Everything you need to know about Nepal: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Nepal: Birthplace of the Buddha and Land of Mighty Mountain Peaks
Around the 6th century B.C the first civilization flourished in Nepal near by fertile Kathmandu Valley. Lumbini is the place in Nepal where Prince Siddhartha who later became the Buddha was born in 563 B.C. King Prithvi Narayan finally unified the kingdom of Nepal after series of turmoil’s in 1768. Between 1846 and 1951, the country was ruled by the Rana family, which has since held the office of prime minister till its transformation into a republic. In 1923, Britain recognized the absolute independence of Nepal. In 1951 the king took over all power and proclaimed a constitutional monarchy in the country. In 1990 a pro-democracy movement forced King Birendra to lift the ban on political parties. In 2007 the Seven Party Alliance overthrew the monarchy and proclaimed a republic in its place. Thus the world’s only surviving Hindu kingdom came to an end.
Nepal Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures
Geographical Information on Nepal:
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is bordered by China from the north and by India from the south, east and west. The Himalayan mountain range runs across Nepal’s northern and western parts.
Nepal has five climatic zones that vary according to varying altitude. The Himalayas blocks cold winds from Central Asia in the winter and forms the northern limit of the country.
Nepal Culture, Cuisine and Tradition:
Nepal is blessed with one of the richest cultures in the world. The country features a rich amalgamation of Hindu, Buddhist, Tribal and other ethnic cultures. Hinduism has the largest following in the Himalayan kingdom.
The Nepalese meals include the mouth-watering dal-bhat, which is a kind of a lentil soup served with rice and vegetables. Snacks such as chura and tea are consumed between the main meals. Meat, eggs, and fish are also eaten mainly in the mountainous regions where the diet is richer in protein. Rakshi, which is a millet-based traditional alcoholic drink, is famous among the Nepalese.
Tourist Attractions of Nepal:
Nepal is one of the major tourist spots of the world. It is home to ten of the highest mountains peaks in the world including Mount Everest. Nepal’s breathtaking beauty with Himalayan snow capped peaks with lush green vegetation attracts tourist from across the globe to Nepal. It is a favorite destination for trekkers and mountaineers.
The Durbar Square: It is UNESCO world heritage site and famous for its intricate design that reflects architectural marvels built by kings of Nepal in the form of numerous temples, statues, palaces and shrines.
Phulchowki: Phulchowki is a major hiking spot in Nepal located at an altitude of 2578 meters. It is also famous for its serene Buddhist shrines.
Major Sight-seeing Places in Nepal include:
Kathmandu, May 20 (IANS) A 58-year-old Chinese climber died Monday while attempting to climb the Lhotse peak, the world's fourth highest, officials said.
Kathmandu, May 20 (IANS/EFE) Mexican David Liaño Gonzalez Sunday became the first climber to double summit on Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, in the same season, the climb's organizers said.
Kathmandu, May 19 (ANI): The Joint Indo-Nepal Army Mountaineering Expedition Team successfully climbed Mount Everest. According to the Nepal Army Directorate of Information, the first team of the Joint expedition reached the world's highest peak at nine local time this morning.
London, May 19 (ANI): A Saudi woman has become the first female from the country and the youngest Arab to reach the summit of Mount Everest - the world's highest mountain.
Jaipur, May 18 (ANI): Police in Jaipur, Rajasthan, have confirmed the arrest of an army staffer for allegedly passing on classified information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Moscow, May 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian mountain climber Alexei Bolotov died while attempting to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, the Russian Mountaineering Federation said.
Washington, May 15 (ANI): Researchers led by an Indian origin have found abundant evidence showing decline of snow and ice in Mount Everest region.
Kathmandu, May 12 (IANS) Eight people jailed for rape, burglary and smuggling escaped from a prison in Nepal by digging a tunnel, officials said Sunday.
Kathmandu, May 12 (ANI): Thirty-three political parties, who have been agitating against the government, have called off Monday's Nepal Bandh.
