Nepal is known as the "Himalayan Kingdom" and is located between two great countries, India and China. Nepal bounded on the north by the peaks of the highest White Mountains on Earth, the Himalayas and in the south enriched by the beautifully terraced and incredibly green and flat Terai region. The Mountain nation is popularly known in the world as a hidden Shangri-La of nature, culture and adventure. Being rich in bio-diversity and ecosystems, the country has the greatest mountain ranges on earth, thick tropical jungles teeming with a wealth of flora and fauna, thundering rivers, forested hills and frozen valleys. In the countryside the way of life is still traditional and nature is at its best. High mountains and lush valleys are ideal places for trekking and mountaineering. Flora and fauna invite nature lovers for a rendezvous with them. Its rich traditions of art and culture preserve the medieval splendour and architectural values.

Nepal is an exhilarating mix, a fascinating land of ancient history with vibrant cultures and people, having bio-diversity and scenic grandeur. Nepal is a country affluent in Nature and Culture, pleasant and rural villages, beautiful snow covered mountains, gorgeous green hills, protected national parks, green valleys, different cultures, pilgrim sites of different religions, honest people, rapid flowing rivers, white rafting rivers, home to the unique one horned rhino and the royal Bengal tiger .Nepal is the land where Buddha was born - Buddha, the symbol of peace. A guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu valley and its surrounding areas will give you an enchanting glimpse of Nepal - its people, culture, traditions and mountains - that will surely make you want to come for a longer visit.

Nepal as a destination for travellers is a trekkers' paradise, a potpourri of heritage and cultures, a bird watcher's dream, with exotic flora and fauna for a nature lover. A paradise that will fulfil every type of quest for a traveller, whether you are a trekker, student, or spiritual traveller. Nepal is one of the best countries for sightseeing, with its long history, fascinating art and distinctive and varied architecture. The vast diversity of people, their culture, language and traditions will intrigue anyone. The two predominant religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, are ever present with the variety of gods and goddesses, numerous temples, stupas and monasteries, depicting the deep faith of the people. The panoramic mountain scenery and diversity of beautiful landscapes will enchant you and make your visit one of the most romantic and memorable ones you have ever experienced.

Welcome to Nepal, the paradise playground of the Gods, home of majestic mountains, potpourri of cultures and ethnicities where a harmonic blend of Buddhism and Hinduism with colourful tradition exists, the land of paradise is closer than you ever imagined.

More about Nepal

A compilation of Nepal facts reveals the great human diversity of the country. The fact about Nepal is that the country exhibits a healthy variety of ethnicities in its population. The Hindu religion is followed by the majority of the Nepalese populace. 90% of the population is Hindu. Buddhists form a significant minority at 5%. There is a smattering of Muslims and persons following other religions. Nepali is the official language of the country. The local currency is the Nepali Rupee. Electricity supply is 230 volts at 50 Hertz or 230V 50Hz. The country dialling code by telephone is 977. The time is obtained by adding 5.75 to the Greenwich Mean Time or GMT. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

The elevation of the country ranges from a low of 60 meters above sea level to the extreme heights of Mount Everest-8,850 meters. The total area of Nepal is 140,800 square kilometers. The land area is 136,800 square kilometers. The area covered by various water bodies cover 4,000 square kilometers. The population of Nepal is more than 26 million people. Climatic variations exist in the country.

Location

Nepal is a landlocked country, situated in South Asia, bordering with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China in the north and surrounded by India in the east, south and west. It contains eight of the world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's tallest - on the border with Tibet.

Geography

Nepal a sovereign Independent Kingdom, lies between 80 degree 12' east longitude and 26 degree 22' and 30 degree 27' north latitude. It is bounded on the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China; on the east by Sikkim and West Bengal of the Indian Union on the south by Indian States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and on the west by Uttar Pradesh of the Indian Union. The length of the Kingdom is 885 kilometers east-west and its breadth varies from 145 to 241 kilometers north-south. Climatically, it lies in the temperate zone with the added advantage of altitude.

The country can be divided into three main geographic regions

Himalayan Region: The altitude of this region ranges between 4877 meters and 8848 meters with the snow line running around 48848(?) meters. It includes 8 of the existing 14 summits in the world which exceed an altitude of 8000 meters. They represent. (1) Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) 8848 m, (2) Kangchenjunga - 8586 m, (3) Lhotse - 8516m, Makalu - 8463m, (5) ChoOyo- 8201 m, (6) Dhaulagiri - 8167m, (7) Manaslu - 8163m, and (8) Annapurna- 8091 m.

Mountain Region: This region accounts for about 64 percent to total land area. It is formed by the Mahabharat range that soars upto 4877 meters. To its south lies the lower Churia range whose altitude varies from 610 meters to 1524 meters.

Terai Region:The lowland Terai region which has a width of about 26 to 32 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 305 meters, which occupies about 17% of total land area of the country. Kechanakawal the lowest point of the country with an altitude of 70 meters lies in Jhapa District of the eastern Terai.

The mountain ranges run parallel to each other and are intersected by various rivers.The majority of the lofty peaks are in the Himalayan Range. The Terai region in Nepal covers the largest land area. This region is home to many forests and wildlife species.

The climate in parts of Nepal is extreme. In the Himalayan areas, temperatures drop down to almost -40ºC in winter, and in the Terai region, temperatures reach to a high of 40ºC during summer. Monsoon in the country prevails from June-August. Geographical features of Nepal also include the vegetation of the country. Due to the rough mountainous terrain, vegetation is scarce in Nepal. There is some vegetation in the Terai region, where the land surface is somewhat fertile.

Nepal's geography is varied and has contributed greatly to the tourism industry of the country. Mountaineering and trekking are the favourite activities of tourists in the Great Himalayan Range in Nepal.