Nepal
is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People’s
Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the
Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers
(56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 30 million,
Nepal is the world’s 93rd largest country by land mass
and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the capital
of the nation and a treasure house of ancient art and culture.
Nepal, within its small area, is endowed with the gift of
nature as no other in the world possibly has. Lying between
India and China in the south and north respectively, Nepal
has preserved its own unique identity in terms of culture,
ethnic diversity and pristine natural glory. From the north
to the south, the differences in every aspect stand out can
captivate anyone.
A land of mountains that Nepal is often called, it boasts
of the main Himalayan range that is house to the highest peaks
in the world. With Everest, the highest peak in the world
standing at a height of 8848meters (29028feet) above the main
sea level, there are other peaks that also are alluring; among
the fourteen peaks above 8000meters eight are in Nepal which
makes the country the focus of all mountaineers worldwide.
Location
Nepal is a land-locked country bordering with the Tibet Autonomous
Region of the People's Republic of China in the north and surrounded
by India in the east, south and west.
Language
Nepali is the national language of Nepal. Educated people
understand and speak English as well. There are hundreds of
local dialects spoken by people from various ethnic groups.
Climate
Nepal has four major seasons, namely
1 Winter: December-February
2 Spring: March-May
3 Summer: June-August and
4 Autumn: September-November. Nepal can be visited all the year
round.
People and Religion
Nepalese people are mainly divided into two distinct groups,
the Indo-Aryans and the Mangoloids (the Kirats). Before 2007
AD, Nepal was regarded as the only Hindu Kingdom in the world.
But after that the Government of Nepal has already announced
the country to be secular country. The Hindu Temples and Buddhist
Shrines are scattered all over the Kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace
of Lord Buddha, Herald of Peace, the Light of Asia. Hindus,
Buddhists, Muslims and Christians live together in harmony.
And other nature worshippers, too, exist here.
Currency & Foreign exchange
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500,
1000 denominations. Coins come in Rs. 1, 2 , 5 and 10 denominations.
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through banks or authorized
money exchangers. The receipts of such transaction are to be
obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange foreign currency
at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival.
Visitors other than the Indian nationals have to make the payment
in foreign currency (non-Indian currency) in hotel,Trekking
agencies or travel agencies and for air tickets.
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 147,181 sq km
land: 143,181 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km
India 1,690 km
Coastline:
0 km landlocked
Maritime claims:
none landlocked
Climates:
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north
to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central
hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources:
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small
deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought,
and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration
of the summer monsoons
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of
alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal
wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents);
wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not
ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including
Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and
third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively
People
Government
Country name:
conventional long and short form:
Nepal local long and short form: Nepal
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Kathmandu geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead
of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);
Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali,
Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha,
Seti
Independence:
1768 (Unification lead by Prithvi
Narayan SHAH)
Constitution:
9 November 1990; note - a new interim
constitution was promulgated in January 2007; the November
2006 peace agreement calls for the election of a constituent
assembly to draft a new permanent constitution
Legal system:
based on Hindu legal concepts and
English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Girija Prasad
KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad
KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006) cabinet: Cabinet historically appointed by the
monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; note
- the prime minister selected the Cabinet in May 2006
in consultation with the political parties elections: following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
historically has been appointed prime minister by the
monarch
Legislative branch:
a 330 seat Interim Parliament was
formed on 15 January 2007 following the promulgation of
an interim constitution elections: Constituent Assembly elections orginally
scheduled for June 2007 are expected to be held on 10
April 2008 election results: Interim Parliament seats by
party - NC 85, CPN/M 83, CPN/UML 83, NC/D 48, RPP 9, NSP/AD
5, NWPP 4, People's Front Nepal (Amik Sherchan Group)
4, People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur K.C. Group) 3,
UFL 3, People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur Ale Group)
2, NSP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat
(chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation
of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed
by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist
or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL]; National Democratic Party
or NDP [Pashupati Shumsher RANA] (also called Rastriya
Prajantra Party or RPP); Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party
or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana
Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants
Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; People's Front
Nepal (Amik Sherchan Group); People's Front Nepal (Chitra
Bahadur Ale Group); People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur
K.C. Group); Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur
THAPA] (split from RPP in March 2005); Samyukta Janmorcha
Nepal (merged with People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002);
United Leftist Front or UFL [C.P. MAINALI] etc
Political pressure groups and
leaders:
Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency
[Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA, chairman;
Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI]; numerous small, left-leaning student
groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese
antimonarchist groups
red with a blue border around the
unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller,
upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger,
lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
Nepal
is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People’s
Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the
Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers
(56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 30 million,
Nepal is the world’s 93rd largest country by land mass
and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the capital
of the nation and a treasure house of ancient art and culture.