Nepal is a land of extreme contrasts in climate and geography,
It has a unique topography ranging from lowlands with sub-tropical jungles to
arctic conditions in the Himalayan highlands.
With India on it's South and China in the North; Nepal is a developing country
with rich in culture.There are more than 18 million people living in Nepal, an ethnic mix of many
different races and tribes, each with their own costume and language.
Within a mere 150 kilometers the
land rises from near sea level in the south to over 8000 meters in the North.
This, together with the monsoon rainfall along the south facing slopes, has
resulted in compacting virtually all climate zones found on planet Earth. As a
result, Nepal has been endowed with a great diversity of life-zones providing a
home for a large variety of plants, birds and animals..
People of Nepal can be divided into two distinct group, the Aryans and the
Mongolians. And three are many different ethnic groups in Nepal living in
different part of the country with their own unique cultures, languages and
religions.
Nepal is a sovereign Independent Kingdom which is bordered on the north by
the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, on the east by
Sikkim and West Bengal of the Indian Union, on the south by the Indian States of
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and on the west by Uttar Pradesh. It is 885
kilometers long and lies in the temperate climate zone.
Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is a land of sublime
scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best walking trails on earth. It's a
poor country, but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The
kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination.
It's the kind of country that lingers in your dreams long after you leave it.
This is why so many travellers are drawn back to Nepal, armed the second time
round with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a
stout pair of walking boots and a desire for sculpted calf muscles.
In the northern region of high Himalayas, the Tibetan speaking, the Sherpas,
the Dolpas, the Lopas, the Baragaonlis, the Manangis live in different
settlements scattered along the country. The Sherpas are mainly confined in
the east in the Solu and Khumbu region. The Baragaonlis and the Lopas live in
the semi- deserted area of the upper and lower Mustang in the part of the
Tibetan plateau in the rain shadow area; the Managis in the Manang district
and the adjacent areas; and the Dolpas in the highest settlements on the earth
in the Dolpa district of Nepal ( in the west) at an altitude of above 4000 m.
In the middle hills and valleys, there coexists numerous ethnic groups. Among
them are the Magars, Gurungs, Tamangs, Sunuwars, Newars, Thakalis, Chepangs
and majority of Brahmans and Chhetris. The Brahmans and Chhetris have long
dominance in all pervading social, religious and political realms. There are
also some occupational castes e.g. the Damai ( tailor), Sarki ( Cobbler), Kami
(Blacksmith) and Sunar (Goldsmiths). Though, there exists numerous dialects,
the language of unification is the national language, Nepali, an Indo- Aryan
language.
In the north between 2000 and 3500 meters lies the Mahabharat Range
with its oak crowned crests. The hills of this midland are covered by a moist
temperate forest of deodar, oak, maple and birch in which are found deer, ghoral
serow, leopard and monkey, The gorgeous multi-colored lmpeyan pheasant (Nepal's
national bird) is also found here with other endangered birds like the koklas
and Cheer Pheasants. Protected areas in this zone include Khapted National Park
in the Far-West, Dhorpatan Hunting reserve, North-west of Pokhara and Shivapuri
Wildlife Sanctuary near Kathmandu.
Higher still, nearer the snowline, are the alpine mountain flanks which are
the haunt of snow leopard, which preys on blue sheep and the Himalayan tahr.
Rarely seen are the wolf, black bears and lynx. The Sherpas, Manabga, and
Dolpa-bas are some of those who farm and graze their livestock on the high
mountain pastures. Langtang, Sagarmatha (Everest), Shey-Phoksundo and Rara
National Parks are the protected high altitude areas of Nepal.
His Majesty's Government of Nepal has set aside more than 13,000 sq. kms of
protected areas that include as many bio-geographic regions as possible to
assure conservation of the maximum numbers of wildlife species. These nature
sanctuaries attract wildlife enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world
and each park and reserve has its own attraction.