Nepal

Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, and includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Nepal borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north, and India to the south, east, and west. Nepal has a diverse geography, with fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point above mean sea level on Earth. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and its largest city.

The name "Nepal" is first recorded in texts from the Vedic period of the Indian subcontinent. In the middle of the first millennium BC, Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini in southern Nepal. Nepal has been a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious, and multi-cultural sovereign state, with Nepali as the official language.

Nepal's history includes the unification of Nepal by the Gorkha Kingdom in the 18th century, and later forming an alliance with the British Empire. The country was never colonised but served as a buffer state between Imperial China and British India. In 2008, Nepal became a secular republic, ending the world's last Hindu monarchy. Today, Nepal focuses on neutrality, sovereignty, and multilateral cooperation, and is a member of the United Nations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Etymology

Main article: Name of Nepal

Before Nepal became one country, the Kathmandu Valley was already called Nepal. Exactly how the name started is not known for sure. The word "Nepal" shows up in very old Indian books from around the fourth century AD, but even these books might have been added to much later.

Some stories say Nepal got its name from an old Hindu wise man named Ne, also called Ne Muni or Nemi. One story says Ne protected the country, so it was named Nepal after him. Another story from Buddhist ideas says a wise person named Manjushri cleared out a lake and said Ne would watch over the people there, so the place became Nepal. There are also ideas that the name comes from words meaning "foot of a mountain" or from old words for "cattle" and "keeper," because the first people there were cowherds.

History

Main article: History of Nepal

Ancient Nepal

By 55,000 years ago, the first modern humans had arrived in the area we now call South Asia. The oldest human remains found there date back about 30,000 years. Evidence of early settlements in Nepal also goes back that far.

After 6500 BC, people began farming crops, raising animals, and building permanent homes. These settlements grew into what is known as the Indus Valley Civilisation, the first big city culture in South Asia. Many ancient sites from different time periods have been found in Nepal’s hills. The earliest people of Nepal likely came from this civilisation. Over time, other groups arrived, including people from Tibet and nearby areas.

By around 600 BC, small kingdoms began forming in southern Nepal. One of these was the Shakya kingdom, where a prince named Gautama Buddha was born. He later started Buddhism. Nepal became a place where many important religious traditions grew and spread, especially Buddhism to East Asia.

Medieval Nepal

In the 1100s, a strong kingdom led by the Khas people appeared in western Nepal. Their culture and language, which we now call Nepali, spread widely.

In the Kathmandu valley, a group called the Mallas took control in the 1300s. They built beautiful squares in Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur that are still famous today. They ruled for many years, but their kingdoms eventually split up.

Unification, expansion and consolidation (1768–1951)

In the mid-1700s, a king named Prithvi Narayan Shah from the Gorkha area began bringing together many smaller kingdoms into one country, which is Nepal today. His successors expanded Nepal’s borders, though they faced wars with both Tibet and Britain.

In 1846, a new leadership called the Ranas took power. They ruled for many years, keeping the king as a figurehead and controlling the government themselves.

Contemporary history

In 1990, people in Nepal pushed for democratic government, and a new system was created. In 2006, peace talks ended a long conflict, and Nepal became a secular republic in 2008. The country continues to develop and face challenges, including recent protests and changes in leadership.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Nepal and Geology of Nepal

Nepal is a small country shaped a bit like a trapezoid. It is about 800 kilometres long and 200 kilometres wide, covering an area of 147,516 km². The country lies between latitudes 26° and 31°N, and longitudes 80° and 89°E.

Nepal sits at the meeting point of two huge land masses, the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. About 75 million years ago, these plates began moving toward each other. This movement created the tall Himalayas mountains and also formed the flat lands to the south. Nepal lies right in the middle of this mountainous area, with a small part reaching down into the flat lands.

