Officially the Kingdom of Nepal, is a landlocked
Himalayan country in South Asia, bordered by China (Tibet) to the north and by
India to the south, east and west. More than 80% of Nepalese follow Hinduism,
which is higher than the percentage of Indian Hindus, making it the single most
Hinduism nation in the world. For a small territory, the Nepali landscape is
uncommonly diverse, ranging from the humid Terai in the south to the lofty
Himalayas in the north. Nepal boasts eight of the world's fourteen highest
mountains, including Mount Everest on the border with China. Kathmandu is the
capital and largest city. The other main cities include Bharatpur, Biratnagar,
Bhairahawa, Birgunj, Janakpur, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, and Mahendranagar. The origin
of the name Nepal is uncertain, but the most popular understanding is that it
derived from Ne (holy) and pal (cave)
After a long and rich history, during which the region splintered and coalesced
under a variety of absolute rulers, Nepal became a constitutional monarchy in
1990. However, the monarchy retained many important and ill-defined powers. This
arrangement was marked by increasing instability, both in the parliament and,
since 1996, in large swathes of the country that have been fought over by Maoist
insurgents. The Maoists, alienated from mainstream political parties, went
underground and started a guerrilla war against both monarchy and mainstream
political parties. They have sought to overthrow feudal institutions, including
the monarchy, and establish a republic. This has led to the ongoing Nepalese
Civil War in which more than 13,000 people have died. On the pretext of quashing
the insurgents, who now control about 60% of the country, the king closed down
the parliament and sacked the elected prime minister in 2002 and started ruling
through prime ministers appointed by him. He then unilaterally declared a state
of emergency early in 2005, and assumed all executive powers. Following the
Loktantra Andolan, the king agreed to relinquish the sovereign power back to the
people and reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives on April 24, 2006.
Using its newly acquired sovereign authority, on May 19, 2006, the newly resumed
House of Representatives unanimously passed a motion to curtail the power of the
king and declared Nepal a secular state. As of September, 2006, a complete
rewrite of the country's constitution was still expected to happen in the near
future.
History
Neolithic tools found in the Kathmandu Valley indicate that people have been
living in the Himalayan region for at least 9,000 years. It appears that people
who were probably of Tibeto-Burman ethnicity lived in Nepal 2,500 years ago. [1]
Indo-Aryan Kelsey Knutson tribes entered the valley around 1500 BC. Around 1000
BC, small kingdoms and confederations of clans arose. One of the princes of the
Shakya confederation was Siddharta Gautama (563–483 BC), who renounced his
royalty to lead an ascetic life and came to be known as the Buddha ("the one who
has awakened"). By 250 BC, the region came under the influence of the Mauryan
empire of northern India, and later became a puppet state under the Gupta
Dynasty in the 4th century. From the late 5th century, rulers called the
Licchavis governed the area. The Licchavi dynasty went into decline in the late
8th century and was followed by a Newari era, from 879, although the extent of
their control over the entire country is uncertain. By late 11th century,
southern Nepal came under the influence of the Chalukaya Empire of southern
India. Under the Chalukayas, Nepal's religious establishment changed as the
kings patronised Hinduism instead of the prevailing Buddhism.
Hindu temples in Patan, the capital of one of the three medieval kingdoms
Nepalese royalty in the 1920sBy the early 13th century, leaders were emerging
whose names ended with the Sanskrit suffix malla ("wrestler"). Initially their
reign was marked by upheaval, but the kings consolidated their power over the
next 200 years. By late 14th century much of the country began to come under a
unified rule. This unity was short-lived: in 1482 the kingdom was carved into
three – Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhadgaon – which had petty rivalry for centuries.
In 1765 the Gorkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah set out to unify the kingdoms,
after first seeking arms and aid from Indian kings and buying the neutrality of
bordering Indian kingdoms. After several bloody battles and sieges, he managed
to unify Nepal three years later. This marked the birth of the modern nation of
Nepal. A dispute and subsequent war with Tibet over control of mountain passes
forced Nepal to retreat and pay heavy repatriations to China, who came to
Tibet's rescue. Rivalry with the British East India Company over the annexation
of minor states bordering Nepal eventually led to the brief but bloody
Anglo-Nepalese War (1815–16), in which Nepal defended its present day borders
but lost its territories west of the Kali River, including present day
Uttaranchal state and several Punjab Hill States of present day Himachal
Pradesh. The Treaty of Sugauli also ceded parts of the Terai and Sikkim to the
Company in exchange for Nepalese autonomy.
