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Nepal
*** Shopping-Tip: Nepal
{{Infobox Country|
native_name = नेपाल अधिराज्य
''Nepal Adhirajya'' |
conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Nepal |
common_name = Nepal |
image_flag = Flag of Nepal.svg |
image_coat = Nepal COA.png |
national_motto = जननी जनà¥?मà¤à¥‚मिषà¥?च सà¥?वरà¥?गादिप गरियिस
(
Sanskrit: Mother and Motherland are greater than the kingdom of heaven) |
image_map = LocationNepal.png |
national_anthem =
Rastriya Gaan |
official_languages =
Nepali language Nepali |
capital =
Kathmandu |
latd = 27|latm=42|latNS=N|longd=85|longm=19|longEW=E |
government_type =
Constitutional Monarchy |
leader_titles =
Kings of Nepal KingList of Prime Ministers of Nepal Prime Minister |
leader_names =
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev GyanendraOffice currently vacant|
largest_city =
Kathmandu |
area = 147,181 |
areami²=56,827 |
area_rank = 94th |
area_magnitude = 1 E10 |
percent_water = 2.8 |
population_estimate = 27,676,547 |
population_estimate_year = July 2005 |
population_estimate_rank = 40th |
population_census = 23,151,423|
population_census_year = 2001 |
population_density = 196 |
population_densitymi² = 508 |
population_density_rank = 39th |
GDP_PPP_year = 2005 |
GDP_PPP = $42.17 billion |
GDP_PPP_rank = 81st |
GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,500|
GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 196th |
HDI_year = 2003 |
HDI = 0.526 |
HDI_rank = 136th |
HDI_category =
medium |
sovereignty_type =
Unification of Nepal Unification |
established_events = |
established_dates =
1768-12-21 |
currency =
Nepalese Rupee Rupee |
currency_code = NPR |
time_zone =
Nepal Time NPT |
utc_offset = +5:45 |
time_zone_DST = not observed |
utc_offset_DST = +5:45|
cctld =
.np |
calling_code = 977|
footnotes =
}}
The '''Kingdom of Nepal''' ({{IPA2|[nəˈpÉ‘Ë?l]}} {{Audio|Nepal.ogg|listen}}) is a
landlocked Himalayas Himalayan country in
South Asia, bordering the
People's Republic of China to the north and
India to the south, east and west. Nepal has the distinction of being the world's only
Hindu state, with over eighty percent of the people following this faith. For a relatively small country, the Nepali landscape is uncommonly diverse, ranging from the humid
Terai in the south to the lofty
Himalayas in the north. Nepal boasts eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including
Mount Everest on the border with China.
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city. The exact origin of the name ''Nepal'' is uncertain, but the most popular understanding is that it is derived from ''Ne'' (holy) and ''pal'' (cave).
After a long and complex history, during which the region has splintered and coalesced under a variety of absolute rulers, Nepal became a
constitutional monarchy in 1990. This arrangement has been marked by increasing instability, both in the parliament and, since 1996, throughout large swathes of the country that have been fought over by
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Maoist insurgents. The Maoists have sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish their own form of republic; this has led to a
civil war, known as the
Nepalese civil war, in which more than 12,000 people have died. In 2002, the then-serving Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba dissolved Parliament to call Parliamentary elections, but later went to the King and said elections could not be held because of the deteriorating security situation due to the Maoist insurgency. The King then fired Deuba under Article 127 of the Constitution. Since Deuba's firing in 2002, the King appointed three Prime Ministers (including reappointing Deuba). On
February 1,
2005 with the stated pretext of quashing the insurgents and restoring elected democracy to the country, the king declared a "
state of emergency" and assumed the role of Chairman of the government, assuming all executive powers.
History
{{main|History of Nepal}}
Neolithic tools found in the
Kathmandu Valley indicate that people have been living in the Himalayan region for at least 9,000 years. It appears that people who were probably of Tibeto-Burman ethnicity lived in Nepal 2,500 years ago. {{inote.html">Indo-Iranian /
Aryan tribes entered the valley around 1500 BCE. Around 1000 BCE, small kingdoms and confederations of clans arose in the region. One of the princes of the
Sakya confederation was
Siddharta Gautama (563–483 BCE), who renounced his royalty to lead an ascetic life and came to be known as the ''Buddha'' ("the enlightened one"). By 250 BCE, the region came under the influence of the
Mauryan empire of northern India, and later became a puppet state under the
Gupta Dynasty in the fourth century CE.
