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Nepal (Nepali: नेपाल) is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is bordered by China to the north and by India to the south, east and west. The Himalayan mountain range runs across Nepal's northern and western parts, and eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest, are within its territory.
Historically, Nepal had many small kingdoms and the modern state was formed with the Unification of Nepal byPrithvi Narayan Shah on December 21, 1768. Prior to 2006, Nepal was a kingdom. Nepal is now a federal democratic republic. Its recent history has involved struggles for democratic government with periods of direct monarchic rule. From 1996 until 2006, Nepal suffered from a Civil War between government forces and guerrillas of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
On December 28, 2007, the Interim Parliament passed a bill and declared Nepal to become a Federal Democratic Republic.The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly officially implemented that declaration on May 28, 2008.
Nepal is a multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi religious country. For a relatively small country, Nepal has a diverse landscape, ranging from the humid Terai plains in the south to the mountainous Himalayas in the north, which makes it a major tourist destination. Hinduism is practiced by a huge majority of the people, but the country also has a strong Buddhist tradition; Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama is located in the Terai, one of the three regions of Nepal.
The capital Kathmandu is the largest city in the country. The official language is Nepali and the state currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Nepal's Flag is the only national flag in the world that is non-quadrilateral in shape. The blue border on the flag of Nepal signifies peace, red stands for the rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal.
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- Data
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संघीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल
Sanghiya Loktāntrik Ganatantra Nepāl
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal |
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Country
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Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
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Capital
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Kathmandu
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Continent
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Asia |
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Official Language
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Nepali
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Unification
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Kingdom declared December 21, 1768State declared January 15, 2007Republic declared May 28, 2008 |
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Government
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Republic (2008)President Ram Baran YadayVicepresident Parmanand JhaPrime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal |
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Area Covered
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Total 147,181 sq kmLand 143,181 sq kmWater 4,000 sq km |
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Administrative Divisons
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14 zones
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Population
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29,5119,114 (2008 Estimate)28,875,140 (2007 Census) |
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Population Density
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184/sq.km
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Religion
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Hinduism 80.60 %Buddhism 10.70 %Muslim 4.20 %Other 4.50 % |
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Coordinates
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28° 00′ 00″ N, 84° 00′ 00″ E
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Currency
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Nepali Rupee
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Time Zone
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UTC + 5:45
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Calling Code
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977
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Exchange Rate
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65 rupees per usd dollar |
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- Map
- History
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Brief History
For centuries the Nepal remained divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. The Kirats ruled from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha.
The Kirats were followed by the Lichchhavis whose descendants today are believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era.
With the end of the Lichchhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed tremendously to Nepal's art and culture. However, after almost 600 years of rule, the kings were not united among themselves and during the late 18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one kingdom.
Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-19th century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first prime minister to wield absolute power. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah kings remained figureheads.
The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s.
In Nov. 1990, King Birendra promulgated a new constitution and introduced a multiparty parliamentary democracy in Nepal. Under pressure amid massive pro-democracy protests in April 2006, King Gyanendra gave up direct rule and reinstated Parliament, which then quickly moved to diminish the his powers. In December 2007, Parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and become a federal democratic republic. The transition to a republic was completed in May 2008, when the Constituent Assemby voted to dissolve the monarchy.
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- Politics
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Government Type: Representative democracy.
Constitution: Interim constitution promulgated on January 15, 2007. Constituent Assembly convened May 2008 to draft a new constitution. Branches: ExecutivePresident (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government), interim Council of Ministers formed on April 1, 2007. LegislativeThe Constituent Assembly is a unicameral Parliament, consisting of 601 members; 240 members were elected through a direct electoral process representing single-member constituencies across the country JudicialSupreme Court, 16 appellate courts, 75 district courts Subdivisions: 5 development regions, 14 zones, and 75 districts. 75 district development committees, 58 municipalities, 3,913 village development committees, and 36,023 ward committees.Political parties: Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist;Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Sadhbavana Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and 18 others.Elections: Constituent Assembly election held on April 10, 2008.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.Defense/police (FY 2007/2008): $314 million. National Day: Republic Day, Jestha 15 (May 28); Democracy Day, Falgun 7 (mid-February). (Note: Jestha and Falgun are months of the Nepalese calendar.) |
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- Geography
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Geography Area:147,181 sq. km. (56,136 sq. mi.), about the size and shape of Tennessee, bordering China and India. Cities: Capital--Kathmandu (3 districts) (pop. 2.2 million est.). Other cities--Biratnagar, Patan, Pokhara, Birgunj, Dharan, Nepalgunj. Terrain: Flat and fertile in the southern Terai region; terraced cultivation and swiftly flowing mountain rivers in the central hills; and the high Himalayas in the north. Eight of the world's ten highest peaks are in Nepal, including Mount Everest. Kathmandu, the capital, is in a broad valley at 1,310 meters (4,300 ft.) elevation. Land Boundaries2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km Climate: Ranging from subtropical in the south to temperate in the hills to arctic at high altitudes. The monsoon season is from June to September, during which showers occur almost every day, bringing 75 to 150 centimeters (30-60 in.) of rain. Time zone: Nepal is 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Eastern Standard Time and does not observe daylight saving time. |
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- Economy
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Economy GDP (2006/2007): $9.627 billion.
