Nepal

Jokes

2009-11-20T01:04:00.000-08:00

A frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and is told "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you." The frog says "This is great! Will I meet her at a party or what?" "No," says the psychic, "next term in her biology lesson."

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There's two fish in a tank, one says to the other "Do you know how to drive this?"

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A penguin was driving through the desert when his car broke down. He waddled to the nearest phone to call the AA. His car was quickly towed to the nearest garage where the mechanic told him he would need a couple of hours to check out the car. The penguin, being a good natured bird, didn't complain but wandered off to find the closest supermarket. He proceeded to the frozen foods section and hung out near the fish sticks. After an hour he got in the freezer next to the vanilla ice cream and ate several gallons. Then he saw the time and went back to the garage covered in ice cream. The mechanic walked over to him wiping his hands and shaking his head saying "It looks like you blew a seal." Blushing, the penguin said "Oh, no! It's just ice cream."

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Two neighbors had been fighting each other for nigh on four decades. Bob buys a Great Dane and teaches it to use the bathroom in Bill's yard. For one whole year Bill ignores the dog. Bob buys a cow and teaches it to use the bathroom in Bill's yard. After about a year and a half of Bob's cow crapping in Bill's yard; being ignored all the while, a semi pulls up in front of Bill's house. Bob runs over and demands to know what's in the 18-wheeler. "My new pet elephant" Bill replies solemly.

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A passenger train is creeping along, slowly. Finally it creaks to a halt. A passenger sees a conductor walking by outside. "What's going on?" she yells out the window. "Cow on the track!" replies the conductor. Ten minutes later the train resumes its slow pace. Within five minutes, however, it stops again. The woman sees the same conductor walk again. She leans out the window and yells "What happened? Did we catch up with the cow again?"

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A fly buzzing around a barn one day when he happened on a pile of fresh cow manure. Due to the fact that it had been hours since his last meal, he flew down and began to eat. He ate and ate and ate. Finally, he decided he had eaten enough and tried to fly away. He had eaten too much though and could not get off the ground. As he looked around wondering what to do now, he spotted a pitchfork leaning up against the wall. He climbed to the top of the handle and jumped off, thinking that once he got airborne, he would be able to take flight. Unfortunately he was wrong and dropped like a rock, splatting when he hit the floor.

The moral to the story is: Never fly off the handle when you're full of shit.

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A man goes into a pet shop to buy a parrot. The shop owner points to three identical looking parrots on a perch and says "The parrot to the left costs 500 dollars". "Why does the parrot cost so much?" the customer asks. The owner says "It knows how to use a computer." The customer asks about the next parrot and is told "That one costs 1,000 dollars because it can do everything the other parrot can do plus it knows how to use the UNIX operating system." Naturally, the increasingly startled man asks about the third parrot and is told "That one costs 2,000 dollars." Needless to say this begs the question "What can it do?!" The owner replies "To be honest I have never seen it do a thing but the other two call him boss!"

Birds in Nepal

2009-11-09T01:04:00.000-08:00

Nepal has a total of 900 speciesof birds, of which 2 are endemic, 1 has been introduced by humans, 74 are rare or accidental and 32 species are globally threatened. The birds found in Nepal are mainly classified into two types:

Non-passerines: Grebes, Pelicans, Cormorants, Darters, Bitterns/ Herons and Egrets, Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills, Flamingos, Ducks/ Geese and Swans, Osprey/ Hawks, Kites and Eagles, Caracaras and Falcons, Pheasants and Partridges, Buttonquails, Cranes, Rails/ Crakes/ Gallinules/ and Coots, Bustards, Jacanas, Painted snipe, Oystercatchers, Ibisbill, Avocets and Stilts, Thick-knees, Pratincoles and Coursers, Plovers and Lapwings, Sandpipers and allies, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers, Sandgrouse, Pigeons and Doves, Parrots/ Macaws and allies, Cuckoos and Anis, Barn owls, Typical owls, Nightjars, Swifts, Treeswifts, Trogons and Quetzals, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Typical Rollers, Hoopoes, Hornbills, Barbets, Honeyguides, Woodpeckers and allies .

Passerines: Broadbills, Pittas, Larks, Swallows and Martins, Wagtails and Pipits, Cuckoo-shrikes, Bulbuls, Kinglets, Leafbirds, Ioras, Waxwings, Dippers, Wrens, Accentors, Thrushes and allies, Cisticolas and allies, Old World warblers, Old World flycatchers, Fantails, Monarch flycatchers, Babblers, Parrotbills, Long-tailed tits, Chickadees and Titmice, Nuthatches, Wallcreeper, Treecreepers, Penduline tits, Sunbirds and Spiderhunters, Flowerpeckers, White-eyes, Old World Orioles, Fairy-bluebirds, Shrikes, Helmetshrikes, Drongos, Woodswallows, Crows/ Jays/ Ravens and Magpies, Starlings, Weavers and allies, Waxbills and allies, Buntings/ Sparrows/ Seedeaters and allies/ Siskins/ Crossbills and allies, Sparrows.

Narayangopal

2009-10-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

When people think or talk about Nepali music, the name most associated is that of Narayan Gopal, the most popular and prominent singer in classical Nepali music.