Nepal is divided into three main areas based on height: the Himal mountains in the north, which include very tall peaks like Mount Everest; the Pahad mountains in the middle, which are shorter but still very high; and the Terai lowlands in the south, which are flat and warm. The country has many different kinds of plants and animals because of its many heights and climates, from very hot lowlands to very cold high mountains.

Biodiversity

Main article: Wildlife of Nepal

See also: List of protected areas of Nepal and Community forestry in Nepal

Nepal has a rich variety of plants and animals for its size. The country's many heights create many different environments, from warm lowlands to cold high mountains. Nepal is home to many types of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, butterflies, and plants. The country has many forests and works to protect its wildlife through national parks and community programs.

Government and politics

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Nepal, Elections in Nepal, and Censorship in Nepal

Nepal is a parliamentary republic with many political parties. It has been called the 'Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal' since 2015. There are seven national political parties in the federal parliament. Two major parties, which support democratic ideas, are the CPN (UML) and the Nepali Congress.

During some democratic times in the 1950s and 1990s, Nepali Congress had most seats in parliament. After the Maoists joined politics in 2006, they became the third largest party. After the 2017 elections, a new party formed by joining CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Centre) became the ruling party. After the 2022 election, a coalition government was formed.

Government

Main articles: Government of Nepal and Constitution of Nepal

Nepal follows the Constitution of Nepal. The government has three parts:

• Executive: The President appoints the leader of the party with the most seats as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister forms a council of ministers to run the country.
• Legislature: The Federal Parliament has two houses: the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The House of Representatives has 275 members elected for five years. The National Assembly has 59 members, with a third elected every two years for six years.
• Judiciary: Nepal has a Supreme Court, seven High Courts, and 77 district courts.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Nepal

Nepal is made up of 7 provinces. Each province has 8 to 14 districts. Districts are made up of local units called urban and rural municipalities. There are 293 urban municipalities and 460 rural municipalities, making a total of 753 local units. Each local unit is divided into wards, and there are 6,743 wards in total.

Laws and law enforcement

Main article: Law enforcement in Nepal

The Constitution of Nepal is the highest law. Nepal has laws about civil and criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest court and can tell parliament to change or make new laws. Nepal has abolished the death penalty. Nepal's police force is called Nepal Police, and it works to keep order and manage traffic. There is also a paramilitary police force called Nepal Armed Police Force that helps with security and crowd control.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Nepal

Nepal relies on diplomacy for defense. It has friendly relations with its neighbors and other countries. Nepal is a member of SAARC, the UN, WTO, BIMSTEC, and ACD. Nepal has embassies in many countries and contributes to UN peacekeeping missions. Nepal has balanced relations with India and China, its two large neighbors. Nepal also has close ties with countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Japan, and Norway.

Military and intelligence

The President is the commander of the Nepali Army. The army is mostly infantry and has few aircraft. It is used for security, anti-poaching, counterinsurgency, and disaster rescue. The army also does major construction projects. The Directorate of Military Intelligence and the National Investigation Department handle intelligence matters.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Nepal

Nepal is one of the least developed countries, ranking near the bottom in the world for wealth. Its economy is small, and many people live in poverty. The country relies heavily on money sent home by workers in other countries, especially in Malaysia and the Middle East. Important jobs come from farming, making things like carpets and textiles, and tourism, with many people visiting famous places like Mount Everest and Pokhara.

Nepal faces challenges such as difficult terrain and limited natural resources. The government has struggled to help the economy grow, and many people still live with very little. Tourism helps, bringing visitors to beautiful sites, but the country needs more development to support its growing population.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Nepal

Tourism is very important to Nepal, providing jobs and supporting the local economy. Famous places like Mount Everest and the Annapurna trekking circuit attract many visitors. Nepal became popular with travelers in the 1960s and 1970s and continues to grow as a destination, though it still needs better facilities to welcome more tourists.

