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Nepal
is such a small country that you'd probably miss it if you weren't
looking for it on a map. Sharing borders with India, it is a Hindu
kingdom with an eclectic mix of race, art and religion. A very poor
country yet very versatile in what it has to offer the traveler,
Nepal is definitely a destination to look out for. Well developed
tourist facilities, excellent for adventure tourism and wildlife and
national parks par excellence make this small hilly nation quite
ideal for honeymooners and intrepid travellers alike.
The
Gorkhas of this region are famous for their sheer grit, their
fighting abilities, their loyalty and in fact the Indian Army even
has a Gorkha Regiment.
How
could talk of Nepal be complete without mention of the Sherpas?
Sherpa Tenzing Norgay the most famous among them. Hardy, stocky and
determined, they are a people who seem to have been born to face the
travails of living in unfriendly conditions. Without them the
various mountaineering expeditions would definitely be handicapped.
So be it
casinos, national parks, shopping, river rafting or taking an
elepahnt safari, make Nepal your destination this millennium.
People
For its size Nepal is a populous country made up of more than 18 million, all a
heterogeneous mix of different races and tribes, wearing different costumes, speaking different languages and dialects and living in different regions of he country. The Gurungs and Magars live mainly in the west. The Rais, Limbus and Sunuwars inhabit the slopes and valleys of the eastern mid hills. The Sherpas also known as
" the Tigers of the Snow" live in the Himalayan region up to an average altitude of 4570 m.
The Newars constitute an important ethnic group in the capital valley Kathmandu. There are Tharus, Yadavas, Satars, Rajvanshis and Dhimals in the Terai region . The Brahmans, Chhetris and Thakuris are spread generally over most parts of the
kingdom.
Art and Religion
Nepalese expressions of art both classical and modern, are a part and parcel of daily life. Unique craftsmanship is easily found in the architecture of temples, shrines, fountains and the design of religious objects. Understanding the various religious creeds as well as the representations of gods and goddesses gives one a better understanding of Nepalese art.
The only country that is a Hindu state, boasts tremendous religious tolerance of the many faiths practiced within its borders. Hindus predominate and make up 80-85% of the population. The next largest religious groups consist of Buddhists, 15-18%, and Muslims, 2% of the population.
Common to all of these religions is the integration of religious expression within everyday life. In contrast with Western religions, these religions involve codes for individual behavior and daily rites of worship. In the morning, people gather at temples, sanctuaries or river banks to offer prayers and puja. Puja is the spreading of rice, grain, coins, flower petals, sweets, incense, fruits, burning wicks and/or red "sindur" paste over statues, carvings, stones or tree roots which are all forms of deities.
A historical look demonstrates that artistic expression reflects the religious and ethnic diversity within the valley. Nepalese art became prominent in the 13th century through the work of BALBAHU, also known as ARNIKO, an architect for the king of Tibet and possibly the Emperor of China. Nepalese art is recognized for its candour, simplicity and harmony balanced with intricacy and decoration. The Malla dynasty promoted all forms of artistic expression from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Tibetan forms of expression influenced art in the valley beginning in the 17th century. Tantric and Buddhist themes introduced greater differentiation between Nepalese and Indian art.
The country can be divided into three main geographic regions :-
Himalayan Region : The altitude of this region ranges between 4877 meters and 8848 meters with the snow line running around 48848 meters. It includes 8 of the existing 14 summits in the world which exceed an altitude of 8000 meters. They represent. (1) Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) 8848 m, (2) Kangchenjunga - 8586 m, (3) Lhotse - 8516m, Makalu - 8463m, (5) ChoOyo- 8201 m, (6) Dhaulagiri - 8167m, (7) Manaslu - 8163m, and Annapurna- 8091 m.
Mountain Region :
This region accounts for about 64 percent to total land area. It is formed by the Mahabharat range that soars upto 4877 meters. To its south lies the lower Churia range whose altitude varies from 610 meters to 1524 meters.
Terai Region : The low-land Terai region which has a width of about 26 to 32 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 305 meters, which occupies about 17% of total land area of the country. Kechanakawal the lowest point of the country with an altitude of 70 meters lies in Jhapa District of the eastern
Terai.
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