Country Explorer

GEOGRAPHY

According to Animalerts, Nepal is a sovereign independent state, bordered in the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and in the southeast and west by India. The length of the kingdom is 885 km. from east to west, and its width varies from 145 km. up to 241 km. from North to South. The country is divided into 3 main geographical areas:

Himalaya region, mountain region and terai region. Himalaya region. Its height above sea level ranges between 4877 to 8848 m. Here are 8 of the 14 highest peaks in the world, the height of which exceeds 8000 m, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, etc.

Mountainous region: Includes 64% of the total area of the country. It is formed by the Mahabharata mountain range, which rises to a height of 4877 m, and the lower Churya mountain range.

Terai: Terai plains occupy about 17% of the total territory of the country. Any time of the year is favorable for traveling around Nepal. Even in December and January, when winter is in full swing, the sun shines brightly and the weather is clear.

HISTORY

The history of Nepal is rooted in the deep past. Nepal arose as a result of the unification of medieval principalities. Before the campaign of national reunification of Nepal, undertaken by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Kathmandu valley was ruled by the kings of the Malla dynasty, whose contribution to the development of the art and culture of the country is truly great and unique. In 1768, the Shah dynasty ascended the throne of the united kingdom. His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is the tenth king of the Shah dynasty. The new democratic constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990.

Nepal is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), whose third summit was held in Kathmandu in November 1987.

POPULATION

The population of Nepal is currently over 18 million people of different races and nationalities with different cultures, living in different regions and speaking different languages and dialects. Gurungs and Magars live mainly in the west. The Rai, Limbu, Sunuvars inhabited the slopes and valleys of the middle eastern hilly part. Sherpas live in the Himalayas. The Newars form an important ethnic group in the Kathmandu Valley. The Terai are inhabited by Tharu, Yadavas, Satars, Rajwangshi and Dhimalas. Brahmins, Chetris and Thakurs are mostly scattered throughout the kingdom.

RELIGION AND CULTURE

Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions of Nepal. A distinctive feature of the country is the peaceful neighborhood of religions, especially between the communities of Hindus and Buddhists. The third largest religious group in Nepal is the Muslims. The exquisite medieval art and architecture of the Kathmandu Valley vividly reflects the artistic skill and religious traditions of the people.

LANGUAGE

Nepali is the official language of the country. Educated people use English just as well.

CLIMATE

There are 4 main seasons in Nepal:

• spring (March – May)
• summer (June – August)
• autumn (September – November)
• winter (December – February)

Average monthly temperature in Kathmandu and rainfall in the capital:

Average monthly temperature and precipitation in Kathmandu.

CLOTHING

The choice of clothing depends on the place and season, but it is recommended to bring both light and warm clothing. In mountainous areas, warm clothing is essential.

TIME

Nepal is ahead of India by 15 minutes, which is more a symbol of independence than an actual time difference. From Greenwich time in Nepal runs forward by 5 hours and 45 minutes, and from Moscow by 3 hours and 45 minutes, respectively.

MONEY

Nepalese rupees are issued in Rs1, Rs2, Rs10, Rs20, Rs100, Rs500 and Rs1000 banknotes. Banknotes are easily distinguished by color. Merchants always try to get rid of old worn banknotes and are reluctant to accept them back. There are also coins in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 paise. There are many bank branches on the streets in Thamel where you can exchange dollars or pounds for rupees. However, remember that it is quite difficult to exchange the remaining rupees for dollars back upon departure from the country. The early 2000 exchange rate is about 70.0Rs per $1.

INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS

Around Tamel there are many offices that provide the ability to call by automatic connection to almost anywhere in the world at any time of the day. A call to Moscow or St. Petersburg will cost 120-150 rupees per minute. Local calls cost 1-2 rupees. There is a help desk on 197. For most local telephones, you can also ask the receptionist at the hotel. The Internet has conquered Nepal faster than road communications. In Kathmandu, Internet cafes can be seen much more often than on the streets of Moscow or St. Petersburg. Therefore, if you have many friends with whom you communicate via e-mail, then a good advice for you would be to open a “field” free “mailbox” on one of the servers like www.yahoo.com, www.hotmail.com, www.usa.net, www.visto.com or some others. Ask your closest colleagues or family to forward all correspondence to him. Now you can not only get the latest news from your friends directly from Kathmandu, but also pleasantly surprise them with an answer from the “kingdom of sky-high peaks”.