| Area |
147,181sq km (56,827 sq miles). |
| Population |
23,151,423(2001). |
| Capital |
Kathmandu - population 1,081,845 (2001) |
| Climate |
Nepal's weather is generally predictable and pleasant. There are four climatic seasons: March to May (spring), June to August (summer), September to November (autumn), and December to February (winter). The monsoon is approximately from the end of June to the middle of September. About 80 per cent of the rain falls during that period, so the remainder is dry. |
| Language |
The official language is Nepali (spoken by 49 per cent). There are many other languages including Maithili and Bhojpuri. English is spoken in business circles and by people involved in the travel trade. |
| Religion |
Mainly Hindu (81 per cent) and Buddhist (11 per cent), with small Muslim minority (4 per cent). |
| Time |
GMT + 5.45
|
| Highlights |
Known as the abode of the Gods, Nepal was a secret, isolated, unknown country until the 1950s when it was faced with the awesome task of making the enormous leap from the 11th to the 20th Century. Kathmandu, a beautiful city with a number of Buddhist and Hindu religious sites is a good base from which to explore the cultural and natural delights of the surrounding area. For those interested in wildlife, Nepal has eight national parks and four wildlife reserves, the best of them being the Royal Chitwan National Park, which is overflowing with wildlife. The Mountains are perhaps the main reason for visiting Nepal. Only 14 peaks in the world are over 8,000 metres and 8 of these are in Nepal, one being Mount Everest at 8848 metres.
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| Country Facts |
Nepal is a landlocked country, sharing borders with Tibet and India. It can be divided into five separate areas, the Terai, the Siwaliks, the Mahabharat Lekh, the Midlands or Pahar and the Himalayas. The greater part of the country lies on the southern slope of the Himalayas, extending down from the highest peaks to the upper edge of the Ganges Plain. The hilly central area is crossed by the Lower Himalayas where there are eight of the highest peaks in the world, including the legendary Mount Everest. Nepal's weather is generally predictable and pleasant. Summer and the monsoon are from June to October. The remainder of the year is dry although spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to visit. In the winter, temperatures drop to freezing and there is a high level of snowfall in the mountains. |