General Information of Nepal
Nepal is a landlocked country situated in South Asia, bordered by the two giant nations, the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and India. It is not just a normal country but an ancient and historically significant place mentioned in early Hindu literature, including the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Several sages traveled to Nepal in the early days for spiritual pursuits in the Himalayas.
History of Nepal
The great Prithvi Narayan Shah unifies Nepal. Nepal was controlled by several kingdoms, including the Kirats, Lichchavis, Thakuris, and Mallas, before unification. If we look back into history, the Kirats controlled Nepal in the 7th century BC. The Kirats were succeeded by the Lichchavi dynasty, which ruled from the 2nd to the 9th century AD. Then, the Thakuris ruled Nepal for about two centuries, after which the Mallas ousted them. Nepal was divided into several small kingdoms and territories. Those kingdoms had their own money, government, and sizable armies throughout the fifth century of Malla’s dominance.
Nepal became a central hub for art and architecture during the Malla dynasty, often referred to as the “golden period.” Some of the most well-known monuments that still stand today were constructed during this period, according to historical accounts. In 1768, King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha exploited the conflict between these petty kingdoms to invade the Kathmandu Valley and unify Nepal, thereby establishing the Shah Dynasty.
Facts of Nepal
Area: 147,516 Sq. Km
Latitude: 26° 12′ and 30° 27′ North.
Longitude: 80° 4′ and 88°12′ East.
Population: Over 30 million
Nationality: Nepali
Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
Language: Nepali
Time Zone: GMT +5.45
Access Code: +977
People: Hindu (80%), Buddhists (13%), and Others (7%) with 101 ethnic groups and 92 spoken languages.
Political: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
National Bird: Impean Pheasant (Danfe)
National Flower: Rhododendron- Arboreum (Lali Gurans)
Electricity: 220 Volts AC – 50 Cycles
Seasons:
- March to May (Spring)
- June to August (Summer)
- September to November (Autumn)
- December to February (Winter)
Borders: China is located in the North, and India is situated on three sides – the South, East, and West.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 10 sites, of which 7 are located in the Kathmandu Valley.