Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from four major language groups: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, Mongolian and various indigenous language isolates. The major languages of Nepal (percent spoken as mother tongue) are Nepali (48.61%), Maithili (12.30%), Bhojpuri (7.53%), Tharu (5.86%), Tamang (5.19%), Newari/Nepal Bhasa (3.63%), Magar (3.39%),Awadhi (2.47%), Rai (2.79%), Limbu (1.47%), and Bajjika (1.05%).
Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali has roots in Sanskrit and is written in Devanagari script. Nepali is the official national language and serves as lingua franca among Nepalis of different ethnolinguistic groups. Hindi and related regional dialects Awadhi, Bhojpuri and Maithili are spoken in the southern Terai Region. Hindi is also widely understood by the many Nepalis who have lived in India. Many Nepalis in government and business speak English as well. Dialects of Tibetan are spoken in and north of the higher Himalaya where standard literary Tibetan is widely understood by those with religious education. Local dialects in the Terai and hills are mostly unwritten with efforts underway to develop systems for writing many in Devanagari or the Roman alphabet.

The dramatic differences in elevation found in Nepal result in a variety of biomes, from tropical savannas along the Indian border, to subtropical broadleaf and coniferous forests in the Hill Region, to temperate broadleaf and coniferous forests on the slopes of the Himalaya, to montane grasslands and shrublands and rock and ice at the highest elevations.
At the lowest elevations we find the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion. These form a mosaic with the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, which occur from 500 to 1,000 metres (1,600 to 3,300 ft) and include the Inner Terai Valleys. Himalayan subtropical pine forests occur between 1,000 and 2,000 metres (3,300 and 6,600 ft).
Above these elevations, the biogeography of Nepal is generally divided from east to west by the Gandaki River. Ecoregions to the east tend to receive more precipitation and to be more species-rich. Those to the west are drier with fewer species.
From 1,500 to 3,000 metres (4,900 to 9,800 ft), we find temperate broadleaf forests: the eastern and western Himalayan broadleaf forests. From 3,000 to 4,000 metres (9,800 to 13,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. To 5,500 metres (18,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows.
                                                                     

The Spiny Babbler (Turdoides nipalensis) is a species of bird in the Timaliidae family. It is found only in Nepal. It is called Kade Vyakur in local language.

 Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Timaliidae
Genus: Turdoides
Species: T. nipalensis
Binomial name: Turdoides nipalensis

World Heritage Sites

Patan durbar squareThe small mountain kingdom of Nepal is blessed with such astonishing and unique sites that within the area of 140,800 sq km Nepal holds a considerably high number of places recongnised by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation) as 'World Heritage Sites'. There are altogether ten World Heritage Sites in Nepal, seven of which are in Kathmandu itself. The list includes both natural as well as cultural sites.

Cultural Sites
The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings which display the full range of historic and artistic achievements for which the Kathmandu Valley is world famous. The seven sites include the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath, and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan. Click on the following links to get detailed information about the individual sites.

» Kathmandu Durbar Square
» Patan Durbar Square
» Bhaktapur Durbar Square
» ChanguNarayan Temple
» Swayambhunath Stupa
» Pashupatinath Temple
» Lumbini
» Boudhanath Stupa

Natural Sites
Nepal's national parks included in the World Heritage Sites List are exceptional areas with dramatic mountains, glaciers, deep valleys and undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region. Several rare species, such as the snow leopard, lesser panda, single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger are found in these park.

» Chitwan National Park
» Sagarmatha National Park

UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The World Heritage List includes 830 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.These include 644 cultural, 162 natural and 24 mixed properties. Out of these 10 sites are from Nepal itself. Seven out of these are cultural and two natural.

Some Nepal Sites/Properties submitted on the Tentative List of UNESCO
» The early medieval architectural complex of Panauti (1996)
» Tilaurakot, the archaeological remains of ancient Shakya Kingdom (1996)
» Cave architecture of Muktinath Valley of Mustang (1996)
» The medieval palace complex of Gorkha (1996)
» Ramagrama, the relic stupa of Lord Buddha (1996)
» Khokana, the vernacular village and its mustard-oil seed industrial heritage (1996)
               Celebrating Life...

