The Country
Greetings from Himalayan Kingdom:
Himalayan Kingdom, Nepal - a country of amazing extremes, is the home of the world's highest mountains, historic cities and the forested plains where the lordly tigers and the great one-horned rhinoceros trundle at the ease. In fact enchantment is everywhere for any one in search of Shangri-La !
Nepal has one of the unique in the world that it has within a 20 km radius seven World Heritage Sites namely Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa and Changu Narayan Temple. The Scholar Kirkpatrick remarks that Nepal is a country with more temples than house and more gods than the people. Here Festivals over number the days.
Its Cultural traditional art & heritage date back thousand of year. The wide mosaic of various races ethnic groups have given to Nepal a distinct character and culture of her won. Nepal the home of deities and demons, famous for her snowy Himalayas, the legendary Gurkhas and the ever-smiling people, is a mystic country regarded as the Shangri-La of the east. The pagoda style architectures scattered all over the Kingdom and the amazing Temples dedicated to various Deities. The breath taking sculptures, the ageless mountains, the undying creations of the unknown masters who lived and worked thousand of year ago, all these invite you to visit the country and we, Peace Travel & Tours, WELCOME YOU TO NEPAL.
Basic Static of Nepal
b147,181 Sq. Kms.
Location: Situated between China in the north and India in the south, East and West.
Capital: Kathmandu
Population: 23 million
Religion: Nepal enjoys the distinction of being the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. However, there is a harmonious blending of Hindu and Buddhism.
Latitude: 26° 12' and 30° 27' North.
Longitude: 80° 4' and 88° 12' East.
Capital: Kathmandu
People: Nepal has more than 101 ethnic groups & 92 spoken languages.
Topography: From the world's deepest gorge 'Kali-Gandaki' to the highest point on earth 'The Everest'.
Seasons: Winter (December-February), Spring (March-May), Summer (June-Aug), Autumn (Sept-Nov)
Nepal occupying only 0.1% of the total landmass of the earth is the home to:
2% of the flowering plants in the world,
8% of the world’s population of birds(more than 848 species),
4% of the mammals on earth,
11 of the world’s15 families of butterflies(more than 500 spices),
600 indigenous plant families,
319 species of exotic orchids.
People
The people of Nepal are made of different races and ethnic groups living in different Regions with diverse culture, languages and dialects. The Newars constitute an important ethnic group of the Kathmandu Valley. The Gurungs and Magars live Mainly in the West. The Rais, Limbus and Sunwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the eastern hills. Himalayan region is settled by Sherpas. The Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajbanshi and Dhimals live in the Terai region. The Brahmins, Chhetris and Thakuris are generally spread over all parts of the kingdom.
Language
Nepali, like Hindi, is written in the Dev-nagari script. It is Nepal's national language, apart from being the lingua franca of the country's divergent communities that speak mutually unintelligible language and dialects. English is also widely spoken and understood in urban areas. In Tourism sector people speaks English, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and other foreign languages.
CULTURE AND TRADITION
The cultural and traditional art and heritage date back to thousand of years. Nepal, the home of deities and demons, famous for its snowy Himalayas, the legendary Gurkhas is a mystic Country as the Shangri-La of the east. The pagoda style architectures scattered all over the Kingdom, the amazing temples dedicated to various deities, the breathtaking scluptures, the undying creations of the unknown masters who lived and worked made the nation known to the world for its unprecedented and wonderful creations.
History
For centuries the kingdom of Nepal remained divided into many principalities. Kirats ruled in the eastern part, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, While Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-west of Nepal. The Kirats from 300 BC and during their reign, emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Lichchhavis whose descendants today are believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley followed the kirats. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarving and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era. With the end of the Lichchhavi dynasty, Malla kings came to power in 1200 AD and they also contributed tremendously to Nepal's art and culture. However, after almost 600 years of rule, the kings were not united among themselves and during the late 18th century, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one kingdom. Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-19th century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first prime minister to wield absolute power. He set up and oligarchy and the Shah kings remained figureheads. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s. Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.
Geography
The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is located between India in the south and China in the north. At latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees east, Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: the HIMALAYA to the North(15%), the HILLS consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills(68%), and the TERAI to the south(17%). Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 meters above sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District. Altitude increases as you travel south to north To the north temperatures are below -40 degrees Celsius and in the Terai, temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. During June, July and August, the kingdom is influenced by monsoon clouds.
Climate
Nepal has a typical monsoonal two - season a year. There is a dry season from October to May and there is the wet season, the monsoon, from June to September. September - November, the start of the dry season, is in many ways the best time of the year in Nepal. When monsoon just ends, the countryside is green and lush. Nepal is at its most beautiful and during this season there are plenty of colorful festivals to enjoy. During monsoon, mostly rains at night, making the following days crispy clean and fresh. Most of the northern belt of the Trans-Himalayan zone is rain-shadowed and ideal for trekking.