Factionalism among the royal family led to instability after the war. In 1846, a
discovered plot to overthrow Jang Bahadur, a fast-rising military leader by the
reigning queen, led to the Kot Massacre. Armed clashes between military
personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several
hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Bahadur won and founded the
Rana dynasty, leading to the Rana autocracy. The king was made a titular figure,
and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary. The Ranas were
staunchly pro-British, and assisted the British during the Sepoy Rebellion in
1857, and later in both World Wars. In 1923 the United Kingdom and Nepal
formally signed an agreement of friendship, in which Nepal's independence was
recognised by the UK.
In the late 1940s, emerging pro-democracy movements and political parties in
Nepal were critical of the Rana autocracy. Meanwhile, China occupied Tibet in
1950, making India keen on stability in Nepal, to avoid an expansive military
campaign. Thus India sponsored Tribhuvan as Nepal's new king in 1951, and a new
government, mostly comprising the Nepali Congress Party. After years of power
wrangling between the king and the government, the democratic experiment was
dissolved in 1959, and a "partyless" panchayat system was made to govern Nepal.
In 1989, the "Jan Andolan" (People's) Movement forced the monarchy to accept
constitutional reforms and establish a multiparty parliament in May 1991.[2]
Nepali Congress Party wins first democratic elections. Girija Prasad Koirala
becomes prime minister.
Recent events
Map of NepalOn June 1, 2001, the Heir Apparent Dipendra reportedly went on a
killing spree in the royal palace, in response to his parents' rejection of his
choice of wife. His parents were killed and he died 3 days later. Following the
carnage, the throne was inherited by Birendra's brother Gyanendra. In the face
of unstable governments and a Maoist siege on the Kathmandu Valley in August
2004, popular support for the monarchy waned. [citation needed]
On February 1, 2005 Gyanendra dismissed the entire government and assumed full
executive powers in the name of combating the Maoist movement.[2] In September
2005, the Maoists declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire which was not
reciprocated by the royal government; the latter vowed to defeat the rebels by
force. A few weeks later, the government stated that parliamentary elections
would be held by 2007 even after the failed municipal elections.[3]
The seven parliamentary parties (SPA), with support from the Maoists, arranged a
mass uprising against the reign of King Gyanendra. The royal government used
various means to quell the uprising. Frustrated by lack of security, jobs and
good governance, thousands of people took to the streets to demand that the king
renounce power outright, but the royal government turned even more ferocious and
continued its atrocities including daytime curfews amid a Maoist blockade. Food
shortages hit people so that they prepared to march into the city centre and
encircle the royal palace. The security forces turned brutal and the king seemed
to think nothing had happened so far. Thousands were injured and 21 people died
in the uprising, which was meant to be peaceful but turned violent due to the
actions of the government and its vigilantes.
Foreign pressure continued to increase on King Gyanendra to surrender power so
that on April 21, 2006 Gyanendra announced that he was giving up absolute power
and that "Power was being returned to the People". He called on the seven party
coalitions to name a possible Prime Minister and that elections would be held as
soon as possible. Many Nepalese protesters however, still carried out rallies in
numerous cities and vowed to continue the stir until they would achieve complete
abolishment of the monarchy. Finally after 19 days of protests, on April 24
midnight, the king called for the country's parliament to reassemble on April
28.[2]
Parliament has since reassembled and stripped the king of his power over the
military, abolished his title as the descendent of a Hindu God, and required
royalty to pay taxes. Furthermore, several royal officials have been indicted,
and the Nepalese government is no longer referred to as "His Majesty's
Government", but rather as the "Government of Nepal". An election of the
constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution has been declared unanimously
to be held in the near future, with the possible abolition of the monarchy as
part of constitutional change.[citation needed]
Following Gyanendra's relinquishing of absolute power, the Nepalese government
and Maoist rebels agreed on a ceasefire. In August 2006, both parties came to an
agreement on the issue of arms accountability, agreeing to ask the United
Nations to oversee and keep track of the weapons cache of both sides. The
government and the Maoists are trying to come to an agreement on the future of
the monarchy.
Geography
Topographic map of Nepal 
The arid and barren Himalayan landscape Nepal is of roughly rectangular shape,
650 kilometres (400 mi) wide and 200 kilometres (125 mi) broad, with an area of
147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi). Nepal is commonly divided into three
physiographic areas: the Mountain, Hill, and Terai Regions. These ecological
belts run east-west and are bisected by Nepal's major river systems.
