Welcome to Nepal

National Flag of Nepal 

Welcome to Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country having a total area is 1, 47,181 square kilometers whereas India in the east, west, and south and Tibet (autonomous region of China) in the north. It extends from 26 degree 22' N latitude and from 80 degree 4' E to 88 degree 12'E longitude which is wider in the west than in the east. Its average length from east to west is 885 kilometers but the width is different from place to place. The maximum width is 241 kilometers and minimum is 145 kilometers whereas on an average, the width (north-south) is 193 kilometers.

The area is about 0.03% of the world and 0.3% of Asia where Nepal is country with a large number of hills and mountains. It has narrow plain strip in the south known as the Terai where the mountains know as the Himalayas in the north and hill knows as the Hilly in between north and south. The southern border is open from east to west. There is no natural landform or water mass to separate Nepal from India only the boundary pillars that have been erected separate the two countries i.e. India and Nepal.

Nepal is a land of natural diversities. It is blessed with a variety of ecosystems, treeless sub-alpine pastures and dense forest.

Nepal has more variety of flora and fauna than any other country in Asia with 6,000 river and rivulets. The total length of the waterway is about 45,000 KM. The weather conditions vary from place to place. The rainfall distribution also varies from region to region. Nepal have 3 regions, 5 development regions, 14 zones and 75 districts. The land slopes southwards from the highest point of the earth to nearly to the sea level.

Welcome to Nepal 

Nepal At a Glance
Location : Situated between India & China in the North & India in East, West & South. 
Area : 147,181 sq. km.
Capital : Kathmandu 
Population : 24.5 million 
Currency : Nepalese Rupee 
Language : Nepali 
Religion : Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and others. 
Seasons : Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn 
World Heritage Sites (Cultural) :
 - Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Pashupatinath 
- Swayambhunath 
- Bouddhanath 
- Patan Durbar Square 
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square
 - Changunarayan 
- Lumbini ( birth place of Lord Buddha)
World Heritage Sites (Natural) :
- Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park (1148 sq. km.)
- Chitwan National Park (932 sq. km.)

14 Zones, 75 Districts and 5 Development Region

Each districts and zone have their separate-separate headquarters.

75 Districts and 5 Development Regions 

Development Region:-

      A. Eastern Development Region (Headquarter :-Dhankuta)   

Eastern Development Region covers three zones with sixteen districts of Nepal in eastern part of Nepal where Mechi zones in the boarder for India. It also covers all three major natural divisions i.e. Himalayan, Hilly and Terai. It’s headquarter is Dhankuta and each district have their headquarters.

B. Central Development Region (Headquarter:- Kathmandu)

Central Development Region covers three zones with eighteen districts of Nepal in central part of Nepal. It also covers all three major natural divisions i.e. Himalayan, Hilly and Terai. It’s headquarter is Kathmandu which is the capital city of the nation and each districts have their headquarters.

C. Western Development Region (Headquarter:-Pokhara) 

Western Development Region covers three zones with sixteen districts of Nepal in western part of Nepal. It also covers all three major natural divisions i.e. Himalayan, Hilly and Terai. It’s headquarter is Pokhara and each district have their headquarters. Pokhara is the tourists areas where a lot of natural scenery are available like Fewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Rupa Lake , and Many More.

D. Mid-Western Development Region (Headquarter:- Birendranagar)

Mid-Western Development Region covers three zones with fifteen districts of Nepal in mid-western part of Nepal. It also covers all three major natural divisions i.e. Himalayan, Hilly and Terai. It’s headquarter is Birendranagar and each district have their headquarters.

E. Far-Western Development Region  (Headquarter :- Dipayal)         

Far-Western Development Region covers two zones with nine districts of Nepal in mid-western part of Nepal. It also covers all three major natural divisions i.e. Himalayan, Hilly and Terai. It’s headquarter is Dipayal and each district have their headquarters.

