>> About Nepal

"Top of the World" is exactly where you are when you are in Nepal. With home to 8 of the top 14 mountain peaks in the world, Nepal is the land of the Himalayas.

For most, Nepal is a Himalayan country, Home of the Gurkha Soldiers, the mightiest militant, home of the Sherpas, the tough Himalayan climbers, land of Yeti, a mythical abominable snowman, Shangri-La, a mystical kingdom hidden beyond Himalayas, a Land of Festivals, Temples, Shrines and Sanctuaries. But there is more to Nepal than meets the eye.

Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and altitude variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 meters above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters, all within a distance of 150 kilometers resulting in climatic conditions from Sub-tropical to Arctic.

Facts:

Nepal - occupying only 0.1% of the earth - is home to:

2% of all the flowering plants in the world.

8 of the worlds top mountain peaks.

8% of the world's population of birds (more than 848 species).

4% of mammals on earth.

11 of the world's 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species).

600 indigenous plant families.

319 species of exotic orchids.

Area: 147,181 sq. kilometers
Geography: Situated between China in the north and India in the south
Capital: Kathmandu
Population: 22 million
Language: Nepali is the national language. However, travel-trade people understand and speak English as well.
Currency: Nepali Rupee (approximately US$ 1 equals Rs. 74.65 )
Political System: Multi-party democracy with constitutional monarchy
Religion: Nepal enjoys the distinction of being the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. However, there is a harmonious blending of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Climate: Nepal has four major seasons, namely,

1. Winter: December-February
2. Spring: March-May
3. Summer: June-August
4. Autumn: September-November
   

Nepal can be visited the whole year round.

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

What to Wear: Lightweight clothing is recommended for May through October. Warm garments are required in October through March. An umbrella or raincoat is a must for the rainy season.

Time : Nepal time is 05 hrs. and 45 minutes ahead of GMT and 15 minutes ahead of IST (INDIAN STANDARD TIME)