NEPAL IN BRIEF Located between India and Tibet (Autonomous Region of Tibet, Peoples Republic of China), Nepal offers a fantastic array of attractions for visiting tourists. Nepal is best known as the home of Mount Everest but there are much more to the country than just one mountain, albeit the highest mountain on earth. From the steamy jungles of the plains to the highest point on earth the range of scenery is as diverse and spectacular as it offers an unforgettable experience to those who would venture out, on foot, in the hills.

The people of Nepal are a cosmopolitan mixture of many different ethnic groups, some originating from the north and some having migrated from India. Over the centuries, newcomers have integrated into the society and what has evolved is the present mixture of people collectively known as Nepalese. With more than thirty distinct ethnic groups and dialects and each having its own distinct culture, the experience for visitors to Nepal is unlike that to be found anywhere else.

Add to this a diverse flora and fauna that defies imagination. Vegetation that ranges from Tropical to Alpine, more than eight hundred bird species, endangered animals and the list goes on.

Focus Tours & Travels is among many tour organizers in Nepalese tourism industry that is geared to meet your every need. From arrangements of Luxury hotels to trekking teahouses, mountaineering expeditions to trekking, from white river rafting to jungle safaris and special seasonal tours of the ethnic cultures provides something for every clients we come in contact with and not to mention, the personal touch we give in all our packages for you to feel that sense of belonging, the friendliness and the lasting impressions.

Knowing Nepal is as interesting as reading your favourite fiction book. See the links pages for more information on Nepal.  

The Abode of Gods
Nestled in the cradle of the highest mountains of the earth, it is not surprising that Nepal has come to be known as the kingdom where deities mingle with mortals. Here the Himalaya, the "Abode of Gods".

Here, too is the Mount Everest, the world's greatest peak, known as Sagarmatha ("The Brow of the Oceans") by Nepalese. Sherpa artists picture the peak as the god Chomolungma riding a snow lion through clouds of my hues.

Ancient sages sought the highest climes for meditative seclusion, amongst gods who bestowed love or sudden anger on a worshipful people. Here are Gauri Shankar, home of Shiva and his consort, Parvati; Ganesh Himal named for the elephant-headed god, Ganesh; and Annapurna, the goddess of plenty. The devotion of ages past remains among Nepalese today; whether Hindu, Buddhist or animist, the people of Nepal live closer to their gods.

Truth, no less colorful than fiction, has made Nepal one of the world's most incredible countries, a geographical wonder, and an ethnological conundrum.

A Land of Diversity
No one taking a daytime flight into Nepal can fail to marvel at the land below. There are the flat, checkered plains of the lowland Terai, the Siwalik (Churia) Hills swathed in hardwood jungles, the ochre-red farmlands of the Inner Terai, the plunging flanks of the Mahabharat range, the deep gorges of turbulent Himalayan rivers, and layer upon layer of foothills blued by distance. Beyond, the Himalaya soar to unbelievable heights along the northern horizon.

This is the home of around 24 million Nepalese. These people, their languages and their customs, are as diverse as the terrain. From mountain to mountain, valley to valley, plateau to plain, ethnic groups vary as much as the climate.

Squeezed between the vastness of China to the north and India to the south, east and west, Nepal is the world's most precipitous staircase to the frozen heights of "the Roof of the World." Within a single day, one can fly closely past Everest and is neighboring summits, pause in the emerald valley of Kathmandu, then descend to the plains and ride elephants through tropical jungle and view wild tigers.

Nepal is the world's only Hindu Kingdom. King Prithvi Narayan Shah of tiny Gorkha, who unified a country of feuding states and principalities in the late 18th century, described his kingdom as "a root between two stones". The Gurkha king may not have appreciated the full truth of his words. He knew from his expansionist forays the almost unending size of his gigantic neighbors, China and India; but it takes a study of today's maps to realize the precarious position of Nepal, a rectangle of 800 kms (497 miles) long and from 90 to 200 kms. (56 to 137 miles) wide, bent to follow the curve of the central Himalaya, a country the size of Austria and Switzerland combined. Such a land, precariously strategic and beset by the disadvantage of being land-locked, is truly a slender root between two vast boulders, not stones. This fact is cause for many political headaches among his descendants as it was for King Prithvi Narayan Shah himself.