                   

                   

Three Regions

Topographically, Nepal can be divided into there main regions:-

Three Region of Nepal

1. The Terai Region:-

Mustard Plant

It extends from the Chure Range in the north to the border of India in the south. This region is a belt of low and land level land and contains 17% of the total area of Nepal. It's width varies from 25 to 30 km. It's average altitude is about 200m from the sea-level. The northern part of Terai is made up of stones. pebbles and other coarser materials. This part is known as Bhabar which means not fertile. The famous  'Charkose Jhadi' lies in the Bhabar. The southern part of the Terai is made up of  fertile alluvial soil deposited by rivers and is called the "Granary of Nepal". The Terai is inhabited by Brahmins, Kayasthas, Yadavs, Telis, sundis, Rajputs, Danuwars, Tharus, Sunuwars etc. They observe several kinds of social and religious festivals. In this Region, settlements are large and houses are clustered together. Few people live in mud-houses with thatched roofs supported by wooden or bamboo poles. There are paintings of people, animals and flowers on the outer walls. Brick houses are being made now.  The main food of the people here is rice, pulse sand vegetable. Bread, milk, milk-products and mango are also included in their food. Because of the hot climate, light cotton clothes are used. Men's traditional clothes are Dhoti, kurta and women's sari and blouse. But nowadays the Europen, Indian, Chinese and Pakistani dresses are becoming popular for new generation. 

2. The Hilly Region:-

Cultivated Area on Hilly Region

Hilly Region lies to the south of the Himalayan Region and extends to the Terai Region in the south. It covers 68% of the total area of Nepal. It's altitude ranges from about 600m to 4,877m high from sea level it is from 75 to 125 km wide. The region consists of the midland, Mahabharat range, Churia range and Doons. The midland lies between the Mahabharath range and the Himalayan region. It consists of several hills like Shivpuri, tectonic valleys like Kathmandu and Pokhara, elevated tablelands like Palungtar, Rumjatar, and river valleys like Arun valley. Between the Mahabharat range and Churia range there are flat and longitudinal valleys Udayapur, Makawnpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Dang-Doons. The Mahabharat and Churia are the continuous mountain ranges extending from west to east in this region. The major castes here are Brahmin, Kshetre, Magar, Newar, Rai, Darji, Bisokrma, Mijar and Tharu who observe various festivals. This region enjoys a moderate type of climate neither too hot nor too cold. People's food comprises of rice, bread, meat, eggs, milk and milk-produces. Most house are made of stone and  clay with thatched roofs. Houses are isolated from each other in the hills. But in towns now people make multi-storeyed  concrete buildings. In villages, men wear daura-suruwal, coat, cap, patuka, bhoto and kachhad. Women wear sari, cholo, dajetro and ghalek. But nowadays the Europen, Indian, Chinese and Pakistani dresses are becoming popular.

3. The Himalayan Region:-

Mountain Climbing

The northern most part of Nepal is called the Himalayan Region. It contains nearly 15% of the total land-area of the country. It rises from about 5,000m to 8,848m and extends up to the southern border of Tibet. It’s breadth from north to south varies from 25km to 50km. It is legth 885kms long. There are a number of Himalayan ranges in this part. Some of them are Kumbhakarna, Mahalangur, Kanjiroba,  Annapurna, etc. Everest in the Mahalangur range is the highest peak in the world . It is 8,848 m high. Other important peaks are Knachanjungha, Lhotse, Makalu, Choyu, Dhawalagiri, etc. Mugu, Dolpa, Humla, mustang and Manang lie between the greater Himalayan ranges and Trans-Himalayan ranges bordering the Tibet. These are also known as Bhot valley.  It is often very cold and snowy. As the climate of Nepal varies from region to region, the people (Bhote, Serpa, Thakali, Rai etc) live here. They have different life styles and costumes. Much of the Himalayan Region is covered with snow. Only the southern part is inhabited. The people living in the houses made of stone and clay as the roofed also by stone or clay. The few numbers of houses have doors and windows. They eat 'dhindo' (boiled buckwheat-meal), potato and bread. They wear thick woolen and leather clothes made from the fur and skin of sheep and other animals. Their woolen jacket is called 'Bakkhu'. Their shoes are called 'Docha'. Gold, silver and copper ornaments are popular among women. Both males and females keep their hair long. Lhosar is their main festival.

