Nepal, home to Mount Everest, is
dominated by the world's most imposing mountains.
Although the country is relatively small (147,181 square
kilometers), 80 percent of its territory is occupied by
the dramatic peaks of the Himalayas. Nepal was closed to
foreign visitors until1951, a situation which
contributed greatly to its mystique in the west. This
small, hospitable country has since become an
exceptionally popular destination for travelers, whether
they are in search of climbing challenges or spiritual
enlightenment.
Nepal can be divided into three geographical regions,
each stretching from east to west across the country.
The southernmost strip of land, the Terai, is bordered
to the north by Himalayan foothills and to the south by
the Ganges River. The area was originally covered with
tropical vegetation, but has been almost completely
converted to agricultural production. The Terai is now
the breadbasket of Nepal and is covered with farms.
The central section of Nepal is formed by the Mahabharat
Chain, a range of mountains that reach modest altitudes
of 2,000-3,000 meters. Farming has become an important
activity in the area; terraced farms produce rice, corn
and wheat. The Kathmandu Valley, a stretch of green in
the middle of the Mahabbarat, is home to Nepal's capital
and other historic cities.
The Himalayas stretch across the northern section of
Nepal. Eight of the ten highest peaks in the world are
located here, and most are covered with permanent
snowfields. The area is sparsely populated, with little
vegetation above the tree-line (4,200 meters).
The climate varies considerably with elevation. May to
October is monsoon season, when rain soaks the Terai and
snow falls on the Himalayan peaks. Mid-October to
mid-December is prime mountaineering weather: the skies
are clear and sunny, temperatures range from warm in the
lowlands to crisp in the mountains. March and April are
also good months for mountain treks, although
temperatures in Kathmandu and the Terai tend to be
steamy.
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History and People
While there is evidence that Nepal was inhabited in
prehistoric times, there has been little archeological
research on early indigenous peoples. In the 8th century
BC, migrants from India settled in the region of
Kathmandu. Indian influence in the region was further
consolidated by the Licchavi Dynasty (300-900 AM), who
introduced Hindu traditions and culture (including the
caste system). By the 13th century, three kingdoms, all
under the control of the Malla Dynasty, dominated the
Kathmandu Valley. Over the next five hundred years, the
Malla rulers proved to be important patrons of the arts,
building elaborately-decorated temples and palaces that
survive to this day. Throughout the centuries, Nepal's
topography protected the country from outside invaders.
The Himalayas provided an impenetrable boundary to the
north, while endemic malaria in the Terai kept out
attacks from the south.
Nepal's kingdoms were unified in 1769 by Prithvi Narayan
Shah, an ancestor of Nepal's present-day king. Inspired
by India's independence, a nationalist movement grew in
Nepal in the 1940's, but the king remained in control of
the country. It was not until 1991 that a new
constitution was introduced and multiparty elections
were held for the first time.
Nepal's 18 million inhabitants belong to dozens of
different ethnic groups. They can be divided roughly
into Hindu peoples (who live mainly in the lowlands) and
Buddhists, who live in mountain villages close to Tibet.
Hindus, who make up 90 percent of the population,
dominate political and religious life. But Buddhism has
a special connection to Nepal: Siddhartha Gautama, who
was later revered as the Buddha, was born in the Terai
in 543 BC. Perhaps the most well-known Buddhist ethnic
group are the Sherpa, who have long been associated with
Himalayan mountaineering expeditions. The vast majority
of Nepal's population makes a living from subsistence
agriculture. |