Nepal
Our Top Picks For Nepal
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1 Pokhara
Hang out by Phewa Tal and gaze across the lake towards the Annapurnas
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2 Annapurna Circuit
Hit the Apple Pie Trail on Nepal's most popular trek, or just enjoy short hikes from Jomsom
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3 Tansen
Tour ancient temples, visit traditional villages and hike to hilltops with Himalayan views
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4 Lumbini
Meditate on the nature of existence amidst a sea of monasteries at the birthplace of the Buddha
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5 Bandipur
Soak up the medieval atmosphere and the views in this living museum of Newari architecture
Fast Facts about Nepal
- National colour Crimson (Simrik)
- Pseudonym for Swayambhunath Monkey temple
- Literacy rate 48.6%
- Nepalese Proverb A smart jackal is no match for an old tiger
- Nepalese word for cabbage (phonetic) ban-dah-ko-bi
- National animal Cow
- Life expectancy
62 years
- By law, what kind of enemy is a Gurkha forbidden to fight? One of Hindu belief
- Original (pre-British) name of Mt Everest Chomolungma (Nepali) Qomolangma (Tibetan)
- Population 29.5 million
Our favourite Nepal Blogs (beta)
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Making it work, against all the odds
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 5 June 2009
Walking down Ring Road on Monday (the main road that encompasses the cities of Kathmandu and Patan) it felt as though there had been a mass evacuation and I was the only one who didn’t receive the memo. On a road that is usually so congested with traffic that I allow myself five minutes extra [...]
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Introducing Nepal
Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is where the ice-cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage.
Behind the Vishnu shrine of Ichangu Narayan, northwest of Swayambhunath in the Kathmandu Valley, rises the 'Abode of Snows' (Himalaya in Sanskrit), a magnet for trekkers and mountaineers the world over. Only in Nepal can you trek for weeks without the need even for a tent. No longer does your name have to be Tenzing or Hillary to set foot in Everest Base Camp. Out of the mountains, get your adrenaline kick from world-class white-water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, or from the spine-tingling sight of your first tiger or rhino in Royal Chitwan National Park.
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Latest headlines for Nepal
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Gurkha fears over veteran's debt
9 July 2009 6:42PM
Campaigners say they are disturbed by reports a decorated ex-Gurkha soldier could lose his Nepalese home.
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Nepal general denies coup claims
9 July 2009 12:00AM
The Nepalese general named acting army chief by Maoist ex-PM Prachanda denies allegations that he was planning a coup.
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Nepal bans airline staff pockets
30 June 2009 10:58AM
Nepal's authorities are to issue pocketless trousers to airport staff in an attempt to wipe out bribe-taking.
