About Nepal

The kingdom of Nepal is a land locked mountainous country located between China in the north and India other three sides. The country is almost rectangular in shape and enclosed between 26°22' to 30°27' north latitude 80°04’ to 88°12’ east longitude. The east west length is about 885 Km and north south width is about 193 km. The total land area is approximately 147,181 sq. Km. The altitude ranges from 60m in the south to 8848 m. in the north.

Over 2% of the world's flowering plants are found here though it occupies only 0.1 % of the world land mass. The northern range (Himalayas) is covered with snow over the year, where the highest peak of the world, the Mount Everest, stands. Gorgeous mountains, high peaks, hills, valleys and lakes capture the middle range (Hill). The southern range (Terai) is gangetic plain of alluvial soil and consists of dense forest area. Having diversified physiographic zones, it has 6 bio-climatic zones ranging from tropical to the alpine, it has accommodated six bio- climatic region ranging from tropical to Naval zones and eleven sub-zones. This categorization more or less corresponds to the physiographies division of Nepal into Terai, Siwalik, Mid hill, High mountains and high Himalayas as developed by Land Resources Mapping Project (LRMP) 1986.

 

Nepal has a population of 23 million people with increasing annual rate of 2.3%. People made different races living in different regions, with diverse culture, language and dialects. The Gurung and Magars live mainly in the west. The Rais, Limbu and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the Eastern mid hills. The Sherpass live in the Himalayan region. The Newars constitute important ethnic groups 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 all parts of the Kingdom. (A guide book, Nepal Tourism Board 1998