Calendar:
The festivals throughout the year
Festivals in Nepal begin with religion, ending as social event. There are more than 50 major festivals in a year celebrated by Nepalese. Although most of these festivals are religious some have historical significance, while others are seasonal celebrations.
Famous astrologers fix the dates of most festivals after consulting the lunar calendar. The biggest and most popular festivals are: Dashain, a celebration of Goddess Bhagabati's victory over evil Mahisashur; and Tihar, a celebration of lights dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.
It is not hard to catch colorful processions in different streets of the Valley almost every other day of the week. Cultural acts of dances and songs are integral parts of some celebrations while some celebrations are just quiet family gatherings. Grand celebrations like Ghode Jatra and Gai Jatra entertain participants and spectators every year.
Maghe Sankranti, is the day worshiped for Lord Vishnu by taking a holy bath in a holy river. This is in the month of January. We can see the crowd in Devghat and Pashupatinath Temple.
Basanta Panchami honours the deities of knowledge and learning. Hindus honor the goddess Saraswati at various temples and specially the Sarawati Temple in Swyambhunath in the month of February.
Tibetan-speaking population celebrates Lhosar, which falls on a new-moon day in February. Songs and dances are organized in Kumbu region of Nepal. On this day devotees visit Bouddhanath in Kathmandu to celebration the occasion. Shiva Ratri which literally means the Night of Lord Shivas part of the festival family members of those who died in the past year send people dressed as cow to, is celebrated by all Hindus in the month of February. Religious fairs are organized at several places. Thousands of devotees throng Pashupatinath Temple for a 'darshan' of Lord Shiva on this day.
Holi is known as playing with colours, in the month of March as the summer begins. They throw balloons filled with colored water and colored powders at each other. It is celebrated as the death of the demioness Holika.
New Year of the Nepalese is celebrated as the national festival. It is the 1st of Baisakh on 14 April.
Bisket Jatra, is Images of wrathful and somewhat demonic deities are placed on tottering chariots Raths. They are offered blood sacrifices, flowers, and coins. It is celebrated in Bhaktpur and Thimi in the month of April.
Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The anniversary of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death is observed on a full-moon day in May every year. People celebrate the occasion by paying homage to Buddha. Lumbini and Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath in Kathmandu are thronged with devotees during Buddha Jayanti.
Red Machhendranath Jatra, is celebrated in Patan, in the month of June. It is very important for the farmers as it is celebrated before monsoon for good rain. As Lord Machhendranath views his followers from the high seat of his chariot, its fourwheels-representing the powerful Bhairab-receives rice and vermilion powder, the king of serpents is asked for blessing and his jeweled vest is shown to public.
Gathan-Muga signals the end of rice planting season and the begining of the autum festival season. It is celebrated to keep out the evil spirit by wearing the iron rings in their fingers and hammering iron nails in their door. This is celebrated in the Kathmandu valley.
Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan are the day when the Brahmins change their sacred thread worn on their chest. The Newars of Kathmandu valley call it Gunhi Punhi, the day when a soup of different beans, known as Kwati is prepared as the special menu of the day, signifying the coming of winter season.
Gai Jatra is a day carnival of dancing, singing, mirth and laughter. The festival usually falls in July or August. On this day the families who have lost a member during the year parade a decorated cow around the city.The sacred animal helps departed soul to cross the cosmic ocean in their journey into the after world.
Krishnastami is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna. Men gather around the 17th century Krishna Temple in Patan to a mark of felicitation and devotion to the deity.
Teej is the Hindu festival of womanhood in the month of September. Dancing, folksongs and red color of women's wedding sarees dominate the day of Teej. The women fast for the long life of their husband and the unmarried ask for an ideal husband.
Indra Jatra, one of the most colorful festivals in the Kathmandu Valley, residents carryout a seven day celebration fit to flatter the King of Heaven. At Kathmandu Durbar square, masks and statues representing the wrathful Bhairab, the Mother Goddesses and important aspects of Indra are revealed to public. Chariots of Goddess Kumari, Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhairrab are pulled through different parts of Kathmandu accompained by masked dancers and musical bands.
Dashain is the most important festival among Nepalese. The entire population of Nepal celebrates the festival that falls between mid September to mid October. Nepalese celebrate Dashain by buying new clothes, eating good food and visiting family members. Card games are very popular during this time. Various fairs and celebration events are organized during the Dashain fortnight in both villages and cities. Goddess Durga, symbolizing valor and power is worshipped and offered animal sacrifices for the devotees’ progress & prosperity. During the 10 days, various temples of the goddess are visited.
Tihar is the festival of lights. This five-day celebrations of Tihar fall in October or November generally a fortnight after Dashain and are partaken with equal joy by all Nepalese. Houses are illuminated at night and special sweets of different varieties are prepared. Tihar, like Dashain, is a series of family events. Goddess Lakshmi is remembered and offered worship on Lakshmi Puja Day. |