Image:Nepal map.png thumb|left|250px|Map_of Nepal.html" title="Meaning of History}} thumb|left|250px|Map_of Nepal">thumb|left|250px|Map of NepalFrom the late fifth century CE, rulers called ''the
Licchavis'' governed the area. The Licchavi dynasty went into decline in the late
8th century eighth century and was followed by a
Newari era, from 879, although the extent of their control over the entire country is uncertain. By the late 11th century, southern Nepal came under the influence of the
Chalukya Chalukaya Empire of
South India southern India. Under the Chalukayas, Nepal's religious establishment changed as the kings patronised Hinduism instead of the prevailing Buddhism.
By the early
twelfth century 12th century, leaders were emerging whose names ended with the Sanskrit suffix ''malla'' ("wrestler"). Initially their reign was marked by upheaval before the kings consolidated their power over the next 200 years. By the late 14th century much of the country began to come under a unified rule. This unity was short-lived: in 1482 the kingdom was carved into three:
Kathmandu,
Patan (
Lalitpur), and
Bhadgaon (
Bhaktapur).
Image:Patan temples.jpg Hindu.html"_title="Meaning of thumb thumb|250px|[[Hindu_temples in
Patan, the capital of one of the three medieval kingdoms.html" title="Meaning of 250px|[[Hindu">thumb|250px|[[Hindu temples in
Patan, the capital of one of the three medieval kingdoms">250px|[[Hindu">thumb|250px|[[Hindu temples in
Patan, the capital of one of the three medieval kingdoms
After centuries of petty rivalry between the three kingdoms, in the mid-
eighteenth century 18th century Prithvi Narayan Shah, a
Gorkha ruler set out to unify the kingdoms. After seeking arms and aid from India, and buying the neutrality of bordering Indian kingdoms, he embarked on his mission in 1765. After several bloody battles and sieges, he managed to unify Nepal three years later in 1768. This event marked the birth of the modern nation of Nepal. A dispute and subsequently war with
Tibet over the control of mountain passes forced the Nepalese to retreat and pay heavy repatriations. Rivalry between Nepal and the
British East India Company over the annexation of minor states bordering Nepal eventually led to the
Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16), in which Nepal suffered a complete rout. The
Treaty of Sugauli was signed ceding parts of the Terrai and
Sikkim to the Company in exchange for Nepalese
autonomy.
Factionalism among the
royal family and rival political parties led to a period of instability after the war. In 1846, a discovered plot to overthrow
Jang Bahadur, a fast-rising military leader by the reigning queen, led to the
Kot Massacre. Armed clashes between
military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen led to the execution of several hundred princes and chieftains around the country. Bahadur emerged victorious and founded the
Rana lineage. The king was made a titular figure, and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary. The Ranas were staunchly pro-British, and assisted the British during the
Sepoy Rebellion in 1857, and later in both
World Wars. In 1923 the United Kingdom and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship, in which Nepal's independence was recognised by the UK.
image:RaniOfNepal1920.jpg 250px|thumb|Nepalese royalty in the 1920s
In the late 1940s, newly emerging pro-democracy movements and political parties in Nepal were critical of the Rana autocracy. Meanwhile, with the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese in 1950, India faced the prospect of an expansive military and was thus keen to avoid instability in Nepal. Forced to act, India sponsored both King
Tribhuvan as Nepal's new ruler in 1951, and a new government, mostly comprising the
Nepali Congress Party. After years of power wrangling between the king and the government, the democratic experiment was dissolved in 1959, that a "partyless"
panchayat system was made to govern Nepal until 1989, when the "Jan Andolan" (People's) Movement forced the monarchy to accept constitutional reforms and to establish a multiparty parliament in May 1991.