Stupa of Buddhist

Three divisions people on their culture dresses

National Symbols

1. Bird

The himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus also known as the Impeyan Monal or Impeyan Pheasant or Danphe is a bird of genus Lophophorus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the Danfe, and the state bird of  Uttarakhand.

Danphe

2. Emblem

The coat of arms of Nepal was changed during the reconciliation period following the Nepalese Civil War. On 30 December 2006, a new coat of arms was introduced. It contains the flag of Nepal, Mount Everest, green hills symbolising the hilly regions of Nepal and yellow colour symbolising the fertile Terai region, male and female hands joining to symbolise gender equality, and a garland of rhododendrons (the national flower). Atop this is a white silhouette in the shape of Nepal.

Emblem 

3. Flag

The national flag of Nepal  is the world's only non-quadrilateral national flag. The flag is a simplified combination of two single pennons, the vexillological word for a pennant. Its crimson red is the colour of the rhododendron, the country's national flower. Red is also the sign of victory in war. The blue border is the colour of peace. Until 1962, the flag's emblems, the sun and the crescent moon, had human faces. They were removed to modernize the flag.

National Flag

4. Dress

Daura-Suruwal is a national costume of Nepal, which is worn by males.

Daura-Suruwal

5. National Anthem

Nepali Translation English Translation

Woven from hundreds of flowers, we are one garland that's Nepali Spread sovereign from Mechi to Mahakali A playground for nature's wealth unending Out of the sacrifice of our braves, a nation free and unyielding A land of knowledge, of peace, the plains, hills and mountains tall Indivisible, this beloved land of ours, our motherland Nepal Of many races, languages, religions, and cultures of incredible sprawl This progressive nation of ours, all hail Nepal.

6. Animal

Cattle (colloquially cows) are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius. Cattle are raised as livestock for meat (beef and veal), as dairy animals for milk and other dairy products, and as draft animals (oxen or bullocks) (pulling carts, plows and the like).

 

Cow 

7. Flower

Rhododendron is a genus of over 1000 species of woody plants in the heath family, either evergreen or deciduous. Most species have showy flowers.

Rhododendron

8. Language

The national language of Nepal is Nepali language.Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan and parts of India. In India, it is one of the country's 2nd official languages: Nepali has official language status in the formerly independent state of Sikkim and in West Bengal's Darjeeling district. Nepali developed in proximity to a number of Tibeto-Burman languages, most notably Kirati and Gurung, and shows Tibeto-Burman influences.

Nepali Alphabet 

9. Colors

Crimson is a strong, bright, deep reddish purple color. 

Crimson

Local Technologies

Man has developed many technologies for their use since the beginning of human civilization. many technologies that are assisting us in different ways. This kind of technology is called local technology. In other word, technology that people use to assist their activities in daily life is called local technology. Traditional technologies are more sustainable, cheap and reliable as well. They are based on local resources and skill. So they are environment friendly. These local technologies do not need any energy. In Kathmandu valley, local technologies persist in making statue and pottery. In Hilly region, carpet, plague, water grind mill are the prevailing technology. Nepal is rich in diversity in terms of biology, culture, geography and natural resources. So, local technologies are good to use in occupations. Many technologies are in practice from many years in Nepal. Nepal is an agricultural country. Many local technologies were used for farming. These technologies are replaced by modern technologies now a day. Some traditional technologies are still in use. Some local technologies are given below:-

Dhiki

Dhiki

Dhiki is a traditional grinder made up of wood. It is similar to the seesaw, in which applying force on one side will lift the other side and vice versa. One side of Dhiki has a short but strong pole attached to it at the bottom to apply pressure to the item being ground. Another side is plain and usually pressure is applied from that side with human legs. The surface where it is to be ground is also made up of wood and usually the Dhiki is placed on the earthen floor. It is used to grind rice grains.

Jaato (Hand Mill)

Jaato is a circular grinder made up of stone and a wood handle at the top to make it easier to roll it. It is mostly used to grind lentils.The english name of Jaato is "Hand Mill".

