General Information

Heartily Welcome you to Nepal,

Nepal is a collision zone. The towering Himalaya Mountains attest to the colossal tectonic force of the Indian Subcontinent as it plows into mainland Asia. Nepal also marks the collision point between Hinduism and Buddhism, between the Tibeto-Burmese language group and the Indo-European, and between Central Asian culture and Indian culture. Moreover, it is the birthplace of The Lord Buddha, holy Hindu sites, beautiful temples, stupas, mosques and churches, a number UNESCO heritage sites and the most mesmerizing scenery where people could ever feast their eyes on, all bring people flocking to the peace and harmony country, Nepal.

It's little wonder, then, that this beautiful and diverse country has fascinated travelers and explorers for centuries.

Capital:

Kathmandu, population 3,442,271

Major Cities:

Pokhara, population 468,000
Patan, population 220,000
Biratnagar, population 167,000
Bhaktapur, population 83,000\

Government

The mountainous Kingdom of Nepal became a multiparty federal republic in 2008, but political instability has continued.
The president of Nepal serves as chief of state, while the prime minister is head of government. A Cabinet or Council of Ministers fills out the executive branch.
Nepal has a unicameral legislature, the Constituent Assembly, with 601 seats. 240 members are directly elected; 335 seats are awarded by proportional representation, and 26 are appointed by the Cabinet.
The Sarbochha Adala (Supreme Court) is the highest court.
The current president is Bidya Devi Bhandari; former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (aka Prachanda) is Prime Minister.

Official Languages:

 Nepal, known as a multilingual country speaks 123 Nepalese languages as a mother tongue (first language) in Nepal. Most belong to the Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan Language Families. However, Nepali is the official languages which is Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is related to the Indian language, Hindi, and is spoken by about 90 percent of the population in either native or second language fluency. Many Nepalese in government and business also speak English.

Other common languages in Nepal include Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Gurung, Tamang, Awadhi, Kiranti, Magar, and Sherpa.

Population:

Nepal is home to 29,765,760  of people.

The population is primarily rural. Nepal's demographics are complicated not only by dozens of ethnic groups but by different castes, which also function as ethnic groups. In total, there are 103 castes or ethnic groups.

Religion:

Religion occupies an integral position in Nepalese life and society. Nepal is primarily Hindu in religion though it is -a cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and religiously diverse nation with many religions being practiced here since the ancient times. However, Buddhism (at about 11%) also has a lot of influence. The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was born at Lumbini, in southern Nepal.

In fact, many Nepalese people combine Hindu and Buddhist practices; many temples and shrines are shared between the two faiths, and some deities are worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.

Smaller minority religions include Islam, with about 4%; the syncretic religion called Kirat Mundhum, which is a blend of animism, Buddhism, and Saivite Hinduism, at about 3.5%; and Christianity (0.5%).

Geography:

Nepal covers 147,181 sq. kilometers (56,827 sq. miles), sandwiched between the People's Republic of China to the north and India to the west, south, and east. It is a geographically diverse, land-locked country. Of course, Nepal is associated with the Himalayan Range, including the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest. Standing at 8,848 meters (29,028 feet), Everest is called Saragmatha or Chomolungma in Nepali and Tibetan. Southern Nepal, however, is a tropical monsoonal lowland, called the Tarai Plain. The lowest point is Kanchan Kalan, at just 70 meters (679 feet). Most people live in the temperate hilly midlands.

Climate:

Nepal lies at roughly the same latitude as Saudi Arabia or Florida. Due to its extreme topography, however, it has a much wider range of climate zones than those places. The southern Tarai Plain is tropical or subtropical, with hot summers and warm winters. Temperatures reach 40°C in April and May. Monsoon rains drench the region from June to September, with 75-150 cm (30-60 inches) of rain.

The central hill-lands, including the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys, have a temperate climate and are also influenced by the monsoons. In the north, the high Himalayas are extremely cold and increasingly dry as the altitude rises.

Economy:

Despite its tourism and energy-production potential, Nepal remains one of the world's poorest countries.  Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost two-thirds of the population but accounting for only one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain..Nepal was hit by massive earthquakes in early 2015, which damaged or destroyed infrastructure and homes and set back economic development. Political gridlock in the past several years and recent public protests, predominantly in the southern Tarai region, have hindered post-earthquake recovery and prevented much-needed economic reform. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, persistent power shortages, and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.he per capita income for 2013 was just $694 US per person. Over 1/2 of Nepalis live on less than $2 a day; according to the CIA, Nepal's unemployment rate hovers around 50%.

Nepal exports garments, carpets, and hydroelectric power.$1 US = 108.8 Nepal rupees (Jan. 2017).

Health :

Medical treatment is expensive at Western travelers' clinics in Nepal. Healthcare is poor in most places outside the Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara. You should be aware that it might be difficult to obtain rapid helicopter evacuation if you were to fall ill or suffer a serious accident in a remote area of the country. Cases of cholera have been reported in Kathmandu and seasonal outbreaks across the country are common during the Monsoon (June to September). If you are traveling to Nepal you should familiarize yourself with precautions needed to avoid cholera, in particular, avoiding tap water, ice, raw or undercooked vegetables. If you suffer from diarrhea during a visit to Nepal seek immediate medical attention.

There are seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever in Nepal which have resulted in a number of deaths. Japanese encephalitis is known to occur in Nepal. A number of people have died. The WHO advises short-term visitors to Nepal during the rainy season (June-September) and all long-term visitors to Nepal to obtain Japanese encephalitis vaccinations before traveling.

Malaria is relatively rare in the hills, including the Kathmandu Valley. However, you should take adequate precautions, including considering prophylactic medication, for travel in the Terai (which includes Bardiya, Lumbini, Chitwan and Koshi Tappu). Prophylactics are available – but expensive – in Kathmandu. Rabies is present in Nepal. Stay alert around stray animals (including monkeys) and seek immediate medical advice if bitten or scratched. In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 60,000 adults aged 15 or over in Nepal were living with HIV. Exercise the normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.

Seek medical advice before traveling to Nepal and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. It is advisable to bring along warm clothing while traveling from November to February and tropical wear from March to October.

The destructive 2015 Earthquake killed around 20,000 people, and Nepal will be recovering for years to come. Many significant Monasteries, Temples, Heritage Cites and other culturally and religiously important areas were destroyed in the Earthquake. Nepal is a safe and welcoming country to visit, and tourism supports the local economies and rebuilding efforts across the country.

Come and join us for a life changing experience – with Himalayan Unforgettable Adventures!