Narayan Gopal was born to a Newar family in Kathmandu in 1996 Bikram Sambat (BS). His father was a classical musician and wanted his son to follow his footsteps. Narayan Gopal was interested in music from an early age but not exactly into classical field. He studied music in India.Narayan Gopal married his long time fan from Darjeeling, Pemala Lama. They did not have any children. The late Gopal Yonjon and Narayan Gopal were good friends and "mits".(It's a nepali custom where good friends enter into a kind of a lasting friendship. This is generally seen as strengthening the friendship bond.) Narayan Gopal has sung many beautiful and soulful songs composed by Gopal Yonjon. He was also an accomplished music composer in his own right. Not only was he gifted with a great voice, he was very versatile. His voice range allowed him to sing songs of every genre. He has sung over 500 songs, including in films, ballets and drama. Most of his songs are melodies. It is said that he was very selective about which songs he sang. Although 500 songs is not a lot for some of his caliber, they are outstanding in some ways—be it the lyrical depth or superb rendition. In recognition of his contribution in the field of Nepali music, he has received several national honors and awards, Trishakti Patta, Chinnalata Puraskar to name a few. His songs are often richly orchestrated with the sitar, harmonium and the flute. Some of his most popular songs include "Euta Manche Ko Maya le Kati)"(trans. For the Love of One Person), "Jhareko Paat Jhai"(Like a Fallen Leaf), etc. Even more than a decade after his death, his songs are equally liked, loved and sung.His legacy lives on. Current sensation, Ram Krishna Dhakal, a very popular singer, sang Narayan Gopal's songs and modelled his singing style after him when starting his career. Ram Krishna Dhakal's recent Nepali Swadesh Geet Bihani Pakha Surya Le Bhanchha Sagarmatha Lai has been a great hit all over the world and is heard by Nepalese worldwide. The music is by Nhyoo Bajracharya and Lyrics by Prem Guragain, Itahara, Morang. The songs sung by him are as follows:

Album:Geeti Yatra Vol 1 (Released on 2044-10-10)

Yeuta manchheko, Malai chhodi mero chhaya, Saunko jhari bani, Yetidherai maya diee, Aajabholi harek sanjha, Kehi mitho batagara, Timilai maa ke bhanu, Yo samjhine maan chha.
Geeti Shradanjali (Released on 2049-03-02)

Timile Pani, Joon Phool Rojhen, Yo Bhagyle Kasto, Sandhai Nai Ma Hanse, Nachhod Mera He, Sero Phero, Duita Phool Deuralima, Ishwor Tainle Rachera, Tyo Desh Bhitra Tyo Sano, Bihan Bhai Batasle, Aajai Yeuban, Shrada Ko Phool.
Preyashi Ka Yaadharu (Released on 2054-02-16)

Euta Manchheko Maya, Yo Samjhene Man Chha, Yeti Dherai Maya Diee, Pokhiyera Ghamko Ghulka, Aankha Chhopi Narou, Biratako Chino, Preyasika Yaadharu, Mandirma Chhaki, Malai Chhodi Mero Chhayan, Parkhi Basen Aaulabhani, Saunko Jhari Bani, Aajabholi Harek Sanjha.

Bir Hospital

2009-10-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

Bir Hospital is the oldest and one of the busiest hospitals in Nepal. It was established in July 1889 by Bir Samsher Janga Bahadur Rana. It is located at the center of Kathmandu city. The hospital is run by the National Academy of Medical Sciences, a government agency since 2003.
The hospital provides high quality medical and surgical treatments to people from all across the country. Many patients from the rural areas come to this hospital to get free treatment. It current has a capacity of 458 beds. Some of the county's top doctors work in this hospital.Every year it produces qualified efficient and well trained post graduates in different subjects of clinical medicine e.g. general surgery, internal medicine, orthopaedic surgery, pathology etc. It has become an Internship centre for students who had passed MBBS from China and Russia and other parts of the world. Hundreds of nurses of different levels get nursing training in this hospital.

Facilities:

Nephrology

Nephrology service in Nepal started at Bir Hospital. Though over 40 kidney biopsies are done every year, due to lack of well trained manpower in the field of renal histopathology, glomerular diseases cannot be easily diagnosed with accuracy. Hence, training a renal histopathologist and a histopathology technician is found to be the most important task for the hospital in order to provide accurate service to the patients.

Disaster Response

The hospital has one of the best disaster response team in the country. Vast majority of disaster and mass casualty victims are treated either free or with minimal charges. Disaster situations faced mostly are from natural causes or road traffic accidents. The hospital's disaster management plan was used first in 1988 following a stampede incident in the national stadium in Kathmandu.

Surgery

Being the oldest department of the country, the surgery department has different units as General surgery, Gastro and hepatobiliary surgery unit, Burn and Plastic surgery Unit, Urosurgery, Cardiothoracic, Neurosurgery. The general surgery department performs about 3,000 elective and emergency operations each year, and similar number of minor general surgical cases.

Burn and Plastic surgery Unit

Burn and Plastic surgery unit has 16 beds, including 3 burn ICU beds. Every year more than 100 severely burned patients used to be admitted in this unit. It is providing both life savings and corrective surgery for burn patients. The unit is currently run by two general surgeons.

Dental department

Dental department started its new unit of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics since 2009 with the cost about one forth than that of other clinics and hospitals.

Funding

The yearly budget of NRs 27 Crore (About US$ 4.1 million), two third of which is funded by the government. The hospital has been facing financial difficulties for many years now. The lack of adequate funding is the major problem faced by this hospital.Despite the rising costs at other hospitals, it has not hiked its fees. To help in the financing of the hospital expenses, it runs a medical school, which conducts post-graduate medical, surgical and other specialists training and also runs bachelor's level in nursing.