Jaato

Silauto and Lohoro

Silauto and Lohoro 

A pair of grinding stone machine “Silauto and Lohoro” commonly used to make chutney, pickles (achaar). This is also used to grind or crush the items like cumin, garlic, coriander seeds, mustard seeds etc. The flat stone is known as “Silauto” and small round oval stone is known as “Lohoro”. Items are places on silauto and Lohoro is used to crush the spices getting help of  flat stone, and I personally say it gives the correct consistency taste.

Khal Bachha

It is used mostly to beat and separate rice grains from its broken parts (Kanika). It is also used to crush and grind the whole turmeric, chilies when making them into powders. A relatively larger Khal Bachha, made of wood is used for grinding chilies into powder while, a smaller sized Khal Bachha has been introduced in the market to make crushing spices like cinnamon, cardamom etc. easier. This consists of a larger, cylindrical and slender bachha and a jar like khal, both made of iron and usually black in color. The popular name of Khal Bachha is "Okhal."

Old Khal Bachha

New Khal Bachha

Aaran

Aaran is a kind of oven which is made on the ground. Coal is burnt to produce heat and fire. The oxygen needed for burning is supplied through one side in which hand pumping machine is usually fitted. It is used for sharpening the iron rod. During the process, the copper or iron is heated in very high temperature so that those materials get melted and they can be converted into any shape we want to make out of them.

Boat 

Boat is kind of local transportation technology. It's made by wood. It is risky transportation but used to cross the river. 

Boat in the Sunkoshi River

Tuin 

Tuin

It is a kind of local transportation technology. It is a wood box  which is hanged in an iron rope with the help of pulley. Iron rope is supported by the pillar in both sides of the river. People sit in the box and pull the iron rope that will make wood box to move towards other side. It is used in absence of bridge. If there is no bridge in river, tuin is the only option that can be used to cross the river. This is cheap local technology.

Pottery

Pottery is a local technology that is used to make pots from the clay. Clay is mixed properly and placed in the circle made up of wood. There is a small hole in the middle of the circle in which iron rod is inserted. The circle is rolled along with the clay. Proper shape is given to the clay by hand. The pot is placed in sun light and dried. Then it will be ready to use.

Water Grinding Mill

Water Grinding Mill

Flour is made by grinding the food grains like paddy, wheat, corn etc. These can be grinded from the mill. Water grinding mill is kind of mill that is operated from water energy. It is very useful technology for the place where there are rivers but not electricity. The mill moves the stone plate with the force of flow of water. When the stone plate rolls, grains are inserted in between the stone plate. Flour is produced after grinding the grain in between the stone plate

Madani and Theki

Theki

Theki is locally made by people from wood and is usually used to store milk fat (Taar), make butter (i.e. NAUNE GHYU)out of it; which can later be cooked to make the clarified butter also known as ghee and also make buttered milk (i.e. MOHI). The "Theki" is only a vessel, where as the "Madani" is like a thick stick with turbines at one end.

To make all these products we first need to keep the "Theki and Madani" near a pillar so that Madani can be tied very loosely (infact right parallel to the pillar). The "Madani" than needs to be wrapped around spirally by another rope in such a manner that when you pull one side the other gets smaller (if that makes sense just like a hand exercise).The "Madani" is then kept inside the "Theki" with milk fat in it. Slowly the person starts to rotate the "Madani". As there are turbines present it works like a mixer grinder and separates the fat and the butterd milk. The fat floats on the top which is collected either ready to eat or make clarified butter and the buttered milk remains at the bottom ad is usually sour but thoroughly enjoyed by everyone including me.

Making butter and buttered milk 

Gagri and Ghaito

Gagri 

 GAGRI and GHAITO are the basic water vessels that are used in Nepal to store water in house for different purposes especially in places where there is no 24 hour water supply in the house or in villages where there is a common tap. In the above picture the top one is GAGRI and the bottom one is GHAITO.

There is mainly two basic differences in GAGRI and GHAITO. The first one is visible in the picture above i.e the shape; GAGRI is long and slender whereas GHAITO is more round and curvy. The second difference however is due to the raw materials used in its making. The first one is made up of metal and the latter is made up of clay. GHAITO usually is plain as there is rarely any carving done in clay goods but GAGRI is more versatile in its appearance and it is made up of metal. A GAGRI can be simple with no carving or be exotic with all the metal designs around the body.  