The Terai Plains bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic
plains. They were formed and are fed by three major rivers: the Kosi, the
Narayani (India's Gandak River), and the Karnali. This region has a hot, humid
climate.
The Hill Region (Pahar in Nepali) abuts the mountains and varies from 1,000 to
4,000 metres (3,300–13,125 ft) in altitude. Two low mountain ranges, the
Mahabharat Lekh and Shiwalik Range (also called the Churia Range) dominate the
region. The hilly belt includes the Kathmandu Valley, the country's most fertile
and urbanised area. Despite its geographical isolation and limited economic
potential, the region always has been the political and cultural centre of
Nepal. Unlike the valleys, elevations above 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) are sparsely
populated.
The Mountain Region contains the highest region in the world. The world's
highest mountain, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali) at 8,850 metres (29,035
ft) is located on the border with China. Eight of the world's fourteen highest
mountains are located in Nepal. Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak, is
also located in Nepal. Deforestation is a major problem in all regions, with
resulting erosion and degradation of ecosystems.
Nepal has five climatic zones, broadly corresponding to altitude. The tropical
and subtropical zones lie below 1,200 metres (3,940 ft), the temperate zone
1,200 to 2,400 metres (3,900–7,875 ft), the cold zone 2,400 to 3,600 metres
(7,875–11,800 ft), the sub arctic zone 3,600 to 4,400 metres (11,800–14,400 ft),
and the arctic zone above 4,400 metres (14,400 ft). Nepal experiences five
seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. The Himalaya blocks cold
winds from Central Asia in winter, and forms the northern limit of the monsoon
wind patterns.
Although Nepal shares no boundary with Bangladesh, the two countries are
separated by a narrow strip of land about 21 kilometre (13 mi) wide, called the
Chicken's Neck. Efforts are underway to make this area a free-trade zone.
Mt Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, and is situated between Nepal
and Tibet. But the Chinese government is currently not allowing people to enter
Tibet and so many keen climbers are pouring in through Nepal to climb not just
Mt Everest but also other Mountains including Annapurna I, II, III and IV. Which
are located in the Annapurna Mountain Range.
Economy
A one-rupee
banknote Agriculture sustains 76% of the population and accounts for about 39%
of the GDP; services comprise 42%, and industry 21%. Hilly and mountainous
terrain in the northern two-thirds of the country has made the building of roads
and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. There are just over 4,000 km
of paved roads, and one 59 km railway line in the south. Aviation is in a better
state, with 46 airports, nine of them with paved runways. There is less than one
telephone per 46 people; landline services are poor, although mobile telephony
is in a reasonable state in some parts of the country. There are around 100,000
Internet connections, but after the imposition of the "state of emergency",
intermittent losses of service have been reported.
Its landlocked location and [5] technological backwardness and the long-running
civil war have also prevented Nepal from fully developing its economy. The
country receives foreign aid from China, the United States, Japan and the
European Union. The government's budget is about US$665 million, with
expenditures of $1.1bn. The inflation rate has dropped to 2.9% after a period of
higher inflation during the 1990s. The Nepalese Rupee has been tied to the
Indian Rupee at an exchange rate of 1.6 for many years. Since the loosening of
exchange rate controls in the early 1990s, the black market for foreign exchange
has all but disappeared. A long-standing economic agreement underpins a close
relationship with India.
The distribution of wealth among people is consistent with that in many
developed and developing countries: the highest 10% of households control 39.1%
of the national wealth and the lowest 10% control only 2.6%.
Terraced farming on the foothills of the Himalayas Nepal's workforce of about 10
million suffers from a severe shortage of skilled labour. Agriculture employs
81% of the workforce, services 16% and manufacturing/craft-based industry 3%.
Agricultural produce——mostly grown in the Terrai region bordering
India——includes rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, and water
buffalo meat. Industry mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce,
including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. The spectacular landscape and
deep, exotic culture of Nepal represents considerable potential for tourism, but
growth in this export industry has been stifled by recent political events. The
rate of unemployment and underemployment approaches half of the working-age
population. Thus many Nepalese move to India in search of work, the Gulf
countries and Malaysia being new sources of work. Poverty is acute.[6] Nepal
receives US$50 million a year through the Ghurkha soldiers who serve in the
Indian and British armies and are highly esteemed for their skill and bravery.