Infrastructure

Energy

Most of Nepal's energy comes from natural materials like wood and plants, and from fuels that are brought in from other countries. Only a tiny part of the country's energy comes from electricity. Nepal has many rivers that could provide lots of power, but so far, only a small amount has been used. Because of this, Nepal sometimes needs to get extra power from nearby countries.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Nepal

Nepal is far from big roads, trains, and ports used by other countries. Inside Nepal, there are airports and some roads, but many roads become hard to use during rainy weather. Most places in Nepal can be reached by road, but the roads are not always in good condition. Getting things like goods, people, and supplies to places can be difficult.

Communication

In Nepal, most people use mobile phones for calls and internet. There are also some fixed phones and internet services, but mobile is much more common. Mobile phone service covers most of the country, and more people are getting online using their phones.

Media

Main article: Mass media in Nepal

Nepal has television and radio stations run by the government and private companies. Many families in Nepal have radios, and some have televisions. There are also many newspapers and magazines available.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Nepal

People from Nepal are called Nepali or Nepalese. They come from three main groups that moved from India, Tibet, and North Burma, and the Chinese province of Yunnan through Assam. The earliest groups included the Kirat in the east, Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, the Tharus in the Terai plains, and the Khas Pahari people in the far-west hills. Even though many people have moved to the Terai recently, most still live in the central highlands, with fewer people in the northern mountains.

Nepal is a country with many different groups of people, languages, and religions. There are 125 ethnic groups and 123 languages spoken there. In 2011, Nepal had about 26.5 million people, which is three times more than in 1950. The population grew slowly at a rate of 1.35% each year between 2001 and 2011. Many men work in other countries, which affects the number of women and men in Nepal.

Nepal is one of the least urban countries but is growing faster in cities. In 2014, about 18.3% of people lived in cities, mostly in places like the Terai valleys and the middle hills. The capital, Kathmandu, is known as the "City of temples" and is the largest city. Other big cities include Pokhara, Biratnagar, Lalitpur, Bharatpur, Birgunj, Dharan, Hetauda, and Nepalgunj. Cities are growing fast and face problems like traffic and not enough clean water.

Largest cities

Language

Main article: Languages of Nepal

Nepal has many languages from three big groups: Indo-Aryan, Sino-Tibetan, and some special indigenous language groups. The most common language is Nepali (44.6%), followed by Maithili (11.7%), Bhojpuri (6.0%), Tharu (5.8%), Tamang (5.1%), Nepal Bhasa (3.2%), Bajjika (3%), Magar (3.0%), Doteli (3.0%), Urdu (2.6%), Awadhi (1.89%), and Sunwar (1%). Nepal also has several sign languages.

Nepali, which comes from Sanskrit, is written in the Devanagari script and is the official language. It helps people from different groups talk to each other. Other languages like Maithili, Awadhi, and Bhojpuri are spoken in the southern Terai region. Urdu is common among Nepali Muslims. In the high mountains, people speak different kinds of Tibetan. Some local languages in the Terai and hills are not written yet, but people are working to create ways to write them.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Nepal

Nepal is a country where many religions are respected. The main religion is Hinduism with 81.3% of people following it, making Nepal have the most Hindus in the world after India. Buddhism is next with 9%, followed by Islam (4.4%), Kirant beliefs (3.1%), Christianity (1.4%), and nature worship (0.5%). Nepal used to be a Hindu kingdom, and Shiva is seen as the country's protector. People in Nepal usually live together peacefully, even though there have been a few times when religion caused trouble. Nepal’s laws protect people’s freedom to practice their religion and do not allow anyone to force another person to change religions.

Education

Main article: Education in Nepal

Nepal started modern education in 1951 when only 5% of people could read and write, and there were just 300 schools. By 2017, over seven million students went to more than 35,000 schools. Reading and writing skills went from 54.1% in 2001 to 65.9% in 2011. Most children go to primary school, but fewer continue to secondary and college levels. Girls now go to school more than boys. Nepal has eleven universities and four science academies. It ranked 107th in a list of countries that are good at new ideas and inventions in 2025.

