NEPAL

Maha Shivaratri - festivals in Nepal

2011-03-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

REVERING LORD OF ALL LORDS - SHIVA

Of the four Ratris (night), Shivaratri – one of the major Hindu festivals- is a night of fasting and prayer in honour of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu Mythology; Brahma is the creator, Bishnu is the preserver and Lord Shiva is the God of Destruction and thus is sometimes described as God of all Gods. The devotees in their prayer ask Lord Shiva to wash away all the sins they have committed.

Mahashivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva himself was created by his own divine grace. Hindus all over the world celebrate the festival with zeal and enthusiasm. The devotees from all parts of the country as well as neighbouring countries throng to Pashupatinath. Literally ‘the lord of animals’ Pashupatinath is one of the many forms of Lord Shiva.

Legend say, most of the devotees go to worship literally to wrangle with the God for their wishes to be fulfilled. In the dawn devotees take a holy bath in Bagmati river and then they have to stand in a long queue to enter into the temple for worship. Since early hours, the vicinity of Pashupatinath is seen bustling with the crowd o
f devotees and spectators.

One of the highlights during Mahashivaratri is the number of sadhus who throng to Pasupatinath, not only from across the country but also from the neighbouring countries. Different type of sadhus could be seen around who are one of the rare sights for many. This year, Marwadi Sewa Samittee along with other special welfare organizations has managed the accommodation of these people.

“More than 400 sadhus already arrived here,” says Ram Prasad Dahal, member, Pashupati Area Development Trust. According to Dahal, more than 1,700 sadhus and babas had visited last year.

Hemp, an intoxicating substance that Lord Shiva is touted to enjoy the most is considered to be prasad hence people believe that it is one of the constituent of holy prasad and some could be seen around in search of it – most of them handing around the sadhus as they are supposed to be the main possessors. A 441-member Mahashivaratri Management Committee 2061 and nine sub-committees under it have been formed to manage the festival this year.

Dahal says, “Sixteen hundred volunteers from Nepal Scout and 34 various organisations will be mobilized on the day to take care of the various things. Three passageways have been fixed to enter the temple.”
As per this year’s arrangement, around 150 devotees will be able to worship per minute while all the four doors are open, informs Dahal. The committee estimates around 1,50,000 devotees to turn up to mark the day.

Maha Shivaratri Legends

2011-02-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

There are various legends related to the auspicious festival of Maha Shivratri. These legends are similar in one sense, as they all throw light on the greatness of Lord Shiva and his supremacy over all other Hindu Gods and Goddesses. They also explain the importance of fasting on Shivratri and chanting the name of Lord Shiva, while staying awake all night. The reasons behind worship may be many, but the motive is one, to make Lord Shiva happy. The day is considered to be extremely auspicious by the devotees of Lord Shiva and they celebrate it as Maha Shivratri - the grand night of Shiva.

Legends & Stories Of Maha Shivratri

Marriage of Shiva and Shakti

One of the most popular legends of Maha Shivratri is related to the marriage of Shiva and Shakti. The day
Lord Shiva got married to Parvati is celebrated as Shivratri - the Night of Lord Shiva. It tells us how Lord Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort. There is another version of the legend, according to which Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivratri, for the well being of her husband. Believing in this legend, married women began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Maha Shivratri, while, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal partner.

Samudra Manthan
There is another very popular Shivratri legend from Puranas, which explains why people stay awake all night on Shivratri and why Lord Shiva is also known as Neelakantha. According to the story, when the battle between devas and asuras took place, a pot of poison came out of the ocean and on the request of gods, Lord Shiva drank the poison. The poison was so potent that it changed the color of His neck to blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelkanth, where ‘Neela’ means blue and ‘Kantha’ means neck or throat. As part of the therapy, Lord Shiva was advised to awake during the night. Thus, to keep Shiva awake, the gods performed various dances and played music. Pleased with their devotion, He blessed them all, the next morning. Therefore, Shivratri is the celebration of this event in which Lord Shiva saved the world.

Legend of Shiva Linga
The legend of Shiva Linga is also deeply related to Maha Shivratri. According to the story, Brahma and Vishnu searched hard to discover the Aadi (beginning) and the Antha (end) of Lord Shiva. It has been believed that on the 14th day in the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna, Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Since then, the day is considered to be extremely auspicious and is celebrated as Maha Shivratri - the grand night of Shiva. To celebrate this occasion, devotees of Lord Shiva keeps fast during the day and worship the Lord throughout the night. It is said that worshipping Lord Shiva on Shivratri bestows one with happiness and prosperity.

Legend of Ganga
The legend of Ganga is another popular legend which is related to Shivratri. Ganga's descent from the heavens to the earth has been narrated in the Hindu mythological epic of Ramayana. This legend explains the popular custom of giving bath to Shiv Linga on Shivratri festival. According to this legend, Lord Shiva held out his thick matted hair to catch the river ganga, as she descended from heaven. The meandering through Shiva’s lock softened Ganga’s journey to the earth and the holy waters washed away the ashes of Bhagirath’s ancestors. The Ganga, thus, became an attribute of Shiva and therefore Shiva is also known as Gangadhara. Believing in this legend, Shiva is given a bath with gangajal and devotees take a dip in the holy water of river Ganga, on Shivratri.

Paragliding in Nepal

2011-02-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

Paragliding is a relatively new adventure sport in Nepal. Paragliding in this Himalayan country can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure-seekers. You can experience unparalleled scenic grandeur as you share airspace with Himalayan griffin vultures, eagles, kites, while floating over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungles, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalayas.

Gliding is a weather dependent sport and the flying season in Nepal commences from November through February, the best months being November and December. By virtue of its latitude and monsoonal climate, the tree line in Nepal is at an incredible 3,900 m above sea level. With conditions milder than summer alpine, these are excellent and constant atmospherics.

The topography and climate of Nepal also make it an ideal destination for all levels of pilots- subtropical subtropical climate means that, year round, it is short and T-shirt weather. The micro-climate of the valley makes it an ideal area for flying, with far more constant conditions than the Kathmandu valley 150 km east.

conditions provide plenty of thermals and combined with the long valleys common in Nepal, they produce perfect 'cloud streets' ideal for paragliders, inviting them to fly along this "sky highway". The local microclimate, controlled by the numerous lakes in the valley, is unique, which makes it even better for the glider. The main area for flying in Nepal is the Annapurna region, more specifically the Pokhara valley. This lakeside town is Nepal's second "city", nestled at the foot of the Annapurna Himal, the views commanded from here, of 3 of the worlds 8000m peaks, are unsurpassed. At an altitude of 800m ASL the

There are several sites around Phew Tal (the lake) but the most accessible is Sarangkot (1500m ASL). A view point 700m above Pokhara, it is unique in that it has a road running to the top. A short walk brings you to the only purpose built take off in the country. Cut out of the slope is a 45m by 45m clearing. With regular cycles providing easy reverse launches, you could not ask for a more picturesque site. With the lake 2000 ft below, the mountains behind, and the unlimited potential for XC and out and returns, this has quickly become the main site for the area, and many pilots have based themselves in Pokhara for the season, flying from this mountain alone.

There are various deals for the paragliding enthusiast as well as those checking this sport out for the first time. There is a three-day introductory course for beginners, as well as tandem flights (where you fly with an instructor) for the inexperienced or less brave. At 6000 ft, you sit back in your seat as your qualified pilot takes you on an unforgettable journey. The take-off point for these flights is Sarankot (1592 m), which offers prime views of Phewa Tal and the mountains at sunrise and sunset (provided the skies are clear); the landing is by the lake.

one of the highest lakes in the world: Tilicho lake

2011-02-25T00:13:00.000-08:00

Tilicho lake is one of the highest lakes in the world.It is 4,949 m high in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas in Manang district of Nepal.^[2] Another source lists Lake Tilicho as being 4,919 meters high (16,138 feet).^[3]

Mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns if they are caused by glacial activity. Tarns are found mostly in the upper reaches of the Himalaya, above 5,500 metres. Due to the extremely inhospitable surrounding terrain and the difficulties associated with reaching the area, this lake is rarely visited by outsiders.

It was also the site of one of the highest ever altitude scuba dives. A Russian diving team consisting of Andrei Andryushin, Denis Bakin and Maxim Gresko conducted a scuba dive in the lake in 2000.

Trekkers attempting the Annapurna Circuit route usually cross the watershed between Manang and Kali Kandaki valleys over the 5414 meters high Thorong La pass. The alternate route skirting Tilicho Lake from the north has been gaining popularity. This route is more demanding and requires at least two nights of camping. There are two passes leading to Jomsom; Mesokanto La and Tilicho North pass known also as Tilicho "Tourist pass". These routes via Tilicho Lake are more often closed by snow than the higher Thorong La.

