HISTORY:
For centuries, Nepal was made up of many small kingdoms. Kirats ruled in the east, the Newars in the Kathmandu valley, while Gurungs and Magares occupied the west. The Kirats ruled from 300 BC and during their reign, Emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar in Lumbini to commemorate Lord Buddha. The Kirats were followed by the Lichhavis, and then came the Mallas. During the Malla period, art thrived in the valley, and most of the monuments are from this time. In the 18th century, Prithivi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered the Kathmandu valley, and until 1951, the country remained closed. During the mid-19th century the Rana period began, when Jung Bahadur Rana, the prime minister, set up an oligarchy with the Shah kings as figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in 1951, and today Nepal enjoys a multi-party democratic system with a constitutional monarch.
THE LAND: Nepal, lying between the two Asian giants-China and India, extends approximately 885km east to west, and 193km (average) north to south. Spread over an area of 147,181sq km, the country is better known for magnificent medieval monuments, Mt.Everest (8848m),the highest point on earth, and Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha. Much to visitors’ awe the lands, almost at sea level at the southern plains of Terai, amazingly rises and within a short span of 50km culminates in Mt.Evetest, Nepal is also home to eight of the world’s tallest peaks.
CLIMATE: Obviously influenced by altitudinal variations, climatic zones in Nepal range from the hot tropical climate in the southern plains of Tarai to the cold Alpine type along the northern Himalayan belt. In between them, the mid-hills have warm summers and cool winters. Temperatures range between 16 degree Celsius (maximum) and -6 degree Celsius in the high Himalayan region, 33 degree Celsius and 0 degree Celsius in the mid-hills including the Kathmandu valley, and 40 degree Celsius and 6 degree Celsius in the Terai. The rainy Monsoon normally lasts for about two months, from June to August.
THE PEOPLE: Nepal’s 20 million populations are comprised of diverse ethnic group having their own languages and cultures. The Newars, who are acclaimed for their unique artistry and cultures, dominate the Kathmandu Valley, whereas the Sherpas, who are renowned more for their mountaineering skills, inhabit in the northern mountains. Brahmins and Chhetris, two of the nation’s most dominant communities, are almost everywhere, and the Tamangs, Rais, Limbus, Magars and Gurungs -the ethnic groups known more as brave Gurkha solders- dwell mostly in other ethnic communities have their dwellings in the Terai plains.
LANGUAGE: Nepali, like Hindi, is written in the Dev-nagari scripts. It is Nepal’s national language, apart from being the lingua franca of the country’s divergent communities that speak mutually unintelligible languages and dialects. English is also widely spoken and understood in urban areas.
RELIGION: Religious practice is an important part of the most Nepalese people’s lives. Two main religious are dominant in Nepal; Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism is made up of thousands of gods and goddesses. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the three major gods, but each has a complex tapestry of manifestations and incarnations. Each deity also has a vehicle, which is often seen kneeling faithfully outside the shrine. Buddhism is the second major religion in Nepal. Shakyamuni Buddha, who was born in Nepal around the 6th century BC, is the founder of Buddhism. The great Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bouddha, in the Kathmandu Valley, are among the oldest and most beautiful worship sites in Nepal.
ECONOMY: Nepal is a developing nation with an agricultural economy. Eight out of 10 Nepalese are engaged in farming and it accounts for more than 40% of the GDP. Manufacturing is still in the developmental stage and it represents less than 10% of the GDP. Major industries include carpets, garments, textiles, leather products, paper and cement. Most of Nepal’s industry is based in the Kathmandu Valley and a string of small towns in the southern Terai. Tourism is another important sector of the economy.
FESTIVAL OF NEPAL It is said about Nepal that every other structure is a holy shrine and every other day a festival. Well, if the number of annual festivals, both religious and national, is any indication, the saying couldn’t be truer. Festivals are an essential part of Nepalese life that garners tremendous local participation. Festivals also offer visitors a valuable opportunity not only for having fun but gaining insight into various aspects of Nepalese culture.
