Nepal is a destination of infinite charm and diversity. For the adventurous of spirit, there could be no better place on earth than this tiny kingdom for a really fulfilling holiday. Nepal is one of the world's most incredible countries; home of some 24 million Nepalese, their languages and customs as diverse as the terrain and climate itself. Within a single day one can fly past Everest and its neighboring peaks, pause amidst the palaces & temples of Kathmandu, then descend through the terraces of the middle hills to the plains and ride elephants through tropical jungles, inhabited by several species of migratory and native birds and wild animals including the great Asian one-horned Rhinoceros and the ever elusive Royal Bengal Tiger, the king of the jungle.

Nepal, the world’s only Hindu kingdom covers an area of 147,181 sq. kms and stretches 145 - 241 kms. north to south & 800 - 850 kms. west to east. Nepal is totally landlocked and precariously positioned between two Asian giants; China in the North and India to the east, west & south.

At latitudes 26 & 30 degrees north & longitudes 80 & 88 degrees east, Nepal is topographically divided into three regions; the Himalaya to the north, the hills consisting of Mahabharata range & Churia hills in the middle and the Terai plains to the south. Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest point is Mt. Everest (8850m) and the lowest point at Jhapa district (67m). Altitude generally increases as one travels south to north.

History of Nepal

The recorded history of Nepal begins when the Kiratis from the eastern part of the country started to rule the country. The first known rulers of the Kathmandu valley were Kiratis. Yalamar, was the first of their king, he was also mentioned in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata. During the Kirati period that Buddhism first arrived in the country, Krakuchhanda Buddha, Kanak Muni Buddha and Kashyapa Buddha visited the Kathmandu valley to worship Swayambhunath. After Kiratis, the Lichhavis as the second ruler of the country began ruling 4th to 7th century. The temple of Changunarayan was built in Licchavi period, which can be seen now a day.

The Malla period was golden period of Kathmandu valley when great numbers of art, statues and temples were built. During the 14th century Malla ruled this valley for a total period of 568 years. At that period this country was divided into small principalities and kingdoms of 24 groups in western and 22 groups in far western Kathmandu valley was divided into three states of Kantipur, Lalitpur & Bhaktapur.

From the tiny Kingdom of Gorkha, halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara the king of Shah Dynasty gradually strengthened and extended their power. In 1768 king Prithivi Narayan Shah defeated the Malla kings and Nepal has been ruled by Shah Kings ever since. His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is the twelth king in this shah dynasty.

Interesting Facts

In the early 1990s, Nepal was the only constitutionally declared Hindu state in the world. There is, however, a great deal of intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Many of the people regarded as Hindus in the 1981 census could, with as much justification, be called Buddhists.

The following are the Cultural World Heritage sites of Nepal.
» Kathmandu Durbar Square
» Patan Durbar Square
» Bhaktapur Durbar Square
» Changu Narayan Temple
» Swayambhunath Stupa
» Pashupatinath Temple
» Lumbini
» Bouddhanath Stupa

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