Nepal Festival : Shiva Ratri

2011-02-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

Nepal is the only Hindu kingdom in the world and thus the land of Lord Shiva, Lord of all Lords, for here you can feel his presence everywhere. Even in the sacred texts of the Hindus it has been stated that Mt. Kailash in the Himalayas is the abode of Lord Shiva or Mahadeva as he is also known. Shiva the Destroyer of Evil is among the most praised and worshipped of all the gods in the Hindu religion. Hindus all over the world know him through different names and forms. The country has thousands of idols and monuments, which glorify his name, the most common one being the Shiva Linga or the phallus of Shiva that represents him. For it is the Shiva linga that Hindus regard as the symbol of creation, the beginning of everything.

Shiva Ratri is the night of Lord Shiva when He himself was created by His own Divine Grace and Hindus all over the world celebrate this day with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. Shiva Ratri literally means ' the night consecrated to Shiva'. This auspicious festival falls on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in the month of Falgun, (February - March in the Gregorian calendar ). The temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu which is considered as one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus, glorifying Lord Shiva, thus receives more than 100,000 worshippers during the festival of Shiva Ratri. These worshippers come from far and wide to pay their respects and homage to Mahadev on his sacred day.

Pashupatinath temple is
located at the eastern part of the Kathmandu valley on the banks of the holy river Bagmati. Pashupatinath, which literally means ‘the Lord of animals’, is one of the many forms of the Lord. He is the guardian deity, protector of our Hindu Kingdom of Nepal, thus Shiva Ratri is one of the major festivals of Nepal. Pilgrims from all over Nepal as Pashupatinath Temple well as India come to Pashupatinath to worship and pray to the deity on his birthday and wash away all the sins committed by them. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple and tourists are only permitted to observe the festival from across the Bagmati river.

Shiva Ratri is a much anticipated festival by all Hindus. Pilgrims and yogis (holy men), from all over Southeast Asia come to Kathmandu weeks before the festival. On this holy day people fast through out the day. At dawn, worshippers take a holy bath or dip in the river and go to the temple to worship.

One of the interesting aspects of Shiva Ratri is that on this day devotees and non-devotees alike freely indulge in smoking intoxicating substances such as marijuana and bhang for it is the only day in the annual calendar when marijuana is legal. Many people take these intoxicants in the belief that it pleases Lord Shiva for he too is said to be fond of it. Thus marijuana is taken as prasad, holy food blessed by the Gods and one can see eager tourists and faithful Nepalese flocking around the temple complex of the Ram Janaki Mandir across the Bagmati river opposite to the main temple complex of Pashupatinath lingering around sadhus and babas in the hope for some prasad from them.

The Puran, one of the many holy texts of the Hindus, tells us that if you worship Lord Shiva on this day all your sins will be forgiven. Giving an examle the puran talks about an event that occurred ages before about a hunter from Benares. This man worshipped Lord Shiva unknowingly on Shiva Ratri and he was forgiven for all his sins.

On Shiva Ratri the temple of Pashupatinath is filled with worshippers. Devotees are not distinguished as poor or rich but treated equally for Lord Shiva treats us all equally. Even the King of Nepal and the royal family pay homage to the Pashupatunath on this day along with the thousands that gather to celebrate the festival. Thus the festival of Shiva Ratri shows the devotion and faith Nepalese have towards the Hindu religion.

Nepal - Geography

2011-02-21T18:25:00.001-08:00

The Land

Sandwiched between two Asian giants--China and India--Nepal traditionally has been characterized as "a yam caught between two rocks." Noted for its majestic Himalayas, which in Sanskrit means the abode of snow, Nepal is very mountainous and hilly. Its shape is roughly rectangular, about 650 kilometers long and about 200 kilometers wide, and comprises a total of 147,181 square kilometers of land. It is slightly larger than Bangladesh or the state of Arkansas. Nepal is a landlocked country, surrounded by India on three sides and by China's Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet) to the north.
It is separated from Bangladesh by an approximately fifteenkilometer -wide strip of India's state of West Bengal, and from Bhutan by the eighty-eight-kilometer-wide Sikkim, also an Indian state. Such a confined geographical position is hardly enviable. Nepal is almost totally dependent on India for transit facilities and access to the sea--that is, the Bay of Bengal--even for most of the goods coming from China.

For a small country, Nepal has great physical diversity, ranging from the Tarai Plain--the northern rim of the Gangetic Plain situated at about 300 meters above sea level in the south--to the almost 8,800-meter-high Mount Everest, locally known as Sagarmatha (its Nepali name), in the north. From the lowland Tarai belt, landforms rise in successive hill and mountain ranges, including the stupendous rampart of the towering Himalayas, ultimately reaching the Tibetan Plateau beyond the Inner Himalayas. This rise in elevation is punctuated by valleys situated between mountain ranges. Within this maze of mountains, hills, ridges, and low valleys, elevational (altitudinal) changes rersulted in ecological variations.

Nepal commonly is divided into three broad physiographic areas: the Mountain Region, the Hill Region, and the Tarai Region. All three parallel each other, from east to west, as continuous ecological belts, occasionally bisected by the country's river systems. These ecological regions were divided by the government into development sectors within the framework of regional development planning.

The rhythm of life in Nepal, as in most other parts of monsoonal Asia, is intricately yet intrinsically intertwined with its physical environment. As scholar Barry Bishop learned from his field research in the Karnali region in the northwest, the livelihood patterns of Nepal are inseparable from the environment.

<> The Mountain Region
<> The Hill Region
<> The Tarai Region
<> Climate
<> Rivers

Nepal - The Mountain Region

The Mountain Region (called Parbat in Nepali) is situated at 4,000 meters or more above sea level to the north of the Hill Region. The Mountain Region constitutes the central portion of the Himalayan range originating in the Pamirs, a high altitude region of Central Asia. Its natural landscape includes Mount Everest and the other seven of the world's ten highest peaks, which are the legendary habitat of the mythical creature, the yeti, or abominable snowman. In general, the snow line occurs between 5,000 and 5,500 meters. The region is characterized by inclement climatic and rugged topographic conditions, and human habitation and economic activities are extremely limited and arduous. Indeed, the region is sparsely populated, and whatever farming activity exists is mostly confined to the low-lying valleys and the river basins, such as the upper Kali Gandaki Valley.

In the early 1990s, pastoralism and trading were common economic activities among mountain dwellers. Because of their heavy dependence on herding and trading, transhumance was widely practiced. While the herders moved their goths (temporary animal shelters) in accordance with the seasonal climatic rhythms, traders also migrated seasonally between highlands and lowlands, buying and selling goods and commodities in order to generate muchneeded income and to secure food supplies.

Nepal - The Hill Region

Situated south of the Mountain Region, the Hill Region (called Pahar in Nepali) is mostly between 1,000 and 4,000 meters in altitude. It includes the Kathmandu Valley, the country's most fertile and urbanized area. Two major ranges of hills, commonly known as the Mahabharat Lekh and Siwalik Range (or Churia Range), occupy the region. In addition, there are several intermontane valleys. Despite its geographical isolation and limited economic potential, the region always has been the political and cultural center of Nepal, with decision-making power centralized in Kathmandu, the nation's capital. Because of immigration from Tibet and India, the hill ranges historically have been the most heavily populated area. Despite heavy out-migration, the Hill Region comprised the largest share of the total population in 1991.

Although the higher elevations (above 2,500 meters) in the region were sparsely populated because of physiographic and climatic difficulties, the lower hills and valleys were densely settled. The hill landscape was both a natural and cultural mosaic, shaped by geological forces and human activity. The hills, sculpted by human hands into a massive complex of terraces, were extensively cultivated.

Like the Mountain Region, the Hill Region was a food-deficit area in the early 1990s, although agriculture was the predominant economic activity supplemented by livestock raising, foraging, and seasonal migrating of laborers. The vast majority of the households living in the hills were land-hungry and owned largely pakho (hilly) land. The poor economic situation caused by lack of sufficient land was aggravated by the relatively short growing season, a phenomenon directly attributable to the climatic impact of the region's higher altitude. As a result, a hill farmer's ability to grow multiple crops was limited. The families were forced to adapt to the marginality, as well as the seasonality, of their environment, cultivating their land whenever they could and growing whatever would survive. Bishop has noted that "as crop productivity decreases with elevation, the importance of livestock in livelihood pursuits . . . increases. For many Bhotia [or Bhote] living in the highlands . . . animal husbandry supplants agriculture in importance." During the slack season, when the weather did not permit cropping, hill dwellers generally became seasonal migrants, who engaged in wage labor wherever they could find it to supplement their meager farm output. Dependence on nonagricultural activities was even more necessary in the mountain ecological belt.