In 1996, the
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) started a bid to replace the
parliamentary system with a socialist republic. This has led to the
Nepal Civil War with more than 12,000 deaths. On
June 1,
2001, the Heir Apparent
Dipendra of Nepal Crown Prince Dipendra went on a killing spree in the royal palace, a violent response to his parents' refusal to accept his choice of wife. Following the carnage, the throne was inherited by Birendra's brother
Gyanendra of Nepal Gyanendra. In the face of unstable governments and a Maoist siege on the Kathmandu Valley in August 2004, popular support for the monarchy began to wane. On
2005-02-01, Gyanendra dismissed the entire government and assumed full executive powers to squash the Maoist movement. {{inote|Timeline: Nepal|BBC News}} In September 2005, the Maoists declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire. A few weeks later, the government stated that parliamentary elections would be held by 2007.{{inote|Nepal to hold polls in two years|Times of India}}
Geography
{{main|Geography of Nepal}}
Image:Nepal_topo_en.jpg thumb|250px|Topographic map of Nepal
Nepal is of roughly rectangular shape, 850 kilometres (530
mile mi) wide and 200 kilometres (125 mi) broad, with an area of 147,181
square kilometres (56,827
square mile sq mi). Although Nepal shares no boundary with
Bangladesh, the two countries are separated by a narrow strip of land about 24 kilometres (15 mi) wide, known as the
Chicken's Neck. Efforts are underway to try and make this area a free-trade zone. Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas—the Mountain,
Hill Region Hill, and
Terai Regions. These ecological belts run east–west and are bisected by Nepal's major river systems.
Image:KaliGandaki.jpg thumb|left|250px|The cold and barren Himalayan landscape
The Terai Plains, bordering India are part of the northern rim of the
Indo-Gangetic plains, were formed and are fed by three major rivers: the
Koshi, the
Narayani (India's
Gandak River), and the
Karnali. This region has a hot, humid climate. The Hill Region (''Pahar'' in Nepali) abuts the mountains and varies between 1,000 and 4,000 metres (3,300–13,100
foot (unit of length) ft) in altitude. Two low mountain ranges, the
Mahabharat Lekh and
Siwalik Hills Shiwalik Range (also known as the Churia Range) dominate the region. The hilly belt includes the Kathmandu Valley, the country's most fertile and urbanised area. Despite its geographical isolation and limited economic potential, the region always has been the political and cultural centre of Nepal. Unlike the heavily populated valleys, elevations above 2,500 metres (8,000
foot (unit of length) ft) are sparsely populated. The Mountain Region is contiguous with the Hill Region and contains the highest region in the world. The world's highest mountain,
Mount Everest (''Sagarmatha'' in Nepali) 8,850 metres (29,035
foot (unit of length) ft) is located on the border with
China. Eight of the top
Eight-thousander ten highest mountains in the world are located in Nepal.
Kanchenjunga, the world's third highest peak is also located on its eastern border with
Sikkim. Deforestation is a major problem in all regions, with resulting erosion and degradation of ecosystems.
Nepal has five climatic zones, broadly corresponding to altitude. The
tropical and subtropical zones lie below 1,200 metres (3,930 ft), the
temperate zone between 1,200 and 2,400 metres (3,930–7,875 ft); the cold zone between 2,400 and 3,600 metres (7,875–11,800 ft); the subarctic climatic zone between 3,600 and 4,400 metres (11,800–14,400 ft), and the arctic zone above 4,400 metres (14,400 ft). Nepal experiences five seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. The Himalaya blocks the cold winds from
Central Asia in winter, and forms the northern limit of the monsoon wind patterns.
