Capital: Kathmandu
Government Type : Republican
Nationality: Nepalese
National Flower : Rhododendron
National Animal : Cow
National Bird : Impean Pheasant (Danfe) Religion : Secular
Constitution : (New being drafted )
Internet domain: .np
International dialling code: +977
Monetary unit: 1 Nepalese rupee = 100 paisa
Nepal At A Glance
History:
For cebturies Nepal was divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the east and the Newars ruled in the Kathmandu Valley while the Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. However after almost 600 years and in the late 10 th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah , King of Gurkha conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into a Kingdom.During the mid 19 th century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal 's prime minister to wield absolute power. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah Kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s. Today Nepal enjoys a full democratic system complete with President as head of the Nation with a Prime Minister .
Geography:
The country of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kolimeters and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is land locked between India to its south, east and west and China to its south. The country is divided into the Himalaya , the Hills ,which consists of Mahabarat range and the Churia Hills and lastly the Terai to the south also known as the food basket of Nepal.The highest point in Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 meters above sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District.
People, Culture, Religion and Languages
People:
Nepal has a population of more than 23214681 people made of different races living in different regions, with diverse culture, languages and dialects. The Gurungs and Magars live mainly in the west. The Rais, Limbus and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the eastern mid hills. The Sherpas live in the Himalayan region. The Newars constitute an important ethnic group of the capital valley Kathmandu . There are Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajvanshis and Dhimals in the Terai region. The Brahmans, Chhetris and Thakuris are spread generally over most parts of the country.
Religion:
Deeply religious and devout believers, almost every social aspect in the Nepalese way of life are governed by religion. It is clearly evident in every day life. The birthplace of Lord Buddha and the “only” Hindu nation, it is a melting point of Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and beliefs. Temples and monasteries dot every nook and corner of the country and devotees taking a dip in the river or unfurling a prayer flag or offering prayers are all common sights. A multi ethnic society has given birth to a unique blend of culture and religion. Other religions like Christianity and Islam are also practiced. People of all faiths live together with a sense of fellowship sometimes, worshiping common deities and festivals. It is said that Nepal is the land of festivals, most of which celebrate the tales and legends of the revered deities. Some of the unique festivals observed in Nepal are Dashain, Tihar, Kumari Jatra, Indra jatra, Loshar, Buddha Jayanti, and Chhath
Languages:
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, othere 10%, unspecified 2.5%. The educated people speak and understand English as well.
Ethnic Groups:
Chhetri 15.5 % Brahman-Hill 12.5 %, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6 %, Tamang 5.5 %, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8%.
Economic Overview:
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the main occupation people here. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest.
Welcoming Gesture
Welcoming ceremony is an important gesture of guest relation. Every country has its own way of doing it with a touch of uniqueness and originality. Tourist welcoming has over the years become the best lobbying factor in the tourism industry today all over the world. Indeed a travel experience begins and ends with it. These rituals are performed to make the guests feel comfortable.
Rooted in the culture and religious traits, Nepalese believe that guests are torsos of gods so does the famous saying goes “Athiti dewa bhawa”
Carrying on the culture, hotels also welcome guests with typical Nepali gestures. Welcoming in a traditional style makes a great deal of difference in what we are offering thereby giving us a separate identity from other nations. Namaste is a popular way welcoming the guests in Nepali culture. The other simple way of doing so is by putting tika(mixture of rice and red powder) on the forehead with a welcome drink and putting on a garlands or Khadas( a white scarf which is also used by the Buddhists).