Nepal - The Tarai Region

In complete topographic contrast to the Mountain and Hill regions, the Tarai Region is a lowland tropical and subtropical belt of flat, alluvial land stretching along the Nepal-India border, and paralleling the Hill Region. It is the northern extension of the Gangetic Plain in India, commencing at about 300 meters above sea level and rising to about 1,000 meters at the foot of the Siwalik Range. The Tarai includes several valleys (dun), such as the Surkhet and Dang valleys in western Nepal, and the Rapti Valley (Chitwan) in central Nepal.

The word tarai, a term presumed to be derived from Persian, means "damp," and it appropriately describes the region's humid and hot climate. The region was formed and is fed by three major rivers: the Kosi, the Narayani (India's Gandak River), and the Karnali. A region that in the past contained malaria-infested, thick forests, commonly known as char kose jhari (dense forests approximately twelve kilometers wide), the Tarai was used as a defensive frontier by Nepalese rulers during the period of the British Raj (1858-1947) in India. In 1991 the Tarai served as the country's granary and land resettlement frontier; it became the most coveted internal destination for land-hungry hill peasants.

In terms of both farm and forest lands, the Tarai was becoming Nepal's richest economic region. Overall, Tarai residents enjoyed a greater availability of agricultural land than did other Nepalese because of the area's generally flat terrain, which is drained and nourished by several rivers. Additionally, it has the largest commercially exploitable forests. In the early 1990s, however, the forests were being increasingly destroyed because of growing demands for timber and agricultural land.

Nepal - Climate

Nepal has a great deal of variation in climate. Its latitude is about the same as that of Florida, and a tropical and subtropical climate exists in the Tarai Region. Outside the Tarai, however, the climate is completely different. The remarkable differences in climatic conditions are primarily related to the enormous range of altitude within such a short north-south distance. The presence of the east-west-trending Himalayan massifs to the north and the monsoonal alteration of wet and dry seasons also greatly contribute to local variations in climate. Scholar Sharad Singh Negi identifies five climatic zones in Nepal based on altitude: the tropical and subtropical zone of below 1,200 meters in altitude; the cool, temperate zone of 1,200 to 2,400 meters in altitude; the cold zone of 2,400 to 3,600 meters in altitude; the subarctic climatic zone of 3,600 to 4,400 meters in altitude; and the arctic zone above 4,400 meters in altitude. In terms of natural vegetational regimes or distribution patterns, altitude again plays a significant role. Below 1,200 meters, the dominant form of vegetation consists of tropical and subtropical rain forests.

Altitude also affects annual rainfall or precipitation patterns. Up to about 3,000 meters, annual rainfall totals increase as the altitude increases; thereafter, annual totals diminish with increasing altitude and latitude. In addition to this latitudinal differentiation in rainfall, two other patterns can be discerned. First, given the northwestward movement of the moisture-laden summer monsoon (June to September), the amount of annual rainfall generally decreases from east to west. However, there are certain pockets with heavy annual rainfall totals, for example, the Pokhara Valley in central Nepal. Second, the horizontal extension of hill and mountain ranges creates a moist condition on southand eastfacing slopes whereas it produces a major rain shadow on the northern sides of the slopes. The aridity increases with altitude and latitude, especially on the northern slopes, and reaches its climax in the inner Himalayan region and on the Tibetan Plateau. Eastern Nepal receives approximately 2,500 millimeters of rain annually, the Kathmandu area about 1,420 millimeters, and western Nepal about 1,000 millimeters.

The towering Himalayas play a critical role, blocking the northwesterly advances of moist, tropical air from the Bay of Bengal, and ultimately leading to its conversion to rain in the summer. In the winter, this range prevents the outbursts of cold air from Inner Asia from reaching southern Nepal and northern India, thus ensuring warmer winters in these regions than otherwise would be the case.

In addition, there are seasonal variations in the amount of rainfall, depending on the monsoon cycle. Bishop divides the monsoon cycle into four seasons: premonsoon, summer monsoon, postmonsoon, and winter monsoon. The premonsoon season generally occurs during April and May; it is characterized by the highest temperatures, reaching 40° C during the day in the Tarai Region and other lowlands. The hills and mountains, however, remain cool.

The summer monsoon, a strong flow of moist air from the southwest, follows the premonsoon season. For the vast majority of southern Asians, including Nepalese, the term monsoon is synonymous with the summer rainy season, which makes or breaks the lives of hundreds of millions of farmers on the subcontinent. Even though the arrival of the summer monsoon can vary by as much as a month, in Nepal it generally arrives in early June, is preceded by violent lightning and thunderstorms, and lasts through September, when it begins to recede. The plains and lower Himalayas receive more than 70 percent of their annual precipitation during the summer monsoon. The amount of summer monsoon rain generally declines from southeast to northwest as the maritime wedge of air gradually becomes thinner and dryer. Although the success of farming is almost totally dependent on the timely arrival of the summer monsoon, it periodically causes such problems as landslides; subsequent losses of human lives, farmlands, and other properties (not to mention great difficulty in the movement of goods and people); and heavy flooding in the plains. Conversely, when prolonged breaks in the summer monsoon occur, severe drought and famine often result.

The postmonsoon season begins with a slow withdrawal of the monsoon. This retreat leads to an almost complete disappearance of moist air by mid-October, thus ushering in generally cool, clear, and dry weather, as well as the most relaxed and jovial period in Nepal. By this time, the harvest is completed and people are in a festive mood. The two biggest and most important Hindu festivals-- Dashain and Tihar (Dipawali)--arrive during this period, about one month apart. The postmonsoon season lasts until about December.

After the postmonsoon, comes the winter monsoon, a strong northeasterly flow, which is marked by occasional, short rainfalls in the lowlands and plains and snowfalls in the high-altitude areas. The amount of precipitation resulting from the northeast land trade winds varies considerably but increases markedly with elevation. The secondary winter precipitation in the form of snowfalls in the Himalayas is important for generating a sufficient volume of spring and summer meltwaters, which are critical for irrigation in the lower hills and valleys where agriculture predominates. Winter precipitation is also are indispensable for the success of winter crops, such as wheat, barley, and numerous vegetables.

Nepal - Rivers

Nepal can be divided into three major river systems from east to west: the Kosi River, the Narayani River (India's Gandak River), and the Karnali River. All ultimately become major tributaries of the Ganges River in northern India. After plunging through deep gorges, these rivers deposit their heavy sediments and debris on the plains, thereby nurturing them and renewing their alluvial soil fertility. Once they reach the Tarai Region, they often overflow their banks onto wide floodplains during the summer monsoon season, periodically shifting their courses. Besides providing fertile alluvial soil, the backbone of the agrarian economy, these rivers present great possibilities for hydroelectric and irrigation development. India managed to exploit this resource by building massive dams on the Kosi and Narayani rivers inside the Nepal border, known, respectively, as the Kosi and Gandak projects. None of these river systems, however, support any significant commercial navigation facility. Rather, the deep gorges formed by the rivers represent immense obstacles to establishing the broad transport and communication networks needed to develop an integrated national economy. As a result, the economy in Nepal has remained fragmented. Because Nepal's rivers have not been harnessed for transportation, most settlements in the Hill and Mountain regions remain isolated from each other. As of 1991, trails remained the primary transportation routes in the hills.

The eastern part of the country is drained by the Kosi River, which has seven tributaries. It is locally known as the Sapt Kosi, which means seven Kosi rivers (Tamur, Likhu Khola, Dudh, Sun, Indrawati, Tama, and Arun). The principal tributary is the Arun, which rises about 150 kilometers inside the Tibetan Plateau. The Narayani River drains the central part of Nepal and also has seven major tributaries (Daraudi, Seti, Madi, Kali, Marsyandi, Budhi, and Trisuli). The Kali, which flows between the Dhaulagiri Himal and the Annapurna Himal (Himal is the Nepali variation of the Sanskrit word Himalaya), is the main river of this drainage system. The river system draining the western part of Nepal is the Karnali. Its three immediate tributaries are the Bheri, Seti, and Karnali rivers, the latter being the major one. The Maha Kali, which also is known as the Kali and which flows along the Nepal-India border on the west side, and the Rapti River also are considered tributaries of the Karnali.

This text comes from the Country Studies Program, formerly the Army Area Handbook Program. The Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world.

Trekking in Nepal: Some good things to know before you go!

2011-02-03T19:03:00.000-08:00

Helpful pointers before leaving for your Nepal trek

Whether planning your own trek or arranging a trip through a tour operator, please be sure to schedule in 2 to 3 contingency days. The internal flights to Lukla, Jomsom, Pokhara, Taplejung and other areas in

Nepal

can and will get delayed and cancelled. The last thing you need is to miss your international connection out of Kathmandu! By including a few extra days to your trip will guarantee some piece of mind and some down time before the long-haul flight back home. One big advantage of working through a tour operator is that they (on your behalf) can facilitate a booking on the next available flight back to Kathmandu. Remember: if your flight is cancelled on one day you don’t get priority the next day. The people with tickets for that day do.

