Location, Geography, & Climate
Nepal, home to Mount Everest, is dominated by the world's most imposing mountains. Although the country is relatively small (147,181 square kilometers), 80 percent of its territory is occupied by the dramatic peaks of the Himalayas. Nepal was closed to foreign visitors until1951, a situation which contributed greatly to its mystique in the west. This small, hospitable country has since become an exceptionally popular destination for travelers, whether they are in search of climbing challenges or spiritual enlightenment.
Nepal
can be divided into three geographical regions, each stretching from east to
west across the country. The southernmost strip of land, the Terai, is bordered
to the north by Himalayan foothills and to the south by the Ganges River. The
area was originally covered with tropical vegetation, but has been almost
completely converted to agricultural production. The
Terai is now the
breadbasket of Nepal and is covered with farms.
The
central section of Nepal is formed by the Mahabharat Chain, a range of
mountains that reach modest altitudes of 2,000-3,000 meters. Farming has become
an important activity in the area; terraced farms produce rice, corn and wheat.
The Kathmandu Valley, a stretch of green in the middle of the Mahabbarat, is home
to Nepal's capital and other historic cities.
The
Himalayas stretch across the northern section of Nepal. Eight of the ten
highest peaks in the world are located here, and most are covered with
permanent snowfields. The area is sparsely populated, with little vegetation
above the tree-line (4,200 meters).
The
climate varies considerably with elevation. May to October is monsoon season,
when rain soaks the Terai and snow falls on the Himalayan peaks. Mid-October to
mid-December is prime mountaineering weather: the skies are clear and sunny,
temperatures range from warm in the lowlands to crisp in the mountains. March
and April are also good months for mountain treks, although temperatures in
Kathmandu and the Terai tend to be steamy.
History and People
While there is
evidence that Nepal was inhabited in prehistoric times, there has been little
archeological research on early indigenous peoples. In the 8th century BC,
migrants from India settled in the region of Kathmandu. Indian influence in the
region was further consolidated by the Licchavi Dynasty (300-900 AM), who
introduced Hindu traditions and culture (including the caste system). By the
13th century, three kingdoms, all under the control of the Malla Dynasty,
dominated the Kathmandu Valley. Over the next five hundred years, the Malla
rulers proved to be important patrons of the arts, building
elaborately-decorated temples and palaces that survive to this day. Throughout
the centuries, Nepal's topography protected the country from outside invaders. The
Himalayas provided an impenetrable boundary to the north, while endemic malaria
in the Terai kept out attacks from the south.
Nepal's
kingdoms were unified in 1769 by Prithvi Narayan Shah, an ancestor of Nepal's
present-day king. Inspired by India's independence, a nationalist movement grew
in Nepal in the 1940's, but the king remained in control of the country. It was
not until 1991 that a new constitution was introduced and multiparty elections
were held for the first time.
Nepal's
18 million inhabitants belong to dozens of different ethnic groups. They can be
divided roughly into Hindu peoples (who live mainly in the lowlands) and
Buddhists, who live in mountain villages close to Tibet. Hindus, who make up 90
percent of the population, dominate political and religious life. But Buddhism
has a special connection to Nepal: Siddhartha Gautama, who was later revered as
the Buddha, was born in the Terai in 543 BC. Perhaps the most well-known
Buddhist ethnic group are the Sherpa, who have long been associated with
Himalayan mountaineering expeditions. The vast majority of Nepal's population
makes a living from subsistence agriculture.
Courtesy : http://www.geographia.com/nepal/
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