Nepal In General

Nepal, a sovereign, independent and landlocked country is bounded on the North by the Tibetan (Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of the China) and to the East, South and West by India. The length of the country is 885 kilometers East-West and its breadth varies from 145-241 kilometers North – south. The highest point Mt. Everest and lowest Kechana (60 m above sea level) Geographically, Nepal is divided into three main geographical regions.

(A) Himalayan (Mountain) Region:

The altitude of this region ranges between 4877 m.-8848m. It includes 8 of the highest 14 summits in the world which exceed altitude of 8000 m. including, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and others.

(B) Hilly Region:

This region accounts for about 64 percent of total land area. It is formed by the Mahabharat range that soars up to 4877 meters and the lower Churia range.

(C) Terai region:

The low-land Terai occupies about 17 percent of the total land area of the country. There is no seasonal constraint on travelling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when the winter is at its severest, there is compensating bright sun and brilliant views.

Climate ranges from sub-tropical in the low lands to Arctic in higher altitude. Climatic conditions of Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with the geographical features. In the north summers are cool and winters severe, while in south summers are tropical and winters are mild. Nepal has namely five major seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.An average temperature drop of 6C occurs for every 1,000 m gain in altitude. In the Terai, summer temperatures exceed 37 C and higher in some areas, winter temperatures range from 7 C to 23 C in the Terai. In mountainous regions, hills and valleys, summers are temperate while winter temperatures can plummet under sub zero. The valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant climate with average summer and winter temperatures of 19C–35 C and 2C–12 C respectively.

Over 101 ethnic Groups & 92 spoken languages. People composed of different races living in different regions, with diverse culture, languages and dialects. The Guruns and Magars live mainly in the west. The Rais, Limbus and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the Eastern mid hills. The Sherpas live-in the Himalayan region. The Newars constitute an important ethnic group of the capital Kathmandu valley. There are Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajvanshis, Chhetris and Thakuris who are spread generally over all parts of the country.

Hinduism and Buddhism constitute the two major religions of Nepal. A remarkable feature of Nepal is the religious homogeneity which exists, particularly between the Hindu and Buddhist Communities. Apart from the Hindus and Buddhists, Muslims form the third largest religious group. The exquisite medieval Art & Architecture of the Kathmandu Valley vividly reflect the artistic ingenuity and the religious tradition of the people.

In Nepal, People of different background lives and speak in their native languages. The most common ones are Nepali, Newari, Tharu, etc.  Although Nepali is the national language, many people are fluent and most speak and understand English.

The most common word in Nepal is ‘NAMASTE‘. Chances are you might have already heard the word. It is used by most Nepaless to greet each other and show respect to others.

“NAMASTE ! TAPAnYI LAI NEPAL MA SWAGAT CHA !”
(Namaste ! You are welcome in Nepal)

Nepal has four climatic seasons (a) Spring: March-May (b) Summer: June-August (c) Autumn: September- November and (d) winter: December-February. Monsoons are from June till mid september. The average temperature and rainfall records in Kathmandu are presented hereunder.

Clothing depends on place and time, however, it is recommended to have both light and warm clothes. In the mountain areas warm clothes are generally a must.

A visa is required to enter Nepal except for Indian nationals. One can get a visa at the Nepalese Embassy or Consulates abroad and the immigration offices at the entry points including airport provide a visa upon presentation of a valid passport, two passport size photos and a payment of visa fees upon arrival. Tourist can extend their visas at the Department of Immigration, Anam Nagar, Kathmandu. For further info. please visit www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

Direct flights connect Kathmandu to Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Karachi, Calcutta, Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna, Varanasi, Bangalore, Dhaka, Paro, Lhasa, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Osaka, Chengdu etc.