Economy
{{main|Economy of Nepal}}
Image:Nepal One Rupee obverse.jpg thumb|250px|A one-rupee banknote
Nepal is one of the poorest and least developed landlocked nations in the world; up to half of its people live below the
poverty line. Agriculture provides a livelihood for some 80% of the population and accounts for about 40% of the
Gross Domestic Product GDP, with services comprising 40% and industrial output the remainder. Terrain that ranges from hilly to mountainous in the northern two-thirds of the country has made the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. There are just over 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) of paved roads, and one 59 km railway line in the south of the country. Aviation is in a better state, with 46 airports, nine of them with paved runways. There is less than one telephone for each 46 people; landline services are poor, although mobile telephony in a reasonable state in some parts of the country. There are around 100,000 Internet connections, but after the imposition of the "state of emergency", intermittent losses of service have been reported. {{inote|CIA World Factbook}}
Nepal is rich in water resources and biodiversity. But a lack of consistent political will backed by non-partisan national vision and managemenbt capability, technological backwardness and the long-running civil war have also prevented Nepal from fully developing its economy. The country receives foreign aid from
India,
China, the
United States,
Japan and the
European Union. The government's budget is about US$665 million, with expenditures of $1.1bn. The
inflation rate has dropped to 2.9% after a period of higher inflation during the 1990s. The
Nepalese Rupee has been tied to the
Indian Rupee at an exchange rate of 1.6 for many years. Since the loosening of exchange rate controls in the early 1990s, the black market for foreign exchange has all but disappeared. A long-standing economic agreement between Nepal and India underpins a close relationship between the two economies.
Image:Nepal landscape 1.jpg thumb|250px|Terraced farming on the foothills of the Himalayas
The distribution of wealth among the people is consistent with that in many developed and developing countries: the highest 10% of households receive nearly 30% of the national income and the lowest 10% a little more than a tenth of that. Nepal's workforce of about 10 million suffers from a severe shortage of skilled labour. By sector, agriculture employs 81% of the workforce, services 16% and manufacturing/craft-based industry 3%. Agricultural produce—mostly grown in the Terrai region bordering India—includes rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, and water buffalo meat. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce, including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. The spectacular landscape and deep, exotic culture of Nepal represents considerable potential for tourism, but growth in this export industry has been stifled by recent political events. The
unemployment rate rate of unemployment and underemployment approaches half of the working-age population. A lack of employment prospects has encouraged many Nepalese to move to India in search of work. Poverty is acute and many of Nepal's women are sold to Indian brothels, a figure as high as 7,000 each year.{{ref|women}} Nepal receives US$50 million a year through the
Gurkha soldiers who serve in the
Indian Army Indian and
British Army British armies and are highly esteemed for their skill and bravery.
Nepal's GDP for the year 2005 is estimated to be just over US$37bn (adjusted to
Purchasing Power Parity), making it the 83rd largest economy in the world. Per capita income is around US$1,402, ranked 163rd. Nepal's exports of mainly carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain total $568 million. Imports commodities of mainly gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products and fertiliser total US$1.419 bn. India (48.8%), the US (22.3%), and
Germany (8.5%) are its main export partners. Nepal's import partners include India (43%), the
United Arab Emirates (10%), China (10%),
Saudi Arabia (4.4%), and
Singapore (4%).{{inote|CIA World Factbook}}
Government and politics
{{main|Politics of Nepal}}
image:Gyanendra.jpg thumb|200px|Queen Komal and King Gyanendra
Until 1990, Nepal was an
absolute monarchy under the executive control of the king. In 1990, King Birendra agreed to large-scale political reforms by creating a
parliamentary monarchy with the king as
head of state and a prime minister as
head of government.
Nepal's legislature is
bicameral constituting of a
Nepal House of Representatives House of Representatives and a
National Council of Nepal National Council. The House of Representatives consists of 205 members directly elected by the people. The National Council has 60 members, 10 nominated by the king, 35 elected by the House of Representatives and the remaining 15 elected by an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. The legislature has a five-year term, but can be dissolved by the king before its term ends. All males and females 18 years and older may vote.
The executive comprises the King and the
Council of Ministers (the
Cabinet). The leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an election is appointed as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The judiciary is made of the ''
Sarbochha Adalat''—the
Supreme Court, appellate courts and various district courts. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council.
The
Nepali Congress Party (NCP), established in the 1940s, is the oldest party in Nepal. Other major parties are the
Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), the pro-royalist
National Democratic Party (Nepal) National Democratic Party (NDP) and the
Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-ML), a faction of the CPN-UML. Governments in Nepal have tended to be highly unstable; no government has survived for more than two years, either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch. In 2005, Prime Minister
Sher Bahadur Deuba and other ministers were placed under
house arrest, and King Gyanendra dissolved the parliament and declared a "
state of emergency" which lasted till April. In August 2005 Deuba was jailed after a Royal Commission found him guilty of corruption. According to a statement by Nepalese government in September 2005, parliamentary elections are to be held within the next two years.