2. Local guides and porters
Don’t want the added expense? Then be ready to possibly carry a heavy pack, book your own lodge rooms, maybe get off route… On the more popular Everest Base Camp and Annapurna treks, local guides and porters are not necessary. The trails in these areas are fairly well marked and there are there are plenty of others trekkers on these routes if help is needed. Local guides can add a sense of connectedness and understanding to an area and by using porters you will only need to carry a day pack of around 12 to 15 pounds. If going on your first trek in

Nepal

it may be worthwhile to have the assistance of these experienced locals and, relative to the hard work they do, the extra cost is minimal.

3. Sherpas
“Sherpa” is actually a Nepali caste. They are generally devout Buddhists, and even have their own language that is similar to Tibetan (but has no written form). One who assists trekkers up a mountain isn’t inherently a Sherpa, nor do all Sherpas act as helpers on expeditions. However, as Sherpas are historically from the high altitude areas (and therefore well-acclimatized) many guides and porters are of this caste.

4. Yaks and pack animals

Above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) these hairy beasts are plentiful. These beasts of burden are raised to carry loads at high elevations and work the fields in villages. Some of these animals are not always yaks. The shorter-haired variety, found on trails lower than Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu, are actually “dzomo,” man-made cow/yak hybrids. The higher-dwelling yaks are much shaggier. They both can have massive horns are a formidable presence when encountered on a hiking trail. Keep a wide berth and always stay to the uphill side when trying to pass or being passes on the trail. Listen for the oncoming yak bells and watch out for large piles of yak poop!

5. Drinking water
On the more popular treks you will be able to purchased bottled drinking water all along the routes (i.e. Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary…). Many villages now have purified water stations where you can fill up water bottles for $0.50 and save on the plastic. Every lodge, teahouse and shop sells bottled water. Typically charging $1.00 per liter bottle. On these treks, water filters and water purification tablets are really not needed. On treks in the more remote areas and when you are on a tented camping trek, your water will be properly boiled by the cook staff. It is recommended that you bring two 1 liter water bottles or a large hydration bladder to be filled up at camp. Hot water bottles are also great for keeping warm at night when camping.

6. Buddhist customs on the trail
Most treks in

Nepal

will enter the higher Buddhist regions of an area. Your first indication of entering a Buddhist village will be the colorful prayer flags flapping in the wind on homes, monasteries and atop mountain passes. You will also come upon stupas (Buddhist shrines), mani walls (large walls of river rock and flagstone with Sanskrit mantras written on them) or long walls of prayer wheels. It is custom and a sign of respect to always walk past or around these religious monuments on the left. That is, with your right side always closest to the object.

7. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
AMS is the one big unknown when embarking on a trekking trip to relatively high altitudes. How will your body cope? Will you get sick? Given that most of us can hardly train and prepare at such altitudes, this is a real concern for everyone but nothing to be overly focused on. After 22 years of guiding trips to the Himalayas the keys to giving yourself a great shot at a safe, comfortable and successful trip are:

a.) Pace yourself: this is supposed to be a fun vacation and not an athletic event. Stop for a cup of tea at a lodge, take pictures, sit and gaze up at the snow-capped peaks. Have fun!
b.) Stay well hydrated: drink liquid until it’s coming out of your nose and ears. It all counts…water, tea, soup. Just drink!
c.) Stay warm: carry extra warm clothes with you during the day and pack plenty of warm clothes in your trek bag. Hat, gloves, socks, thermal layers, down layers and waterproofs.
d.) Eat a healthy diet: the lodges offer a wide variety of hot and healthy dishes. On a camping trek your cook staff will make plenty of trek-sustaining dishes for your group. Fuel your body properly and it will treat you right.

No matter how good of shape you are in (or think you are in), everyone is susceptible to AMS. If you get a headache just drink more water. If it doesn’t go away take a Tylenol or similar analgesic. Don’t try to ascend too quickly. You have all day to get to the next camp or lodge. No sense in getting to camp before the porters or tea is ready! Diamox can be used for persistent and mild symptoms. However, the best cure for AMS is to descend. The Everest and Annapurna areas offer very good communication along the routes and are relatively easy routes when needing to descend to lower elevations. This is why these areas are a great choice for the first time trekker.

8. Personal Hygiene
“Can I take a shower every day?” I get this question all the time. Quick answer: No! Your personal hygiene will suffer on a trek. Even on a lodge trek, showers and laundry service (if available) are expensive and unreliable. It’s better to stink. Really! Rivers and streams can be used for the occasional sponge bath and a few packets of Wet Ones can really freshen things up in a pinch. If you need a daily washing I suggest finding another place to go for a hiking vacation. If you are creative, it’s amazing how clean you can keep or at least trick yourself into believing you are clean! We will all stink so it’s not as though anyone else will notice or care!

9. Other must have items for a trekFirst aid kit.
Vitamins.
Personal medications.
Antibiotics for upper respiratory and stomach illness.
Headlamp with extra bulb and batteries.
Toilet paper.
Hand sanitizer and plenty of it. Be an obsessive hand cleaner!
Down jacket. At some point you’ll wish you had it!
Digital camera

10. A few luxury items you may consider bringing
Solar charger. Especially if going off the beaten path.
Down booties.
iPod, Kindle, GPS and other electronic gizmos
Fold up camping chair (Crazy Creek for example)1. Planned contingency days

Mount Everest History/Facts

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Age of Everest:
Everest was formed about 60 million years ago
Elevation:
29,035 (8850m)-found to be 6' higher in 1999
Name in Nepal:
Sagarmatha (means: goddess of the sky)
In Tibet:
Chomolungma: (means: mother goddess of the universe)
Named after:
Sir George Everest in 1865 ,the British surveyor-general of India. Once known as Peak 15
Location:
Latitude 27° 59' N.....Longitude 86° 56' E It's summit ridge seperates Nepal and Tibet
First Ascent:
May 29,1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary, NZ and Tenzing Norgay, NP, via the South Col Route
First Solo Ascent:
Aug. 20,1980, Reinhold Messner, IT, via the NE Ridge to North Face
First winter Ascent:
Feb. 17,1980 -L.Cichy and K. Wielicki, POL
First Ascent by an American:

May 1,1963, James Whittaker, via the South-Col
Mt. Everest rises a few milimeters each year due to geological forces
Everest Name:
Sir George Everest was the first person to record the height and location of Mt. Everest, this is where Mt."Everest" got its name from(In american language)

First Ascent by a Woman:
May 16,1975, Junko Tabei, JAP, via the South-Col

First Ascent by an American Woman:
Sep.29,1988, Stacey Allison, Portland, OR via the South-East Ridge
First Oxygenless Ascent:
May 8, 1978- Reinhold Messner, IT, and Peter Habeler, AUT, via the South-East Ridge
First woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest from both north & south sides:
Cathy O'Dowd (S.A.) South May 25,1996/North '99
Fastest Ascent from South:
Babu Chhiri Sherpa 34, NP-16 hours and 56 minutes (5-21-2000)
Fastest Ascent (north side):
Hans Kammerlander (IT) May,24,1996, via the standard North Col Ridge Route, 16 hours 45 minutes from base camp
Youngest person:
Temba Tsheri (NP) 15 on May,22,2001
Oldest Person:
Sherman Bull May,25,2001 -64 yrs
First Legally Blind Person:
Erik Weihenmeyer May,25,2001
Most Ascents:
Eleven, 24th May 2000 Appa Sherpa became the first person to climb Everest 11 times-Ten, Ang Rita Sherpa, Babu Chiri Sherpa all ascents were oxygen-less.
Best and Worst Years on Everest:
1993, 129 summitted and eight died (a ratio of 16:1); in 1996, 98 summitted and 15 died (a ratio of 6½:1)
Highest cause of death:
Avalanches-about a (2:1) ratio over falls
Country with most deaths on mountain:
Nepal-46
Most dangerous area on mountain:
Khumbu Ice Fall-19 deaths
First ski descent:
Davo Karnicar (Slovenia) 10-7-2000
Last year without ascent:
1974
Last year without ascent:
1977
Corpses remaining on Everest:
about 120
Longest stay on top:
Babu Chiri Sherpa stayed at the summit full 21 hours and a half
Largest team:
In 1975, China tackled Everest with a 410-member team.
Fastest descent:
In 1988, Jean-Marc Boivin of France descended from the top in just 11 minutes, paragliding.
Only climber to climb all 4 sides of Everest:
Kushang Sherpa, now an instructor with Himlayan Mountaineering Institute
First person to hike from sea level to summit, no oxygen.:
11th May 1990,Tim Macartney-Snape, Australian
Largest number to reach the top in one day:
40, on May 10, 1993
First person to summit Everest twice:
Nawang Gombu-Nepal(once with Whitaker in '63,and again two years later in '65)Gombu now works for the Himalayan mountaineering institute
The oldest woman to summit
Anna Czerwinska May 22, 2000.