A woman taking drinking water in Gagri

A Woman carry Ghaito with drinking water 

Dalo

DALO is a bamboo basket that is normally used to store dry food(rice, maize,pulses etc.), transfer small quantity of goods or even used as decorative item. It is a good storage idea to make your room clutter free. It comes in different shapes and sizes and are light to carry, hence making it easier to relocate or transfer in them. DALO is mostly "kind of" half oval shape and has four corners supporting the structure and also extended at base for easy grip.

Dalo ready for sale

Making Dalo

Sukul

Sukul is another type of mat which is popular among the Newar culture in Nepal. It is made up of hay (PARAL) and is long rectangular shape (long enough to seat almost 15 people in a single line). It is usually used in "Bhoj" or "Na-kha-tya" where there is assemble of huge number of people and food is distributed by cooks to all the people. It is generally rolled and stored for reusing next time. Since it is made by hay locally, it is cheap, effective and biodegradable as well.It is also said that walking in "SUKUL" also increases blood circulation to your legs and feet... hence reducing oedema to lower extremities.   

Sukul 

Chulo

Chulo 

Chulo requires wood for burning. Cooking in a chulo is time consuming as one cannot turn on or off the heat level as easily as in the gas stoves. However, the food cooked in this traditional Nepali wood stove is much tastier than that of any other oven or gas. It is made of mud and also uses some sticks in order to give it support. It has two holes, one on the upper part where the utensils are kept and another on the side from where the woods are put in. A pipe usually made out of wood or metal, locally known as Dhungro, is used to blow to light up the fire. The utensils are coated with mud on the base before using it for cooking on the chulo. It is done to protect the base of the utensil from burning and also to protect it from turning black.

Traditionally, it used wood for cooking but it can be found in modified forms that use coal instead of woods that are cheaper and easily available. It is commonly used in rural areas, however, due to the continuous rise on the price of the petroleum products and also the rich taste in food cooked on it, many people in the various parts of the urban areas use it as an alternative stove.

The taste of the food cooked in chulo makes you forget all the hurdles faced while cooking. Despite the lengthy and tiresome procedure, the food cooked in a chulo gives an authentic Nepali taste. Most of the Nepali people still prefer the food cooked in a chulo than those on gas stove due to its rich taste. Most of the houses on the outskirts of the Kathmandu valley have at least one chulo for cooking purpose.

Cooking food on Chulo

Sarangi

Sarangi

Sarangi is the combination of two words ‘sa’, the first note of music and ‘rangi’, which means colourful.Sarangi is a traditional Nepali musical instrument that has four strings unlike the Indian Sarangi. It is a stringed wooden instrument that is carved in a single piece of wood. The instrument Sarangi is held in a vertical position and played with a bow. Pitch is determined by sliding the fingernail against the string.Traditionally, people from the Gandharva (singers) community used Sarangi in their Gainesongs. The spell-bounding voice of the Sarangi, that is often believed to resemble the sorrowful human voice, was so tempting that it has attracted many people. It is widely used in the folk songs of Nepal.

In past when there were no forms of communication and information, the Gandharvas were responsible for informing people with their songs. They sang the songs of any events happening around or any message a family member had sent to other and they were paid for their efforts. They used Sarangi when they were singing. The Sarangi is believed to be originated from the Central Hilly Regions, mainly the Gandaki region as it was the home for majority of Gandharvas.

The neck and the body of the Sarangi is made out of a light wood, locally known as Khirro. The body is carved into a hollow frame with two openings among which the lower is covered up with dried sheep-skin. Traditionally, the fine nerves from sheep’s intestine were woven to get the string and the bow string of the Sarangi was originally made out of the horse-tail hair.However, these days, those strings are replaced by nylon strings. The instrument is placed vertically on the left knee and is suspended by a chord around the left shoulder.

Sarangi is most commonly used in the folk songs, especially those which express hurt and tragedy as it is believed that the sound of a Sarangi resembles the pain human voice.