When most people think of Nepal, they largely visualize it only as being the land of the Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world, with Mount Everest, the highest of all, looming on the northern frontier with Tibet.  But Nepal has the greatest altitude variation in the entire world. From 193 meters above sea level at the southern edge of the Terai plains in the south, the land rises up through the Siwalik and Mahabharat middle hills to the towering heights of the Greater Himalaya and the stunning pinnacle of Everest at 8848 meters, beyond which is the world’s highest plateau in Tibet.

 Climate

As the altitude varies, so does the climate.  Nepal’s weather patterns are greatly influenced by the monsoon rising from the Bay of Bengal.  From late May to early September, there is rain practically every day and it can be hot and humid.  Clear skies of September lead to autumn’s beautifully settled weather, superb visibility and tourism’s heaviest season.  Winter in Nepal can be bitterly cold but spring brings in a fresh fragrance and colour.

Nepal at a glance   

Official name                       : Federal Republic of Nepal.              

Location                                : 80  4’ to 88  12’ east long. and 26  22’ to 30  27’ north lat.

Area                                       : 147,181 sq. km.

Capital                                   : Kathmandu City.

Altitude variation                   : 70 m above sea level in the Terai to 8848 m (Mount

                                                   Everest)

 Climate                                  : Tropical in the south to temperate in the middle hills to                       

                                                   Arctic cold in the extreme north (the Himalayas).

 Population                            : 26.97. million (2008 census).

 Ethnic origins                       : Largely Mongoloid, Indo-Aryan and Tibetan.

 Religions                               : Secular state.  Mainly Hinduism & Buddhism with Islam    

                                                   and Christianity in minorities.  Animism also practiced.

 Languages                           :  Nepali, Newari, Tibetan, Hindi & English.  36 other local

                                                   tribal and caste dialects also spoken.

 Political system                    : Multi-party democracy.

Educational system            : Largely based on western system; from pre-primary to 
                                                  University level. Literacy rate: 54.1 % (as of 2001 data).

 Currency                                : Nepali rupee.  US $, Indian rupee also accepted. 

                                                               
Transport                               : Apart from the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, there are domestic airports in all the major cities and towns, including in the high hills such as at Lukla and Jomsome.  Major international airlines bring in and fly out visitors while there are eight airlines which provide domestic flights. There are also more than 18,000 kilometers of motorable roads criss-crossing the country.

Entry points:                                          By air: Tribhuwan Internation Airport, Kathmandu with  

                                                                flights from Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Singapore,

                                New Delhi (India), Doha and Qatar.  There are no direct

                                                                incoming or out-going international flights to or from the

                                                                US or Europe.

                                                                 By land:  Kakarbhitta in the east; Jogbani/Biratnagar,

                                                                 Raxaul/Birgunj, Sunauli/Bhairahawa in the south;

                                                                 and Banbasa/Mahendranagar in the west.