Military and foreign affairs
:''Main articles:
Military of Nepal,
Foreign relations of Nepal''
Image:NamcheBazar1.jpg thumb|250px|The famous outpost of Naamche Bazaar in the Khumbu region close to Mount Everest. The town is built on terraces in what resembles a giant Greek amphitheatre.
Nepal's military consists of the
Royal Nepalese Army which includes the
Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, (the
air force unit under it), and the
Nepalese Police Force. Service is voluntary and the minimum age for enlistment is 18 years. Nepal spends $99.2 million (2004) on its military—1.5% of its GDP. The king is the commander-in-chief of the military, which is currently engaged in the civil war against the
Maoist insurgents. Most of the equipment and arms are supplied by The Republic of
India.{{ref|arms}}
Nepal has close ties with both of its neighbours, India and China. Whereas Nepal's Budha-inspired spiritual, trade and cultural ties with Tibet-China goes back to more than two thoudand years, its trade, military and political engagements with states of Magadh, Patali Putra, with East India Company or the British Empire in South Asia and the Republic of India or Hindustan after 1947 bear an eloquent testimony of ancient glory. In accordance with the Indian interpretation of treaty signed in 1950 between Nepal and post-1947 Hindustan, Indian and Nepalese citizens can travel to each others' countries without a
passport or
visa (document) visa (The current situation is that the people travelling across the border need some form of identification). Nepalese citizens may work in India without legal restriction. Although Nepal and India typically have close ties, from time to time Nepal becomes caught up in the problematic Sino-Indian relationship. India considers Nepal as part of its realm of influence, and views Chinese aid with concern. Some Indians consider Nepal to be part of a greater pan-Indian state, an attitude that has caused Nepalese antagonism towards India. In 2005, after King Gyanendra took over, Nepalese relations with India, the US, and the UK have worsened. These three foreign countries have been vociferous opponents to the crackdown on civil liberties in Nepal. China mainly seeks cooperation with Nepal on the issues of Tibet, Taiwan and peace and stability on its western frontiers.
Demographics
{{main|Demographics of Nepal}}
Image:Kathmandu signs.jpg Kathmandu Valley.html" title="Meaning of thumb thumb|250px|Thamel is a popular tourist hotspot in [[Kathmandu Valley..html" title="Meaning of 250px|Thamel is a popular tourist hotspot in [[Kathmandu Valley">thumb|250px|Thamel is a popular tourist hotspot in [[Kathmandu Valley.">250px|Thamel is a popular tourist hotspot in [[Kathmandu Valley">thumb|250px|Thamel is a popular tourist hotspot in [[Kathmandu Valley.
Nepal has a total population of 27,676,547 as of July 2005, with a growth rate of 2.2%. 39% of the population is under 14 years, 57.3% are aged between 15 and 64, and 3.7% above 65. The median age is 20.07 (19.91 for males and 20.24 for females). There are 1,060 males for every 1,000 females. Life expectancy is 59.8 years (60.9 for males and 59.5 for females). Total
Literacy literacy rate is 45.2% (62.7% for males and 27.6% for females).
The largest ethnic group is the
Chhettri (15.5%). Other groups are the
Brahman-Hill 12.5%,
Magar 7%,
Tharu 6.6%,
Tamang 5.5%,
Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%,
Kami (people) Kami 3.9%,
Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8%. According to the 2001 census, Hindus constitute 80.6% of the population. Buddhists make up 10.7%,
Islam Muslims 4.2%,
Kirant 3.6%, other religions 0.9%.
