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Thamel
  Few countries have as diverse a landscape as Nepal's. Within its narrow borders you will find a complete climatic range, from tropical to temperate, alpine to arctic. The high peaks scatter rainshadows and rain basins everywhere, so that virtually each of the hundreds of valleys and gorges has its own unique micro-climate. It is no surprise then that nearly 800 species of birds - about 10 per cent of the world's bird species – are found in Nepal. In the southern sub-tropics of the country, you can stand in thick jungle and hear the grunts of an Asian single-horned rhinoceros or the deep growl of a Royal Bengal tiger. And, in the near horizon, in the mountainous terrain, a reclusive snow leopard may be stalking a herd of golden-eyed blue sheep. Within Nepal’s incredible geography, you’ll also found one of the richest and most diverse cultural landscapes anywhere. The country's population of 19 million is a potpourri of ethnic and sub-groups who speak as many as 30 different languages and dialects. Nepali or parbate is the lingua franca; the others belong to the Indo-European and Tibeto-Burman families. Nepal is home to two of the world's widely-embraced religions, Buddhism and Hinduism, which were superimposed on earlier Shamanistic beliefs and now coexist harmoniously. A number of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimage spots are found in Nepal. The country is also featured in the two great epics of Hindu literature, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Siddhartha Gautam, who is known as the “Buddha” or “Enlightened One”, was born in Lumbini in Nepal’s southern plains. He is believed to have set foot in the Kathmandu Valley. Buddhism remains strong, particularly in the northern Himalayan belt. Nepalis are quite proud of the fact that Nepal was one of the few Asian countries to avoid colonialist rule. For centuries, Nepal remained closed to outsiders, with a few exceptions. From 1881 to 1921, only 64 Europeans visited Kathmandu, very few of whom were permitted outside the valley. Yet times have changed, and over the years Nepal has entertained a diverse spectrum of visitors; religious pilgrims, trekkers, mountain climbers as well as people who came simply to bask in the splendour of the Himalayas! Many tourists visit Nepal expecting to see the legendary lost city of Shangri-la tucked in the mountains. Hardly a Utopia, Nepal is one of the world's poorest countries, based on per capita income. Life in the country is difficult, as most Nepalis will admit, but in the same breath they will also tell you that they can never live anywhere else. Meeting Nepalis is one of the notable pleasures of visiting Nepal. They are friendly, tolerant, and patient; tolerance of all faiths, languages, and cultures of the pluralistic society they belong to; patient in the face of all the big and little setbacks, and things that do not quite go right but are part of everyday life in Nepal. You may rightly expect that with the deep impact of both Hinduism and Buddhism the Nepalis are also a very philosophical lot. Likewise tolerance, patience, and a touch of humor are the best equipment you can take with you - as you will soon find out when, things do not happen as planned. Overall, Nepal is a traveler's paradise. Where else can you stare at the world's highest range, trek to the lower slopes where the mountain folk live, ponder and admire the rich culture and artistic achievements of the Kathmandu Valley, raft down a snow-fed river, seek out rhinos from atop an elephant, and even visit a casino, all in one visit? Few would visit Nepal without the Himalayas and the rich culture beckoning one back, again and again. History Nepal’s Himalayan region has been inhabited since the Neolithic age 9000 years ago. Indo-Aryan tribes entered the Kathmandu Valley around 1500BC and small kingdoms, clans, and tribes arose over the next several centuries, segmenting off various parts of the country. By the late 14th century, Nepal began to come under a unified rule, only to be carved out soon afterwards in the late 15th century into three rival regions: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. In 1768, King Prithvi Narayan Shah united the small principalities of Nepal and unified them into a kingdom, marking the birth of the modern nation. Nepal found itself engaged in a war with Tibet shortly after, which forced Nepal to retreat from the mountain passes and pay repatriations to China. In 1810, a war broke out with the British, namely the British East India Company. While Nepal initially held out, they eventually had to sign an agreement