But for the narrow strip of Terai plain along its southern boundary, and temperate valleys spread across its middle, the country is entirely mountainous. Indeed, many of its high passes along the northern border with Chinese Tibet are perpetually frozen. Yet this is the barrier through which armies, waves of settlers and traders have made their way over the centuries.

With the Himalayan Ranges taking over 15% of the total land in the northern ranges and habitats of ethic groups like the famous Sherpas, the Mountain ranges occupying 68% of the land in between Himalayan and Terai regions is the home to many ethnic tribes such as Newars, Brahmins, Rais etc. The Terai belt occupying 17% of the land is the "Bread Basket" of the country with major industries and ethnic groups of Tharus taking over the once Malaria-filled jungles of terai. Whatever your taste, from ethnic cultures to adventure in the mountains, you name them and we have it ready for you!

Geography
The country is divided into three main geographic regions:
Himalayan Region: The Himalayan Range makes up the northern border of the country and represents 16% of the total land area of Nepal. The altitude of this region ranges between 4877 meters and 8848 meters with the snow line running around 48848 meters while the sparse vegetation is found upto 4500 mts. Some of Nepal's most beautiful animal and plant life are also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphe bird are much talked about sights among visitors. The people in this region produce and sell cheese besides working as porters and guides. Many also trade with Tibet and travel across the border to sell their goods. It includes 8 of the existing 14 summits in the world which exceed an altitude of 8000 meters. They represent. (1) Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) 8848 m, (2) Kangchenjunga - 8586 m, (3) Lhotse - 8516m, Makalu - 8463m, (5) ChoOyo- 8201 m, (6) Dhaulagiri - 8167m, (7) Manaslu - 8163m, and Annapurna- 8091 m.

Hilly Region: This region accounts for about 65 percent to total land area. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is located here. Elevations range from 500 above sea level and comprises of the Mahabharat range that soars up to 4877 meters. To its south lies the lower Churia range whose altitude varies from 610 meters to 1524 meters. During summer the temperature reaches an average of 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold, temperature reaching -1 degree Celcius sometimes. Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because of the monsoon clouds which come from the south east. The rivers in the west which do not receive much rainfall are dependent upon the melted snow that flow down the Himalaya. Wild animals to be found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer and Himalayan black bear. The hilly region is also popular for different kinds of birds. Over four hundred species of birds are found here. The people in this region have gained from the growth in the tourism industry. The people here work as trekking guides and porters and also sell garments and carpets to add to their income.

Terai Region: The low-land Terai region which has a width of about 26 to 32 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 305 meters, occupies about 17% of total land area of the country. Kechanakawal the lowest point of the country with an altitude of 70 meters lies in Jhapa District of the eastern Terai. It provides excellent farming land and the average elevation of flatlands is 100 to 300 mts. above sea level. Sub-tropical forest areas, marshes and wildlife which include the Royal Bengal tiger, one horned rhino and the gharial crocodile are found here. After the eradication of malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Terai in search of farming land. Today about 48% of the country's population occupies this region. Flat farmlands and the region's flexible topography have given rise to many industries. The main industrial towns are Biratnagar, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Birgunj and Janakpur. Kolkata, a metropolitan city in India is the closest sea-port that lies 1000 kms away from Birgunj.

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references: Asia

Area:
Total Area: 140,800 sq km
Land Area: 136,800 sq km
Comparative Area: Slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries:
Total: 2,926 km Border
Countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Area: 147,181 sq. km. (56,136 sq. mi.);
Cities: Capital - Kathmandu (pop. l.l million)
Other Cities - Biratnagar, Patan, Pokhara, Birganj, Dharan, Nepalganj

Climate/Time Zone:

Subtropical in the south to cool summers and severe winters in the northern mountains. The monsoon season is from June through September and brings 75 to 150 centimeters (30-60 in.) of rain. Showers occur almost every day. Nepal is 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Eastern Standard Time and does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

History Besides the Legendary History of Myths and Mythologies, for centuries the Kingdom of Nepal was divided into many principalities in during the 18th century. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west. The Kirats ruled from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Kirats were followed by the Lichhavis whose descendants today are believed to the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era. With the end of the Lichhavi period, kings of Malla Dynasty, came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed tremendously to Nepal's art and culture. However, after almost 600 years of rules, the kings were not united among themselves and during the late 17th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one kingdom under Shah Dynasty. Recognizing the threat of the British Rule in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-18th century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first prime minister to wield absolute power. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah Kings remained figureheads whereby they ruled Nepal for 104 years. The Rana regime were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s and the multiparty democratic system with constitutional monarch was installed. However, today after the tug of war between the political powers of the country, Nepal is awaiting for the peace that it always stands for and will, in the eyes of the beholder.

