GENERAL INFORMATION

Nepal is a landlocked country that shares a border with Tibet in the north and India in the west, south and east. Before 1951 this Himalayan kingdom was closed to foreigners and the few who visited did so on strictly invitation basis. Today tourism is a major foreign exchange earner and facilities for tourists have grown considerably in the last decade. There are six five star hotels in Kathmandu and lodges in remote areas along the trekking routes. There are domestic flights to all regions of Nepal making trek routes easily accessible.
Area: 147,181sq.km. Southern Nepal comprises flat plains called the terai, while the northern border is made up of some of the highest mountains in the world including Mt. Everest, the highest.
Latitude: 26deg 12’ and 30deg 27’ North Longitude: 80deg 4’ and 88deg 12’ East
Time: Nepalese Time is 15 minutes ahead of Indian Standard Time and 5 hour 40 minutes ahead of GMT.
Topography: From 60m above sea level in the terai, (the plains) the terrain rises to the highest point on earth, Mt Everest at 8848m. Nepal also has the deepest gorge in the world, the Kali Gandaki gorge.
Climate: Nepal has a short spring (March ­mid April) when the days are pleasant but the mornings and evenings are still chilly. This is followed by a summer that is cut short by the monsoon rains which normally arrives at the end of May or early June. The rains last until late September after which the best time of the year arrives. From late September the skies are clear until November. The ideal time to be in Nepal is October-November. According to altitude, the climate changes from sub-tropical in the lowlands to arctic conditions in the high Himalayas.
People: There are more than 50 ethnic groups in Nepal speaking more than 200 different dialects. The population can be generally divided into the Mongoloid and non-Mongoloid groups (mostly of Aryan descent). The former prefer to live in the mountainous regions while most of the latter are found living in the lowlands known as the terai.
Religion: The dominant religions of Nepal are Hinduism and Buddhism. The majority are Hindus followed by Buddhists. The minorities consist of Christians, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and a few animistic religions still prevalent around the country. The caste system is very much in evidence and still influences marriages and social activities of the population.
Languages: The national language is Nepali and is understood and spoken by most Nepalese citizens. The local dialects are still spoken by a large part of the population. The Newari community who are the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley,speak various dialects of the Newari language. The languages spoken in Nepal are divided into two distinct groups 1) Sanskrit based such as Nepali and Maithili, etc. 2) Tibeto-Burman languages like Tamang and Gurung, etc. Tourists have no communication problems in Nepal as most people in the tourism sector speak English and the general public understands the language.

TREKKING (GENERAL INFORMATION)

TREKKING (GENERAL INFORMATION) The Nepal Himalayas is known as "The abode of the Gods". Nepal's history, religion, culture and tradition as well as legends and myths emanate from the awesome Himalayas. The Nepal Himalayas harbor many holy temples and shrines, monasteries and sacred lakes in the wilderness and remote parts of the region.The Himalayas are the youngest yet the highest mountain range on earth. A third of its stretches- (800 kilometers) lies within Nepal.Consisting of 1,310 magnificent peaks over 6,000 meters, including 8 of the world's highest 14 peaks of 8,000 meters. Nestling in the rain shadows of these unique vistas of soaring summits unravels a profusion of lofty foothills, the home of the many Nepalese who delight in warm hospitality and friendship. These terraced hills meander down to lush green valleys with turbulent rivers; and to the tropical lowland and jungles teeming with wildlife.In its immensely diverse and undulating topography, varied climate and mix of people Nepal combines to produce a magical attraction for outsiders. Many visitors come here to trek. Anyone with a pair of strong legs, and the spirit for adventure to explore the exotic, will enjoy the thrills of trekking in Nepal. Walking in the interior of the country follows ancient foot trails, which meander through the scenic riverbanks, intricately terraced fields and the forested ridges connecting picturesque hamlets and mountain villages. These highly developed and well-defined trails have been used for centuries and are the hive of activities to come in contact with the locals.

THE ANNAPURNA REGION
With some of the world’s highest mountains in the vicinity and given its easy accessibility, the Annapurna region is the favourite trekking area. There is an abundance of accommodation and teahouses along the treks routes. Moreover the fascinating landscapes and incredible mountain views, makes this region tremendously popular among trekkers. Most treks originate from Pokhara but trekking starts from further up as motor roads penetrate deeper and deeper into trekking routes each year.
The easiest means of reaching Pokhara from Kathmandu is to fly but you can also take the road and get there in five hours. From Pokhara you can either drive to Baglung or Nayapul to start the trek.
The other starting points are Dumre, Besi Sahar or Gorkha town.

MAJOR SIGHTSEEING PLACES IN NEPAL

MAJOR SIGHTSEEING PLACES IN NEPAL The Kathmandu Valley has a traditional as well as modern setting. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the Valley consists of three cities of historic, cultural and political importance - Kantipur, Lalitpur (Patan) and Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon). Covering an area of 218 sq. kms, the Kathmandu Valley is situated at 1136m above sea level. A bird's eye view of the Capital features the city as an oval shape with the sacred river Bagmati and its tributary Bishnumati wedding towards the south. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is named after Kasthamandap, an imposing pagoda near Hanuman Dhoka Palace. It is believed that King Gunakama Dev built the city in 723 A.D. The major tourist attractions in Nepal are:

i) Kathmandu Duraba Square ii) Namche Bazzar iii) Muktinath iv) Bouddhanath v) Monkey Temple vi) Pashupatinath vii) Pokhara viii) Chitwan ix) Lumbeni x) Dharan etc...

Lumbini, the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha or The Buddha, is situated 250 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu. A broken pillar erected in 249 BC by the first major Buddhist ruler of India, Emperor Ashoka, proclaims in a now-extinct script that the emperor made three pilgrimages to the holy site. Lumbini recognized all over the world and its development is being undertaken by Buddhists from everywhere. In the same spirit,His Majasty’s Government of Nepal formed the Lumbini Development Trust in 1985 to oversee this development of the entire Lumbini area as a religious and pilgrimage center,
Around an hour’s drive northwest from Lumbini lies the interesting archaeological site of Tilaurakot. This has been identified as Kapilvastu, the capital of King Suddhodhana (Prince Siddhartha’s father) where the Buddha as Prince Siddhartha spent the early years o his life.

The Pokhara Valley is one of the most picturesque places. The lakes- Phewa, Begnas, and Rupa enhance the beauty of the Valley, which have their source in the glacial region of the Annapurna Range of the Himalayas. Pokhara is situated 200 kilometres north-west of Kathmandu and is connected by air as well or by a five-hour ride from Kathmandu. Pokhara Valley is situated at an altitude of 827 metres from the see-level. For mountain viewers, Pokhara offers the magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, and five peaks of Annapurna range. Pokhara is one of the few places in the world to provide such a dramatic view in a subtropical setting. Machhapuchhre also called Fish-Tail Mountain, that is situated only 28 kilometres from Phewa Lake, and not a single mountain range intervenes between the two natural enties. Pokhara's numerous lakes, known as "Tal" in Nepali offer tourists facilities likefishing, boating and swimming.
The major sightseeing places in Pokhara are:
Devi's Fall
Mahendra Cave
Seti River Gorge
Bindabasini Temple
Tibetan Refugee Camp
Lake Side
Dam Side
Trekking from PokharaIf Pokhara is famous for its lakes and mountain views, it is equally famous as a base for treks and expeditions into the Central Nepal Himalaya. The town is the best way to end the classic three-week Annapurna Circuit, an exhilarating trek that takes one to the spectacular Trans-Himalayan domain of Manang and Mustang in the rain shadow of the Annapurna range.