Nepali language Nepali is the national language with 47.8% of the population speaking it as their first language. Other languages include
Maithili language Maithili 12.1%,
Bhojpuri 7.4%,
Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%,
Tamang 5.1%,
Newar 3.6%,
Magar 3.3%,
Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5%. Differences between Hindus and Buddhists have been in general very subtle and academic in nature due to the intermingling of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. Both share common temples and worship common deities and many of Nepal's Hindus could also be regarded as Buddhists. {{inote.html">Magar,
Sunwar, and
Rai_(ethnic group) Rai.html" title="Meaning of Religion and Society}}Buddhists are mostly concentrated in the eastern regions and the central Terrai. Buddhism was relatively more common among the Newar and Tibeto-Nepalese groups. Among the Tibeto-Nepalese, those most influenced by Hinduism were the Rai">Rai peoples. Hindu influence is less prominent among the
Gurung,
Limbu,
Bhutia, and
Thakali groups, who employ Buddhist monks for their religious ceremonies.{{inote|CIA World Factbook}} {{inote|Library of Congress}} Hinduism is the official religion of the country, making it the only officially Hindu nation.
The northern mountains are sparsely populated. A majority of the population live in the central highlands despite the migration of a significant section of the population to the fertile Terrai belt in recent years. Kathmandu, with a population of 80,000, is the largest city in the country.
Culture
{{main|Culture of Nepal}}
Image:Nepalese dishes.jpg thumb|250px|A Nepalese meal
Nepal has inherited aspects of Indian culture from the south and Tibetan and Chinese culture from the north. Similarities can be observed in the clothing, way of life, language and food. A typical Nepalese meal is ''dal-bhaat'', boiled lentils served with rice and seasonal vegetables. Dal-bhaat meals are consumed twice a day, once in the morning and again after sunset. Between these main meals, snacks such as ''chiura'' (beaten rice) and tea are consumed. Chicken, goat, water buffalo, pork, and yak meat, fish, and eggs are also consumed, particularly in agriculturally productive regions where the diet tends to be richer in protein. Beef is forbidden, technically illegal under the laws of the Hindu kingdom, but may be found in some high-end tourist hotels. Rice, millet, and potato based alcoholic drinks are popular, including fermented ''jaad'' and distilled ''
rakshi''.
Folklore is an integral part of Nepalese society. Traditional stories are rooted in the reality of day-to-day life—tales of love, affection, battles, and demons and ghosts; they reflect and explain local lifestyles, cultures and belief systems. Many Nepalese folktales are enacted in dance and music. The Newar people are well-known for masked
dances that tell stories of the gods and heroes. Music is
percussion instrument percussion-based, sometimes with flutes or
shawm accompanying the intense, nasal vocal lines. Musical styles are a variety of
pop music pop,
religious music religious and
folk music, among other styles.
Musical genres from Tibet and India have had a strong influence on traditional Nepalese music. Women, even of the musician castes, are less likely than men to play music, except in specific situations such as traditional all-female wedding parties.
Image:Nepal house.jpg thumb|left|250px|Houses in some parts of Nepal are built from bamboo, cow dung, and earth.
The
sarangi, a four-stringed, hand-carved
musical instrument instrument is usually played by wandering minstrels. In recent times,
Nepali rock or
rock music, sung to Nepali lyrics, has become popular among youth.
football (soccer) Soccer is the most popular sport, followed by
cricket and
kabaddi. The
Martyrs Soccer League is the national soccer championship.
There is one television service, although many networks, particularly those that originate in India, are available with the installation of increasingly popular satellite dishes. Lack of electrification makes this difficult. Radio is listened to throughout the kingdom; as of 2000, there were 12 radio stations.
The Nepali year begins in mid-April and is divided into 12 months. Saturday is the official weekly holiday. Main holidays include the National Day (birthday of the king)
December 28, Prithvi Jayanti, (
January 11), and Martyr's Day (
February 18) and a mix of Hindu and Buddhist festivals such as ''
Dashai'' in autumn, and ''
Tihar'' late autumn. Most marriages are arranged, and divorce is rare.
Polygamy is banned by law; relatively isolated tribes in the north, such as the
Dolpo, practise
polyandry. Nepal has a rich tradition of ceremonies, such as ''
nwaran'' (the christening of a child), and the ''
Pasni'', the day a child is first fed rice, and ''
bratabandha'' (the penance ceremony) and ''
gupha'' for prepubescent boys and girls, respectively. In
bel baha, preadolescent girls are "married" to the bel fruit tree, ensuring that the girl becomes and remains fertile.
