Overview
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked central Himalayan country in South Asia. It has a population of 26.4 million, and is the 93rd largest country by area. Bordering China in the north, and India in the south, east, and west, it is the largest sovereign Himalayan state. Nepal does not border Bangladesh, which is located within only 27 km of its southeastern tip. It neither borders Bhutan due to the Indian state of Sikkim being located in between. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and largest city. It is a multi ethnic nation with Nepaili as the official language.
Kathmandu - The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 feet) above sea level in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal. The valley is historically termed as 'Nepal Proper', and has been the home of Newar culture, a cosmopolitan urban civilization in the Himalayan foothills. The city was the royal capital of the Kingdom of Nepal and hosts palaces, mansions, and gardens of the Nepales aristocracy. It has been home to the headquarters of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) since 1985. Today it is the seat of government of the Nepalese republic established in 2008; and is part of the Bagmati Zone in Nepales administrative geography. Kathmandu has been the center of Nepal's history, art, culture, and economy. It has a multi ethnic population within a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu.
Tourism is an important part of the economy as the city is the gateway to the Nepalese Himalayas. There are also seven casinos in the city. In 2013, Kathmandu was ranked third among the top ten upcoming travel destinations in the world by TripAdvisor, and ranked first in Asia. Historic areas of Kathmandu were devastated by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 25 April 2015. Nepali is the most spoken language in the city, while English is understood by the city's educated residents.
Statistics
Population:
Nepal is slightly larger than Arkansas. It's population is estimated at 29 million as of July 2016. Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal, the largest Himalayan state in Asia. It is the largest metropolis in Nepal, with a population of 1.4 million.
Per Capita GDP (Goods and Services Per Person):
Nepal $2,500
United States $55,800
World Average $15,800
Percentage With Access To Improved Water Sources:
Nepal 90%
United States 99%
World Average 91%
Percentage With Access To Improved Sanitation:
Nepal 45%
United States 100%
World Average 86%
Percentage With Internet Access:
Nepal 17%
United States 87%
World Average 39%
Income less than $200 per month:
An average person makes around $6 per day.
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Weather
Climatic conditions in Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with their geographical features. In the north, summers are cool and winters severe. In the south, summers are hot and winters are mild. Nepal has five seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, and winter.
Food
Much of the cuisine is a variation on Asian themes. Other foods have hybrid Tibetan, Indian, and Thai origins.
Momo--Tibetan style dumplings with Nepalese spices--are one of the most popular foods in Nepal. They were originally filled with buffalo meat, but now also with goat or chicken, as well as vegetarian preparations.
Special foods such as sel roti and patre are eaten during festivals such as Tihar. New food varieties have been introduced such as taas, similar to shish kebab. Contact with Europeans has introduced loaf bread, cheese, pastries, and ice cream, as well as restaurants serving dishes like pizza, catering originally to tourists, but increasingly to local people too.
Religion
Hinduism (81.3%), Buddhism (9.0%), Islam (4.4%), Kiratism (3.0%), Christianity (1.4%), Other (0.9%)
Do's & Don'ts
DO's & Don'ts
Time Difference
Nepal Standard Time (NPT) doesn't change like our daylight savings time. So during the winter (after we fall back) they are 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of us. During our summer (after we spring forward) they are 9 hours and 45 minutes ahead of us. We know that 45 minutes is tricky, but that's the way Nepalworks. When in doubt, just Google 'What time is it in Nepal?' and you'll get an accurate answer.
Words & Phrases
There are 122 major languages & 1,599 other languages. Hindi and yes, we're serious, English are the official languages in India.
Quick reference to some common words and phrases: