurants in Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan avail customers with boiled and filtered water. Mineral water is available in most of the places. Elsewhere, it is advisable to use water sterilization tablets or stick to tea and bottled soft drinks. CUSTOMS Passengers arriving at Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) without any dutiable goods can proceed through the Green Channel for quick clearance. If you are carrying dutiable articles, you have to pass through the Red Channel. The goods that can be brought in without any duty are cigarettes (200 sticks) or cigars (50 sticks), distilled liquor (1.15 liter bottle), and film (15 rolls) apart from used personal effects. Export of object over 100 years old is illegal. The export of metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects has to be certified by The Department of Archaeology. PASSPORT/VISA A valid passport is required for all the nationals except Indian. Visa is required for all nationals except Indians. It can be obtained from Royal Nepalese Embassies or at entry point upon paying USD 25.00 for 15 days multiple entry. TIME/CURRENCY The NST is 5 Hours 45 Minutes ahead of GMT. Government offices, Embassies and International Organizations are open from 9 AM to 5 PM; Banks are open from 10 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday while most of the business houses are open from 9 AM to 5 PM Sunday through Friday. The museums throughout the valley remain closed on Tuesday and public holidays. Nepalese currency unit is Rupees (locally pronounced Rupiah) and denoted by currency symbol Rs. One Rupees is subdivided into 100 paisa. Import of Indian currency by any national except Indian is strictly prohibited. Any other currency either in traveler’s cheques or cash can be brought in any quantity provided it is declared upon arrival. The money can be exchanged from a bank or an authorized currency dealer. Upon exchange of convertible currency, a receipt is issued by the exchanging authority in which the monetary transaction should be recorded. ELECTRICITY 220 Volts AC at 50 hertz throughout the country.
About Nepal
- Population: 30 million people (2021)
- Capital: Kathmandu with more than 7 million inhabitants is Nepal’s largest city.
- Motto: ‘Mother and Motherland are greater than Heaven’
- Government: Federal Democratic republic.
- Language: Nepali.
- Religion: Mainly Hinduism (81%)
- Currency: NPR (1 Nepalese rupee= 100 paisa)
- History: Nepal was a kingdom for almost 250 years and ruled by a Shah king. The first king was Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1768. Several small kingdoms existed in the area before. The monarchy ended in 2008. Gyanendra, former king of Nepal is regarded as the last Hindu king that ruled in the world. Nepal was never colonised by any foreign country.
- National Symbols: Cow (national animal), Rhododendron blossom (national flower), Red (national colour)
- National Anthem: ‘Hundreds of Flowers’
- National Day: 20 September is a public holiday (Constitution Day)
- President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
Nepal is located on the Asian continent.
The South Asian country is landlocked and borders two countries: China in the North and India to the East, South and West. The longer border is between Nepal and India.
The country in the Himalayas frequently experiences earthquakes. The latest major earthquake in 2015 destroyed many old temples, buildings and monuments.
The name of the country originates from Hindu story that referred to a wise man called Ne and the region in the Himalayas that was protected by Ne was then called Nepal.
The country enjoys mainly a temperate climate. The landscape is dominated by the Himalayan mountains in the North, alpine pastures, fertile valleys and temperate forests in the middle hill region and the Tarai plains in the South.
Nepal Geography Superlatives
- Nepal’s highest mountain is Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, with 8,848m or 29,028ft. Mount Everest is named after Sir George Everest. In the Nepali language the mountain is called Sagarmathawhich means ‘Forehead of the Sky’ and by the local Sherpas the mountain is referred to as Chomolungma which means ‘Goddess Mother of the World’
- The country is known to have the widest range of elevationsin the world.
- The Kochi riveris the highest and longest river in Nepal with 720 km/ 450 miles.
Kochi river in Nepal
- The Plains of Kechana Kalanare the lowest point of the country with only 60m/196ft.
- The highest lake is Tilicho at 4,800metres/ 15 748ft.
- Nepal has over 6,000 riversthat are either fed by snow or rain and thus the country is also referred to the ‘water towers’ of South Asia.
- Eight of the world’s fourteen highest peaksabove 8,000m/ 26246ft. are located in Nepal: Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna.
Landmarks and Attractions
- Kathmandu: the capital city is known for the huge stupa in the city’s old town centre. The Hindu stupa is decorated with prayer flag and spots Buddha eyes.
