LANDLOCK COUNTRY
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.
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.
Nepal's 18 million inhabitants belong to dozens of different ethnic groups. They can be divided roughly into Hindu peoples 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(tibetans), who have long been associated with Himalayan mountaineering expeditions.
In Nepal lies innumerable places of breathtaking scenic beauty and an abundant variety of life. There are, in all, 6500 species of plant life which includes hundreds of exotic orchids, rhododendron and the beautiful Himalayan Blue Poppy. Over 800 species of birds have been recorded; that is one- tenth of the variety found in the world. The elusive snow leopard up in the high Himalaya and the ferocious two-tonne rhino of the Terai are among the more than 180 species of mammals that inhabit the wilder side of the country.
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.
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.
Nepal's 18 million inhabitants belong to dozens of different ethnic groups. They can be divided roughly into Hindu peoples 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(tibetans), who have long been associated with Himalayan mountaineering expeditions.
In Nepal lies innumerable places of breathtaking scenic beauty and an abundant variety of life. There are, in all, 6500 species of plant life which includes hundreds of exotic orchids, rhododendron and the beautiful Himalayan Blue Poppy. Over 800 species of birds have been recorded; that is one- tenth of the variety found in the world. The elusive snow leopard up in the high Himalaya and the ferocious two-tonne rhino of the Terai are among the more than 180 species of mammals that inhabit the wilder side of the country.