The total remittance value is worth around 1 billion USD, including money sent
from Arab and Malaysia, who combinedly employ around 200,000 Nepalese.
Nepal's GDP for the year 2005 is estimated at just over US$37 billion (adjusted
to Purchasing Power Parity), making it the 83rd-largest economy in the world.
Per-capita income is around US$1,402, ranked 163rd. Nepal's exports of mainly
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods and grain total $568 million.
Import commodities of mainly gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products
and fertiliser total US$1.419 bn. India (48.8%), the US (22.3%), and Germany
(8.5%) are its main export partners. Nepal's import partners include India
(43%), the United Arab Emirates (10%), China (10%), Saudi Arabia (4.4%), and
Singapore (4%).
Government and politics
Until 1990, Nepal was an absolute monarchy running under the executive control
of the king. Faced with a people's movement against the absolute monarchy, King
Birendra, in 1990, agreed to large-scale political reforms by creating a
parliamentary monarchy with the king as the head of state and a prime minister
as the head of the government.
Nepal's legislature was bicameral consisting of a House of Representatives and a
National Council. The House of Representatives consists of 205 members directly
elected by the people. The National Council had 60 members, 10 nominated by the
king, 35 elected by the House of Representatives and the remaining 15 elected by
an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. The legislature
had a five-year term, but was dissolvable by the king before its term could end.
All Nepalese citizens 18 years and older became eligible to vote.
The executive comprised the King and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet). The
leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an election was
appointed as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet was appointed by the king on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister. Governments in Nepal have tended to be
highly unstable; no government has survived for more than two years since 1991,
either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch.
The judiciary is made of the Sarbochha Adalat—the Supreme Court, appellate
courts and various district courts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was
appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the
other judges were appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial
Council.
The Nepalese political landscape consists of more than two dozen political
parties. Based on the parliamentary seats occupied by various parties since
1991, Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Communist Party of Nepal (Unified
Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), Nepali Congress (Democratic) (NC(D)), National
Democratic Party (NDP), Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NGP), People’s Front Nepal (PFN)
and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) are significant ones. The Communist
Party of Nepal (Unity Centre) whose electoral front, the United People's Front
of Nepal (UPFN), had won third largest number of seats in 1991 parliamentary
election was divided in 1994. One faction later merged with Communist Party of
Nepal (Masal) to form the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre-Masal) (with
the People's Front Nepal as its electoral front). However, the other faction
renamed itself as Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in 1995 and staged an armed
rebellion in 1996. The CPN(Maoist) gradually emerged as a major political force
- holding a balance of power in Nepal. All these political realignments have
made the political scene of Nepal one of the most confusing in the world.
Break-up of the parties had become a norm rather than an exception in Nepal.
Parties never agreed on most issues of National significance. However, the
situation began to change after King Gyanendra took an absolute power in 2005.
In November 22, 2005, the seven parliamentary parties of the Seven Party
Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) agreed on a historic
and unprecedented 12-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November 22,
2005 for peace and democracy. Nepalese from various walks of life and the
international community regarded the MOUE as an appropriate political response to
the crisis that was developing in Nepal. In the backdrop of the historical
sufferings of the Nepalese people and the enormous human cost of the last ten
years of violent conflict, the MOU, which proposes a peaceful transition through
an elected constituent assembly, created an acceptable formula for a united
movement for democracy. As per the 12-point MOU, the Seven Party Alliance called
for a protest movement and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) supported it.
This led to a countrywide uprising that started in April 2006. All political
forces including civil society and professional organizations actively
galvanized the people. This resulted into massive and spontaneous demonstrations
and rallies held across Nepal against the King Gyanendra's autocratic rule.
The people's participation was so broad, momentous and pervasive that the king
feared of being overrun. On April 21, 2006, King Gyanendra declared that the
"power would be returned to the people". This had little effect on the people,
who continued to occupy the streets of Kathmandu and other towns, openly defying
the daytime curfew. Finally King Gyanendra announced the reinstatement the House
of Representatives, so conceding one of the major demands of the SPA, at
midnight of April 24, 2006. With this the coalition of political forces decided
to call off the protests. Twenty-one people died and thousands were injured
during the 19 days of protests.
