About Nepal
Some facts and Information about Nepal
Nepal’s (नेपाल) flag is red with a blue border and features a unique shape of two overlapping right triangles. The smaller, upper triangle bears a white crescent moon, while the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun. The red color represents the rhododendron, Nepal’s national flower, and also symbolizes victory and bravery. The blue border signifies peace and harmony. The two triangles are derived from traditional single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalayan Mountains.
The moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the cool shade of the Himalayas, while the sun reflects the warmth and higher temperatures of the lower regions of Nepal. Together, the moon and sun symbolize the enduring existence of Nepal, signifying that the country will endure as long as the Sun and Moon remain in the sky.
WildLife of Nepal
Nepal’s wildlife is truly remarkable. Around 4% of all mammals, 4% of the world’s butterflies, and 9% of its birds are found within the country. Nepalese wildlife is officially classified into two main categories: common and protected.
The common category includes species such as the one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, Bengal tigers, sloth bears, leopards, spotted deer, Himalayan thar, blue sheep, and other animals frequently seen in the wild. The protected category comprises 26 mammals, nine birds, and three reptiles, which are rare and restricted to their prime habitats.
Endemic fauna include the Himalayan field mouse, spiny babbler, Nepali kalij, 14 species of herpetofauna, and six types of fish.
Mammals
Nepal is home to 185 species of mammals distributed across its diverse landscapes. The dense Terai jungles shelter exotic species such as the Asiatic elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, and Royal Bengal tiger. Other mammals found across the country include leopards, monkeys, langurs, hyenas, jackals, wild boars, antelopes, wild cats, wolves, sloth bears, chital (spotted deer), and barking deer.
Reptiles
Nepal has two native species of crocodiles: the fish-eating gharial, known for its long narrow snout, and the marsh mugger, an omnivorous crocodile. A successful breeding program in Chitwan National Park has brought the gharial back from the brink of extinction. Other reptiles include cobras, kraits, vipers, Indian pythons, turtles, and monitor lizards, many of which can be seen in Chitwan and Bardia National Parks.
Birds
Nepal hosts more than 850 recorded species of birds, with nearly half visible in and around the Kathmandu Valley alone. Popular birding areas include the hills surrounding the valley, especially Nagarjun, Godavari, and Phulchowki. Phulchowki, at 2,760 meters, is home to around 90 bird species, including the endemic spiny babbler—once thought extinct—and the rare red-headed trogan, first sighted here in April 2000.
Flora
The total number of species found globally, Nepal possesses 2.80 percent plants. Record from 2006 shows that Nepal has 6,391 flowering plant species, representing 1,590 genera and 231 families and Nepal’s share of flowering plant species is 2.76 percent of the global total compared to earlier records of 2.36 percent. Nepal’s share of saprophytes is 5.15 percent compared to earlier records of 4.45 percent.
There are 2,532 species of vascular plants represented by 1,034 genera and 199 families in the protected sites. Some 130 endemic species are found in the protected sites.
For ecology and vegetation purpose Nepal could be divided into four flora regions i.e.
(a) western
(b) north-western
(c) central, and
(d) eastern, and bio-climatically these are broken down into twenty regions from humid tropical climate to the arid, alpine regions.There are 399 endemic flowering plants in Nepal of which about 63% are from the high mountains, 38 % from the mid hills, and only 5% from the Terai and Siwaliks. Similarly, the central region contains 66% of the total endemic species followed by 32 % in the western and 29% in the eastern regions.
Cultures of Nepal
Customs and traditions differ from one part of Nepal to another. A conglomeration lies in capital city Kathmandu where cultures are blending to form a national identity. Kathmandu Valley has served as the country’s cultural metropolis since the unification of Nepal in the 18th Century. A prominent factor in a Nepali’s everyday life is religion. Adding color to the lives of Nepalis are festivals the year round which they celebrate with much pomp and joy. Food plays an important role in the celebration of these festivals.
Geography of Nepal
Nepal is located in South Asia between China in the north and India in the south, east and west. While the total land area is 147,181 sq. km including water area of the country that is 3,830 sq. km. The geographical coordinates are 28°00′N 84°00′E. Nepal falls in the temperate zone north of the Tropic of Cancer.Nepal’s ecological zones run east to west about 800 km along its Himalayan axis, 150 to 250 km north to south, and is vertically intersected by the river systems. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions: Himalayan region, mid hill region and Terai region. The highest point in the country is Mt. Everest (8,848 m) while the lowest point is in the Terai plains of Kechana Kalan in Jhapa (60 m).
Climate
Climatic conditions of Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with their geographical features. In the north summers are cool and winters severe, while in the south summers are tropical and winters are mild. Nepal has five seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.
There is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views. As with most of the trekking areas in Nepal, the best time to visit are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time for rhododendrons while the clearest skies are found after the monsoon in October and November. However, Nepal can be visited the whole year round.
Peoples of Nepal
The population of Nepal was recorded to be about 26.62 million according to a recent survey done by the Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal. The population comprises of about a 101 ethnic groups speaking over 92 languages. The distinction in caste and ethnicity is understood more easily with a view of customary layout of the population.Though, there exist numerous dialects, the language of unification is the national language, Nepali. Nepali is the official language of the state, spoken and understood by majority of the population. Multiple ethnic groups have their own mother tongues. English is spoken by many in Government and business offices. It is the mode of education in most private schools of Kathmandu and some other cities.
History of Nepal
Nepal's history is marked by a diverse array of rulers and dynasties, beginning with the Gopalas and Mahishapalas and progressing through the Kirantis, Lichhavis, and Mallas. The Mallas' 550-year rule, starting in 1200 A.D., was a period of cultural blossoming, witnessed through the construction of temples and palaces and the organization of society. Prithvi Narayan Shah's conquest in 1769 united the disparate states under the Gorkha kingdom, establishing the Shah dynasty, which ruled until 2008. The mid-19th century saw the rise of the Ranas, who held absolute power for 104 years before being overthrown in a democracy movement in the early 1950s. Subsequent political changes, including a brief monarchy dismissal and a move towards democracy, culminated in the establishment of a Federal Democratic Republic in 2008, marking the end of the 240-year-old monarchy.
In the modern era, Nepal experienced political upheavals, including the Maoist declaration of People's War in 1996 and the tragic royal family massacre in 2001. A series of People's Movements in 1990 and 2006 eventually led to the relinquishment of power by King Gyanendra and the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006. The Constituent Assembly election in 2008 formally declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic, abolishing the monarchy and establishing a President as Head of State and a Prime Minister to lead the government.
