Nepal Country Information ⋅ Natucate

Highlights in Nepal

If you plan to go to Nepal you definitely should consider going on a trekking tour in the Himalayan mountain region. Even if you are not that into outdoors and hikes it is worth the effort as you will see unbelievably stunning mountain sceneries, beautiful landscapes in Nationalparks and get to know small mountain villages. There are a lot of offers, also for beginners, with local guides and in many cases also staff members that will support you with your luggage and equipment.
At first you might need a time to adapt to the high traffic, the polluted air and the general crowdedness, but still - there is so much to see in Nepal´s capital city Kathmandu!
In the center of the town you can go to the Durbar Square – a place of historic importance. When Nepal was still a monarchy, coronation ceremonies were held here and the palace of the king is still located on this square. Moreover a visit to the Swayambhunath temple is worth its time. The complex which combines Buddhist with Hindu elements is one of the oldest temples worldwide and one of its symbols is the white stupa on the hill of Kathmandu that you need to climb more than 300 Steps for. Also the suburb Boudhnath with its impressive white stupa that is the highlight for many pilgrims is a great destination for everyone who is interested in local culture and religion. If you are interested in craft work, also a trip to Bhaktapur that is situated in the greater Kathmandu area might be an option. This small town is almost like an open-air exhibition with historic buildings and a traffic free zone. Nevertheless you should be aware that after the earthquake 2015, some districts are quite damaged and not ready for visitors. If you want to have a spectacular view over the Himalyan mountain range without doing a whole trekking tour, you can consider going to Nagarkot that is located in the vicinity of Kathmandu.
These are only a few ideas for your journey to Kathmandu and the greater Kathmandu region; the city offers a wide variety in culture and gives you a bunch of options for your free time.
If you are going to Nepal in spring you might want to consider participating in one of the most colorful and lively festivities in the country: the Holi-Festival. This Hindu festival that lasts one day and one night, celebrates the beginning of spring and also the triumph of good over evil. Its origin lies in India and Nepal but meanwhile it is also celebrated around the world. During this exciting festiveness people paint their faces and bodies, throw colored powder as well as water and have a good time together. On this day different cultures come together to celebrate and have fun without religious requirements and prayers. Make sure to wear clothes that you like to get colorful!

Geography of Nepal

The landlocked country Nepal is situated along the southern ridges of the Himalayan mountain range and is located in between China and Tibet in the north and India in the south. The country was formed as a kingdom in year 1768 after the conquest by the founder of the Shah-Dynasty. Nepal was never part of a colony and is less than half the size of Germany with its area of 147,181 km². Besides the capital city Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lalitpur that are situated in the mountain region are the next bigger cities in the country. Nepal is divided in 7 provinces, 77 districts and 753 communities. From west to east the country extends to up to 885 km and from north to south to 241 km at maximum. Nepal’s geography is mainly influenced by the high mountains of the Himalaya in the north and east. Further south the landscape changes to a moderate lower Himalayan range and develops to an inner valley called Terai.

Geomorphology/Geology

Mainly the Himalayan mountain range that extends over 3,000m from Pakistan to Myanmar with a maximum width of up to 350 km influences Nepal´s geomorphology majorly. The Himalaya is part of the central Asian alpine mountain range and is between 30 and 50 million years old so that the weathering has only slightly influenced the landscape. The mountain range was folded in the collision between the Indian and the Eurasian continents. This collision drift still continues today so that the Himalayan mountain range is still pushed up a few millimeters every year. In Nepal the highest mountains are situated in the north and the east with the Mount Everest (8.848 m high) as the world’s highest mountain on the northern border to Tibet. South of the mountain range alluvial cones, so called Siwaliks, were formed by erosion as a consequence of heavy monsoon rainfall in a high relief.

Ausblick auf mehrere Bergseen im Himalayahochland

Die von Schnee bedeckten Gipfe des Himalayas sind sehr imposant

In contrast to that, northern mountain regions are situated in the rainshadow so that there is only very little precipitation. Due to the rough living conditions, the mountain areas are only scarcely populated but on the other hand very popular for trekking tours. In the high mountain area villages are mostly located in valley regions and summer pasture grounds reach up to a maximum height of about 5,000 m. Rivers that enter the Ganges formed several gouges in the mountain range. Besides Tibet, Nepal is one of the highest regions worldwide with over 40% of the land surface above 3,000m. To the south the altitude descends in the lower mountain range and the fertile inner Terai valley. While the lower mountain range in the central area of Nepal takes up 30% of the land surface and is home to less than half of the population, the Terai region represents only 14% of the land surface. Nevertheless nearly half of the population is living in this region as the living conditions are better here, the ground is fertile and less endangered by erosion or frost, irrigation is easier and agriculture is mainly done in this area.