New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) Director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna's D.K.'s "Go Goa Gone" has got a clearance certificate from the Goa government, but the movie hasn't got a green signal in Kuwait and Nepal.
London, May 9 (IANS) Hundreds of Hindus carrying ornate pots known as 'kumbhs' will parade through London, Manchester, Leicester and Dudley over the next three weeks.
Beijing, May 9 (Xinhua-ANI): Nepal's Department of Labor (DoL) is going to strictly regulate the non-diplomatic foreign workers working without employment permit in the country, according to a government official.
Hamilton (Bermuda), May 7 (IANS/CMC) Half-centuries by Pradeep Airee and Sharad Vesawkar helped Nepal beat Uganda by five wickets to secure the 50-overs ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 title at the National Sports Centre.
New Delhi, May 7 (ANI): The Central Government will soon issue a new set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Kashmiri militants, who want to return to India through the Nepal border to surrender under a special scheme.
Bermuda (West Indies), May 6 (ANI): Nepal thrashed Uganda by five wickets in the finals of the ICC World Cricket league Division III in a match played at the National Sports Stadium in Bermuda over the weekend,
New Delhi, May 6 (ANI): Canada's High Commissioner to India and Nepal Stewart Beck, is leading a four-day business mission to Nepal from May 5 to 8, 2013.
Guwahati, May 2 (ANI): Around 342 players from different parts of the country, Bangladesh and Nepal participated in the Fifth edition of Jugal the Kishore Newatia Memorial International Chess Championship in Guwahati.
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Nepal's former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who is also the head of Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the country's largest party, Tuesday held "very good talks" with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during which he emphasized that his party was in a "new phase politically and ideologically" and wanted good relations with India.
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) More than 260 Kashmiri ex-militants have returned to India via Nepal in the past three years from 2010 till April 10, 2013, parliament was informed Tuesday.
New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Nepal's former prime minister and head of the country's largest party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' said Monday that his party had agreed that his country cannot prosper "without good relations with India".
New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Visiting India after four years, Nepal's former prime minister and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' Monday stressed on pushing forward economic development of his country which he said was in in the larger interest of both India and China.
Kalimpong (West Bengal), April 29 (ANI): A senior official of India's force is paramilitary Sashastra Seema Bal said that the are fully prepared to combat any situation on the border, and added that the aim was to create an environment of safety and security.
London, Apr. 29 (ANI): Police in Nepal are investigating reports of a fight between three European mountaineers and 17 Sherpa mountain guides on Mount Everest.
Kolkata, April 28 (IANS) With defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) having finally snatched a victory in the sixth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) after a string of losses, fans are now back on the bandwagon - to cheer their team onto reclaiming the title.
Kathmandu, April 27 (ANI): Former Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', currently Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), is paying a four-day visit to India from today.
Kathmandu/New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Nepal's former prime minister and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' arrives in the Indian capital Saturday on a four-day trip, a visit that has been described as a "thaw" by the Nepalese media and one that could go a long way in narrowing the "mistrust and misgivings" between the two sides.
New Delhi/Kathmandu, April 27 (ANI): Former Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who is currently the Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), will pay a four-day visit to India from Saturday.
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Former Nepalese prime minister and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who is slated to arrive in the Indian capital Saturday, is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during which bilateral issues as well as elections to the Constituent Assembly are likely to figure, informed sources said.
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) The Himalayas need to be promoted robustly as an adventure destination for round-the-year flow of tourists in the country, experts said here Wednesday.
Kathmandu (Nepal), April 23 (ANI): A number of initiatives have been launched recently to boost cultural ties between India and Nepal.
Panaji, April 18 (IANS) Both the Congress and the BJP were equally responsible for promoting casinos in Goa, although both parties opposed these when in opposition, a recently declassified US diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks claims.
London, Apr. 14 (ANI): A Nepali television presenter has set a world record by hosting the longest-ever talk show.