Nepali Musical Instruments

2009-10-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

Sarangi

The Sarangi(Nepali: सारङ्गी) is a folk Nepalese string instrument. Traditionally, in Nepal, Sarangi was only played by people of Gandarva or Gaine cast, who sings narrative tales and folk song. However, in present days, its widely used and played by many. It is made up of single piece of wood having a neck and hollowed out body. It is carved out from a very light wood, locally known as Khiro. The body is carved into a hollow frame with two openings. The lower opening is then covered up with dried sheep-skin. The original strings were made out of sheep intestine. The village people allotted intestines of sheep, sacrificed during major festivals like Dasain, to the Gandarvas. The Gandarvas left the intestine in a pot for some days. Once the meat was fully rotten, it was pulled out, leaving behind the fine nerves of the intestine which were then woven to get the strings, which produced fine quality sound. However these days, readily available nylon and steel strings are more popular with Sarangi players as they do not have the time to prepare the traditional variety of strings. Sarangi has four strings and played with the help of a bow. Horse-tail hair was originally used for the bow string of the Sarangi but these days nylon strings are common. The strings are supported by two bridges and tuned by Kunti (tuner). The Sarangi’s neck is fretless and the bridge is seated on a skin stretched over the body of the instrument. Different notes are made by touching the strings with the nail of fingers of the left hand.

Damaha

The damaha is the kettledrum that gives its name to the Damai caste. It is a large, unpitched kettledrum made of copper with a head of bullock (goru) hide. Damaha are made by coppersmiths blacksmiths of the middle hills. To forge a damaha requires about 4 kilos of raw copper, which is melted and then forged into a bowl shape by two or three smiths working together with heavy hammers. The heads are usually made and attached to the bodies by members of the Badi or Sarki occupational castes of tanners. Tanning the skin for the heads requires soaking it in water with several types of herbs for two to three days, and then curing with herbs, turmeric and oil. As the heads must be wet when played, a small hole is made in the bottom of the copper body to facilitate wetting the inside of the damaha head. A base ring of layers of hide is attached around this hole, and the damaha is inverted onto the head, which is then attached with strips of hide in a straight-lacing or v-lacing pattern. When the head is attached, a shoulder strap is added, and the damaha is complete. The damaha is unique because it is made of copper, a sacred metal, and has a higher ritual significance than the other instruments of the Panchai Baja. For this reason, says Tingey of the damaha making tradition in Gorkha, a puja must be performed for the damaha right when it is made. This puja is required for both kettledrums, the damaha and the nagara, because when lacing the head onto the copper body, the feet are used to support the instrument. Touching the instrument with one's feet is considered an insult to the deity for which the instrument will be played, so a puja must be performed in apology. Tingey suggests that though the dolakhi is also laced using the feet for support, it does not require a puja because it is less ritually significant. The way that the damaha is played varies from region to region. In central Nepal, it is played with one large stick (gajo), though in ritual contexts it is played with two sticks, as a nagara.

Karna Das

2009-10-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

Karna Das is considered one of the best Classic Nepali singers living and performing today. Das was born on 24 November 1974. Das completed his high school education in 1993 and studied one year of Economics in college, which is the only formal education he ever received. Yet Das has been able to compose and sing well praised masterpieces like Purano Dunga and Aadha Sapana.

Awards and Achievements
2054 B.S.
Machhapuchre Music
Best Band, Best Vocal, and Best Lyrics
for song Jindagi ko ke Bharosa

1997
Carlsberg Music
Best Vocal & Best Lyrics
for song Jindagi ko ke Bharosa

2055 B.S.
Hit FM Music
Record of the Year
for song Jindagi ko ke bharosha

2055 B.S.
Hit FM Music
Best Performance by Group
for song Jindagi ko ke bharosha

2056 B.S.
Hit FM Music
Best Performance by Group
for song Anaoutho byetha bhyecha

2002
Sanmiguel Music
Best Male Vocal (pop)
for song Eklo raat

2058 B.S.
Hit FM Music
Best Vocal Performance (modern)
for song Byerthai feri

2059 B.S.
Hit FM Music
Best Vocal Performance (modern)
for song janmida Eklai

2003 (2059 B.S)
Machhapuchre FM
Best Male Vocal Performance
for song Soonsaan Raat

2003 (2059 B.S.)
Machhapuchre FM
Best Song of the Year
song Bistarai chayo

2003 (2060 B.S.)
NEPAL JCI ( Jaycees)
Youth of the Year
in Arts

2003 (2060 B.S.)
Boston College of London
Longtime Outstanding Nepalese Singer
International recognition

2060 B.S.
Hit FM
Best Vocal Performance (modern)
for song Timro mero sambandha ko

2060 B.S.
Hit FM
Record of the Year
for song Thula Thula mahal hoina

2004
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Best Vocal Performance

2005
Chinnalata Music
Melodious Voice of the Year

2006
Image
Best Vocal Performance

King Birendra

2009-10-20T00:55:00.000-07:00

Late King Birendra was born at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu as the eldest son of the then Crown Prince Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and his wife Crown Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi. The first Nepalese monarch to receive a formal education, Birendra spent eight years studying at St Joseph's College a Jesuit school in Darjeeling, India. On 13 March 1955 his grandfather King Tribhuvan died, his father Mahendra succeeded to the Nepalese throne and he became the Crown Prince of Nepal.In 1959 he enrolled at Eton College inThe United Kingdom. After studying at Eton until 1964 he returned to Nepal where he began to explore the country by travelling incognito to remote parts of the country where he lived on whatever was available in the villages and monasteries.He later completed his education by spending some time at the University of Tokyo before studying political theory at Harvard University from 1967 to 1968. He had visited Canada, Latin America, Africa and a number of Asian countries at his youth. He was also an art collector and supporter of Nepalese crafts people and artists. He also learnt to fly helicopters.Birendra was married to Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Rana on 27 February 1970. The wedding which was billed as one of the most lavish Hindu nuptial ceremonies in history cost $9.5 million to stage. Birendra and Aishwaraya had three children.
Prince Dipendra (27 June 1971 – 1 June 2001)
Princess Shruti (15 October 1976 – 1 June 2001)
Prince Nirajan (6 November 1977–1 June 2001)

Nepal's stability was threatened even more when Birendra and most of his family (including Queen Aiswarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001. However published reports from eyewitnesses and the results of an investigation carried by a two man committee made up of the Chief of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad Upadhaya and the speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat, confirmed his eldest son and heir, Dipendra, was the gunman. There is some speculation that Gyanendra was behind a conspiracy and is supported by the interpretations of eye-witnesses of this massacre. Birendra's brother, Gyanendra, then became King.