Travel Tipps and Trivia for Nepal

In Nepal you are driving on the left side. The infrastructure in the country is not well developed as the extreme relief of the landscape is a natural limit. Moreover also landslides in the monsoon time as well as the major earthquake in 2015 have not contributed to an improvement of the situation. The Tribhuvan International Airport is located in Kathmandu as the only international airport in the country. Besides this there are also up to 40 regional airports for smaller machines across the country. The railway line in Nepal is 59 km long and only the segment from Janakpur to the Indian Jaynagar is active as the part between Janakpur and Bigjalpura is currently blocked (2018).
National Holidays
- January 18: Sonam Losar (Tameng New Year)
- March 08: Nari Dibas (International Women’s Day)
- March 25: Ram Nawami (Birthday of the God Ram)
- April 14: Nepali New Year (1 week in spring, New Year’s celebration)
- May 01: Majdoor Divas (Labour Day)
- May 29: (National Holiday: Republic was declared, also the first time the Mount Everest was ascended by Sir Hillary & Tenzing Norgay in 1953)
Depending on the time of year:
- Spring Equinox (March)
- Autumn Equinox (September)
- Midwinter/Winter Solstice (December)
- Holi: „The Festival of Colours“ – the Hindu spring festival to celebrate the Indian subcontinent and the end of winter
Do
- Be aware that Nepal may not be on the same level of development as e.g. Germany and that some things and habits might be unusual or seem unorganized. Moreover the infrastructure is not that well developed and also cellphone reception and internet access might not be available during tours to the wilderness.
- Try out local food! Nepali dishes contain a lot of rice, lentils, vegetable curries and spicy chutneys with different Asian influences.
- Be polite and treat people with respect; greet in a friendly way, if you have a request – ask politely and thank your helper afterwards
- Mind your dress code, especially during festivities – you should cover shoulders, knees and in some cases also your calves
- Remember to leave your shoes outside, especially in front of religious places, sometimes also in front of houses and offices – watch out for shoes in the entry and adapt to locals
- Be modest in your use of leather, especially in religious places as cows are holy in the Hindu religion
- It can always be recommended to learn basic greeting customs and important words in the Nepali language
Don´t
- Disrespect: Always try to orientate yourself by local manners and customs, avoid insinuating behavior and signs of affection in public
- Avoid to eat or to interact with other people with your left hand as well as your feet as they are regarded as impure
- You should avoid raising your voice or having a fight in public as well as interrupting someone
- Avoid entering an unfamiliar kitchen without being asked as it is considered to be very rude for a stranger or a Non-Hindu
- Don´t wander around alone at night
- In general you should avoid a provoking display of valuables
- Don´t go on trekking tours alone and unprepared, do not underestimate the altitude sickness!
- Keep in mind that you are expected to pay if you invite someone – even though it might have been meant as a casual appointment to have a drink together

Climate in Nepal

The climate in Nepal depends majorly on the geography and the season that are quite similar to German seasons regarding the time periods. In higher altitudes especially along the northern border and in the eastern part of the country, temperatures are generally lower and there is also a relatively low amount of precipitation that is coming down as snow most of the time. Above 4,000m, the region is mainly influenced by an alpine climate with temperatures generally being below 0°C so that the mountain area is covered by perpetual ice and snow. In the foothill area climate is more moderate and average temperatures lie between 10 and 24°C, depending on the season. During winter the night can be quite cold, nevertheless temperatures only rarely drop below 0°C. The lower Terai valley is mainly influenced by the subtropical monsoon climate. In the time between April and September the south-west monsoon dominates the country and about 80 to 90% of the annual rain falls during these months. In general the other months are relatively dry. During this time it is quite hot and humid in the subtropical Terai with temperatures between 25 and 32°C. Winters are relatively mild and dry in this lower region. With the beginning of the dry season in October/November the view is clearing up, nature appears in a lush green and especially at the end of the dry season (February-April) wild flowers are in full bloom. Travelling to Nepal midsummer or midwinter cannot be recommended as heavy precipitation as well as sultry climate complicate journeys during the rainy season. Moreover the sky is often covered by clouds during this time so that the view over the stunning landscape can be troubled. In winter temperatures can drop below 0°C in higher altitudes which can also be troublesome during a journey.