- Lumbini: This town is said to be birthplace of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama who was born here in 623. See the Maya Devi Temple in the image below.
- Bhaktapur: Here you can visit Changu Narayan which is the oldest temple in Nepal. The temple dates back to 464 AD and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Nepal Economy
Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world. Young people try to find better life in other countries. The economy in Nepal is mainly driven by agriculture, tourism and the textile industry and. Rice is grown in Nepal in the fertile valleys. Rice is a Nepalese staple food and eaten in every meal.
India, China and the USA are the main trading partners.
Nepal is known as third biggest producer of ginger after India and China.
In Nepal most energy is produced by hydroelectric plants and Nepal is also called the ‘Water Tower of South Asia’ due to its snowcapped mountain peaks, glaciers and rivers originating in the Himalayas.
Nepali People
There are more than 100 different ethnic groups and over 90 languages are spoken in Nepal.
The Nepali are known as very welcoming people who are friendly and open towards visitors.
Religion plays an important part in the life of most Nepalis. The vast majority of the Nepalis are Hindus (80%) or Buddhists (over 15%). Nepal is the only country in the world where Hinduism was the official religion (until 2006).
Nepali ethnic people living in the Kathmandu valley are called Newars. Originally farmers and traders, they celebrate unique traditional and festivals.
Sherpas live mainly in the eastern and mountainous regions of Nepal.
New Year’s Day is celebrated in Nepal according to the Nepalese Calendar in April. The Nepalese Calendar is called Bikram Sambat and New Year’s Day ‘Nava Varsha‘ is an official holiday.
In 2022, Nepalese New Year’s Day is celebrated on 14 April. Then the Nepalese will ring in the new year 2079! The Nepalese calendar is 56.7 years ahead of our Gregorian calendar.
Languages in Nepal
Nepali Language
The official language Nepali is spoken by about half the population, while is Maithili is spoken by many and learned as the second language. English is taught and spoken by many people as a foreign language.
The different ethnic groups also have their own languages, among them Maithili, Bhojpuri and Tharu are the most spoken mother tongues.
Nepali is written in the Devanagari script. Devanagari is also used to write the Hindi and mainly used in the Indian subcontinent. It is written left to right and has 47 letters main characters.
Food in Nepal
Nepali food uses similar spices as the Indian cuisine such as cumin and coriander but is less spicy than Indian food. and some ingredients that are also used in Chinese cuisine such as bamboo shoots.
Many Nepali dishes are vegetarian and do not use meat. Meat dishes are made with chicken, pork, mutton and water buffalo as cows are not slaughtered as they are considered sacred animals in Nepal.
Rice, potatoes (aloo), roti (flatbreads) and dhido (stiff boiled flour porridge) are common staple foods in Nepal.
Here are some typical Nepali foods and dishes:
- Daal bhat: rice dish with lentil stew. ‘Daal’ means lentils and ‘bhat’ means boiled rice.
Daal bhat
- Chatamari: the thin pancake is a common snack and looks similar to a small thin pizza. Chatamari is made with rice flour and topped with chopped onions and vegetables, minced meat, egg and different spices.
- Momos: steamed dumplings filled with minced meat, onions, garlic, ginger, cabbage and spices. Served with a spicy sauce called achar. Momos are a popular fast food or street food.
- Pustakari: sugary sweets made with coconut, dates and peanuts
- Sel Roti: similar to a doughnut, but in a thinner ring shape – usually served during festivals and celebrations
- Aloo Tama: potato stew with bamboo shoots
- Gundruk: green leafy vegetables that are pickled and served as accompaniment with many curries
Nepalis tend to eat two main meals, the morning meal at around seven o’clock and another meal in the evening meal around seven or eight o’clock, but snacks are eaten throughout the day.
Nepal Animals
Cows are considered sacred in Nepal. They can be seen wandering in the streets everywhere. It is illegal to slaughter cows in Nepal.
The spotted deer and Himalayan tahr can often be seen in the wild.
There are 26 protected mammal species in Nepal. Snow leopard, red panda and bengal tiger are among the endangered animals.
Yaks are commonly used for transporting goods in the Himalayas.
Did you know…?
Nepal has the only national flag in the world that is not rectangular or square!
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