Mountains of Nepal

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Nepal contains part of the Himalaya, the highest mountain range in the world. Eight of the fourteen eight- thousanders are located in the country, either in whole or shared across a border with Tibet or India.

Mountain/Peak	metres	feet	note
Mount Everest	8,848	29,028	Highest mountain in the world (measuring from sea level to peak)
Kangchenjunga	8,586	28,169	#3 in the world
Lhotse	8,516	27,939	#4 in the world
Makalu	8,462	27,765	#5 in the world
Cho Oyu	8,201	26,906	#6 in the world
Dhaulagiri	8,167	26,794	#7 in the world
Manaslu	8,156	26,758	#8 in the world
Annapurna	8,091	26,545	#10 in the world
Gyachung Kang	7,952	26,089
Ngadi Chuli	7,871	25,823
Nuptse	7,861	25,790
Chamlang	7,319	24,152
Langtang Lirung	7,227	23,711
Baruntse	7,220	23,688
Chamar	7,187	23,326
Melungtse	7,181	23,555
Pumori	7,161	23,494
Gauri Sankar	7,134	23,405
Api	7,132	23,399
Tilicho Peak	7,134	23,405
Salasungo	7,110	23,326
Machapuchare	6,993	22,943	Sacred mountain, unclimbed
Kang Guru	6,981	22,904	2005 avalanche kills 18
Dorje Lakpa	6,966	22,854
Kanjiroba	6,883	22,580
Ama Dablam	6,812	22,349	"Mother and her necklace"
Cho Polu	6,735	22,096
Num Ri	6,677	21,906
Thamserku	6,623	21,729
Khumbutse	6,640	21,725	First mountain west of Everest
Taboche	6,501	21,329
Mera Peak	6,476	21,246	Trekking peak
Hiunchuli	6,441	21,132	Difficult trekking peak
Cholatse	6,440	21,128
Kusum Kangguru	6,367	20,888	Difficult trekking peak
Kongde Ri	6,187	20,298	Trekking peak
Imja Tse	6,160	20,210	Popular trekking peak
Pokalde	5,745	18,848
Kala Pattar	5,545	18,192	Popular hiking peak below Pumori
Nirekha	6,069	19 911	New trekking peak
Baden-Powell Peak	5,825	19,111	Formerly known as Urkema Peak

Nepal and its-beauty

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Most Nepalese know that NEPAL is the abbreviated form of

NEVER

ENDS

PEACE

AND

LOVE.

With this little but most illustrisious scentence. I like to introduce NEPAL. Nepal is a landlocked country situated in between giants neighbour between China and India. The border of Nepal is all side surrounded by China in North. It is mainly divided in 3 Regions according to the geographically

1. The Terai Region

2. The Mountain Region

3. The HImalayan Region

The HImalayan Region.

Containing nine of the world's fourteen highest mountain peaks, Nepal is a true Himalayan kingdom. The Himalayas cover three fourths of the land in Nepal. It is home to some of the highest, remotest, most rugged and most difficult terrain in the world. The loftiest peak in the world -- Mount Everest -- and other high peaks like Lhotse, Nuptse, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu, plus the presence of some exquisitely beautiful trekking routes, attract hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to this lovely Himalayan destination

The country of Nepal can be divided into three parallel bands running from the northeast towards the southwest. Along the north of Nepal runs the GreatHimalayanRange, the highest mountain range in the Himalayan system. This range has an average altitude of about 4,570 m (about 15,000 ft) and remains perpetually snow-covered. On this range rise some of the loftiest mountain peaks in the world -- Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna.

Further south runs a complex system of intermediate ranges at an altitude of 8,000-14,000 ft. Prominent ranges in this mountain system include the Mahabharat and Churia ranges. High mountain ranges are interspersed with broad inhabited river valleys. The third and southernmost region is the Terai, a swampy terrain which is the northern extension of the Indian plains.

The Mountain Region

In the early 1990s, pastoralism and trading were common economic activities among mountain dwellers. Because of their heavy dependence on herding and trading, transhumance was widely practiced. While the herders moved their goths (temporary animal shelters) in accordance with the seasonal climatic rhythms, traders also migrated seasonally between highlands and lowlands, buying and selling goods and commodities in order to generate muchneeded income and to secure food supplies.

The Terai Region.

In complete topographic contrast to the Mountain and Hill regions, the Terai Region is a lowland tropical and subtropical belt of flat, alluvial land stretching along the Nepal-India border, and paralleling the Hill Region. It is the northern extension of the Gangetic Plain in India, commencing at about 300 meters above sea level and rising to about 1,000 meters at the foot of the SiwalikRange. The Tarai includes several valleys (dun), such as the Surkhet and Dang valleys in western Nepal, and the RaptiValley (Chitwan) in central Nepal.

The word terai, a term presumed to be derived from Persian, means "damp," and it appropriately describes the region's humid and hot climate. The region was formed and is fed by three major rivers: the Kosi, the Narayani (India's GandakRiver), and the Karnali. A region that in the past contained malaria-infested, thick forests, commonly known as char kose jhari (dense forests approximately twelve kilometers wide), the Tarai was used as a defensive frontier by Nepalese rulers during the period of the British Raj (1858-1947) in India. In 1991 the Tarai served as the country's granary and land resettlement frontier; it became the most coveted internal destination for land-hungry hill peasants.

GLIMPSES OF NEPAL

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Location : Situated between India and Tibet, an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China

Area : 147,181 sq.km.

Altitude : 8848m Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) the highest peak in the world.

Latitude : 26 22' and 30 27' North.

Longitude : 80 4' and 88 12' East.

Capital : Kathmandu

People : 100 ethnic groups and over 125 spoken languages.

Population : 23.4 million

Population growth rate : 2.25% per annum.

Topography : From the world's deepest gorge 'Kali-Gandaki' to highest point on earth 'The Everest'

Vegetation : Nepal possesses wide range of vegetation due to its unique topographical variation

Weather : Climate ranges from Tropical in the low lands to Arctic in higher altitudes.

Seasons : Winter (December - February), Summer (March - May), Monsoon (June - August), Autumn (September - November)

Monsoon : Mostly rains day & night, making the following days crispy clean and fresh. Most of the northern belt of the Trans-Himalayan zone is rain-shadowed and ideal for trekking.

National Flower : Red Rhododendron

National Animal : Cow

National Bird : Danfe (Impeyan Pheasant)

National Weapon : Khukuri (heavy iron knife)

World Heritage Sites (Cultural)

1. Kathmandu Durbar Square

2. Pashupatinath

3. Swayambhunath

4. Bouddhanath

5. Changunarayan

6. Patan Durbar Square

7. Bhaktapur Durbar Square

8. Lumbini (birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha)

World Heritage Sites (Natural)

1. Sagarmatha NAtional Park (1,148 sq.km.)

2. Royal Chitwan National Park (932 sq.km.)

KATHMANDU CITY

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal which is also the largest city in the whole country. This mysterious city can seem, in places, to be a huge intricate sculpture unchanged since the Middle Ages. At other times it can be just another Third World capital rushing carelessly into the 20th century. For many people, arriving

in Kathmandu is as shocking as stepping out of a time machine - the sights, sounds and smells can lead to sensory overload. Streets and lanes are narrow with carved wooden balconies leaning over tiny shops. Squares packed with extraordinary temples and monuments, markets bright with fruits and vegetables and a constant throng of humanity.

Other beautiful cities in Nepal are Pokhara, Janakpur, Lumbini, Tansen, Palpa. Pokhara offers the most scenic views of the mountain known as Annapurna Range. In fact most of the popular trekking in the western Nepal starts from Pokhara. Janakpur has the most beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Rama. Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Tansen and Palpa are some old but beautiful towns.

CLIMATE & WEATHER

Nepal has a typical monsoonal two-season year. The dry season start from October and lasts till May and the wet season, the monsoon, from June till September.

In the summer (May till early part of June) Kathmandu, the capital city, get very hot with temperatures often in the 30s. Even during winter the bright sunny days often reach 20ºC although with nightfall the mercury may plummet to near freezing. It never actually snows in the Kathmandu Valley and higher up the coldest weather is also the driest weather so snow is unusual. Due to its lower altitude Pokhara is warmer and more pleasant than Kathmandu in the winter, but hotter when the temperature builds up and wetter during the monsoon.