In der Ferne sieht man die schneebedeckten Berge des Himalaya Gebirges.

Das Himalaya Bergmassiv bietet atembraubende Berpanoramas und wunderschoene Ausblicke

Flora and Fauna in Nepal

Especially in the subtropical inner Terai valley the biodiversity is quite manifold. Besides the Indian rhino that is listed as an endangered species, various deer species belong to the bigger mammals in the southern region of Nepal. Moreover several Asian antelopes populate Nepal´s nature and also wild bovid like water buffaloes, yaks and gaurs are living in the lower regions and on occasion also in the dryer foothill areas. Bovid are often domesticated and used as working and pack animals. In the thick mountain forests also the endangered musk deer is living that is chased due to the high demand for the male deer’s secretion. Moreover different relatives of the goat can be seen in higher mountain ranges. Quite often these animals end up as pray of the strongly endangered snow leopard that is living in the central Asian high mountain region. In remote areas in the lower valleys of Nepal also other big cats like black panthers, the endangered Bengal tigers as well as smaller cats like the leopard cat and the fishing cat are common animals.

Other endangered mammals that belong to the family of bears and live in the foothill forests of the Himalayan region are the red panda as well as the Himalayan brown bear. Sloth bears are more common in the subtropical forests as well as grasslands in the valleys. In tropical areas in Nepal also crocodiles, numerous insect species as well as several snakes (some of them venomous) are at home. Moreover the biodiversity of birds is manifold especially in the inner Terai valley with animals like the prominent peacocks as well as several predatory birds like eagles, falcons, vultures and owls living in this region. In the lower areas also cormorants, herons and cranes are quite common. During a trip to Nepal many visitors run into monkeys like rhesus macaques that can get quite intrusive in touristic places, as well as gray langurs that are more reserved in comparison.

Also the biodiversity of flora depends on the altitude and becomes more barren in higher mountain regions. In the lower evergreen and lush Terai valley region several fruit trees and banana plants are common as well as trees that find use in construction and crop plants like rice or lentils. Besides the monsoon forests with bamboos and palms also numerous grasses, bushes and flowers grow in this subtropical valley region. These include elephant grass that can grow up to 3m, jasmine, hibiscus as well as various orchids. In higher altitudes crop plants and tropical vegetation are getting rarer and take turns with mountain- and clouds forests before flora changes to lichens, grasses and mosses above the tree line in an altitude of over 4,000m.

Social Geography of Nepal

About 29.5 million people are currently living in Nepal which equals round about 180 inhabitants per square kilometer. In Kathmandu about 1.7 million people are at home and in the greater Kathmandu area nearly 3.5 million inhabitants are living. With about 15% only a very small percentage of the overall population is living in cities throughout the country. The population is composed of over 100 ethnic groups and castes from many different cultural and ethnical minorities. The average age is 23.6 years.
The landlocked country Nepal still majorly depends on traditional subsistence economy. About 70% of the population is working in the low-wage sector agriculture. Agriculture is only possible in the fertile subtropical Terai area which in conclusion means, that the major part of the country is not suitable for farming. Also the extraction of raw materials is quite difficult due to the extreme mountain relief and the poorly developed infrastructure. Especially after the earthquake in 2015 major parts of the infrastructure are damaged and make mining as well as business in general even more difficult. In addition to that the climate for investment is also inhibited due to a complicated bureaucracy, trade deficits, missing raw materials as well as the location of Nepal in between other countries. With an income per person of about 733.7 US-$ (2016) Nepal is one of the world’s 20 poorest countries. Especially the touristic sector has great economic potential as well as the unused water power, high quality craft work and the extension of the industrial region near the border to India. Moreover the transfer of finance from the Gulf States is very important for the local economy and contributes about 25% to the GDP.