The religious festivals follow the lunar calendar, while national festivals have fixed dates. Wherever or whenever you arrive in Nepal, you can be pretty sure of being at the major and interesting festivals are presented below:
NAVAVARSHA (April): The Nepalese New Year’s Day usually falls in the second week of April.i.e. The first day of Baisakh. The day is observed as a national holiday. The people celebrate it with a great pomp and show. On this occasion, Bisket Jatra is held in the city of Bhaktapur.
BAISAKH POORNIMA (April): As Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia, the triple anniversary of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death is observed with many colorful ceremonies on this day. People celebrate to Buddha at places like Swayambunath, Bouddhanath and Lumbini.
RED MACHCHHENDRANATH RATH JATRA (May-June):This festival is the biggest socio-culture event of Patan. The wheeled chariot of a deity known as Bungdyo or Red Machchhendranath is made at Pulchowk and dragged through the city of Patan in several stages till it reaches the appointed destination (Lagankhel). The grand finale of the festival is called the ‘Bhoto Dekhaune ‘ or the “showing of a vest”. A similar kind of chariot festival to Machchhendranath (white) is also held in Kathmandu city in the month of March-April.
DUMJI: It is celebrated in all the Sherpa settlements in the month of July. The Sherpas of Kathmandu and Helambu regions participate in dancing on this day.
GAI-JATRA (Cow festival) (July-August): It is a carnival that lasts eight days. Dancing, singing comedy and anything that causes mirth and laughter are its highlights.
KRISHNASTAMI (July-August): It marks the birthday of Lord Krishna. On this day, impressive ceremony at the Krishna Temple in Patan and Changu Narayan take place.
INDRA JATRA (August-September): The festival of Indra, the God of rain, is observed with great enthusiasm in Kathmandu Valley. The festival lasts for eight days. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in procession through the main streets of Kathmandu. The festival is specially noted for the echoes of drums and dancing feet of the masked dancers almost every evening.
DASHAIN OR DURGA PUJA (September-October): The Dashain festival is the most important festival of the Nepalese. The entire country is in enthusiastic holiday mood at the time of the festival.
TIHAR (Deepawali) (October-November): Known as the festival of Lights, Tihar is celebrated for five days. Houses are illuminated at night and special sweets of different varieties are prepared.
LOSHAR: The Sherpas & Tamangs most impressively observe Thisfestival in the month of February by the Tamang & Sherpas. They organize folk songs and dances on the occasion. These dances can be seen in Khumbu, Helambu and other northern regions of Nepal and also at Bouddhanath in Kathmandu.
MAHA SHIVARATRI (February): Shivaratri or the Night of Lord Shiva is observed in February-March.It is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva .A great religious fair takes place in the Pashupatinath Temple and thousands of people from all over Nepal and India flock the temple to worship Lord Shiva.
GHODE JATRA (March-April):
Known as the festival of horses, it is one of the exciting festivals of Kathmandu. Horses race and other sports take place at Tudhikhel on this day. In the city, various deities are carried shoulder-high on wheel-less chariot (khat) with the accompaniment of traditional music.
BEST SEASON FOR TREKKING & CLIMBING IN NEPAL
(March to May Spring season) Different verities of wild flowers, Specially the Rhododendrons make the hill side above 5000 meters a hunting paradise during this season. It is mildly warm at lower elevations and at higher elevations over 4000 meters; the mountain views are excellent while the temperature is quite moderate. We have a Company of the Trekking and we will provide you cheaper price than other Company around the Nepal, Here is some information about Nepal : Trekking in Nepal can be undertaken throughout the year. There are four season in Nepal.
1) AUTUMN: (September – November) This Season offer excellent weather and tantalizing Mountains Views.
2) Winter : (December – February ) This Season is noted for occasional snowfall at higher elevations Hence it is ideal for trekking at lower elevations Hence it is ideal for trekking at lower elevations generally below 3,000 meters
3) Spring (March- May): Different verities of wild flowers specially the rhododendron make the hill side above 5000 meter a hunting paradise during this season . It is mildly warm at lower elevations and at higher elevation over it is mildly warm at lower elevations over 4000 meters, the Mountain views are excellent while the temperature is quite moderate.
4) SUMMER (June – August): Summer months continue up to end August making travel wet and warm. This time are blessed for the keen botanist as the higher valleys and meadows to carry insect repellents when repellents when trekking during these summer months