CURRENCY

Nepali money called 'rupees' comes in the note of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. There is no problem for changing any major foreign currencies such as dollar, pound, euro, mark, francs, etc. There are numerous money changing counters approved by government all around Thamel. Travellers with major credit cards such as VISA, MASTERCARD, JCB, AMEX, can use their cards without any problem to pay in most places. Travellers checks are bought and sold in all major banks such as Standard Chartered Bank, Himalayan Bank, Nepal Indosuez Bank, Nepal Arab Bank, Bank of Kathmandu.

COMMUNICATION

Nepal is linked with the rest of the world by satellite and there is international direct dialing IDD. Any inquiry regarding phone numbers of any important places can be had by dialling 197 (information) from any corner of the Kathmandu city. For making international calls there are numerous places in all the major cities. A lot of places in Thamel offers internet access too with a very good price of Rs. 25-50 per hour. The speed may not be as good as in other American and European countries. If you are low in budget but needs to contact your home, try one of these internet cafes for internet phones. Most places charge about Rs. 10 to 25 per minutes for internet phones. Letters, postcards and any mailing services you need, are offered at the Central Post Office at Sundhara. But if it is just to send a postcard, you can buy postal stamps at many book shops around Thamel and many other parts of the city. Most of these bookshops do free mailing service for you.

VISA

Nepalese Visa can be had at any of the Nepalese consulate or Embassy abroad. But it is not necessary to have Nepalese Visa to buy a ticket to Nepal. Visa can be obtained without any problem at the International airport in Kathmandu upon arrival for US $ 50 a month. Once you enter Nepal, you can stay as long as five months with Tourist Visa and it can be extended for a price of US $ 50 a month for five months.

IMMIGRATION

All government offices in Kathmandu are open from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. from Monday till Friday. Saturdays and Sundays are government holidays. There are other numerous national festivals when these offices will remain closed.

BOOKSHOPS

Kathmandu has a large number of very good bookshops. Many of them has interesting selections of books on Nepal including some rare books that are not usually available outside the country. Prices for British and US books are surprisingly much better than in their home countries. There are many second hand bookshops too that buy and sell used books for half the price. Mandala Book Point in Kantipath has a beautiful selection of Himalayan titles with good range of French and German selections.

VISITING HOLY PLACES

Kathmandu city is full of holy temples and shrines and both Hindus and Buddhists have their own sacred places of worship scattered all around the city. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the main worshipping days. Most Buddhist temples allow non Buddhists too but many Hindu temples are strictly for Hindus only. Whenever you visit one of these temples please make sure that you read the signboard that tells whether or not a non-Hindu is allowed. Most Hindu places restrict photography too and we request you to respect that. A lot of places in the narrow streets of Kathmandu, you will find stones with red powder, please make sure you don't step onto one of those as they too are holy spots.

MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES

Kathmandu city also has a large number of museums that are open six days a week from 10:00a.m. till 4:00p.m. Basantapur Musuem has a large collection of historical Rana belongings and paintings. The house itself is one of the most beautiful architectures of ancient Nepal. Do not forget to climb the nine storey wooden palace. The views of the Kathmandu city from the top of the palace is awesome. Other museums are located at the base of Swayambhu Stupa. Natural History museum has a fine collections of birds and reptiles found in Nepal. Museum of Numismatics and sculpture is located just about 20 minutes walk from Natural History Museums. Patan Museum also has a large collection of fascinating handmade sculptures, woodworks and paintings.

Why Visit Nepal?

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Nepal, a country of sublime beauty, tucked away in the shades of the highest mountain range in the world, can truly be labeled the 'last paradise' on earth. Even in such a small area of 147181 sq. kilometers, Nepal presents a myriad of attractions to tourists and locals alike – ranging from its scenic beauty and well preserved exotic culture to the adventure opportunities in every nook and cranny in the country.

When the hippie culture hit the world in the mid 20th century, Nepal could not remain an exception. Indeed, the first tourists who came to Nepal were these hippies who arrived in search of cheap marijuana. Hashish was available here and there were no laws preventing its use. Thus, backpackers with the likes of Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix thronged to Nepal and the well known "Freak Street" established itself as the tourist hub of Nepal.

Now, tourism has developed much in Nepal and it has lots more to offer to tourists than just cheap narcotics. Due to the diverse topography, altogether different forms of life have developed in the northern Himalayan valleys and the southern plains of the Terai. These lifestyles have given rise to different customs and traditions. Exotic cultures have developed which differ with the part of the country you are in, the mid hills and southern plains being the richest in traditions. Festivals like the Kumari Jatra and Bisket Jatra cannot be seen in any other part of the world. Neither can one experience such hospitality anywhere else. Nepalese believe in a traditional Sanskrit saying "Atithi Devo Bhava"(meaning guests and gods are alike) This is what makes them so hospitable that they can never regard their guests with indifference and always warm heartedly welcome them and try to help them as much as possible.

The exotic customs has also given rise to different monuments of cultural, religious and historical importance. Temples and palaces dating back to 10th century AD still exist as cultural heritages in Nepal. Beautiful pagoda style monuments in the Kathmandu valley uphold a strong reminiscence of their glorious past. Magnificent Buddhist stupas also remind everyone that Buddhism originated from this religiously tolerant country. Art and architecture are particularly well developed in the capital Kathmandu as it was the cultural and political centre of the country from the very beginning of its existence.

The exoticism of the culture makes only a small fraction of what a tourist can experience in Nepal. You cannot come to Nepal and return without trekking some of the ancient pathways hidden in the barren Himalayan Bhots. In fact, nowadays most tourists throng to Nepal for this very purpose: trekking. The well worn trade routes used by people of the Himalayas descending south in the winter or moving in caravans further north towards Tibet in the summer have been modified to serve as trekking routes. More and more trekking routes are opening year by year to enhance a tourist's experience in Nepal.

Not only trekking routes but also more and more mountains have been opened for mountaineering by the Nepalese government. The Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, along with six of the ten tallest peaks in the entire world, lies in Nepal's terrain. The majestic Everest, which stood so proudly and magnificently shining its own snow white light without anyone daring to reach its hilt until just half a century ago was scaled by several thousands of mountaineers two years back to mark the golden jubilee of the scaling of the Sagarmatha (Nepali name for Everest, meaning greatest of all) by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hilary. Sir Edmund was himself in the capital to grace the functions organized to commemorate this remarkable event.

Moreover, the thing that makes visiting Nepal really desirable to visit is its supreme natural beauty. The hills and mountains, the rivers lakes and falls, the omnipresent greenery, the exotic flora and fauna, the forests with all the wilderness are sure to bewilder tourists who see just their well kept lawns and flower pots in the name of greenery. All these factors, along with the local people; in their small, straw thatched mud houses, living a backward life in the villages, beautifies Nepal more than ever.

Where else in the world can you paraglide, balloon ride, bungy jump off one of the highest fall in the world, bird watch, go for a safari in jungles home to one horned Rhinoceroses and Royal Bengal tigers and yet canoe or kayak in white water rivers or go for a trek or even try to ascend the world's highest mountains? Nepal has it all which many other destinations lack. This country always makes you feel elated, as if you have just landed into a paradise, a small yet really beautiful utopia. The wilderness of Kenya might be excellent for safari but can it offer the snow? The beaches of Hawaii might be the best in the world but can one go for a safari there? Here, in Nepal, one can do all the things they have never even dreamt of. One can go for an elephant ride to see the endangered one horned rhinos and an hour later be at the foot of Everest with all the mountaineering gear ready to scale it. Nepal has it all, from riverside beaches and exotic wildlife to people who value their traditions and present themselves with utmost hospitality to tourists. From adventure sports to sightseeing of ancient relics, anything can be done here. Thus, if you can visit Nepal, do it now, if not, it might be too late.

P.S. It is our sincere request to all those people visiting Nepal or looking forward to it to be responsible in dumping their wastes along the trekking routes and help Nepal remain as beautiful as it is now, if not more so.

Nepal And It's Intresting Facts

2011-01-21T20:57:00.000-08:00

Nepal is a landlocked kingdom sharing borders with Tibet to the north and northwest, and India to the west, south and east. The country can be divided into five zones: the Terai, the Siwaliks, the Mahabharat Lekh, the Midlands or Pahar and the Himalayas. The greater part of the country lies on the southern slope of the Himalayas, extending down from the highest peaks through hill country to the upper edge of the Ganges Plain. The hilly central area is crossed by the Lower Himalayas where there are eight of the highest peaks in the world, leading up to Mount Everest. Wildlife in Nepal includes tigers, leopards, gaur, elephants, buffalo, deer and rhinos.

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government, which the king subsequently tasked with paving the way for elections to be held in spring of 2005.Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government and assumed power.

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with 40% of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security concerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS

Nepal is known as the abode of the gods. For many years a secret, unknown country, it was, in the 1950s, faced with making a leap from the 11th century to modern times. Visited first by mountaineers and trekkers, it later became the haunt of hippies. In 1989 restrictions barring several areas to tourists were lifted.