Festivity is synonym to the Nepalese Culture. For the Nepalese, festivals are not merely the annual spectacles, but also are a living part of their rich cultural heritage. Festivals effectively bind together the Nepalese people of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs into one nation. Most Nepalese festivals are related to different Hindu and Buddhist deities. They are celebrated on days consecrated for them by religion and tradition.
 

The Untamed Beauty of Nature


Rivers in Nepal are treated as goddesses. They are the ever flowing and inspiring source of beauty, abundance and infinite adventure. The rugged topography, extreme variations and excessive snow melting in Nepal make this mountain kingdom blessed with blosoming, flowering rivers, running across the country. This makes Nepal an obvious choice for river adventure.


River journeys in Nepal are electrifying and nerve thrilling. Your life flashes before you as you comfortably hurtle towards monster boulders and towering walls of water. So come let us indulge in this maddening and bone chilling experience.

Fast Facts

Name Location Speciality Distance Duration

Sunkoshi Eastern Nepal The Golden River 270 km 9 days

Trisuli Central Nepal Best for White water rafting 38 km ½ day

Marshyangdi Western Nepal The Thrilling River 47 km 4 days

Seti Western Nepal The Isolated River 35 km 2 days

Kali Gandaki Western Nepal Best for Kayaking 70 km 5 days

Karnali Mid Western Nepal Largest and longest river 180 km 5 days


Ultimate Sports Adventure & Activities

Nepal is a country of adventures. The raging rivers, high mountains, exotic valleys and jungle safaris are all sources of adventure. Cited below are some of the most thrilling and engaging adventurous activities of Nepal.


River Rafting/White Water Rafting

River Rafting is journeying on torrential river on an inflatable rubber boat. A River Raft is the most enjoyable way of checking one's guts. Both amateur and experienced rafters equally enjoy it. A river trip also provides the opportunity for geological surveys and fishing.


In a country like Nepal, blessed by Himalayan rivers, a river trip is one of the best ways to explore a typical cross section of the country's natural as well as ethno-cultural heritage. The river is regarded as a form of goddess and is used for the purpose of various religious rituals under both Hinduism and Buddhism. A variety of cultural activities can be witnessed being performed along the river. The adjoining slopes of the river often harbor dense vegetation and interesting wildlife.

Kayaking

A water sport, kayaking is a very enjoyable river adventure, specially in the blossoming rivers of Nepal. Kayaks are made from a special type of plastic and have floatation devices inserted to aid buoyancy. Kayakers move through the water with a double blade paddle, and are able to negotiate rapids and obstacles on the river.


With its wide range of rivers and wealth of challenging rapids, Nepal is the perfect destination for Kayakink. Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced white water kayaker keen to tackle one of the challenging rivers, Nepal is ideal for you.

Sightseeing

One can spend hours sitting at the banks of Nepal rivers and watching the waves playing with each other admist the most earthen background. An evening more relaxed, soothing and calm is hard to imagine. If you long for a dream-like, heavenly experience, then let your soul feel the tranquility of being near to Nature's one of the most amiable gift i.e. the rivers of Nepal.


Know-How of River Basins

The splendid rivers of Nepal can be divided into three categories in accordance to their origins. The first category comprises the three main river systems of the country - the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river systems, all of them originating from glaciers and snow-fed lakes.

The Koshi River System


* The Koshi river system consists of Tamor, Arun, Dudhkoshi, Likhu, Tamakoshi, Sunkoshi and Indravati rivers.

* The Arun and Sunkoshi originate in Tibet. The confluence of these rivers is at Tribeni (near Dharan) in Sagarmatha Zone.

* Flowing for almost 10 kms through a narrow gorge before entering the plains, the 'Sapta Kosi' or simply the 'Koshi', swollen with the waters of the seven rivers, finally merges into the Ganges.

* The Kali Gandaki originates in Mustang and converges with the Trishuli at Deoghat in Chitwan. The river is then called the 'Narayani' and goes on to meet the Ganges.


The Gandaki River System


* The Kali Gandaki originates in Mustang and converges with the Trishuli at Deoghat in Chitwan. The river is then called the 'Narayani' and goes on to meet the Ganges.

