Overview
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and the world’s youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People’s Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square Kilometers (56,827 sq mile) and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world’s 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and the country’s largest metropolitan city.
Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north contains eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest 8848m. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. By some measures, Hinduism is practiced by a greater majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation. Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama who as the lord Buddha Gautam gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.
Nepal is of roughly trapezoidal shape, 800 kilometers (500 mile) long and 200 kilometers (125 mile) wide. See List of territories by size for the comparative size of Nepal. Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: the Mountain, Hill, Siwalik region and Terai Regions. These ecological belts run east-west and are vertically intersected by Nepal’s major, north to south flowing river systems. The southern lowland plains or Terai bordering India are part of the northern rim of the Indo-Gangetic plains. They were formed and are fed by three major rivers: the Kosi, the Narayani, and the Karnali. This region has a subtropical to tropical climate.
Bhutan is no ordinary place. It is an amply modern country yet medieval with one foot still rooted in its past. Bhutan is aware of the downsides of rapid modernization and has decided to move cautiously without losing its soul. Sustainable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of culture and tradition, and preservation and protection of natural environment are at the forefront of government policy. Every decision is carefully weighed for the benefit of its people. The government’s ‘high value-low volume’ tourism policy is therefore a good example of its efforts to keep foreign influences at bay while nurturing Bhutanese values at home. This gives Bhutan a different look and feel altogether, a visual and spiritual feast for all visitors.
Darjeeling-Straddling a ridge at an altitude of over 2100m (6890ft) in the far north of West Bengal, Darjeeling has been a favourite hill station of the British since they established it as an R ‘n’ R centre for their troops in the mid-1800s. The town remains as popular as ever and offers visits to Buddhist monasteries, tours to tea plantations, shopping in bustling bazaars and trekking in high-altitude spots to the north. Like many places in the Himalaya, half the fun is in getting there. Darjeeling has the unique attraction of the famous miniature train, which loops and switchbacks its way from the plains up to Darjeeling in a 10-hour grind of soot and smoke.
Sikkim, a small Himalayan State lying 270 to 280 North Latitude and 880 to 890 East Longitude is the 22nd State of India. It is 7,096 Sq. kms in size yet has an elevation ranging from 200 meter to 8585 meters above sea level. Its topography is dominated by the most majestic mountain chain in the world which includes Khangchendzonga, world’s third highest mountain-a guardian deity of the Sikkimese. Surrounded by Tibet in the North, Nepal in the West, Bhutan in the East and Bengal in the South. Sikkim is rich in biodiversity. Population of Sikkim comprises of three main ethnic groups Lepcha, Bhutia and the Nepalese.
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