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Geography:
Nepal extends about 885 km from east to west and up to 241 km
from north to south, covering an area of 147,818 square
kilometers, as Swiss and Austria together.
Closed in between India and China it divides itself into 4
climatic and geographic zones: Terai, Siwaliks, Mahabharat Lekhs
and Pahar, the high Himalaya. The
Terai, downland in the south of Nepal is part of the Ganga
plains, once densely forested with subtropical climate. More
than 450 birds are found here, and Tiger, Leopard, Buffalo,
Elephant, Gharial, Rhinos, are the most famous animals. The
jungles are covered mainly with Sal trees and Elephant grass. The
inflow of immigrants from other (hilly) parts in the last 30
years and the simultaneously growth of the population has
reduced the jungles. More than 10 Million Nepali are settled in
the Terai. But here we can see also the tectonic work of the
great earth plates, in fact here the Indian subcontinent
"crashes with the Asiatic plate, creating all other following
zones and many earthquakes.
Flooded every year by the rivers during monsoon, the Terai is
highly fertile. Beside of this, many industries are settled
here.
Climate & Season:
Nepal experience 4 seasons - spring (Mar-May), summer
(Jun.-Aug.), autumn (Sept.-Nov.) and winter (Dec.-Feb.).
The
climate is varied ranging from the sub-tropical Terai to the
cool dry temperate and alpine climates in the northern Himalayan
ranges. The Terai is the hottest part of the country, summer
temperature may rise as high as 40ºc and is hot and humid. In
the mid mountain regions, the summer is mild with temperature
around 25º-27ºc. The winter temperature range from 7ºc to 23ºc
in the Terai and sub-zero to 12ºc in the mountain regions and
valleys. The northern Himalayan region has a frigid climate. The
valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant climate with an average
summer temperature of 19º-27ºc and winter temperature of 2º-12ºc
respectively.
History:
Nepal enjoys the glory of always being a sovereign and
independent country. It has never been under foreign
domination.
Ancient Nepal consisted of many small autonomous states. King
Prithivi Narayan Shah unified Nepal by bringing these small
states together into one nation in 1769. Since then Kathmandu
has been the capital of Nepal. After the Anglo-Nepali War
(1814-1816), Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana greatly expanded
his powers and established the Rana lineage of hereditary
Prime Ministers who ruled Nepal until 1951, when the late King
Tribhuvan led a popular revolution which put an end to the
Rana autocracy. In 1959, the first general election was held
and the parliamentary government was set up for a short
period. Nepal experienced the liberal panchayat system for
three decades.
The popular people's movement welcomed the new era of
democracy in 1990. A new constitution was written to secure
the sovereignty of the people and a democratic political
system with constitutional monarchy was established.
People:
Nepal has a population more than 18 million, made of different
races and tribes, living in different regions, wearing different
costumes and speaking different languages and dialects. The
Gurungs and Magars live mainly in the west and on the southern
slopes of Annapurna, Himalchuli and Ganesh Himal mountains. The
Rais, Limbu and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the
eastern mid hills. The Sherpas also known as "The tigers of the
Snow" live in the Himalayan region up to an average altitude of
4,570 m. The Newars constitute an important ethnic group in the
capital valley Kathmandu. there are Tharus, Yadavas, Satar,
Rajbhansis and Dhimals in the Terai region. The Brahmans,
Chhetris and Thakuris are spread generally over most parts of
the Kingdom.
Religion:
In Nepal, religions are very important, main religions are:
Hinduism, Buddhism, Shamanism. The religions are interconnected,
most Nepal is are Hindu, but the High Himalayas are permanently
Buddhist.
The valley of Kathmandu is too a stronghold of Buddhism
becoming, once because the Newars are believers of both faiths,
once because Tibetan refugees are settling in the valley.
Shamanism is interwoven with both faiths and you can find "Jankhri"
all over in Nepal. The Jankhri play a important role in the
Nepalese society. Other religions like Islam or Christianity are
nearly not present in the country. Nepal is Official religion is
the Hinduism.
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