Prachanda

2009-10-20T00:37:00.000-07:00

Prachanda (Nepali: प्रचण्ड); born Chhabilal Dahal on 11 December 1954, later Pushpa Kamal Dahal) is a Nepalese politician. He was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 18 August 2008, to 25 May 2009. A communist revolutionary, politician, and former guerrilla leader, he is the Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)—the largest political party in Nepal, according to the results of the 2008 election. Under his leadership, the CPN (Maoist) launched the Nepalese Civil War on 13 February 1996, in which about 13,000 people died in fighting between the party and the government. His extension of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism to take specific account of Nepal's situation is known as the Prachanda Path. "Prachanda" is a party name along the lines of "Lenin" and "Ho Chí Minh". "Prachanda" literally means "fierce one".
The Constituent Assembly elected Prachanda as Prime Minister on 15 August 2008. He was sworn in as Prime Minister on 18 August 2008. Prachanda resigned from the post on 4 May 2009 after his move to sack General Rookmangad Katawal, the army chief, was opposed by President Ram Baran Yadav. He, opposing this unconstitutional move of president in midnight, proudly resigned from his post and remained in office until 23 May 2009, when his successor Madhav Kumar Nepal( and a loser in constitutional assembly election from 2 places, Rautahat and Kathmandu) was elected. At present, the CPN(Maoist) is the party with majority of Constituent Assembly members.

Forests in Nepal

2009-10-15T02:07:00.000-07:00

25.4% of Nepal's land area, or about 36,360 km² (14,039 mi²) is covered with forest according to FAO figures from 2005. FAO estimates that around 9.6% of Nepal's forest cover consists of "primary forest" which is relatively intact. About 12.1% Nepal's forest is classified as "protected" while about 21.4% is "conserved" according to FAO. About 5.1% Nepal's forests are classified as "production forest." Between 2000-2005, Nepal lost about 2640 km² of forest. Nepal's 2000-2005 total deforestation rate was about 1.4% per year meaning it lost an average of 530 km² of forest annually. Nepal's total deforestation rate from 1990-2000 was 920 km² or 2.1% per year. The 2000-2005 true deforestation rate in Nepal, defined as the loss of primary forest, is -0.4% or 70 km² per year.

Types:

Broadleaved forests

Sal forests, corresponding to the north Indian moist deciduous forest classification of Champion and Seth (1968), consist of forest stands where sal (Shorea robusta) is the predominant species (50 percent or more of the total basal area). The best stands grow on moist, well-drained, deep sandy loam soils with good subsoil drainage. On good sites, sal may reach 45 m, but it generally ranges between 25 and 40 m. It is considered a climax (climatic, edaphic or bioedaphic) formation and constitutes one of the most important forest types of Nepal, occurring in the northern Terai and valleys of the Churia hills. The type extends up to about 1 000 m in the Churia hills and in the mountains where it meets with the subtropical pine forests. Due to its resistance to fire, its coppicing ability and its adaptability to various soil and site conditions, it continues to retain its hold as a major species despite human influence. Sal is much used in Nepal, chiefly for construction. Common associates include asna (Terminalia tomentosa), jamun (Syzygium cuminii), banjhi (Anogeissus latifolia) and botdhainro (Lagerstroemia spp.). On higher reaches chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) is a common associate.

The Terai hardwood forests are mixed broadleaved stands growing in the Terai that may or may not contain sal. Other commercial timber species such as asna, jamun, botdhainro, karma or haldu (Adina cordifolia), gutel (Trewia nudiflora) and semal (Bombax ceiba) singly, or in combination, have a greater basal area than sal. They are closed forests of good height and development with a lower storey of smaller trees and shrubby undergrowth. Several subgroups in which one species achieves dominance are represented in this type. Asna stands are among the most important subtypes and corresponds to the edaphic variant of the "moist deciduous forests" type of Champion and Seth. These broadleaved forests occur throughout the Terai and valleys of the Churia hills where soil is heavy, moisture retentive or wet and on clayey patches. Asna is used as a construction timber. Banjhi stands form another important subtype and are almost pure in the western Terai where they occupy drier sites. These stands are generally well stocked, but the trees are of small size.

The khair-sissoo forests, corresponding to the general seral types of "Tropical dry deciduous forests" of Champion and Seth occur as the first coloniser on new sandy or gravelly alluvium along large rivers in the Terai. Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo) generally predominates. Although this type occurs throughout the Terai, it occupies significant areas only in the Biratnagar, Banke, Bardia and Kanchanpur divisions. The stand canopy is light but usually fairly complete with 18- to 25-m-high trees. Khair (Acacia catechu) is usually present but often inconspicuous in the mixture. It may sometimes occur in pure stands. The older forests have a more or less definite understorey composed of young trees that will replace the khair-sissoo forests as succession takes place. Tamarix dioica, Calotropis procera and Holoptelea integrifolia are often present.