The Nepalese Government has set aside more than 35 per cent of the total area of the country as natural sanctuaries. There are now nine National Parks and three wildlife reserves, located both in the mountainous zones as well as in the tropical plains. The Terai lowlands in the south form the richest habitat in the country. Five protected areas are located in the region and many species of wildlife, including the rare Royal Bengal tiger and leopard, can be observed.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu, the capital and also the cultural, commercial and business hub of the Kingdom, is a magical place. In the centre is Durbar Square where there is a wonderful collection of temples and shrines, both Buddhist and Hindu. They are generally built in the pagoda style with a mass of intricate exterior carving. The old Royal Palace is in the square, as is the Statue of Hanuman the Monkey God, clad in a red cloak. Here also is the house of the living goddess - the Kumari. A few kilometres from Kathmandu is the hugely impressive Bodnath Stupa. It has become a centre of Tibetan exile culture and is a good place to buy Tibetan handicrafts and artefacts. Climbing upwards from the city one can reach the famous Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath, popularly known as the Monkey Temple. There are a great many steps leading up to the temple, which is frequented by an even greater number of monkeys. The monkeys should be treated with some caution since their behaviour can be unpredictable. The monkey temple is noted for its large staring eyes. There are also a number of monasteries. Respect should be shown for local sensitivities when visiting religious sites or temples.

Excursions

Just 5km (3 miles) west of the city, below the Nagarjun Forest, are the Balaju Water Gardens, with a reclining statue of Lord Vishnu and a 22-headed seadragon fountain. South of Kathmandu by 19km (12 miles), and accessible by taxi, are the Godavari Royal Botanical Gardens housing trees, shrubs and beautiful orchids in an idyllic setting.

The Kathmandu Valley

Bhaktapur

Kathmandu was once one of three equal cities, the other two being Patan and Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur (also known as the 'temple city') is located some 12km (7.5 miles) from Kathmandu in the eastern part of the valley. The Kathmandu valley's rich cultural and natural heritage has prompted UNESCO to list seven World Heritage sites in the area. The National Art Gallery, located in the old Malla Palace, has unusual, colourful animal paintings on the second floor which are worth a look. Other museums in Bhaktapur are the National Woodworking Museum, showing fine examples of Newari woodcarving (for which the city is renowned), and the Brass and Bronze Museum, both in Dattatreya Square.

Patan

Patan is located at the southern end of the Kathmandu valley and is famous for its bronze and silverware. The city contains many ancient historic and artistic landmarks, including Patan Durbar Square (also the location for the interesting Patan Museum), Krishna Mandir, the Royal Bath, the Kumbheshwor Temple and the Golden Temple. Patan has the Jawalakhel Zoo, housing exotic South Asian animals.

Elsewhere

There are shrines for every purpose in the valley, such as the Shrine of Ganesh the Elephant God, reputed to bring good luck. There are four Ganesh temples in the valley, each a masterpiece of Nepalese architecture - one in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, one in Chabahil, one in Chobar and one near Bhaktapur. Lumbini, being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is one of the world's most important pilgrimage sites.

The Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal's first national park, is a jungle overflowing with wildlife. There are many lodges here offering visitor accommodation, canoeing, white-water rafting and elephant rides. Nagarkot Village, situated on rice steppes in magnificent countryside, provides spectacular views of Mount Everest, mist permitting. The hill town of Gorkha is the ancestral home of the Shah Dynasty and residence of the original Gurkha soldiers. There is a lively bazaar and the Royal Trek to Pokhara begins here. The secluded town of Pokhara lies 200km (125 miles) west of Kathmandu in the centre of Nepal on Lake Phewa. No other place in the world commands such a view of the Himalayas. It is a starting point for mountaineers and trekkers, and was at one time the home of JRR Tolkien.

The Mountains

One of the principal reasons for visiting Nepal must be either to see or to climb the mountains, especially Mount Everest. Located in Sagarmatha National Park in the Khumbu region bordering Tibet, the mountain's appropriate Nepalese name is Sagarmatha (Head of the Sky). The Sherpas and Tibetans worship it as Chomolongma (Mother Goddess of the Earth). At an altitude of 8848m (29,022ft), Everest is the world's highest peak and has been opened for commercial mountaineering for decades. It is part of the Great Himalayan Range, which stretches for some 800km/500 miles and which includes a further eight peaks above 8000m (26,240ft). The countryside offers an astonishingly varied topography as the snowy mountain peaks give way to intricately green terraced hills, scenic rivers and tropical jungles in the interior.

For walkers and trekkers, Nepal is a true paradise: the picturesque hamlets and mountain villages are linked by hundreds of trails that have been used for centuries, with little change noticeable even today. The practicalities for trekking are now easy to arrange (see Sport & Activities section for further details). Numerous temples and Buddhist shrines can be also be discovered en route and visitors should make sure that, when visiting them, they stick to the proper religious protocol.

History of Nepal

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Although Nepal emerged in history in the first millennium bc, it was only in the 18th century that Nepal developed as a country of the present size. Archaeological remains suggest that areas of Nepal have been inhabited for more than 10,000 years. The Kirant hill tribe people are thought to be the first rulers of the Kathmandu area. The earliest undisputed Nepali dynasty is the Licchavi dynasty, which was established in about ad 400. The Licchavi dynasty, which probably migrated from present-day Vaishāli, India, was centered in the Kathmandu Valley. The Licchavi dynasty expanded its influence to the Kali Gandaki River in the west and Sun Kosi River in the east. The Licchavi period, as well as the Malla period that followed, was deeply influenced by Indian culture.

The Licchavi dynasty came to an end in the late 9th century and was followed by the medieval period. The early medieval era was unstable and poorly documented. It culminated in the Malla period (1200 to 1769) when three separate dynasties, divided into three kingdoms in the late 15th century, were conquered by the Shah dynasty in 1769, led by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Nepal’s southward expansion under the Shah dynasty resulted in a clash with the English East India Company. The Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816) reduced the country to its current size, although Nepal retained its independence.

A Rana Autocracy

In the first half of the 19th century, Nepal entered a short period of instability that culminated in the Kot Massacre, in which fighting broke out among military personnel and administrators after the assassination of a high-powered favorite of the queen. Jung Bahadur, a strong pro-British leader, prevailed during the massacre and seized control of the country. He declared himself prime minister and began the Rana dynasty of rulers. The Rana rulers monopolized power by making the king a nominal figure. They also made the office of the prime minister hereditary.

Nepal gave valuable assistance to the British during the Sepoy Rebellion (1857-1859) and during World War I (1914-1918). The British government reaffirmed the independence of Nepal through a treaty in 1923. A British resident (colonial official acting as an adviser to the ruler of a protected state), stationed in Kathmandu, controlled Nepal’s foreign relations. Nepal supported the Allied cause, with the contribution of Gurkha soldiers, during World War II (1939-1945). Nepal and the United States established diplomatic relations in 1948.

The Rana autocracy was increasingly criticized in the late 1940s, particularly by dissidents residing in India. The political-reform movement, which was approved by the Indian government and directed by the newly created Nepali Congress Party (NCP), won the support of King Bir Bikram Tribhuvana. Like his predecessors under the Ranas, he possessed purely nominal powers. His intervention in domestic politics deepened the crisis, however, and he was removed from the throne in 1950 by Prime Minister Maharaja Mohan Shumsher Rana. A few days later the king fled to India and NCP insurgents began military operations along the southern frontier. In 1951 Prime Minister Rana allowed a reorganization of the Nepalese government along democratic lines and the king was reinstalled. Friction between the Rana and Congress Party factions culminated in November 1951 when Prime Minister Rana was removed from power and the NCP formed a government headed by Matrika Prasad Koirala.

B Absolute Monarchy

After the Rana autocracy ended, Nepal embarked on a mission of economic and social development. However, political parties organizing the government during the 1950s were not effective. King Mahendra, crowned in 1955, seized absolute control of the government in 1960 after a decade of political unrest. King Mahendra dismissed the government and suspended parliament, calling it corrupt and inefficient. Considering a parliamentary system unsuited to Nepal, the king proclaimed a new constitution in 1962 that banned the formation of political parties and allowed for the autocratic rule of the king through a nonparty system of councils, or panchayats. The government then instituted social reforms, including land reforms and modernization of the legal code, which helped alleviate some caste discrimination.

When the king died in 1972, he was succeeded by his son Birendra Bir Bikram, who was formally crowned in 1975. The young king initially exercised strong control over the government, attempting to repress the reform movement led by former prime minister Bisheswar Prasad Koirala. As antimonarchist sentiments grew in the late 1970s and serious riots challenged his authority, the king relaxed his control.