* The Gandaki river system in central Nepal consists of the Kali Gandaki, Budhi Gandaki, Marsyanghi, Trishuli, Seti, Madi and Daraundi rivers.

* The Kaligandaki is the longest river and the Trishuli, the main tributary of this system.


The Karnali River System


* The Karnali river system in Western Nepal consists of the Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Seti and Bheri rivers and is the longest river system in the country.

* The Humla Karnali, which rises in Tibet, is the main tributary. After entering India, this river assumes the name Gogra.

Mountains in Nepal

Just Imagine to Touch the Sky...

Mountains in NepalNepal is the home of mountains. The awe-inspiring, majestic mountains of Nepal attract the tourists from far and wide. Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, juts out in north eastern region of the country, on the Sino-Nepalese border. It seems competing with other mighty mountains. Adventure activities like mountaineering, trekking and hiking can be enjoyed in this mountain range. Journey on these mountains transends one to an entirely different world. Mountain biking is also a popular game in this region.

Moreover,the world top 8 Mountains are in Nepal. Mt k2 which is second largest lies in Pakistan.The list of top ten Mountains of Nepal are listed as below:


Top Ten Mountains of Nepal
Mountain
Country
Height
Date of Ascent
Everest(Sagarmatha)
Nepal
8848m
(29028ft)
29-May-53
Kanchenjunga
Nepal
8586m
(28169ft)
25-May-55
Lhotse
Nepal
8501m
(27890ft)
18-May-56
Makalu
Nepal
8463m
(27765ft)
15-May-55
Dhaulagiri
Nepal
8167m
(26794ft)
13-May-60
Manaslu
Nepal
8156m
(26758ft)
9-May-56
Annapurna
Nepal
8091m
(26545ft)
3-Jun-50
Putha Hiunchuli
Nepal
7246m
(24844ft)
Unknown
Pumori
Nepal
7161m
(24552ft)
Unknown
Baruntse
Nepal
7129m
(24442ft)
Unknown





Cities of Nepal

Spiritual, divine, adventurous and entertaining... the cities of Nepal are a unique blend of tradition and novelty. Then be it the clinging bells of temples at Bhaktpur, the beautiful lakes of Pokhara or the casinos at Kathmandu... a tour to the cities of Nepal introduces you every facet of life. Pack your bags and get ready to for the journey of lifetime. Come lets discover the diversity of Nepal cities...

Major Cities of Nepal

Bhaktapur 
As the name means in Hindi, Bhaktpur is the "City of Devotees". This divine, ancient town is famous for its multi-storeyed pagodas. Bhaktpur has a calm, soothing and spiritual atmosphere and is one of the most peaceful cities of Nepal.

Birgunj
Birgunj, the commercial capital of Nepal is the second largest city in the country, located in the lower Terai plains, near the Indian border. It is known as the gateway of Nepal because of its location that makes Birgunj a frequent destination for business travelers, executives of foreign projects and agencies, overland tourists, pilgrims and other visitors.

Kathmandu 
The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu valley, is the biggest and the most cosmopolitan city of Nepal. Known as the 'City of Temples', it has great temples with historic, architectural and religious importance attached to them. Famous for its rocking casinos, Kathmandu is the meeting point of various ethnic groups. The unique element of the city is that it is a fabled capital of convivial pilgrims and carved rose-brick temples as well as a frenetic sprawl of modern towers and spunky casinos.

Lumbini
Listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO, Lumbini is the birth place of Lord Buddha. The historical city of Lumbini is blessed with rich natural setting and astonishing architectural beauty. Located in South-Western Terai of Nepal, the historic city takes one back to 623 B.C.

Nepalgunj
Located in the lower Terai region and known as the transport hub for western Nepal, the town is the starting point of the adventurous treks to Dopla and Jumla regions. The border crossing, 6 km south of Nepalganj, is one of the limited number of places where non-Indian foreigners are allowed to cross the border with India.

Patan
The city of fine arts, Patan is the shopping hub of traditional handicrafts and carpets. The city is blessed with beautiful temples and stupas. The Phulchokri mountain near Patan is an excellent spot for hiking. The diversity of the medieval culture has left a rich legacy of impressive sightseeing in the city attracting tourists from far and wide.