People It is much more pleasant in Kathmandu. The Valley is a veritable crucible in which, over the centuries, many races, religions, languages and customs have been molded into a handsome, artistic people. Kathmandu's Newars are a striking example of the ethnic evolution of Nepal.

Most chronicles mention an original valley people and an original mountain people. But no one knows where they came from. Over thousands of years, migrants from north, south, east and west settled in what is now Nepal. Saints like the immortal Guru Padma Sambava, walked the length of the Himalaya to Tibet from Swat in northern Pakistan. The guru spread the teachings of Tantric Buddhism as he journeyed, an example of how one man could influence the lands he visited. Another was the sadhu Ne Muni, who might have given his name to Nepal.

It was common for warring Himalayan kingdoms or principalities to invite an Indian or Tibetan prince to lead them in battle and accept a vacant throne. Such foreign royalty, with its entourage of soldiers and retainers, settled and intermarried, leaving its mark on the population of its adopted land.

Tibetan influences is seen in the story of the beautiful Buddhist goddess Tara. A Nepalese princess of the 7th century who married into Tibet and took as her dowry the Buddhist religion; "Green Tara" has long since  been defied. It is romantically believed that King Tsrong-tsong Gompo invaded Nepal to woo and wed this legendary beauty. More likely, he took her as part of the tribute he extracted from a subject people.

Nepal is a Perfect "Melting Pot" Blending Multi-Cultural Lifestyles of Over 40 Ethnic Groups & 50 Spoken Language.

The King's far-reaching conquests left a residue of Tibetans all over the northern region. These include the Tamangs, a gentle artistic people whose name suggests they were once Tibetan cavalry or the grooms of Tibetan invaders. Sherpas migrated from the Tibetan province of Kham. The people of Mustang are unadulterated Tibetans.

Meanwhile, people of Tibeto-Burmese stock and Indo-Aryan languages spread throughout the hills, valleys and plateaus of central Nepal. The south was overrun by bewildering variety of Indian people.

A review of Himalayan history uncovers more confusing facts. There are distant connections with Alexander the Great's Greeks, whose invasion of India left a legacy in the western mountains. People of Polynesian blood may have visited the Naga Hills. Neither of these groups may have reached Nepal-but then again, they might have.

Legends, more forthright than history, told the Nepalese all they needed to know about their origins, attributing unknown beginnings to heroes or gods. But in the sudden explosion of modern education, legends don't carry the same meaning they once did.

In last two centuries, a measure of mobility-brought about by population pressure and more recently, by political unification and development of communications- has started to alter age-old patterns. Still, the sense of belonging to one nation may not have spread to all the people.  To this day, it is not uncommon to have hill people refer to Kathmandu as "Nepal"-even though they all recognize King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev with reverence.

No fewer than 36 languages and dialects are spoken in Nepal. Similar diversity is observed in rites and religions, with wide variations between one ethnic group and another. The prevailing pattern is of Hinduism in the south and Buddhism in the north; but animist rites and shamanistic practices, known as Jhankrism, have survived in a highly integrated form. Both major religions coexist in most of the parts of the country. It is only in the Kathmandu Valley, that they merge, so that Hindu and Buddhist share the same festivals and the same places of worship. This blend of religions has created a homogeneous and sophisticated culture and civilization. But if Kathmandu has long been considered to be Nepal, Nepal is not only Kathmandu. Think of the capital as a marvel of a microcosm, a flawless emerald in a filigree setting.

However, summarizing about the people we could say Nepal is a populous country made up of more than 22 million, all a heterogeneous mix of different races and tribes, wearing different costumes, speaking different languages and dialects and living in different regions of he country. 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 also known as " The Tigers of the Snow" live in the Himalayan region up to an average altitude of 4570 m.

The Newars constitute an important ethnic group in the capital valley Kathmandu. There are Tharus, Yadavas, Satars, Rajvanshis and Dhimals in the Terai region . The Brahmans, Chhetris and Thakuris are spread generally over most parts of the kingdom.