In a 1980 referendum on the form of government, the voters decided to retain the nonparty panchayat system with certain modifications. Among the reforms was a constitutional amendment providing for the king to appoint a prime minister upon the recommendation of the National Assembly. Elections under the new provisions were held in 1981 and 1986. Although all candidates ran as independents, reports indicated that Marxist-Leninist members of the Communist Party won a number of seats in parliament.

C Constitutional Monarchy

Following a wave of pro-democracy protests spearheaded by Nepal’s banned political parties, Birendra agreed in 1990 to allow political activity. An interim government drafted a new constitution that provided for multiple political parties. In November 1990, with the adoption of a constitution stating the powers of the monarch, Nepal became a constitutional monarchy.

In 1991 the Nepali Congress Party (NCP) won the country’s first democratic election in 32 years, and the party’s general secretary, Girija Prasad Koirala, brother of former prime minister Bisheswar Prasad Koirala, became prime minister. Koirala resigned in 1994 after his coalition government lost its parliamentary majority. In new elections the Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) branch of Nepal’s Communist Party won the majority of seats. The UML remained in power less than a year before a coalition government replaced it.

In 1996, a radical leftist party called the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), unhappy with the pace and direction of change, launched a “people’s war” aimed at overthrowing the government, abolishing the monarchy, and establishing a people’s republic. Incidents of violence were at first confined to remote mountain regions but by the late 1990s had spread to more than half the country.

C 1 Political Instability

A period of political instability followed the declaration of the “people’s war” in 1996. One prime minister succeeded another in a series of unstable coalition governments. Internal fighting weakened the coalitions, as did their inability to control the Maoist rebellion.

C 2 Royal Massacre

In early June 2001 King Birendra and eight other members of the royal family, including Queen Aiswarya, were fatally shot in the royal palace in Kathmandu. An official investigation of the massacre concluded that Crown Prince Dipendra had killed his family members in a drunken rage and then committed suicide. Birendra’s younger brother, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, succeeded to the throne.

The Maoist insurgency intensified following the massacre, fueled in part by popular conspiracy theories surrounding the incident. Prime Minister Koirala, in office for the third time, was widely criticized for embarrassing setbacks at the hands of the rebels and for a perceived failure to provide adequate protection for the royal family. His government was also mired in a bribery scandal.

C 3 Insurgency and Crisis

Koirala stepped down as prime minister in July 2001 and was succeeded by Sher Bahadur Deuba, a former prime minister known for his willingness to work with opposition parties. Deuba began a series of reforms, including distribution of land to the poor, and introduced plans to criminalize discrimination against Dalits (“Untouchables”) and to end the caste system. Deuba also initiated peace talks with the Maoist rebels, and both sides agreed to a ceasefire. But the ceasefire ended in November 2001 after Deuba rejected Maoist demands for a new constitution that would abolish the monarchy. Fighting renewed and as the violence continued, King Gyanendra declared emergency rule, which enabled him to send the royal army to fight the insurgency. In 2002 Gyanendra dismissed Deuba, dissolved parliament, and assumed full power over the government before appointing a new prime minister.

In January 2003 the government and the Maoists agreed to a ceasefire and renewed negotiations. However, the ceasefire collapsed in August, after seven months. Meantime, the political parties, which had been excluded from the government after the dissolution of parliament, led demonstrations in the capital, and in June 2003 Deuba was reappointed prime minister.

The Maoist rebels intensified their insurgency after the ceasefire collapsed in August 2003. They refused to enter peace negotiations with Deuba, insisting on direct talks with the king, and staged two week-long blockades of Kathmandu. In February 2005 Gyanendra again imposed a state of emergency. He assumed full executive power, dismissing Deuba and his government. The king also suspended many constitutional rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and the press.

In April 2006 massive protests took place against direct rule by the king. In Kathmandu street demonstrations drew hundreds of thousands of people, and government forces responded by firing into crowds, killing more than a dozen people. The protests were spearheaded by a seven-party opposition alliance that included the Maoist insurgents. Faced with daily protests, a general strike, and road blockades that cut off Kathmandu from fuel and food supplies, Gyanendra announced that he would restore parliament, which he had dissolved four years earlier. On the recommendation of the seven-party alliance, Gyanendra named Koirala as prime minister. The newly reinstated parliament soon began to strip the king of his powers. The Maoist rebels declared a three-month truce and began talks with Koirala.

C 4 Peace Agreement

The Maoist rebels reached a peace agreement with the Nepalese government in November 2006, ending a decade-long revolt during which an estimated 13,000 people were killed. Under United Nations supervision, the Maoists turned over their weapons and confined their troops in camps. As part of the agreement, a government commission was set up to investigate human rights abuses by both sides in the long conflict. Koirala assigned 5 of the 22 cabinet posts in the interim government to Maoists, who joined the government in April 2007. The government planned to nationalize the monarch’s assets while allowing Gyanendra to keep property he owned before he came to the throne.

Elections for a constituent assembly, chosen by the people, were scheduled for June 2007. The assembly was to rewrite Nepal’s constitution and decide whether Nepal would remain a monarchy or become a republic. The Maoists, who had been pushing for an end to the monarchy, agreed to abide by the constituent assembly’s decision. However, the elections were subsequently postponed due to two new demands made by the Maoists: the abolition of the monarchy ahead of the elections, and the implementation of a proportional system of voting for the elections. The new demands contradicted the earlier agreement and created a political deadlock. The Maoists withdrew from the governing coalition in September 2007, and the elections were further delayed. However, the Maoists rejoined the interim government after all of the main parties agreed to abolish the monarchy immediately after the elections, which were scheduled for April 2008.

D The Republic of Nepal

In the April 2008 elections the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) won the largest bloc of seats, taking 120 of the 240 directly elected seats. The Nepali Congress Party won the next largest bloc with 37, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) won 32. As promised, one of the first acts of the constituent assembly was to abolish the monarchy and declare Nepal a republic. The new government also declared Nepal a secular state, in which Hinduism is no longer the official religion. King Gyanendra was invited to remain in Nepal as a private citizen without any royal privileges, and his palace was converted to a museum. The constituent assembly was expected to take two years to write a new constitution.

In August the constituent assembly named Prachanda, the chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), as Nepal’s new prime minister. He was sworn in by the new president, Ram Baran Yadav, who holds a largely ceremonial post.

Nepal Tourism Year 2011

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The natural scenery, high mountains, incomparable cultural heritage and numerous specialties have made Nepal a well-known destination in the world tourism map with a distinct image of its own. However, the development of tourism is limited in number and within the certain areas of the country only. The new government has shown greater concerns about the real value of tourism and its role in contributing to economic growth, poverty alleviation, equity and overall tourism development in the country.

Therefore, the government is placing high priority on the tourism sector in its new economic development policy. As there is a favorable political situation in the country, the government is all geared towards economic revolution in next 10 years for the up-liftment of the masses. In this connection, government of Nepal in consultation with Nepalese Tourism Industry, concerned organizations and experts decided to launch a national tourism campaign "Nepal Tourism Year 2011".
This announcement reflects the government’s anticipation to bring into at least one million international tourists in Nepal by the year 2011 and spread the benefits of tourism to the people at large. The national campaign also indicates the tourism industry’s exigency to organize a tourism promotion campaign having wider impact.

With the glittering badge of adventure destination and the adage “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guests are Gods) that reflects "Atithi Satkar, Nepaliko Sanskar" (Hospitality is Nepalese culture) deeply rooted in our culture, the tourism products of Nepal never cease to mesmerize the visitors. The cultural, geographical, ethnic and bio-diversities of the country allure international visitors to Nepal time and again which truly substantiates the spirit of Nepal tourism brand; ‘Naturally Nepal, once is not enough !

The concept of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 envisions harnessing these opportunities and strengths and bringing together the commitment of the government, expertise and experiences of the organizations like Nepal Tourism Board, aptitude and dynamism of the private sector and communities for further tourism development in the country. Active involvement of the major political parties, members of the Constitution Assembly and Right groups is always taken into consideration in order to make the campaign inclusive and participatory in modus operandi and effective in result. The campaign will also focus on mobilizing the networks of the Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN) communities, Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad, I/NGOs, airlines, and national and international media. Similarly, friends and well-wishers of Nepal, tourism academicians and celebrities will also be approached in order to highlight the campaign internally as well as internationally. This is also called Visit Nepal Year 2011.

Objectives of Campaign:

Establish Nepal as a choice of premier holiday destination with a definite brand image.
Improve and extend tourism related infrastructures in existing and new destinations
Enhance the capacity of service providers.
Boost community capacity in the new areas to cater the need of the visitors.
Promote domestic tourism for sustainable growth of the industry.

Campaign Targets:

Achieve one million international visitors
Encouraging more investment on tourism infrastructures