Thursday, January 28, 2010

Introducing Kathmandu


For many people, stepping off a plane into Kathmandu is an exhilarating shock - the sights, sounds and smells can quickly lead to sensory overload. Whether it be buzzing around the crazy polluted traffic in a taxi, trundling down the narrow winding streets of the old town in a rickshaw, marvelling at Durbar Sq or dodging the tiger balm sellers and trekking touts in Thamel, Kathmandu can be an intoxicating, amazing and exhausting place.//

Nepal Flag


The Nepal flag came into being on December 16, 1962. The Nepal flag is the only national flag which is not rectangular or square in shape. It comprises of a sun and a moon which had previously human faces but the images were removed when the flag was modernized in 1962. It is being said that the national flag of Nepal anticipates, that the nation will last as long as the sun and moon is there on earth. The blue border on the flag of Nepal signifies peace, red stands for the color of rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal. The curved moon is symbolic of the royal house and the sun represents the Rana dynasty.

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.

Nepal Political Map


Nepal lies between Asia and China. Being a southern Asian country Nepal has a total population of 28,901,790, as per July 2007 estimate. The map of Nepal locates the 14 administrative zones of the country. Also, the Nepal map highlights the significant trekking areas, politically important areas and flag of the country. The Kathmandu Nepal is the capital city of the country. As one of the popular tourist destinations, Nepal is visited by large number of people every year. The Nepal trekking options provide the tourists an opportunity to explore the natural splendors of the place. Royal Nepal Airlines is the country's international airways.

Nepal is a country in the Indian sub-continental region. Nepal facts include many interesting characteristics of the country. The most interesting of all facts about Nepal is that the country is home to the 10 highest mountain peaks in the world.

A compilation of Nepal facts reveals the great biodiversity of the country. The fact about Nepal is that the country exhibits a healthy variety of ethnicities in its population. The Hindu religion is followed by the majority of the Nepalese populace. 90% of the population is Hindu. Buddhists form a significant minority at 5%. There is a smattering of Muslims and persons following other religions. Nepali is the official language of the country. The local currency is the Nepali Rupee. Electricity supply is 230 volts at 50 Hertz or 230V 50Hz. The country dialing code by telephone is 977. The time is obtained by adding 5.75 to the Greenwich Mean Time or GMT. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

The elevation of the country range from a low of 60 meters above sea level to the extreme heights of Mount Everest-8,850 meters. The capital of Nepal is Kathmandu. The total land area of Nepal is 140,800 square kilometers. The land area is 136,800 square kilometers. The area covered by various water bodies cover 4,000 square kilometers. The population of Nepal is more than 26 million people. Climatic variations exist in the country.

Asia


Asia is the largest and most populous continent in the world. Culturally diverse and historically rich, Asian countries has been home to number of world leaders. There are 44 countries, which make up the continent of Asia. China, India, Japan and Sri Lanka are the leading nations of this continent. All the countries of Asia Continent are culturally rich and diverse in nature. China is the largest country in terms of area. It is also the most populous country not only in Asia but also in the world.

Asia Continent - Salient Features
Asia continent is bound by the Pacific Ocean in the east, Europe in the west, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea in the southeast. The Arctic Ocean borders Asia in the north while the Bering Strait separates the continent from North America in the north east. The Indian Ocean to the south of the continent separates it from Australia. Some of the salient features of Asia are:

* The total area is about 44,614,000 square km.
* It has the longest coastline in the world
* Mount Everest is the highest peak, rising to a height of 8848 meters.
* Dead Sea is the lowest point located 400 meters below sea level.
* Experiences the extremes of climate

Asia Facts

It covers 8.6% of the total surface area on Earth, which accounts for around 30% of the total land area. Asia, with more than 60% of the world population, is the most populous continent in the world. Asia is the most diverse continent and is divided into 6 sub-regions, namely

* Northern Asia
* Central Asia
* Western Asia
* Southern Asia
* Eastern Asia
* Southeastern Asia