Nepal's History
While there is evidence that Nepal was inhabited in prehistoric times, there has been little archeological research on early indigenous peoples.

In the 8th century B.C., migrants from India settled in the region of Kathmandu. Nepal has seen many rulers and ruling dynasties. The earliest rulers were the Kirantis who ruled from 9th century B.C. to 1st century A.D. Legends and chronicles mention that the Indian Emperor Ashoka had come to Nepal in 3rd century B.C. and visited Lumbini, the place where the Buddha was born, and erected a huge stone pillar to commemorate his visit to that spot. The Kirants were replaced by Licchavis who, according to the earliest evidences in inscriptions of the 5th century A.D. found in the courtyard of Changunarayan temple which is about 15 km north east of Kathmandu, ruled this country from 1st century to 9th century A.D. This period is noted for the many temples and fine sculptures built around the Kathmandu valley.

The Licchavis were followed by the Thakuris and then came the Malla dynasty. The Mallas ruled the Kathmandu Valley which has been the residence for most Nepali rulers from time immemorial. By 15th century, three kingdoms, Kathmandu,Patan & Bhaktapur all under Malla Dynasty, dominated the Kathmandu Valley.

Over the next five hundred years, the Malla rulers proved to be important patrons of the arts, building elaborately-decorated temples and palaces that survive to this day.The Mallas & the indigenous people of Kathamndu valley, the Newars converted the valley into a rich cultural heritage by crafting the extraordinary temples, monasteries & palaces. No other part of Nepal is as rich in cultural heritage as Kathmandu. Thanks to the exceptionally talented crafts-men, who dedicated themselves to construct the many pagodas and stupas, we have seven world heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley itself.

After the Malla dynasty came the Shah dynasty from Gorkha,a small hilly town west of Kathmndu & well known as the land of the famous warriors, the Gurkhas. The Shah King Prithvi Narayan Shah annexed small principalities including three states of Kathmandu Valley and unified Nepal in a single kingdom. Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation. During the mid-19th century, a young army lieutenant Jung Bahadur Rana, from the Rana family became Nepal's first prime minister to wield absolute power. They ruled the country from 1846 to 1951 & during this period only friends of the Ranas, notably the British from India visited Nepal & engaged in the massive hunts in the Terai. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1951 resulting in the opening of the country to tourists. Nepal was frequented by the mountaineers after the conquest of Everest in 1953 & from 1968 onwards the Hippies from around the world assembled here to find peace & spirituality. This phenomenon triggered the beginning of cultural tourism in Nepal.

After remaining a Kingdom for several decades Nepal became a multiparty democracy in 1990. After going through a politically difficult period from 1996 to 2006, Nepal finally was declared a Federal Democratic Republic state on May 28, 2008, during the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly.

People
Nepal's 27 million inhabitants belong to more than 101 different ethnic groups. They can be divided roughly into Hindu peoples (who live mainly in the lowlands) and Buddhists, who live in mountain close to Tibet.

Buddhism has a special connection to Nepal: Siddhartha Gautama, who was later revered as the Buddha, was born in Lumbini in the Terai in 543 BC. Perhaps the most well-known Buddhist ethnic group in Nepal is the Sherpa, who are associated with Himalayan mountaineering expeditions.


People & Customs
The population of Nepal is about 27 million. Eighty percent of Nepalese follow Hinduism, while twelve percent follow Buddhism and five percent follow Islam & one percent follows Christianity and the rest other.

There are about 101 ethnic groups living in harmony & religious tolerance. Nepali is the official language of the state, spoken and understood by 100 percent of the population. Multiple ethnic groups speak more than a dozen other languages in about 93 different dialects. English is spoken by many in government and business offices. It is the mode of education in most private schools of Kathmandu and some other cities.

Topography
Nepal, home to Mount Everest, is dominated by the world's most imposing mountains. Although the country is relatively small (147,181 square kilometers), a significant amount of territory is occupied by the dramatic peaks of the Himalayas. Nepal was closed to foreign visitors until 1951, a situation which contributed greatly to its mystique in the west. This small, hospitable country has since become an exceptionally popular destination for travelers, whether they are in search of climbing challenges or spiritual enlightenment.

Nepal can be divided into three geographical regions, each stretching from east to west across the country. The southernmost strip of land, the Terai, is bordered to the north by Himalayan foothills and to the south by the Ganges River. The area is vastly covered with tropical vegetation and now is home to Royal Bengal Tigers & One Horned Rhinoceros apart from 567 species of birds and several other types of Flora & Fauna. The Terai boasts of Chitwan National Park which is enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Terai is also the breadbasket of Nepal and is covered with farms.

The central section of Nepal is formed by the Mahabharata Chain, a range of mountains that reach modest altitudes of 2,000-3,000 meters. Farming has become an important activity in the area; terraced farms produce rice, corn and wheat. The Kathmandu Valley, a stretch of green in the middle of the Mahabharata, is home to Nepal's capital, Kathmandu and other historic cities.

The Himalayas stretch across the northern section of Nepal. There are 1310 mountain peaks and eight of the ten highest peaks in the world are located here.The area is sparsely populated, with little vegetation above the tree-line (4,200 meters).This area is home to the ethnic group, the Sherpas known for their mountaineering skills.

The climate varies considerably with elevation. June to September is monsoon season, when rain soaks the Terai and snow falls on the Himalayan peaks. October to April is prime season to visit Nepal: the skies are clear and sunny, temperatures range from warm in the lowlands to crisp in the mountains.