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The lower slope mixed hardwoods occur in the eastern and central Himalayas in moist localities between 650 m and 1 500 m. In western Nepal the type is represented in moist hollows and depressions between 1 000 and 2 000 m elevation. These forests correspond to the type "northern montane subtropical forests" of Champion and Seth. They are characterised by the prevalence of chestnuts (Castanopsis sp.) and chilaune (Schima wallichii), which are almost always present, and also Quercus. Shorea robusta may be found but its presence is usually ascribable to edaphic peculiarities of the site. Pines are absent or confined to drier, sandy soils or well-drained ridges. The forests are of good height and stocking. The dominant species are mostly evergreens although some large, briefly deciduous trees occur, sometimes in pure consociations such as Betula. The tree canopy reaches a height of 20 to 35 m under normal conditions. A middle storey of evergreen trees can generally be found.Oak forests of Nepal are found in the Mahabharat range, extending up into the subalpine region. These forests correspond to "northern montane wet temperate forests" and "Himalayan moist temperate forests" of Champion and Seth.The wet forests are closed evergreen high forests of large girth but medium height, rarely exceeding 25 m. The type occurs from 1 800 to 3 000 m, mostly in eastern Nepal where rainfall is more than 2 000 mm. Deciduous species occur, particularly at the higher altitudes, but they form a relatively small proportion of the stand. Although the type is essentially a mixed one there is a marked tendency for a few species to predominate, such as oaks and Lauraceae species. Quercus lamellosa, Q. pachyphylla, Castanopsis tribuloides, Acer campbellii, Machilus spp. and Michelia spp. are the most common species.The moist type consists of three common oaks providing a simple and convenient basis for subdivision into three elevation zones, each with its typical coniferous counterpart. Ban oak (Quercus incana) occupies the lowest belt of the temperate zone, particularly in the outer ranges and southern aspects. The intermediate zone is occupied by moru oak (Quercus dilatata) whereas kharsoo oak (Quercus semecarpifolia) characterises the highest temperate belt.The upland mixed hardwoods correspond to "lower and upper western Himalayan temperate forests" of Champion and Seth. They are deciduous forests 20 to 30 m high. Trees can reach large diameters, but are usually branchy. The species occur mixed, singly or in groups of varying extent. The type is commonly found from 1 800 to 3 000 m in moist hollows and depressions, often as strips along the streams or on the gentler slopes. In western Nepal, typical species and genera are Aesculus indica, Juglans regia, Alnus nepalensis, Acer, Cornus, Corylus, etc.

Gautam Buddha

2009-10-15T01:49:00.000-07:00

King Suddhodana, the leader of Shakya clan, whose capital was Kapilavastu, was the father of Gautam.Gautama was the family name. His mother, Queen Maha Maya (Māyādevī) and Suddhodana's wife, was a Koliyan princess. On the night Siddhartha was conceived, Queen Maya dreamt that a white elephant with six white tusks entered her right side, and ten lunar months later Siddhartha was born. As was the Shakya tradition, when his mother Queen Maya became pregnant, she left Kapilvastu for her father's kingdom to give birth. However, she gave birth on the way, at Lumbini, in a garden beneath a sal tree. Buddha's mother died at his birth, a few days or seven days later. The infant was given the name Siddhartha (Pāli: Siddhatta), meaning "he who achieves his aim". During the birth celebrations, the hermit seer Asita journeyed from his mountain abode and announced that the child would either become a great king (chakravartin) or a great holy man. This occurred after Siddhartha placed his feet in Asita's hair and Asita examined the birthmarks. Suddhodana held a naming ceremony on the fifth day, and invited eight brahmin scholars to read the future. All gave a dual prediction that the baby would either become a great king or a great holy man. Kaundinya (Pali: Kondanna), the youngest, and later to be the first arahant, was the only one who unequivocally predicted that Siddhartha would become a Buddha. His father, King Śuddhodana, wishing for Siddhartha to be a great king, shielded his son from religious teachings or knowledge of human suffering. Siddhartha was brought up by his mother's younger sister, Maha Pajapati. As the boy reached the age of 16, his father arranged his marriage to Yaśodharā (Pāli: Yasodharā), a cousin of the same age. According to the traditional account, in time, she gave birth to a son, Rahula. Siddhartha spent 29 years as a Prince in Kapilavastu. At the age of 29, Siddhartha left his palace in order to meet his subjects. Despite his father's effort to remove the sick, aged and suffering from the public view, Siddhartha was said to have seen an old man. Disturbed by this, when told that all people would eventually grow old by his charioteer Channa, the prince went on further trips where he encountered, variously, a diseased man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic. Deeply depressed by these sights, he sought to overcome old age, illness, and death by living the life of an ascetic.Siddhartha left Rajagaha and practised under two hermit teachers. After mastering the teachings of Alara Kalama , Siddhartha was asked by Kalama to succeed him, but moved on after being unsatisfied with his practices. He then became a student of Udaka Ramaputta (Skr. Udraka Rāmaputra), but although he achieved high levels of meditative consciousness and was asked to succeed Ramaputta, he was still not satisfied with his path, and moved on.Siddhartha and a group of five companions led by Kaundinya then set out to take their austerities even further. They tried to find enlightenment through near total deprivation of worldly goods, including food, practising self-mortification. After nearly starving himself to death by restricting his food intake to around a leaf or nut per day, he collapsed in a river while bathing and almost drowned. Siddhartha began to reconsider his path. Then, he remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the season's plowing, and he had fallen into a naturally concentrated and focused state that was blissful and refreshing, the jhana.