Annual growth rate of real GDP (FY 2006/2007): 2.5%.
Per capita income (gross national product, FY 2006/2007): $387.
Avg. inflation rate (Consumer Price Index, April 2008 est.): 8.9%.Natural resources: Water, hydropower, limited but fertile agricultural land, timber. Agriculture (34.40% of GDP): Products--rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, oilseed, jute, millet, potatoes. Cultivated land--25%. Industry (16.30% of GDP): Types--carpets, pashmina, garments, cement, cigarettes, bricks, sugar, soap, matches, jute, manufactured goods, hydroelectric power.Services and Tourism(49.30% of GDP) Number 1 sector in NepalIt is the backbone of Nepal’s economy.Nepal earns more than 70% of foreign exchange through tourism. Trade (2006/2007) Exports$892 million: carpets, pashmina, garments. Major markets--Germany and the U.S. Imports--$2.79 billion: manufactured goods. Major supplier--India Central government budget (FY 2007/2008): $2.59 billion; military allocation $167 million.Official exchange rate (as of June 23, 2008): NPR 68.45 = US$1.00. Fiscal year: July 16-July 15. |
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- Religion
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Religion
Melting Pot of Hinduism and Buddhism
In Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions. The two have co-existed down the ages and many Hindu temples share the same complex as, Buddhist shrines. Hindu and Buddhist worshippers may regard the same god with different names while performing religious rites.
Nepal is famous, as the world's only Hindu Kingdom. However, it is an intricate and beautiful tapestry formed by the interweaving of Hinduism, Buddhism and other beliefs. Religious tolerance and harmony such as is found in Nepal, is perhaps a unique example to the world.
Nepal has been declared as a secular country by the Parliament on May 18, 2006. Religions like Hindusim Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Bon are practiced here. Some of the earliest inhabitants like the Kirats practice their own kind of religion based on ancestor worship and the Tharus practice animism. Over the years, Hinduism and Buddhism have been influenced by these practices which have been modified to form a synthesis of newer beliefs.
Religious Festivals
Most of the festivals celebrated in Nepal have religious significance. The dates of most festivals are fixed by famous astrologers after consulting the lunar calendar. The biggest and most popular festivals are: Dashain, a celebration of Goddess Bhagabati's victory over evil Mahisashur; and Tihar, a celebration of lights dedicated to Goddess Laxmi.
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- People
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People Nationality: Noun--Nepali (sing.) or Nepalese (plural). Population (2007 estimate): 29 million.
Annual growth rate (2007 estimate): 2.132%.Population breakdown/distribution: Rural (86%); female (50%)In the southern Terai region (49%); In the hills (44%)IIn the mountains (7%). Ethnic groups: Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others. Religions Hinduism (81%), Buddhism (11%), Islam (4%), and others (4%) Languages: Nepali and more than 100 regional and indigenous languages. Work force: Agriculture--71%; industry--3%; services--11%; other--1%. |
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- Nature
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Nature Nepal covers a span of 147,181 sq. kilometers ranging from altitude of 70 meters to 8,850 meters. Mountains, mid hills, valleys and plains dominate the geography of landlocked Nepal that extends from the Himalayan range in the north to the Indo-Gangetic lowlands in south. Mt. Everest, the highest point of the Himalayas is in Nepal. Physical features also include green paddy terraces, wind-swept deserts, dense forests and marshy grasslands. The country is well endowed with perennial rivers, lakes and glacial lakes that originate in the Himalayas. Twenty percent of the land in the country is used for agriculture, where 0.49 percent is used for permanent crops, mainly rice. 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 sub tropical and winters mild. The variety in Nepal's topography provides home to wildlife like tigers, rhinos, monkeys, bears, yaks, leopards and different species of insects and birds. Nepal is a home to almost 10 percent of the world's bird species among which 500 species are found in the Kathmandu Valley. The country has managed to preserve some endangered species of Asia in its extensive parks and protected natural habitats. The most abundant natural resource in Nepal is water. Other resources found here are quartz, timber, lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore and scenic beauty. |
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