Amazing Facts About Nepal

Nepal, a country situated in South Asia is a  landlocked country. The country is rich in cultural heritage, some of the highest Himalayan mountains, and pristine forests. But what is it? What are the things that make Nepal one of the best destinations in Asia?

Nepal is an exceptional country. Many would say that it is two countries within one due to the vast differences in culture, religion, and language between the hill people and the Terai people. The hill people in the beautiful Himalayan mountain ranges, the Sherpa and Gurung people, are famously known for their hardworking and friendly attitude and are the leading ethnic group in the Everest region.

Many people have heard about it, but few know the amazing facts. Nepal is unique not because of just the beautiful scenery but the high number of individual cultural, archaeological, and historical facts. And from various sources, this country is celebrated for its natural beauty: the majestic landscape, the breathtaking mountain peaks, the serene rivers, and the beautiful beaches. 

Here are some interesting facts about Nepal that will be a great source of knowledge for you:

Cultural Diversity 

Nepal is a country of most people with different beliefs. The three main ethnic groups in Nepal are the Gurung, Magar, and Thakali. The Sherpa, Tamang, Rai, and the Newar are the other ethnic groups. The national language is Nepali, whereas various accents are spoken in different regions. There are a variety of religious beliefs in Nepal. The main religions are Hinduism and Buddhism. The cultural festivals of Nepal are celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm. The main festivals are the Dashain, Tihar, Losar, Janai Purnima, Holi, and Nepali New Year.

Architectural Diversity

Nepal is famous for its temples and medieval castles when it comes to architectural diversity. It is worth visiting the temples at Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. The other famous temples are Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Bodhnath. The medieval castles are also worth visiting. These castles are situated at the foothills of the Himalayas. The other popular castles are Nagarkot, Bhaktapur, and Bandipur. All these castles are famous for the uniqueness of their architecture.

The Giants: A Territories of Extremes

The country is located in the Himalayas and is geographically landlocked due to its proximity to Asian giants such as the People’s Republic of China to the north and India to the south, both of which are located in the Himalayas. In comparison to its giant neighbours, Nepal is a small country; however, its vast and diverse range of territories, ranging from the humid wooded plains of the Terai to the highest and iciest mountain peaks on the planet, creates an extreme world unto itself, one that is unlike any other on the earth.

The Mountains of the World’s Highest Elevation

With eight of the world’s ten highest peaks collectively known as the ‘Eight-thousanders,’ defined as having a land elevation more significant than 8000 meters (26,247 feet) above sea level, Nepal’s natural landscape is breathtakingly mountainous. Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain, which stands at 8848 meters above sea level, is located in Nepal. The country’s natural landscape is breathtakingly mountainous.

The Canyon with the Deepest Great Canyon in the World

Usually, Nepal is regarded as a land of extreme elevations in the eyes of the world. Still, few people are aware that Nepal is also a land of extreme depths, as evidenced by the existence of the Kali Gandaki canyon, at approx 6000 meters, is the world’s second-deepest canyon after the Great Canyon. In this great canyon, the Kali Gandaki River flows through the Himalayas between the world’s two highest mountains, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, which tower over 8,000 meters above sea level.

The Mountain’s Originally Known Name

However, while most Westerners refer to the world’s highest mountain as ‘Everest,’ this was not its original name, as the western-English moniker was suggested for Sir Andrew Waugh in 1865, following the discovery of the mountain by the Royal Geographical Society, and has stuck ever since. Although the Tibetan name (Pinyin) for Mount Everest is Qomolangma, which translates as “The Mother’s universe,” the Nepali name is Sagarmatha (which translates as “The heaven’s forehead,” or Chomolungma (which translates as “The mother goddess of earth,” but was not accepted by the Nepali people).

A lake once served as the capital of Nepal.

Geological and mythological evidence points to Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, having once been a large body of water. Mythologically, Manjushri arrived in Kathmandu and cut the Chobham’s crest in half with his mighty sword, allowing civilization to flourish in the fertile sacred valley of the Chobham. Experts believe the Kathmandu Valley was a lake at once, but they think it drained over 15,000 years rather than all at once, as depicted in myths and legends.

Endangered Animals’ Sanctuary

In addition to the snow leopard, Asian rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, and Ganges dolphins, Chitwan National Park (the heart of the jungle) is home to an incredible array of animals, including the red panda and elongated tortoise; monitor lizards; crocodiles and gharials. Because it is one of the last remaining safe havens for the Asian one-horned rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger, the park has implemented preservation and relocation measures in response to the threat of poaching.

Nepal’s Calendar

Unlike the Gregorian calendar used in the West, the Nepalese calendar, or Bikram Sambat, incorporates both lunar and solar calendar elements. As a result, the first day of the year varies each year, but it always begins on the first day of April according to the Gregorian calendar, which has 354 days per year. This calendar has an intercalary month every three years because lunar months have 29 or 30 days depending on the Moon’s movement. Thus, the Gregorian year 2018 corresponds to the Bikram Sambat calendar 2074. While the Nepalese calendar is the official and most widely used in the country, it is not the only one; due to its ethnic and religious diversity, various peoples and castes follow their calendars.

In the Land of Buddha, Hinduism is the most revered religion.

Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, was born in a village in Nepal called ‘Lumbini’. However, today, Nepalese society is heavily influenced by Hinduism’s beliefs and practices. Until 2006, Nepal was the only country to have Hinduism as its official state religion. According to the 2001 census, 80.6% of the country’s population is Hindu, while 10.7% are Buddhist, 4.2% are Muslim, and 3.5% practice other religions. Nepal is said to be one of the greatest Land of Buddha.