On May 19, 2006, the parliament assumed total legislative power and gave
executive power to the Government of Nepal (previously known as His Majesty's
Government). Names of many institutions (including the army) were stripped of
the "royal" adjective and the Raj Parishad (a council of the King's advisors)
was abolished, with his duties assigned to the Parliament itself. The activities
of the King became subject to parliamentary scrutiny and the King's properties
were subjected to taxation. Moreover, Nepal was declared a secular state
abrogating the previous status of a Hindu Kingdom, albeit the fear shown by
midline Hindu communities over their concern over the abolishment of long
founded tradition of Vedic systems. On July 19, 2006, the prime minister, G. P.
Koirala, sent a letter to the United Nations announcing the intentions of the
Nepalese Government to hold elections to a constituent assembly by April 2007.
Military and foreign affairs
Namche Bazaar in the Khumbu region close to Mount Everest. The town is built on
terraces in what resembles a giant Greek amphitheatre. Nepal's military consists
of the Nepalese Army which includes the Nepalese Army Air Service, (the air
force unit under it), and the Nepalese Police Force. On May 19, 2006 The House
unanimously passed the proposal to rename Royal Nepal Army (RNA) as the “Nepali
Army”. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enlistment is 18 years.
Nepal spends $99.2 million (2004) on its military—1.5% of its GDP. The Nepali
Army has 90,000 soldiers, who are currently engaged in the civil war against the
Maoist insurgents. Most of the equipment and arms are supplied by India.[7]
Nepal has close ties with both of its neighbours, India and China. In accordance
with a long-standing treaty, Indian and Nepalese citizens may travel to each
others' countries without a passport or visa. Nepalese citizens may work in
India without legal restriction. Although Nepal and India typically have close
ties, from time to time Nepal becomes caught up in the problematic Sino-Indian
relationship. India considers Nepal as part of its realm of influence, and views
Chinese aid with concern. Some Indians consider Nepal to be part of a greater
pan-Indian state, an attitude that has caused Nepalese antagonism towards
India. Moreover, there is a growing anti-Indian sentiment among Nepali youths. In
2005, after King Gyanendra took over, Nepalese relations with India, the U.S.,
and the UK have worsened. These three foreign countries have been vociferous
opponents to the crackdown on civil liberties in Nepal. China mainly seeks
cooperation with Nepal on the issue of Tibetan independence, including the
degree of freedom that Nepal gives the thousands of Tibetan refugees living in
its territory and the approximately 2,000-3,000 Tibetans that seek to escape
Tibet through Nepal each year. Outside of Asia, Nepal has especially friendly
relations with Germany,Japan[8] and has historical military links with the
United Kingdom.
Administrative divisions
Nepal is divided into 14 zones and 75 districts grouped into five development
regions. Each district is headed by a fixed chief district officer responsible
for maintaining law and order and coordinating the work of field agencies of the
various government ministries.
The 14 zones are:
1 Bagmati
2 Bheri
3 Dhawalagiri
4 Gandaki
5 Janakpur
6 Karnali
7 Kosi 
8 Lumbini
9 Mahakali
10 Mechi
11 Narayani
12 Rapti
13 Sagarmatha
14 Seti
Demographics
The Shaivaite Pashupatinath temple.Nepal has a total population of 27,676,547 as
of July 2005, with a growth rate of 2.2%. 39% of the population is up to 14
years old, 57.3% are aged between 15 and 64, and 3.7% above 65. The median age
is 20.07 (19.91 for males and 20.24 for females). There are 1,060 males for
every 1,000 females. Life expectancy is 59.8 years (60.9 for males and 59.5 for
females). Nepal is the only country in the world where males outlive females.
Total literacy rate is 53.74% (68.51% for males and 42.49% for females).
According to the 2001 census, Hindus constitute 80.6% of the population.
Buddhists make up 10.7%, Muslims 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other religions 0.9%. The
largest ethnic group is the Chhettri (15.5%). Other groups are the Brahman-Hill
12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%,
other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8%. Nepali is the national language with 47.8% of the
population speaking it as their first language. Other languages include Maithili
12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Nepal Bhasa 3.6%,
Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5%. Differences between Hindus
and Buddhists have been in general very subtle and academic in nature due to the
intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Both share common temples and
worship common deities and many of Nepal's Hindus could also be regarded as
Buddhists and vice versa. Buddhists are mostly concentrated in the eastern
regions and the central Terrai. Buddhism was relatively more common among the
Newar and Tibeto-Nepalese groups. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most
influenced by Hinduism were the Magar, Sunwar, Limbu and Rai peoples. Hindu
influence is less prominent among the Gurung, Bhutia, and Thakali groups, who
employ Buddhist monks for their religious ceremonies.