There are still problems with schools, like not enough books or teachers, and politics affecting schools. The government offers free basic education but needs more money to make it work well. It also gives money to help girls, disabled students, and poor families send their children to school. Many students leave Nepal to study or work in other countries, and half of them do not return.

Health

Main article: Health in Nepal

Both government and private groups help people stay healthy in Nepal. In 2017, people lived about 71 years on average, which is better than in the past. Most health problems are from things like heart disease, but many people also get sick from poor cleaning and not enough good food. Nepal has improved health for mothers and children. Most children get special salt and vitamins. Many children still do not get enough good food. Mothers and babies are healthier now than before, but there is still work to do.

The government works with groups to help people stay healthy. Health centers give free medicines, and there is a plan to help families pay for health care. Programs to help mothers visit health centers and give birth in hospitals have helped. School meals and clean toilets are also part of keeping children healthy.

Immigrants and refugees

Main article: Demographics of Nepal § Foreign population in Nepal

Nepal welcomes people from other countries. Many people from Tibet and Bhutan live there as refugees. Tibetans started coming in 1959, and many Bhutanese came in the 1980s. By 2018, Nepal had about 20,800 refugees, most from Tibet and Bhutan. Some people from Africa, the Middle East, and nearby countries also live in Nepal, but they do not always have official papers. Nepal helps them move to other countries. There are also many people from India in Nepal, but they do not need special papers to live there.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Nepal

Traditional Nepali society is sometimes defined by social hierarchy. Social classes are defined by many hereditary groups, often called "castes." Nepal declared unfair treatment to be illegal in 1963 and has since made laws to support equal rights.

Family values are important in Nepali tradition, and many families live together across generations, though smaller family homes are becoming common in cities. Many Nepali families have parents or family elders arrange marriages for young people, with marriage seen as a lifelong commitment.

Many Nepali festivals have religious meanings. Some well-known ones include Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Chhath, Maghi, Sakela, Holi, and the Nepali new year.

The emblem of Nepal shows the Himalayas, forests, and fertile lands, with symbols of unity and peace. Nepal's flag is unique because it is not rectangular. The moon and sun on the flag represent the calm and brave nature of Nepalis.

Symbols

Main article: National symbols of Nepal

The president represents national unity. Heroes from history are honored for their service to Nepal.

Art and architecture

Main article: Architecture of Nepal

Nepali architecture includes pagoda temples, stone carvings, and wooden structures. Traditional paintings and sculptures show skilled craftsmanship. The "ankhijhyal" window is a special design allowing a view outside.

Literature and the performing arts

Nepal's literature has deep roots in South Asian traditions. Modern Nepali literature began in the 19th century and has grown to include many voices and styles. Traditional music and dance forms like Maruni, Lakhey, Sakela, Kauda, and Tamang Selo are still enjoyed. The Nepali film industry is known as "Kollywood."

Clothing

The traditional dress for both men and women has historically been simple and draped. Women often wear a sari, while men wear a dhoti. Over time, clothing styles have changed, with many people now wearing modern clothes like jeans.

Cuisine

Nepali food varies by region but often includes rice, lentils, and vegetables cooked with spices like ginger, garlic, and coriander. Dishes like dal-bhat, chapati, and Dhindo are common. Vegetarian cooking is popular among some groups. Newar cuisine is especially rich, with many dishes like Kwanti, chatamari, and Juju dhau. Other regional foods include Thakali dishes and Terai specialties.

Sports and recreation

Main article: Sports in Nepal

Traditional Nepali games like dandi biyo and kabaddi are still played, especially in rural areas. Bagh-chal, a board game, remains popular. Children enjoy games like tag, hopscotch, and marbles. Football and cricket are popular professional sports. Nepal has had success in cricket and athletics but faces challenges in sports development due to limited resources and support.