Washington, Apr 12 (ANI): In India and Nepal several dozens agricultural fires have been set and are burning, NASA has revealed.
Kathmandu, April 10 (IANS) Top leaders of Nepal's major political parties Wednesday signed a commitment paper prepared by the private sector pledging to support overall development of hydro power projects.
Kathmandu, April 10 (IANS) A pregnant woman was burnt alive Monday in Nepal by her family members, Xinhua reported Tuesday.
Kathmandu, April 5 (Xinhua-ANI): Nepal is likely to achieve only four out of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a joint press statement released here on Friday by United Nations Development Program and the government of Nepal.
Kathmandu, April 5 (Xinhua-ANI): In what appears as a signal of further putting off the election date, the opposition CPN-Maoist, the breakaway faction of the UCPN-Maoist, on Friday rejected a dialogue offer by the country's four major parties to resolve the outstanding issues.
New Delhi, Apr. 3 (ANI): UNICEF Canada and Teck launched a new USD five million program today under the Zinc Alliance for Child Health (ZACH) that will save over 150,000 children's lives in India.
To scale Mount Everest, the expedition team of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) got green signal for its mission. Union Home Secretary R.K Sin
To scale Mount Everest, the expedition team of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) got green signal for its mission. Union Home Secretary R.K Sin
New Delhi, Apr. 2 (ANI): Union Home Secretary R.K Singh flagged off the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) expedition to Mount Everest at a function here on Tuesday.
New Delhi, Apr. 2 (ANI): Union Home Secretary R.K Singh flagged off the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) expedition to Mount Everest at a function here on Tuesday.
London, Apr 2 (ANI): Nepal's Supreme Court has suspended an attempt by the government to set up a commission to probe crimes committed during the country's 10-year civil war.
Pokhara (Nepal), April 1 (IANS) India won two medals including a gold at the South Asian Triathlon Championship here Monday.
Kathmandu, April 1 (IANS) Former US president Jimmy Carter, who is on a visit to Nepal, said Monday that the general election as proposed in June this year is not possible in the country.
New York, April 1 (IANS) Nepal should allow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups to operate freely and end arbitrary arrests of LGBT people, Human Rights Watch said Monday.
New York, April 1 (ANI): Residents in Chile's Atacama Desert, the driest desert on Earth, are turning to giant 'fog catchers' as a possible long-term means of revitalizing the arid area.
New York, Apr. 1 (ANI): A boy, who is suffering from Down syndrome, may have become the first American teenager with the disease to scale Mount Everest.
New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Former India international Anadi Barua Saturday was appointed the national coach of the women's football team.
Gangadevipalli (Andhra Pradesh), March 29 (IANS) If India lives in its villages, then the model it perhaps must follow is Gangadevipalli, a hamlet in Andhra Pradesh's Warangal district where every house has the bare necessities of life, and more.
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) India's home ministry is examining the possibility of deploying Jammu and Kashmir Police along the Nepal border in the wake of recent controversy over the arrest of suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militant Liyaqat Shah, official sources said Tuesday.
Srinagar, March 26 (IANS) More than 35 families of militants who returned home from Pakistan and surrendered under the Jammu and Kashmir government's rehabilitation policy Tuesday staged protests here against the state and the central governments.
Kathmandu, March 24 (IANS) The inclusion of an amnesty provision in law will make it impossible for thousands of victims of human rights abuses in Nepal to obtain justice, rights activists said.
Srinagar, March 22 (IANS) The family of Sayyed Liyaqat Shah, arrested for allegedly planning a terror strike in Delhi, Friday claimed he was returning home via Nepal under the Jammu and Kashmir government's rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants.
United Nations, March 19 (IANS) Jeffrey Feltman, the UN under-secretary-general for political affairs, has left for a week-long visit to South Asia, which includes stops in Nepal, India and Pakistan, an official said.
