INTRODUCTION TO NEPAL

Nepal, the small and hospitable country, is an exceptionally popular destination for travelers, especially for those who are in search of climbing challenges or spiritual enlightenment. It is the country of Mount Everest, t thish dominated by the world’s most imposing mountains. The country is  small (147,181 square kilometers) but its major territory is occupied by the dramatic peaks of the Himalayas.

Geographically Nepal is divided into three regions: The Himalayas, Hilly region and the Terai.

The Himalayas stretch across the northern section of Nepal. Eight of the ten highest peaks in the world are located here, and most are covered with permanent snowfields.

Hilly region, the central section of Nepal is formed by the Mahabharat Chain, a range of mountains that reach modest altitudes of 2,000-3,000 meters. Farming is the important activity in the area; terraced farms produce rice, corn and wheat. The Kathmandu Valley, a stretch of green in the middle of the Mahabharat, is home to Nepal’s capital and other historic cities.

Terai, the southernmost strip of land, is bordered to the north by Himalayan foothills and to the south by the Ganges River. The Terai is the breadbasket of Nepal and is covered with farms and agricultural land.

Nepal has population of around twenty-six million, made up of 40 different races and tribes, living in different regions, wearing different costumes and speaking different languages and dialects. In other words, she offers such diversity that the visitors experience lifestyle from stone-age to modern jet age. Religion-wise most people in Nepal are Hindus, which covers 90% of the population, and Buddhists, the second major religion. But Buddhism has a special connection to Nepal as Siddhartha Gautama, later revered as the Buddha, was born in the Nepal in 543 BC.

The climate varies considerably in Nepal with elevation but the weather is generally predictable and pleasant. There are four climatic seasons: March–May (spring), June–August (summer), September–November (autumn) and December–February (winter). The monsoon is approximately from the end of June to the middle of September. March and April are good months for mountain treks.