Nepal a small Himalayan Kingdom,
is bounded on the North by the Tibetan Autonomous
Region of the People's Republic of China, the East-South
and West by India. There is something here for everyone.
Poets, Artist, tourists, river runner, anthropologists,
botanist, zoologists, ethnographers and cultural historians,
thinkers all alike.
Nepal is one of the most beautiful country in Asia.
She is very rich in her natural beauty and cultural
heritage. The country is basically divided into three
geographical regions, the mountain region, Himalayan
region and terai region. In the Himalayan region lays,
Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world 8848m,l
Mt. Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makala, Cho-oyu, Dhaulagiri,
Manaslu andAnnapurna are the other peaks, all above
8000m. challenging the sky.
Trekkers especially love this immensely diverse land
with undulating topography varied climate and mix
of people. River rafting in white water and safaris
in the jungle are also major attraction for adventure
tourists in Nepal. The interior of Nepal with scenic
riverbanks, Terraced field, forested ridges, terraced
hills ad picturesque hamlets are beyond human imagination.
Nature is superbly carried in this holy land gifted
with all that a land deserves.
Nepal a country of amazing extremes, is the home
of the world's highest mountain- Mt. Everest, Lord
Buddha, Holy places, (Temple and Stupas) and large
variety of plant, birds, and animals are glorious
assets of the nation which has contributed a lot to
enroll thousand of tourists to visit Nepal.
Kathmandu valley, the capital of Nepal, has a traditional
history of about five thousand -year. Archaeologically,
this valley seems to have been inhabited at least
from 1500 BC when the Neolithic civilization began.
Kathmandu valley now has seven world heritage cultural
sites within a 20km radius.
The credit goes to the Mallas. From this time onwards,
the Gopals (cow-herders), Mahisapala (the buffalo
herders) and Kiratas ruled this valley successively.
It was during the Kirati rule in pre-christina Era
that Hinduism, with its various schools, and Buddhism
arrived in the valley. Thus many Buddhist stupas and
Hindu shrines were built in Nepal during this period.
From the beginning of Christian Era, the valley
was ruled by the Lichhavis. They introduced script,
the contemporary caste system, idol worship and raised
monuments. The country was named Nepal long before
the introduction of the bikram sambat. The Lichhavis,
raised and enlarged stupas like that of Bouddhanath,
Swayambhunathnath and temples like Changu Narayan,
Pashupatinath and Buddhanilkantha (sleeping Vishnu).
Chinese travelers who visited Kathmandu valley and
Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, in the seventh
century have left an interesting account of the then
Nepal with great praise to the people and their art.
The Lichhavis who explored copper, ore and minted
copper coins, had trade of copper utensils and offensive
iron weapons such earnings were spent for the artistic
beautification of the valley.
After the end of 14th century, the Malla Dynasty
rose to power. They rearranged the caste system based
upon profession. Soon the valley was divided into
three different kingdoms like Kathmandu, Patan and
Bhadgaon. Nepal minted coins for Tibet and had monopoly
business with her. Up to the beginning of this century,
the valley was the center of Trans Himalayan trade
route. The art of Kathmandu valley reached China and
then all the way up to Inner Mongolia via Tibet. From
the middle of 18th century it was united by King Prithivi
Narayan Shah of Gorkha, 52 miles west of Kathmandu.
In the first quarter of the nineteenth century Nepal
had a war with British India and she lost it and was
forced to sign the treaty of Sugauli in 1816 shaping
the present international boundary of Nepal. From
1847 up to 1971, Nepal was ruled by the hereditary
Rana Prime Ministers and was completely isolated.
No foreigners were allowed to visit this country during
this period. In 1951 the Ranas lost their power. The
country was opened to all from 1960, and for thirty
year. Nepal was ruled by party less panchayat system.
The Jana Andolan was successful and the democratic
constitution was promulgated on November 9, 1990,
which provides for a constitution monarchy with a
multi party system.
Tourism is the main industry in the service sector.
Nepal is a paradise for tourists because of its varied
topography, culture and flora and fauna.