that ceded over all the territories to the east and west of its present borders, including most of the Terai, and Sikkim, in exchange for the country’s sovereignty. The loss of Terai land weakened Nepal. The country’s aristocratic rulers, the Shahs, had derived much of their income from the region. This led to a disgruntled aristocracy rife with factionalism and instability. The Shah court became mired in a tangle of plots and intrigues. In 1846, the Queen of Nepal’s lover was shot. Enraged, the queen ordered the gates locked and called out all the noblemen as well as the military leader, Jang Bahadur Rana, and his brothers. Shots were fired. In the aftermath, some 85-90 noblemen of the Shahs were killed, while the Rana brothers emerged relatively unscathed. The morning after, Jung Bahadur Rana became the Prime Minister of Nepal with autocratic control of the country. The Ranas in the ensuing century would become the autocratic rulers of the Nepal with the Shahs acting as puppet monarchs. The Ranas were very pro-British and assisted them in various wars. In return, the British formally recognized Nepal’s independence in 1923. In the late 1940s, the Nepalis who were unhappy with the selfish rule of the Ranas moved for democracy. India sponsored Tribhuvan as Nepal’s new king in 1951 and Tribhuvan in return promised democracy to the Nepalis. Unfortunately, he died in 1955. His succeeding son instituted a panchayat system which still governs Nepal today. Nepal had remained a closed country for many years and only started to open up to the rest of the world in the 1950s after the British withdrew from the region. Tourism emerged in 1989 when many restrictions barring several areas to tourists were lifted. However, the industry has declined as a result of the recent Maoist (communist) rebels’ battle against the government, which began in 1996. A ceasefire was instituted in September, 2005 which has brought a measure of stability back to Nepal, but it remains unclear how long it will last. Attractions Nepal encompasses a huge stretch of the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world, as well as several equally stunning peaks; in fact, eight of the world’s mountains over 8,000 meters are located within Nepal. Trekking is the main attraction of Nepal. The landscape and vegetation of the country is incredibly diverse; you’ll find wildlife reserves of lowland jungles in Nepal’s south as well as mountain tundra, deep valleys, streaming rivers, and desert stretches throughout. And, of course, everyone knows about the world’s highest mountain, Everest, which tower over Nepal’s horizon at 8,848 meters. Some of the popular treks include the Annapurna circuit; this is one of the treks most enjoyed by tourists. But it should only be undertaken by the relatively fit as it involves climbing up 5,380 meters over a three-week period; trekkers of this circuit, however, are more than rewarded with some of the world’s most breathtakingly diverse sceneries. The Jomosom trek, which takes ten days to complete, is a commercial route that nevertheless passes through many charming ethnic villages. And the Mount Everest trek is probably the most arduous. The trek leads to close-ups of the world’s highest mountain. The high altitudes, however, make it a strenuous month long expedition. Safari tours, bird-watching, and wildlife spotting are popular as well. The Chitwan National Park and the Bardia National Park, for example, both offer jungles with various wildlife like Bengal tigers, Indian rhinos, deer, elephants, and over 450 species of exotic birds. You can tour these parks by foot, jeep, or canoe. With Nepal’s many lakes and rivers, white-water rafting and kayaking are naturally both favorite activities among tourists. The Trisuli river and excursions in and out of Pokhara and the upper Kali Gandaki are great rafting and kayaking destinations. Nepal is also known for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples and festivals, including the Shiva Raatri in February and March, the Indra Jatra in August and September, and the Dasain in September and October. These festivals involve music, dance, drama, and yogic demonstrations. You can also enroll yourself in a Hindu or Buddhist school to learn more about the four truths, Tantra, or Shamanism. Many courses in meditation and yoga are also offered in the Kathmandu and Pokhara regions. You can also book an appointment with one of the many Nepalese practitioners of massage or Tibetan medicine. | |
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Article Contributors Anonymous user updated 1 year ago |
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