Kathmandu, March 19 (Xinhua-ANI): Nepal has opened petroleum imports to private sector, ending decades of monopoly by state- owned Nepal Oil Corporation upon the sector.
London, March 18 (IANS) Nepal and Bangladesh are reducing poverty faster compared to India, according to a new study based on the multidimensional poverty index developed at the University of Oxford and used by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in its Human Development Reports.
Washington, Mar. 15 (ANI): While poverty and under-education continue to dampen contraception use in Nepal, exacerbating the country's efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, researchers said another, more surprising factor may be more intractable: Deeply held cultural preferences for sons over daughters.
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said India remains steadfast in its support to the people of Nepal in their effort to build a stable, democratic and prosperous country.
Beijing Mar. 14 (Xinhua-ANI): Nepal's sitting Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi has taken the oath of office as the chairperson of the Interim Election Council at the president's office.
Kathmandu, March 14 (IANS) Nepal's sitting Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi Thursday took oath of office as the chairperson of the Interim Election Council to hold Constituent Assembly elections by June 21.
New Delhi, March 13 (IANS) Nepal and Bangladesh are ahead of India as far as number of women in parliament are concerned. While 33.2 percent of Nepalese lawmakers are women, the figure for India was 10.7 percent, a minister said here Wednesday.
Nagpur, Mar 13 (ANI): Forest officials have arrested six persons for selling tiger and leopard skins worth Rs.80 lakhs.
Lucknow, March 12 (IANS) Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and hosts India would be seen in action in the four-day fourth South Asia Women's Handball Championship beginning March 14 at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium here.
Mumbai, March 12 (IANS) It is extremely important for SAARC nations to come together to tell their distinct, fascinating stories through the media and entertainment industry, said a panel of ministers from the region and Indian filmmakers Tuesday.
New Delhi, March 12 (IANS) Legends have blasted the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the national team's dismal performance in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers earlier this month.
New Delhi, Mar. 12 (ANI): Indian diplomat-cum-poet Abhay K has been given the SAARC Literature Award for 2013 along with four other luminaries - poet Suman Pokhrel of Nepal, script writer and poet Farheen Chaudhary of Pakistan, Abdul Khaliq Rashid of Afghanistan and novelist Daya Dissanayake of Sri Lanka.
Agra, March 10 (IANS) A three-day SAARC festival of literature began here Sunday with a call for concerted efforts to raise eco-consciousness and resist predatory policies that devour nature and its components.
Abu Dhabi, March 7 (IANS/WAM) Customs inspectors at the Abu Dhabi airport have foiled an attempt by two Asian passengers to smuggle a large quantity of cannabis seeds into the UAE.
Seattle, Mar 5 (Business Wire-ANI): India appears to be lagging behind many of its South Asian neighbours as well as China on key parameters of health, a report has said.
Washington, Mar. 3 (ANI): Women in a tiny town in Nepal's Achham district, who are subjected to 'chaupadi'- an age-old custom of isolating women from their families during menstruation, are fighting for their rights.
Kathmandu, Mar 1 (IANS) Nepal has asked India to immediately close its field office opened in 2008 to assist flood victims in Biratnagar town in the eastern Terai region, a media report said Friday.
New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) The decomposed bodies of a Nepali couple were found inside their house here, police said Wednesday.
Yangon, Feb 27 (IANS) Having been out of the team for nearly a year due to an ankle injury, India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua is now geared up for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers starting here March 2.
New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Nepal's Dinesh Prajapati, and Amit Kumar and Imamul Haque of India played a level-par 72 round to share the lead on Day 1 of the eighth NCR Cup at the Delhi Golf Club here Tuesday.
Kolkata, Feb 22 (IANS) With emphasis on issues of trans-border cultures and communities, seven countries will participate in an international seminar organised here by the Anthropological Survey of India beginning Feb 23.
Agra, Feb 20 (IANS) The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) is organising a SAARC festival of literature in this Taj city March 10-11.
