Backpacking Information on Nepal

NEPALand just as much ethnic groups. The NEPALI, which
Population: 26.3 million (UN, 2005)not only refers to nationality, is the language of the land
Capital: Kathmanduwith almost half the 28,563,377 population as speakers
Area: 147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles)(46%) and the Chettris are the domineering ethnic
Major language: Nepaligroup. ENGLISH in Nepal has a far journey to behold
Major religions: Hinduism (official), Buddhismwithout proper programs in teaching. English is thus
Life expectancy: 61 years (men), 62 years (women)restricted to a diminutive elite population.
(UN)Fundamentally, to understand the Nepalese, is to
Monetary unit: 1 Nepalese rupee = 100 paisaunderstand that religion is their way of life. The
The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a wildmultilingual society is largely Hindu, as Nepal is called the
beauty, with so much more to offer than its legacy of"Hindu Kingdom", but Christianity is an emergent
the Mount Everest to which it is mostly predefined.minority with 128,535 Protestants and around 7,000 of
The majesty of the mountains and the nature and theRoman Catholics. Conversely, Buddhism and Islam are
overall spirituality the place elicits gives it right to thethe second and third major faiths in Nepal.
acclaim as the abode of the gods, for more thanFOOD & ATTRACTION
these reasons. Nepal is the birth place of SiddharthaTo many people, Nepal is the end of the road, the
Gautama Buddha, or Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.ultimate destination that their life can end here on. No
Also, being one the most preserved naturalother sky in the world is worth US$20,000 to take the
environments with over 3,000 temples, to be spirituallyjump of your life, or the jump that may end it. Talk
connected and feel at one with nature is hard to resist.about the being on top of the world. Nepal is, after all,
As rich as Nepal's heritage and traditions, the nation isthe "roof of the world." The adrenaline junkie's
one with the world to a progressive modernisationsupreme adventure of a lifetime, Nepal has extreme
while enduring with their culture and faith. Despiteexploits with mammoth proportions like bungee
national issues like poverty and lack of welfare for thejumping, racing, rafting, kayaking, paragliding, ultra-light
5,000 Nepalese children living on the streets, the peopleaircraft, rock-climbing, trekking, mountaineering, and
of Nepal are not afflicted with materialistic concernsbiking, unparalleled found nowhere else. And
and are focused on contributing to society more thanKathmandu Valley or the Abode of Snows is just the
money returns. This is a truly peaceful place where amagnet for you adventure seekers where Kathmandu,
smile means as it should and people will always find aPatan and Bhaktapur are set along with the region's
reason to, thus explains more Nepali festivals thanscores of sacred temples and monuments.
days of the year.Nepalese cuisine has a rich variety as well that is an
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATEattraction in itself. Nepalese food revolves around the
Nepal (28 00 N, 84 00 E) is a 147,181 km2-stretch ofethnicity, soil, and climate that all factors combined
what is a landlocked nation with the prestige of owningdefines its eater. Dal-bhat-tarkari is a national dish
8 of the worlds 14 highest peaks including Mountmade of lentil (dal) and vegetable curry (tarkari) served
Everest and Kanchenjunga, the world's tallest and thirdon top of steaming hot rice (bhat) Bhat is the staple
tallest mountains in the world respectively. Kanchanand could be in any other grain form. Nepalese cuisine
Kalan is the country's lowest point, which is 70 metresalso has spicy noodle soups, a diverse meat collection
above sea level, while the highest point, the Everest isfrom freshwater shrimps to lamb, and vegetables of
at a nerve-racking altitude of 8,848 meters. Nepal hassorts. If the famished traveller desires a taste that is
everything from Tarai or flat river plains in Ganges inquite familiar, the local appetizer chatamari is a la pizza
the south, to central hills, and rugged Himalayanby feature and taste. By the way, the Nepalese are
Mountains in the north. Climate varies as well from withalso experts on vegetarian cuisine. Desserts are
5 seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, andanother world in this other world of a nation, and one
spring, which can be easily described as subtropical inalways a thrill to integrate in the body system.
the north to arctic in the south. Within this spectacularNepalese desserts are dairy-based and for the most
geographical diversity, location, and altitude variation, it isparts, constituting of flour, rice and fruits.
one of the richest in the world with its broadCertainly, after Nepal, no one can continue with life as
biodiversity. With 35% of the land covered by forestsbefore. For the more calm unruffled audience, leisure
and tropical jungles, definitely Asia's thickest, 848 birdpit stops to yellow mustard fields, green tea gardens
species, 39 exotic orchids, and 500 butterfly speciesand crystal blue lakes will completely suffice. There
are teeming in this breadth of plush land. A sizablealso are the 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites from
20% is preserved as eco sites.the sacred birth place of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini,
PEOPLE & CULTUREthe city of fine arts with artifacts that par excellence,
Rich as the natural environment, Nepal is also one ofor Shiva's colossal temple Pashupatinath for a
the richest cultural landscapes in the world, especiallyhistorically-themed travel without compromising beauty
with a strategic location between China and India.and grandeur.
There are about 103 languages and dialects in Nepal