The northern mountains are sparsely populated. A majority of the population live
in the central highlands despite the migration of a significant section of the
population to the fertile Terrai belt in recent years. Kathmandu, with a
population of 800,000, is the largest city in the country.
Culture
Nepali culture is influenced by the cultures of Tibet, which borders to the
north, and India, which borders to the south. There are similarities in
clothing, language and food. A typical Nepali meal is dal-bhat - boiled dal
served with rice and vegetables, and some spicy relish. This is consumed twice
daily, once in the morning and again after sunset. Between these main meals,
snacks such as chiura (beaten rice) and tea are consumed. Meat, eggs, and fish
are also eaten, particularly in the mountainous regions, where the diet tends to
be richer in protein. Millet-based alcoholic drinks are popular, including
chhaang and the distilled rakshi.
Traditional Nepali folklore retains a strong influence in society and its
stories are widely acted out in dance and music. The Newar people are well known
for masked dance that tell stories of the gods and heroes. The associated music
is percussion-based, sometimes with flutes or shawm accompanying the intense,
nasal vocal lines. Musical styles are a variety of pop, religious and folk
music, among other styles. Musical genres from Tibet and India have had a strong
influence on traditional Nepali music. Women, even of the musician castes, are
less likely than men to play music, except in specific situations such as
traditional all-female wedding parties.
Houses in rural parts of Nepal are made up of stones and clay.The sarangi, a
four-stringed, hand-carved instrument is usually played by wandering minstrels.
Since the sixties, Nepali rock or rock music, sung to Nepali lyrics, has become
popular among youth. Also catching on fast is Nepali rap and Nepali reggae which
has blossomed with the advent of the music video industry. There are also many
heavy metal bands. Football is the most popular sport, followed by cricket and
kabaddi. The Martyrs Memorial Football League is the national football
championship.
Television has only been introduced in Nepal in the 1980s. Currently there are
four television broadcasting channels: Nepal Television - the national
television channel; NTV 2 Metro - a city channel owned by the government; and
two private channels - Kantipur Television and Image Channel. Also many other
networks, particularly those that originate in India, are available with the
installation of increasingly popular satellite dishes, although lack of
electrification makes this difficult. Radio is listened to throughout the
kingdom; as of 2000, there were 12 radio stations.
The Nepali year begins in mid-April and is divided into 12 months. Saturday is
the official weekly day of rest. Main holidays include the National Day
(birthday of the late king Tribhuvan) December 28, Prithvi Jayanti, (January
11), and Martyr's Day (February 18) and a mix of Hindu and Buddhist festivals[9]
such as Teej, Dashai in autumn, and Tihar late autumn. Most marriages are
arranged, and divorce is rare. Polygamy is banned by law; relatively isolated
tribes in the north, such as the Dolpo, practise polyandry. Nepal has a rich
tradition of ceremonies, such as nwaran (the christening of a child), and the
Pasni, the day a child is first fed rice, and bratabandha (the penance ceremony)
and gupha for prepubescent boys and girls, respectively. In bel bibaha,
preadolescent girls are "married" to the bel fruit tree, ensuring that the girl
becomes and remains fertile.
Most houses in rural Nepal are made up of a tight bamboo framework with mud and
cow-dung walls. These dwellings remain cool in summers and retain warmth in the
winter. Dwellings at higher altitudes are mostly timber-based.
Woman's status in Nepal has been steadily rising. The first lady to have gained
the prestigious chartered accountant status is Samikshya Shrestha in August
2004.
Nepal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
नेपाल अधिराज्य Royal Nepal
Nepāl Adhirājya
Kingdom of Nepal
Motto: Sanskrit: जननी जन्मभूमिष्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी
("Mother and motherland are dearer than the heavens")
Anthem: Rastriya Gaan
Capital Kathmandu
27°42′N 85°19′E
Largest city Kathmandu
Official language Nepali
Government Transitional government
King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
Unification December 21, 1768
Area
Total 147,181 km² (93rd)
56,827 sq mi
Water (%) 2.8
Population
July 2005 estimate 27,133,000 (42nd)
2002 census 23,151,423
Density 184/km² (56th)
477/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
Total $39.14 billion (87th)
Per capita $1,675 (153rd)
HDI (2003) 0.526 (medium) (136th)
Currency Rupee (NPR)
Time zone NPT (UTC+5:45)
Summer (DST) not observed (UTC+5:45)
Internet TLD .np
Calling code +977