Interesting Facts about Nepal

The Asian continent is well-known for the diversity of its countries and cultures. Countries like India, China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal among others make Asia a colorful and geographically rich continent. In this article, we have put together some interesting and not very well-known facts about Nepal. There are many interesting facts about this tiny and peace loving country. Nepal is a geographically rich country in the South Asia and is located in the Himalayas. It is bordered by China on its north and India on its south, east and west. Take a look at the interesting facts about this country presented below.

Interesting Facts about Nepal

Who wouldn't like to be at the top of the tallest peak in the world, the mighty Mount Everest? You will have to book a ticket to Nepal to be there. The tallest mountain in the world, the Mount Everest is in Nepal! Mount Everest is called Sagarmatha in Nepal.

Nepal is a tiny country and is 93rd largest in the world, considering land mass. Population wise it is 41st most populous country.

Did you know that the flag of Nepal is the only flag in the world that is not rectangular or not quadrilateral in shape? The crimson red color of the flag signifies the color of its national flower, rhododendron. The color also stands for victory in war and the braveness of the Nepalese people. The blue border of the flag symbolizes peace. The shape of the flag has two triangles which stand for the mountains of Nepal. The shape of the sun and the moon on the flag represents the aggressiveness of the warriors and calm and peace loving nature of the people.

Nepal is a land locked country, which means it is surrounded by various countries on all sides and has no sea border.

Nepal is a secular country, but Hinduism is the religion that dominates Nepal; over 80 percent of the population practices Hindu traditions and rituals. Buddhism is also a major religion here and is followed by many people.

The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the top ten tallest mountains in the world. Amazing, right? The peaks are - Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga (3rd highest), Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, Mount Cho Oyu (fourth, fifth and sixth resp. shared by Nepal and Tibet), Mount Dhaulagiri I, Mount Manaslu and Mount Annapurna (seventh, eighth and tenth tallest respectively). There are over 240 peaks above the height of 20,000 feet in Nepal's mountain ranges.

The great and revered Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal. Tenzing Norgay, one among the first persons to scale Mount Everest is a Nepalese Sherpa. Tenzing Norgay also has been named in the list of 100 most influential people of the world, by the Time magazine.

Nepal has a varied climate, and the people are blessed to experience a variety in seasons.

Unlike in Western countries, people in Nepal do not shake their hands to greet one another or a newcomer. They instead, place their palms together, and say Namaste.

Nepalese people value their traditions, and respect their customs and traditions above anything else.

As far is food is considered, majority of the Nepalese are vegetarians. Goat is preferred as meat. Lentils, rice, millet and corn are also preferred by people.

Quick Facts

Capital: Kathmandu, it is also the largest city in Nepal.

Area: The area of Nepal is around 147,181 square kilometers.

Language spoken: Nepali is the official language, but a majority of the population also speaks and understands English. The prominent regional recognized languages of Nepal are, Nepal Bhasa, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Limbu, Gurung, and Sherpa. Apart from that there are more than 100 indigenous languages spoken in Nepal, making it a linguistically blessed country.

Currency: Nepalese Rupee.

Population: As per the 2010 census, the population is about 29,331,000.

National animal: The cow is the national animal. It is revered in Nepal, and killing it for meat is a felony in this country.

National flower: Rhododendron arboreum (Lali Guransh) is the national flower.

National bird: Himalayan Monal is the national bird. It is known as Danfe here.

National Anthem: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" is the national anthem of Nepal. It hails Nepalese pride, courage, rich culture, people, scenic beauty, peace and biodiversity. The lyrics of the anthem were written by poet Pradeep Kumar Rai.

Religion: Hinduism is the religion followed by the majority of the population.

Travel and Tourism

Nepal is a rich country for travel and tourism. For people interested in trekking, rafting and hiking, Nepal is like heaven. The locales and innumerable mountains make it a trekker's paradise.

Kathmandu also has many good locations and, the temples and palaces give it an air of the medieval era. The Kathmandu Durbar Square has been declared a world heritage sight by the UNESCO, for the richness of the structures there.

There are also innumerable structures like Stupas and temples in Nepal, making the country a revered place for devotees.

These were some 'interesting' facts about this tiny country. Earlier monarchy ruled Nepal, but now it is a democratic country. Nepal, though a poor country is very blessed in flora and fauna. It is a must see place for all.