Pokhara
This mystical city is rightly called the "Center of Adventure". With sky touching mountains and dazzling waterfalls, the city is indeed a visitors' paradise. In close proximity to nature, this beautiful city of Nepal offers the most esthetic panoramic view of the Himalayas.
Wildlife in Nepal

Wildlife diversity is a unique feature of Nepal. Wildlife tourism is also a major source of tourism in Nepal. There are some animals and birds that are found only in Nepal such as the Spiny Babbler. Nepal is also host to a large number of Rhododendron species. The wildlife of Nepal includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats.

The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, blessed by mother nature with rich and diverse biogeography has several national parks, sanctuaries and reserves brimming with wildlife. Nepalese landscape has altitudinal variance in short distances.

This means that the country has variety of vegetation, from luxuriant vegetation and alpine deserts to lush grasslands. It is endowed with rich and varied biodiversity. Altitudinal variances in short distance give Nepal's biogeography variety that range from lush moist forests and sparse alpine deserts to luxurious grasslands in lowland Terai. Some rare wild life creatures reside in the jungles of the Himalayan nation.

Bird Parks
Concentration of bird species in Asia is surprising. Few other countries in Asia have such variety. The Himalayan country straddles two of planet's best bird zone, which are Lolarctic to the north, and Oriental to the south.

Protected Species
Endangered and protected species you can see on your wildlife safari tour are as following:

Tiger, Snow Leopard, Wild Elephant, Rhino, Brown Bear, Clouded Leopard, Red Panda, Gangetic Dolphin, Wolf, Giant horn-bill, Swamp deer, Wild yak, Nayan, Black buck, Pangolin, Saras Crane, Four horned antelope, Tibetan antelope, Impean Pheasant, Python, Gharial, Indian bustard, Musk deer pigmy hog, Asamese Macaque, Haspd hare
Some of major adventure activities that one can experience in Nepal

Trekking

The best way to know the natural and cultural beauty of Nepal is Trekking. Trekking in Nepal can be as easy or as difficult, as short or as long as you want it to be

Mountaion bikingMountain biking is the best way to get the real picture of Nepal, you will cross through the rural villages at the valley rim on the back trails with some ups and down hill tracks.

Bungee jumpingIf you thought bungee jumping was restricted to some places in Europe, New Zealand and America, it's time you got and update.

Bird watchingNepal is considered as a paradise for bird watcher as it has more than 800 species of birds which is almost 10% of the world total and almost 600 among them are found in the Kathmandu Valley alone.
Climbing & MountaineeringNepal has numbers of rocky cliffs and snowy mountains which provides a climbing opportunity to the amateur climber or professional mountaineer.Nepal have thousands of mountains and 9 of them are among the world's 15 highest peaks has been open for expedition to the mountaineers.

 Jungle safariNepal has most exciting and unique wildlife safari destinations in the world where wildlife observation can be done in their natural habitat by walking, elephant back safari or four wheel jeep drive.

Mountain flightsMountain flights offer the closest possible aerial views of great Himalayan range and highest mountain peaks of the world including Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and the Tibetan Plateau.