Temples of Nepal

2009-10-15T01:28:00.000-07:00

Pashupatinath temple (पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर)

It is the biggest Hindu temple of Lord Shiva located on the banks of the Bagmati river in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The temple served as the seat of national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, until Nepal was secularized. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river. It is regarded as the most sacred among the temples of Lord Shiva (Pashupati). Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda, one day Lord Shiva grew tired of his palace atop Mt. Kailash and so went in search of a place where he could escape to. He discovered Kathmandu Valley and, without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in the Valley. He gained great fame there as Pashupati, Lord of the Animals, before the other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. He disguised himself as a majestic deer and would not help the other gods when they asked for his help. When Shiva did not yield to their pleas, they planned to use force. God Vishnu grabbed him by his horns and they shattered into pieces. Vishnu established a temple and used the broken horns to form a linga on the bank of the Bagmati River. As time went by, the temple was buried and forgotten. Then a cow was known to have secretly sprinkled her milk over the mound. Apparently, when the cow herders dug around the spot, they found the lost lingas and again built a temple in reverence.The temple was first established in the 5th century.The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Brahmins from South India since the time of Malla king Yaksha Malla. This tradition is supposed to have started by the request of Adi Shankaracharya who sought to unify the different states of Bharatam (Unified India) by encouraging cultural exchange. This procedure is also followed in other temples around India which were sanctified by Adi Shankaracharya. Malla kings honoured the request of Adi shankarachaya as latter being one of the greatest ever Hindu acharyas.Another interpretation is that Indian priests are stationed at Pashupatinath because when the King passes away, the entire Nepali people are supposed to stop religious services and enter a year long period of mourning and as Pashupatinath needs to be eternally worshiped, Indians were brought in to make sure that Pashupatinath is worshiped even at the time of official mourning. The unique feature of this temple is that only 4 priests can touch the idol. The priests are always from south India. This tradition is supposed to have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 6th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which was prevalent in that temple. However, this tradition was recently challenged after the historic revolution in Nepal which demolished the monarchy and established democracy where Nepalese priests supported by the anti- Indian Maoists government. There was widespread protests by most Nepalese as they saw this as an intereference in their religion. The Maoists lost power after a few months of this. The temple is of pagoda style of architecture. All the features of pagoda style is founded here like cubic constructions,beautifully carved wooden rafters on which they rest (tundal). The two level roofs are of copper with gold covering. It has four main doors, all covered with silver sheets. This temple has got gold pinnacle, (Gajur), which is a symbol of religious thought. The western door has a statue of large bull or Nandi, again covered in gold. The deity is of black stone, about 6 feet in height and the same in circumference. Vasukinath lies to the east of Pashupatinath.

Medicinal plants of Nepal

2009-10-15T00:38:00.000-07:00

Ganja(Cannabis)

Cannabis sativa (ganja) is an annual plant in the Cannabaceae family. It is a herb that has been used throughout recorded history by humans as a source of fiber, for its seed oil, as food, as a drug (as a psychoactive drug in the dried herbal form.The resinous form of the drug is known as hashish (or merely as 'hash'). In modern times, the drug has been used for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes. The United Nations (UN) estimated that in 2004 about 4% of the world's adult population (162 million people) use cannabis annually, and about 0.6% (22.5 million) use it on a daily basis. The possession, use, or sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids became illegal in most parts of the world in the early twentieth century. Since then, some countries have intensified the enforcement of cannabis prohibition, while others have reduced it.), as medicine , and for spiritual purposes (Cannabis has an ancient history of ritual usage as an aid to trance and has been traditionally used in a religious context throughout the Old World. Herodotus wrote about early ceremonial practices by the Scythians, which are thought to have occurred from the 5th to 2nd century BC. Itinerant sadhus have used it in India for centuries. Holy anointing oil used by the Hebrews contained cannabis extracts, "kaneh bosm" , and that it is also listed as an incense tree in the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the Old Testament. Early Christians used cannabis oil for medicinal purposes and as part of the baptismal process to confirm the forgiveness of sins and "right of passage" into the Kingdom of Heaven.Some Muslims of the Sufi). Each part of the plant is harvested differently, depending on the purpose of its use.