Most houses in rural Nepal are made up of a tight bamboo framework with mud and cow-dung walls. These dwellings remain cool in summers and retain warmth in winters. Dwellings at higher altitudes are mostly timber based.
See also
{{sisterlinks|Nepal}}
*
Communications in Nepal
*
Foreign Relations of Nepal
*
List of political parties in Nepal
*
Military of Nepal
*
Nepal Civil War
*
Politics of Nepal
*
Transport in Nepal
*
Nepali cricket team
*
Birds of Nepal
External links
-
His Majesty's Government of Nepal
-
Library of Congress – Nepal
-
Official Site of the Royal Court of Nepal
-
United States Department of State Profile of Nepal
*{{wikitravel|Nepal}}
References
{{explain-inote}}
*{{cite web | title= A Country Study: Nepal | work=Federal Research Division,
Library of Congress | url=http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/nptoc.html | accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Nepal | work=
CIA World Factbook | url=http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/np.html | accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Nepal | work=MSN Encarta | url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562648_3/Nepal.html | accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= India Nepal Open Border | work=Nepal Democracy | url=http://www.nepaldemocracy.org/documents/treaties_agreements/nep_india_open_border.htm | accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Football at the heart of the Himalaya | work=
FIFA | url=http://www.fifa.com/en/regulations/magazine/index/0,1569,102162,00.html?articleid=102162 | accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Etymology of the word "Nepal" | work=Infoclub.com.np | url=http://www.infoclub.com.np/nepal/history/history_ancient.htm| accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | author= Siddharth Srivastava | title=India hits Nepal where it hurts | work=Asia Times Online | url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GB24Df04.html| accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title=rudraksha | url=http://www.rudrakshanepal.com}}
*{{cite web | title=Nepal: A state under siege | work=The South Asian: Featured Articles | url=http://www.thesouthasian.org/archives/000155.html| accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Nepal: Basic Fact Sheet | work=Nepal homepage | url=http://www.nepalhomepage.com/general/glance.html| accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Jailed ex-PM in Nepal court plea | work=
BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4194160.stm| accessdate=September 29 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Timeline: Nepal | work=
BBC News | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/country_profiles/1166516.stm| accessdate=September 29 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Nepal to hold polls in two years| work=
Times of India | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1239136.cms| accessdate=September 29 | accessyear=2005 }}
*{{cite web | title= Nepal | work=Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation | url=http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/nepal.htm| accessdate=September 23 | accessyear=2005 }}
* {{cite book | author=Barbara Crossette| title=So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas | publisher= New York: Vintage | year=1995 | id=ISBN 0679743634}}
* {{cite book | author=Bista, Dor Bahadur| title=People of Nepal | publisher= Dept. of Publicity, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of Nepal | year=1967 | id=ISBN 9993304182}}
*Michael Hutt, ed., ''Himalayan 'people's war' : Nepal's Maoist rebellion'', London : C. Hurst, 2004
* {{cite book | author=Peter Matthiessen| title=The Snow Leopard | publisher= Penguin | year=1993 | id=ISBN 0-00-272025-6}}
* {{cite book | author=Joe Simpson| title=Storms of Silence | publisher= Mountaineers Books | year=1997 | id=ISBN 0898865123}}
* {{cite book | author=Samrat Upadhyay| title=Arresting God in Kathmandu | publisher= Mariner Books | year=2001 | id=ISBN 0618043713}}
* {{cite book | author=Joseph R. Pietri| title=The King of Nepal | publisher=Joseph R. Pietri | year=2001 | id=ISBN 061511928X}}
* {{cite book | author=Maurice Herzog| title=
Annapurna | publisher=The Lyons Press | year=1951 | id=ISBN 1558215492}}
* {{cite book | author=Dervla Murphy| title=The Waiting Land: A Spell in Nepal | publisher= Transatlantic Arts | year=1968 | id=ISBN 0719517451}}
* {{cite book | author=Rishikesh Shaha| title=Modern Nepal: A Political History| publisher=Manohar Publishers and Distributors | year=2001 | id=ISBN 8173044031}}
{{Southern Asia}}
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