ParaglidingParagliding is a relatively new adventure sport in Nepal, and little information is available in tourist guidebooks
The great outdoors' are truly magnificent in Nepal. Rising up between the fertile plains of India in the south and the desert-like plateau of Tibet in the north, Nepal has been described as the biggest natural museum in the world. With its environment ranging from sub-tropical to artic, it's full of surprises. In addition to its infamous mountain range, Nepal has thick tropical jungles teeming with rare and endangered wildlife, thundering rivers inviting you to conquer them, forested hills and some awesome glaciers. That's a striking record for a country only 880km wide (E - W) and between 145km - 241km deep (N - S). While its population of approximately 23m people speak Nepali, Nepal comprises more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 dialects. These dialects can normally be heard more in rural areas outside Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city. Nepal's key religions, Hinduism and Buddhism will add extra colour to your visit as you'll see shrines to the Gods and experience festivals that take
place throughout the year. Striving to differentiate itself from India, Nepal's standard time is 15 minutes ahead of Indian standardtime and 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT. The Nepali Rupee (Rs.) is available in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees. There are a growing number of ATM's in Kathmandu and other international currencies including the US dollar, Pound sterling and the Indian rupee are readily accepted in most places, although small denominations of the Nepali Rs. are a necessity out of the main cities. Communication is continually improving in Nepal. Internet and telephone services are widespread and reliable in Kathmandu and Pokhara. These facilities are becoming more readily available in other towns although the cost, speed and quality of connection can differ greatly. The same is true of electricity supply, which is found in major towns and some interesting outposts such as Namche Bazaar, 3343m above sea level!
   Nepal is known as a paradise for the trekking as one can pass through beaten path or discover his own tracks during the trekking. Nepal has something for everyone from the snow capped highest mountain in the world to deepest George, from a rocky cliff to plain Terai and mountain desert to green lush forest where number of adventure activates are possible.
Nepal is Himalayan Country which lies between Tibet of the people's Republic of China to the north and India to the south. The land extends approximately 885 kilometers from east to west and 193 kilometers from north to south. With in these borders lie 9 of the world's highest mountains and undoubtedly one of the best hiking areas.Nepal also has some of the world's best white water rafting. You can ride a highly technical class 5+ river for eight to eleven days, or take a casual two days through gentle currents flanked by majestic scenery, camp under the stars in the wilderness and bath in the many cascading waterfalls. Nepal's thundering waters coming from the glaciers of the mighty Himalaya, provide unmatched thrills for rafting and kayaking whilst immersing you in the ever changing landscape. With trips to suit all ages and skills over varying lengths of time, rafting in Nepal will surely be one of the highlights of a stay in this Himalayan Kingdom.There are few countries in the world that are as fascinating and diverse as Nepal. Whether you seek the challenge of ascending Mt.Everest, the thrill of white water rafting,the excitement of tracking the Royal Bengal Tiger in a jungle, or just taking in the vibrant culture of locale villages and their people, Nepal has it all ! Probably the most popular activity in Nepal is trekking (hiking), the most renowned hikes (treks) in the world and Nepal is the premier and most varied destination, with a choice of peaks and glaciers to aim for. They are always accompanied by the beauty of the deepest valleys , thundering rivers and the grace of surrounding alpine forest. To the Midwest of Nepal you will find the Himalaya ranges of Manaslu,Annapurna and Dhaulagiri that provide a picturesque backdrop to a blend of cultures and indigenous people found nowhere else in the world.
01. Area: 147,181 sq km.

02. Religion: Hinduism, Buddhism,Muslim & others

03. Language: Nepalese

04. Population: 25 million

05. Time: Nepalese standard time is 5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT & 15 minutes ahead of
Indian standard time.

06. Capital: Kathmandu

07. Altitude: It varies from 60 m. above sea level to highest point on a earth,Mt.everest. 8848 m.
08. climate: Nepal has four major seasons, namely:
     (a) Winter    (b) spring  (c)summer  (d) Autumn

09. Major Attractions:
    (a) Trekking  (b) Mountaineering
    (c) Wildlife   (d)Water sports  (e) Festivals
    (f) Folk culture  (g) World heritage site

10. What to wear: Light weight clothing is recommended for May- October. Warm garments
are required in October- March.   An umbrella or a rain coat is a most for the rainy season.

11. Weather: Climate ranges from tropical in the low lands to Arctic in higher altitudes.


12. Travel Route: 

By Air:The Nepal airlines (NA) is the National Flag Carrier of Nepal with flight to/from Delhi, Hong Kong, Mumbai,Osaka,Shanghai and Singapore. Other international Airlines operating from/to kathmandu are martin air, Gulf Air, Condor Air, Qatar airways,  Thai International, Indian Airlines, Austrain Air.   

By Land:

All visitors entering Nepal by land must use entry points at Kakarbhitta. Birgunj,Sunauli, Nepalgunj, Dhangadi, mahendra Nagar, on the Nepal-India border and Kodari on the Nepal-China border

13 People: Nepal has more then 61 ethnic groups and 70 spoken languages.