Caterpillar Fungus(Yarsagumba)
There are over 680 documented varieties of cordyceps (Caterpillar fungus), and one of the most well known varieties of these is Cordyceps sinensis. The Latin etymology describes cord as "club", ceps as "head", and sinensis as "from China". The mushroom is known in Tibetan as yartsa gunbu or yatsa gunbu. Caterpillar fungi are the result of a parasitic relationship between the fungus Cordyceps and the larva of the ghost moth (Thitarodes), several species of which live on the Tibetan Plateau (Tibet, Qinghai, West-Sichuan, SW-Gansu & NW Yunnan, all in China, and the Himalayas India, Nepal, Bhutan). The fungus germinates in living organisms (in some cases the larvae), kills and mummifies the insect, and then the cordyceps grows from the body of the insect. The "caterpillar"prone to infection by the fungus lives underground in alpine grass and shrublands on the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas at an altitude between 3000m and 5000m. Spending up to five years underground before pupating, the caterpillar is attacked while feeding on roots. The fungus invades the body of the Thitarodes caterpillars, filling its entire body cavity with mycelium and eventually killing and mummifying it. The caterpillars die near the tops of their burrows. The dark brown to black fruiting body (or mushroom) emerges from the ground in spring or early summer, always growing out of the forehead of the caterpillar. The long, usually columnar fruiting body reaches 5-15 cm above the surface and releases spores.In Nepal caterpillar fungus is found on the subalpine pastures in Dolpo in Karnali Zone and Darchula in Mahakali zone. It is also common in Bhutan and India's Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand Himalayas. Reports of distribution outside of "High Asia" are erroneous and relate to other species of Cordyceps, e.g. Cordyceps militaris.It is not certain how the fungus infects the caterpillar; possibly by ingestion of a fungal spore or by the fungus mycelium invading the insect through one of its breathing pores.It is known in the West as a medicinal mushroom and its use has a long history in Traditional Chinese medicine as well as Traditional Tibetan medicine.The "caterpillar"prone to infection by the fungus lives underground in alpine grass and shrublands on the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas at an altitude between 3000m and 5000m. Spending up to five years underground before pupating, the caterpillar is attacked while feeding on roots. The fungus invades the body of the Thitarodes caterpillars, filling its entire body cavity with mycelium and eventually killing and mummifying it. The caterpillars die near the tops of their burrows. The dark brown to black fruiting body (or mushroom) emerges from the ground in spring or early summer, always growing out of the forehead of the caterpillar. The long, usually columnar fruiting body reaches 5-15 cm above the surface and releases spores. In Nepal caterpillar fungus is found on the sub-alpine pastures in Dolpa in Karnali Zone and Darchula in Mahakali zone. It is also common in Bhutan and India's Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand Himalayas. Reports of distribution outside of "High Asia" are erroneous and relate to other species of Cordyceps, e.g. Cordyceps militaris. It is not certain how the fungus infects the caterpillar; possibly by ingestion of a fungal spore or by the fungus mycelium invading the insect through one of its breathing pores. Cordyceps sinensis has been used to protect the bone marrow and digestive systems of mice from whole body irradiation.It also protects the liver from damage and may have an anti-depressant effect and has a hypoglycemic effect, beneficial for people with insulin resistance.In 2008, one kilogram traded for US$3,000 (lowest quality) to over US$18,000 (best quality equalling the largest larvae). The annual production on the Tibetan Plateau is estimated at 100-200 tons. The Himlayan Cordyceps production might not exceed a few tons.Its value gave it a role in the Nepalese Civil War, as the Nepalese Maoists and government forces fought for control of the lucrative export trade during the June–July harvest season. Collecting yarchagumba in Nepal had only been legalised in 2001, and now demand is highest in countries such as China, Thailand, Korea and Japan. By 2002, the herb was valued at R 105,000 ($1,435) per kilogram, allowing the government to charge a royalty of R 20,000 ($280) per kilogram. In 2004 the value of a kilogram of caterpillars was estimated at about 30,000 to 60,000 Nepali Rupees in Nepal, and about Rs 1 lakh in India. The search for Cordyceps sinensis is often perceived to pose a threat for the environment of the Tibetan Plateau.where it grows. While it has been collected for centuries and is still common in such collection areas, current collection rates are much higher than in historical times.

Endangered species of nepal

2009-10-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

The Asian Elephant

The Asian elephant can weigh up to 5400 kg (11,900 lb). It currently occupies forested habitats in hilly or mountainous terrain, up to about 3600 m (11,800'). An adult eats approximately 150 kg (330 lb) per day - mainly grasses but also leaves, twigs and bark. It feeds during the morning, evening and night and rests during the middle of the day, requiring shade during the hot season to keep from overheating. Elephants cannot go for long without water (they require 70-90 liters (19-24 gal) of fluid/day) and sometimes must travel long distances each day between their water supplies and feeding areas.One calf is born every 3-4 years after a pregnancy lasting about 22 months. Although mature male elephants may live alone, females live in family groups consisting of mothers, daughters and sisters, together with immature males. Wild elephants can live to be sixty years old.

The Ganges River Dolphin

The Ganges River dolphin has a long beak, a stocky body, and large flippers. Its eye lacks a lens, and the dolphin is sometimes referred to as being blind, although its eyes do seem to function as a direction-finding device. The Ganges River dolphin measures 1.5 - 2.5 m (4.9 - 8.2 ft) in length and weighs up to 90 kg (200 lb). It occurs only in fresh water, in Bangladesh and India, where the rivers flow slowly through the plains, as well as in Nepal, where the dolphin can be found in relatively clear water and rapids. The Ganges River dolphin lives not only in the main channels, but also, during the flood season, in seasonal tributaries and flooded lowlands.The Ganges River dolphin feeds on several species of fish, invertebrates, and possibly turtles and birds. It does much of its feeding at or near the bottom. The waters that it inhabits are extremely murky. Probably for this reason, the dolphin's sight has degenerated. To find food, it probably uses echolocation and also probes with its sensitive snout and flipper for prey in the bottom mud. Reports from the 19^th century speak of ‘large schools’ of Ganges River dolphins to be seen near most large towns on the Ganges River. However, in more recent times, this dolphin has usually been found to occur in small groups or alone.

