About Nepal

Nepal is a small country that lies between its neighbors India and China (Tibet).
The country’s size i approximately one third of the size of either Sweden or California. There are approximately 29 million inhabitants in Nepal. According to the 2001 census about 90% of these are Hindu, 5% Buddhist and 3% Muslim.
Not only is Nepal a center for spiritual pilgrims, but also a fantastic and exotic tourist destination!

Nepal is comprized of mountains and some rolling terrain. The climate is very varied, depending upon where you are in the country. Nepals topography is unique. Its elevation varies from only 59 meters above sea level to the 8848 meter top of Mount Everest!
In the south lies Terai where the climate is actually tropical. Terai is a plain with lots of agriculture. A large jungle like national park called Chitwan is also located there.
Terai borders India from east to west for nearly 1000 km.

The middle part of Nepal is composed of foothills and valleys that stretch from 600 meters to over 4700 meters above sea level. The Cities of Katmandu and Pokhara are located in this region. The further north you go, the higher the mountains become and the deeper the snow gets. Nepal’s northern mountain chain includes 8 majestic peaks which all top out at over 8000 meters above sea level. They are collectively called the ”Eight Thousanders”.
The northern part of Nepal borders on Tibet, a “self-governing” part of China.

The large amount of natural resources found in Nepal stand in stark contrast to the challenging socio/political situation in the country. Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world. Approximately 40% of the population is undernourished, which is closely tied to the lack of access to clean drinking water. Nepal is, for the most part, still a farming society where 93% of the inhabitants make their living off the land.
Illiteracy is approximately 54%. Even though elementary education (Class 1-5) is free and a child’s education can continue for five more years, if allowed by the family, 75% of the students leave school during those first five years.

Exports consist mostly of agricultural products, rugs and clothing and imports of machines, medicine, fuel and other industrial products. The industrial potential of Nepal still has lots of room for development as it is almost entirely dependant upon imports of raw materials. Other products such as jute- sugar and cigarettes are all dependant upon local farming production. Carpet and clothing factories lure much foreign investment capital.

Between the years 1996 – 2006 Maoist guerillas led an armed campaign in Nepal, which dampened their tourist trade significantly. This uprising in conjunction with a drop in foreign aid had tragic effects on the already weak Nepalese economy and its people. Since 2006 the situation has improved as the Maoists agreed to a cease fire.

On the 23rd of December, 2007 the decision was taken to do away with Nepal’s monarchy and create a republic, which was approved on the 28th of May, 2008. Nepal went quickly from monarchy to republic in the spring of 2008 after being a monarchy for over 250 years. Since then, the NKP (Maoists) have become the largest party with 30.52 % of the vote and the King has moved out of the Royal Palace, which will shortly become a museum.

Our friends in Nepal have recently reported that life has become easier and that the tourists have begun to return (which we noted ourselves when booking our plane tickets). Business is also improving better than it has in a very long time!