Washington, Feb. 20 (ANI): In a major breakthrough, major political parties in Nepal are close to reaching a deal for fresh elections monitored by the Chief justice to form the next government in a bid to end months of constitutional crisis.
Kolkata, Feb 18 (IANS) In a bid to expand its footprint overseas, air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration major Blue Star is aiming to double its export volume to Rs.200 crore in the next three years, a top company executive said Monday.
Kathmandu, Feb 18 (IANS) The government of Nepal has slashed the economic growth forecast from 5.3 percent to 4.2 percent for the current fiscal year 2012-13.
London, Feb 14 (ANI): A Tibetan man has set himself on fire in Nepal in an apparent protest against China's political and religious suppression in Tibetan areas.
Kathmandu, Feb 13 (IANS) An unidentified man immolated himself in the premises of a Buddhist temple in Nepal Wednesday morning, Xinhua reported.
New Delhi, Feb. 10 (ANI): Vultures may not be the most pleasant birds to contemplate, given their not so pleasant appearance and association with death, but they serve a vital role in an ecosystem by eating dead flesh.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The Tibetan government-in-exile is encouraging Tibetans to have more children in the wake of "identity challenge" faced by the community and is considering giving incentives to couples who go for a third child, their political leader Lobsang Sangay has said.
Kampala, Feb 8 (IANS) Hosts Uganda are set to face arch rivals Kenya in their first game when the World T20 qualifying tournament takes place here Feb 23-March 1.
Jaipur, Feb 7 (IANS) Six people, including a Chinese and two Nepalese nationals, were arrested here for planning to smuggle 9,000 kg of rare red sandalwood to China via Nepal, police said.
Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) In their bid to prepare for the Asian Football Confederations (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers, Pakistan's national football team will be playing international friendlies against Nepal and Maldives.
Kathmandu, Feb 5 (IANS) Nepal has begun a three-month-long census of its tigers which were declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered species in 2010.
New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) A 30-member delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is in Hyderabad to take part in the 14th congress of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Kathmandu, Feb 4 (IANS) Nepal has scrapped due to lack of progress 14 licences for various projects to generate a total of 611 MW of hydro-electricity.
Kathmandu, Feb 2 (IANS) Nepal's largest party, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, began its general convention in Hetauda town Saturday - the first since 1992.
London, Feb 2 (IANS) The Nepal government failed to take significant steps towards fulfilling numerous key human rights commitments in 2012, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.
Srinagar, Feb 1 (IANS) Kashmir Valley residents have been warned of heavy to very heavy snowfall at many places in the Valley on Feb 5-6 with the local weather office Friday issuing an adverse weather advisory.
London, Feb.1 (ANI): Nepal's government failed to take significant steps toward fulfilling numerous key human rights commitments in 2012, Human Rights Watch said today in its annual World Report 2013.
Kathmandu, Jan 31 (IANS) Yarsagumba, commonly known as the "Himalayan Viagra", is declining in Nepal, biological conservationists warned.
Kolkata, Jan 30 (IANS) Hopeful about relations between India and Bangladesh improving despite differences over water-sharing and border security issues, celebrated columnist and Bangladeshi author Farah Ghuznavi feels that love of literature and cultural affinity would serve to bind the two neighbours.
Kathmandu, Jan 21 (IANS) Nepal's exports to neighbouring China increased by 254 percent in the first five months of the current fiscal year, officials said Monday.
New Delhi, Jan 20 (IANS) India has stepped up vigilance at its borders to prevent the re-entry of polio from Pakistan as it aims to continue its two-year run free from the paralytic disease.
Sunauli (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 18 (ANI): Indian security forces have increased the vigil along the border with Nepal after the recent skirmishes with Pakistan at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, amid fear that it can be an easy route for militants to infiltrate into the country.
Sydney, Jan 15 (IANS) Scientists are close to developing a shot against black fever, a fatal parasitic infection transmitted by sandflies, known as visceral leishmaniasis, the world's second biggest killer after malaria.
