About Nepal

Total Area
Total: 147,181 sq. km

Land: 143, 151 sq. km

Water: 4,000 sq. km

Population
29.8 million (UN, 2010)?

Capital
Kathmandu?

Geographical Location 
Nepal is a land-locked country bordering with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China in the north and surrounded by India in the east, south and west. Contains eight of world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga – the world’s tallest and third tallest – on the borders with China and India respectively.

Language
Nepali is the national language of Nepal. Educated people understand and speak English as well. There are hundreds of local dialects spoken by people from various ethnic groups.

Climate
Nepal has four major seasons, namely,(1) Winter: December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer: June-August and (4) Autumn: September-November. Nepal can be visited all the year round.

People and Religion

Nepalese people are mainly divided into two distinct groups, the Indo-Aryans and the Mongoloids (the Kirats). Before 2007 AD, Nepal was regarded as the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. But after that, the Government of Nepal has already announced the country to be a secular country. The Hindu Temples and Buddhist Shrines are scattered all over the Kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Herald of Peace, the Light of Asia. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians live together in harmony. And other nature worshippers, too, exist here.

Currency and Foreign exchange

Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 denominations. Coins come in Rs. 1, 2 , 5 and 10 denominations.

Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through banks or authorised money exchangers. The receipts of such transaction are to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival. Visitors other than the Indian nationals have to make the payment in foreign currency (non-Indian currency) in hotel, trekking agencies or travel agencies and for air tickets.?

Life expectancy
68 years (men), 70 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit
1 Nepalese rupee = 100 paisa

Main exports

Carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

GNI per capita
US $480 (World Bank, 2010)

Internet domain
.np

International dialling code
+977