Bengal Tiger

It is found in parts of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and southern Tibet. The Bengal tiger is the most numerous of the tiger sub-species. According to WWF there are about 2,000 Royal Bengal tigers in the wild today, including 1,411 in India, 200 in Bangladesh, 150 in Nepal, 100 in Bhutan, as well as a number in Myanmar and China. The total length for the males is of 270-310 cm meanwhile those of the females is of 240-265 cm, and the average weight is 221.2 kg (487.7 lb.) for the males and 139.7 kg (308 lb.) for the females. Its coat is yellow to light orange, and the stripes range from dark brown to black; the belly is white, and the tail is white with black rings.It's roar can be heard for up to three kilometers (almost two miles) away.According to the Guinness Book of Records, the heaviest tiger known was a huge male hunted in 1967, it measured 322 cm in total length between pegs (338 cm over curves) and weighed 388.7 kg (857 lb.).They do not live as family units because the male plays no part in raising his offspring . Tigers mark their territory by spraying urine on a branch or leaves or bark of a tree which leaves a particular scent behind. Every tiger lives independently in their own territory. Mating occursBengal tigers eat a variety of animals found in their natural habitat, including deer(sambar, chital, barasingha, hogdeer and muntjac), wildboars, water buffalo, gaur, nilgai antelope, and occasionally other ungulates (such as Nilgiri tahr, serow and takin, where available); tigers have also been observed eating small prey, such as monkeys, hares, birds (primarily peafowl), and porcupines. Bengal tigers have also been known to take other predators such as leopards, wolves, jackals, foxes, crocodiles, Asiatic Black Bears, Sloth Bears, and dholes as prey, although these predators are not typically a part of the tiger's diet. at any time, more often between November and April. The females can have cubs at the age of 3–4 years; males reach maturity by about 4 years old. After the gestation period of 103 days, 2-5 cubs are born. Newborn cubs weigh about 1 kg (2.2 lb) and are blind and helpless. The mother feeds them milk for 6–8 weeks and then the cubs are introduced to meat. The cubs depend on the mother for the first 18 months and then they start hunting on their own .

Sagarmatha, the highest peak in the world

2009-10-13T03:16:00.000-07:00

सगरमाथा संसारको सबैभन्दा अग्लो चुचुरो हो । यसको उचाइ समुद्र सतहबाट ८,८४८ मीटर (२९,०२८ फीट) छ । यो नेपालको सोलुखुम्बु जिल्लाको खुम्जुङ गा.वि.स.मा पर्छ । तिब्बती भाषामा यसको नाम चोमोलुङ्गमा हो । सगरमाथालाई सन १८६५ मा कर्णेल सर जोर्ज एभरेष्टको नाममा Mount Everest नामाकरण गरिएको थियो। पछि सन १९६० मा इतिहास शिरोमणि बाबुराम आचार्यले यसको नाम सगरमाथा राखेका हुन्। यसलाई कतै कतै देवढुङ्गा पनि भन्ने गरेको पाइन्छ । सगरमाथा शिखरमा सर्वप्रथम, सन १९५३ मे २९ तारिखको बिहान ११:१५ बजे, नेपालका तेन्जिङ नोर्गे शेर्पा र न्युजिल्याण्डका सर एड्मन्ड हिलारीले पाइला राखेका थिए।

History of Nepal

2009-10-13T02:33:00.000-07:00

The history of Nepal (नेपालको इतिहास) is characterized by its isolated position in the Himalayas and its two dominant neighbors, India and China.
Due to the arrival of disparate settler groups from outside through the ages, it is now a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual country. Its population is predominantly Hindu with significant presence of Buddhists, who were in majority at one time in the past. Nepal was split in three kingdoms from the 15th to 18th century, when it was unified under a monarchy. The national language of Nepal is called 'Nepali', a name given - long after unification of Nepal - to the language called Khas Kura.
Nepal experienced a failed struggle for democracy in the 20th century. During the 1990s and until 2008, the country was in civil strife. A peace treaty was signed in 2008 and elections were held in the same year.
Many of the ills of Nepal have been blamed on the royal family of Nepal. In a historical vote for the election of the constituent assembly, Nepalis voted to oust the monarchy in Nepal. In June 2008, Nepalis ousted the royal household. Nepal was formally renamed the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal when it became a federal republic.

Royal Chitwan National Park

2009-10-13T01:32:00.000-07:00

Established in 2030 B.S., it is the oldest and one of the most popular national parks in Nepal. The park occupies an area of 632 sq. km and is situated in the sub-tropical lowlands of southern Nepal, lying between two mountain ranges, the Shivalik and the Mahabharat range .
This is the flood plain of three rivers, the Rapti, the Reu and the Narayani. The forest is dominated by Sal trees (shorea robusta) and tall grasses.
This is the natural habitat of endangered animals like Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, gharial crocodile, gaur (the world's largest wild cattle), four species of deer, leopards, wild dogs, fishing cats, leopard cats, python and Gangetic dolphin. There are over 50 species of mammals and 450 species of birds in the park.
Before 1950, this area used to be the hunting reserve for the ruling class of Nepal. The hereditary prime ministers of the Rana family, who ruled Nepal for 104 years, often used to invite people from England and India as their guests and huge numbers of tigers and rhinos were killed.
Today the tourists can ride elephants and view the wild animals at close range.

Lakes in Nepal

2009-10-13T01:25:00.000-07:00

Phewa Lake, Phewa Tal or Fewa Lake is a lake of Nepal located in the Pokhara Valley near Pokhara and Sarangkot. It is the second largest lake in Nepal and lying at an altitude of 784 m (2,572 ft) it covers an area of about 4.43 km2 (1.7 sq mi) with an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) with maximum water depth is 19 m (62 ft). Maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 46 million cubic meters (37,000 acre feet) .Annapurna looms in the distance from the lake and the lake is famous for the reflection of Mount Machapuchare on its surface. The holy Barahi mandir (temple) is situated on the island located in between in the lake.

Rivers in Nepal

2009-10-13T01:07:00.000-07:00

It flows through the Kathmandu valley and is the river separating Kathmandu from Lalitpur. It is considered a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists. A number of Hindu temples are located on the banks of this river.
The importance of Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on the banks of this holy river, and Kirants are buried in the hills by its side. According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The chief mourner (usually the first son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation. The Bagmati River is considered to purify the people spiritually.