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Nepal Info
Everest Base Camp Trek

Nepal General Information

History
The history of Nepal is dictated by its isolated position in the Himalayas and its two neighbours, India and China. Due to the arrival of disparate settler groups from outside (mainly from the north and south) through the ages, it is now a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual country. Central Nepal was split into three kingdoms from the 15th century until the 18th century, when it was unified under the Shah monarchy. Nepal experienced a struggle for democracy in the 20th century. During the 1990s and until 2008, the country was in civil strife. A peace treaty was signed in 2008 and elections were held in the same year. In a historical vote for the election of the Constituent Assembly in June 2008, Nepal formally became a Republic and was renamed the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal..

Geography
Nepal is a landlocked country bordering India in the south, east and west and Tibet China in the north. A small country measuring 147,181 sq km in area, Nepal is roughly the size of England. It is rectangular in shape measuring roughly 800km east to west and 200km north to south. For a small country, Nepal has tremendous geographic diversity. It rises from as low as 59 metres elevation from the northern rim of the Gangetic Plain in the south to the perpetual snow line of some 90 peaks over 7,000 metres including world's highest 8,848 metres Mount Everest or Sagarmatha in the north. This extreme variation has given Nepal a vibrant eco system with thick tropical and alpine forest with diverse wildlife, the highest mountain peaks of the world, dry and arid valleys, deep gorges, thundering Himalayan rivers and calm tranquil lakes. The weather system is equally diverse from tropical warmth to cold comparable to Polar Regions with average annual precipitation varying from as little as 160 millimetres to as much as 5,500 millimetres during monsoon season. Geographically, Nepal is divided into three distinct regions that extend east to west. The Mountain or 'Parbat' region begins from about 3000m all the way north to the Tibetan border. Area within 700 to 3000m is known as Middle hills or 'Pahar' and the thin strip of low fertile land called 'Tarai' in the south bordering India.

Economy
Agriculture remains Nepal's principal economic activity, employing 80% of the population and providing 37% of GDP. Rice and wheat are the main food crops. The flat Tarai region produces an agricultural surplus, part of which supplies the food-deficient hill areas. Government priorities over the years have been the development of transportation and communication facilities, agriculture, and industry. Since 1975, improved government administration and rural development efforts have been emphasised. Since the early 1990s, large numbers of Nepalese have gone abroad seeking employment. The major source of government revenues are tax, remittance from workers and foreign assistance. Tourism plays a major role in providing employment and generating foreign currency.

People, Language and Culture
The recent survey by Central Bureau of Statistics puts the population of Nepal at around 26.6 Million composed of over 100 ethnic groups speaking over 92 languages. The northern Mountain region is home mostly to hardy Sherpas whose religion, language, cultures are linked to Tibetan Buddhism. The middle hills are the most populated region due it mild climate. Most of the major ethnic groups are found here including the Magars, Gurungs, Thakuris and Thakalis in the western middle hills. Kathmandu is traditionally home to the Newars and the area surrounding it has large populations of Tamangs. In the east are the Rais, Limbus and Sunuwars and the Brahmins and Chhetris have settle throughout the Middle Hills. Majority of these ethnic groups are Hindus but Buddhism is practiced by large number of Tamangs and Gurungs and also by some Newars and Thakalis. The original ethnic groups in Tarai are Tharus, Darai, Kumhal, Majhi but there has been large migration from the middle hills and from northern Indian. All the major ethnic groups speak their own language or dialect and each have their own distinct cultures and traditions.

Communication
There is an extensive landline phone as well as moblie coverage throughout Nepal and the international dialling code is +977. Internet is available in all the major cities and most hotels provide Wi-Fi service. You can send letters and post cards from your hotels.

Electricity
Nepal's electricity is 220 volts but due to insufficient supply there is constant outage. At times it is long as 16 hours per day but it is regulated and the 'load shedding' timings are normally published. The power sockets are mostly round so it is advisable to bring an adaptor and also a torch.

World heritage sites
Nepal is bestowed with 10 UNESCO world heritage sites. Seven of them are in Kathmandu, with Lumbini the birth place of Lord Buddha and Everest National Park and Chitwan National Park making up this unique world recognition.

Company Reg. No.: 35844/062 | Tourism License. No.: 733/062

Nepal (Head Office)
Adventure Tansen Trek Pvt. Ltd.
Suruchi Marga, Baneshwor.
Post Box No. 24243, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Tel: +977-1-4780887, Cell: +977-9851046026
Email: info@adventuretansentrek.com

UK Contact:
Major (Rtd.) Karnasher Tamang MBE
5 Edgecumbe Court, Lalehem Road,
Staines, Middlesex, TW18 2ER
Cell: +4407597281981
Email: info@adventuretansentrek.com

We are Affiliated with:

Nepal Tourism MinistryNepal Tourism Board (NTB)Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN)Nepal Mountaineering AssociationKathmandu Environmental Education Project

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