Thursday, January 28, 2010

About Nepal

Nepal is a tiny country in Asia. It is a landlocked country bordered by two huge neighbors-India and China. Nepal attracts a disproportionate large number of tourists, when compared to its size. This is due to a few things about Nepal-including the presence of Mount Everest.

Nepal is located along the spine of the majestic Himalayan mountain ranges. This unique location gives the country a beauty that is unmatched anywhere in the world. Travelers to the country say one thing about Nepal- the country could not be experienced fully on a single visit. The travelers have to come again and again to know the mountainous country and its people.

Nepal is the land of ethereal beauty. The country has historical temples. Nepal also has one of the best trekking routes on earth. It is a sovereign country rich in natural beauty and cultural resources. The capital Kathmandu is the transit point for persons seeking adventure from all over the globe. They come attracted by the country's diverse terrain. The lowest point of the country is just 60 meters above sea level. The highest point in the country is Mount Everest. Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth. The swift flowing mountain rivers, tropical green jungles and cold mountains complete the ethereal Nepal experience.
Nepal Infrastructure has been developing at a very high rate for the past few years. The basic developments and renovations required for acceleration in the social and economic areas are an important aspect of Infrastructure at Nepal. The main areas under development in Nepal Infrastructure are commerce, Trade and industry. Medium and large scale industries are being set up in the urban regions of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Rajbiraj, Janakpur, Terai areas, Birgnj, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Pokhra and Hetauda.

The rural infrastructure in Nepal is undergoing massive changes due to the initiation taken by the GRID or Group for Rural Infrastructure Development in Nepal, in providing better options to the rural population for a higher rate of income generation. This includes providing funds to the rural development centers for setting up of sub-projects in order to upgrade the rural transport system, river crossing structures and roads, mule trails and tracks. The Nepal Infrastructure upgrading programe also focuses on strengthening and building social mobilization and rural development.

For the development of urban Nepal Infrastructure, the regions are divided into four zones. These zones are Zone 1 Municipal areas of Kathmandu valley, Zone 2 outside the Municipal areas of Kathmandu valley, Zone 3 Municipal areas of Britnagar, Pokhara, Birgunj, Dharan, Butwal, Janakpur, Nepalgunj and Siddharthnagar and Zone 4 Municipal areas other than those mentioned in zone3. This zoning has been performed with the purpose of reducing the industrial pollution and the excessive usage of the industrial infrastructure of Nepal.

Nepal is a small country in the southern part of the Asian continent. Part of the Indian sub-continent, Nepal people, culture, festivals is almost similar to that of India. There are various ethnic races and religions in Nepal. All these separate races have a distinct culture and custom of their own. Festivals in Nepal are also varied and have a flavor of their own.

Nepal people, culture, festivals together have created a rich cultural and traditional heritage and is followed closely all throughout the world. There are many ethnic groups, which form a major part of the population in Nepal. Some of the ethic races include Gurungs, Magars, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, Lopas, Annapurna, Mustang, Rajvanshis, Dhimals and many more. Each of these races has distinct culture and customs.

There is no uniform culture in Nepal. Each ethnic race has its typical culture and all these cultures when taken together make a rich composite culture of Nepal. Most of the Nepali people are followers of Hinduism, followed by Buddhism. There are also some Nepali people who preach and practice Christianity in Nepal. Monogamy is practiced by almost all the tribes and clans of Nepal.

Festivals in Nepal are many and are celebrated all round the year. Many of these festivals are religiously related, while some are cultural based. Some of the most important festivals in Nepal include:
  • Tihar
  • Dashain
  • Maha Shivaratri
  • Mani Rimdu
  • Gai Jatra
  • Holi
  • Haribodhini Ekadashi
  • Buddha Jayanti

The Nepal geography and history is diverse and is closely related to its two giant neighbors Republic of India and People's Republic of China. The landlocked Himalayan country has witnessed many political upheavals in its long existence.

The Nepal geography and history exhibits the colorful character of the small Himalayan country. The landscape of Nepal is diverse. The geography of Nepal could be demarcated into three regions. The three regions are the Terai, Hill and Mountain geographical areas. The country occupies an area of 56,827 square miles. Nepal is 800 kilometers long and 200 kilometers in breadth. The Terai regions are the plain regions of the country. The Indo-Gangetic plain constitutes the Terai region. The Hill region is adjacent to the Mountain region. The altitude of this region varies from 1,000 to 4,000 meters above sea level. The Nepal capital city of Kathmandu is located in the Hill region of the country. The Mountain region of Nepal is one of the highest places in the world. Mount Everest at 8,850 meters is the world's highest mountain.

The history of Nepal dates back to more than nine thousand years. The first Indo-Aryan tribes entered the Himalayan region around 1500BC. Gautama Buddha was born in Nepal. He was the founder of Buddhism. Nepal saw various rulers like the Gupta Emperors and Chalukya Kings from South India in its long history. The present ceremonial King belongs to the Shah Dynasty.

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