Embassy of Nepal, Dhaka

Situated in South Asia, Nepal is bordered by Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and India in the east, west and south. The country is roughly rectangular in shape, with a total land area of 147,181 square kilometres (sq km.), stretching 885 km from east to west and between 145 km and 241 km from north to south, with a mean width of 193 km.

Topographically, the country can be divided into three distinct regions from north to south: the mountainous region, the hilly region and the flat plains, known as the Terai. Lying at an altitude ranging from 4,877 to 8,848 metres above sea level (masl), the mountainous region includes the Himalayas, the world’s highest mountain chain. Nepal Himalayas comprises nine of the world’s highest peaks, including the Mount Everest (in Nepali, Sagarmatha). The hilly region lies in the middle of the country, with altitude varying between 610 and 4,877 masl. Kathmandu Valley, where the country’s capital, Kathmandu, is situated, and many other scenic valleys, basins and pockets are located in this region. The Terai, which is an extension of the Gangetic plains of India, forms a low flatland along the southern border. It comprises most of the fertile land and forest areas of the country, and rich and big river basins.

Due to its diverse topography, almost all the climatic zones of the earth – tropical, subtropical, temperate, alpine and subarctic – are found in Nepal. Occupying only 0.1% of the total landmass of the earth, Nepal is home to:

2% of all the flowering plants in the world;
8% of the world’s population of birds (more than 848 species)
4% of mammals on earth;
11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species);
600 indigenous plant families;
319 species of exotic orchids.

Few destinations in the world can match Nepal in the variety of world class experience: be it mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, nature tours, culture tours, pilgrim tours, white-water-rafting, canyoning (cascading), kayaking, canoeing, mountain flights, hot air ballooning, pony trekking, jungle safaris, bird watching, fishing, hang-gliding, ultra-light aircraft ride, bungy jumping, etc. In addition, Nepal offers special interest tours like orchid tour, culture trek, honey hunting, village tours, fossil hunting, meditation courses. Shamanism-Panimism tour, cave tours, snow leopard and blue sheep trek and many more that take place throughout the year.

Nepal witnessed a historic political transformation following the People's Movement in 2006. This has added a new dimension to the political, social and economic settings in the country, upholding the people's sovereignty, adhering to the principles of human rights, and assuring a better quality of life for the Nepali people at large. Nepal, as a federal democratic republic, is now moving ahead in a spirit of reconciliation and dialogue with a view to mainstreaming all the forces into a democratic order by writing a new democratic constitution through the Constituent Assembly within the stipulated time-frame.

Facts and Figures:

Population	: 28.2 million (UN, 2007)

Capital	: Kathmandu

Area	: 147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles)
Political System	Federal Democratic Republic (as of May 2008)
Major Language	: Nepali.

Major religions	: Hinduism, Buddhism.

Life expectancy	: 63 years (men), 64 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit	:Rupee ( 1 Nepalese rupee = 100 paisa)

Main exports	: Carpets, Clothing, Leather goods, Jute goods, Grain.

GNI per capita	: US $ 470 ( Budget, 2008)

Internet domain	: .np

International dialing code	: +977

Some Important Dates/Events of Nepalese History

1768	King Prithwi Narayan Shah conquers Kathmandu valley and lays foundations of a unified Nepal.

1814	Anglo – Nepalese War culminates in the Sugauly Treaty which establishes Nepal’s current boundaries.

1846	Nepal falls under the rule of Rana hereditary, who dominate the monarchy and cut off country from outside world.

1950	Nepal signs ' Peace and Friendship Treaty ' with India.

1951	End of Rana rule. Sovereignty of crown restored and anti–Rana forces led by Nepali Congress Party form government.

1955	Nepal becomes the member of the United Nations.

1955	King Tribhuwan dies, King Mahendra ascends throne

1959	Multi–party constitution adopted.

1960	King Mahendra seizes control and suspends parliament, constitution and party politics after dismissing first elected government led by B.P. Koirala.

1962	New constitution provides for non–party system of councils known as “panchayat” under which king exercises sole power.

1972	King Mahendra dies, succeeded by King Birendra.

1980	Constitutional referendum follows agitation for reform. Small majority favours keeping existing panchayat system. King agrees to allow direct elections to national assembly – but on a non–party basis.

1985	Nepali Congress begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi–party system.

1989	Trade and transit dispute with India resulting in worsening economic situation in the country.

1990	Pro–democracy agitation co–ordinated by Nepali Congress and leftist groups. Street protests suppressed by security forces resulting in deaths and mass arrests. King Birendra eventually agrees to constitutional monarchy.

1991	Nepali Congress Party wins multi-party elections. Girija Prasad Koirala becomes Prime Minister

1995	The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), begins the “People’s War” in rural areas in the far western region aimed at abolishing monarchy and establishing people’s republic.

2001	01 June – King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and other close relatives killed in shooting spree allegedly by Crown Prince Dipendra, who also died in the incident. King Gyanendra took over as the new King of Nepal.

2001	November – State of emergency declared after more than 100 people are killed in four days of violence. King Gyanendra orders army to crush the Maoist rebels. Many hundreds are killed in rebel and government operations in the following months.

2002	October – King Gyanendra dismisses Deuba government and indefinitely puts off elections set for November ; Lokendra Bahadur Chand appointed as Prime Minister.

2005	1 February–King Gyanendra dismisses then Prime Minister Deuba and his government, declares a state of emergency and assumes direct power.

2005	30 April – King lifts the state of emergency amid national and international pressure.

2005	November – Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) rebels and main opposition parties agree on a 12 point Agreement intended to restore democracy.

2006	April – King Gyanendra agrees to reinstate parliament following weeks of violent strikes and protests against direct royal rule. GP Koirala is appointed as Prime Minister. Maoist rebels call a three–month ceasefire.

2006	Parliament votes unanimously to curtail the king’s political powers. The government and Maoist rebels begin peace talks, the first in nearly three years.

2006	November – The government and Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) sign a peace accord, declaring a formal end to a 10-year rebel insurgency. The rebels are to join a transitional government and their weapons will be placed under UN supervision.

2007	December – Parliament approves abolition of monarchy as part of peace deal with Maoists, who agree to re-join government.

2008	April – Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) win the most number of seats in elections to the new constituent assembly. Maoist leader Prachanda confirms that the first meeting of the assembly will abolish Nepal’s monarchy.

2008	May – Nepal is declared a Federal Democratic Republic by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.

2008	July - Elections for First President and Vice President of the Republic of Nepal held ; Dr. Ram Baran Yadav won as President whereas Mr. Paramananda Jha won as the Vice - President of Nepal.

Aug, 2008	The Constituent Assembly on August 15, 2008 elected Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) as the Prime Minister of Nepal. He took charge of the office on August 18, 2008. May 2009

May, 2009	The Constituent Assembly on May 23, 2009 elected Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, Senior Leader of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) as the Prime Minister of Nepal.