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Country Fact File : Nepal
Volunteer Travel in Nepal
The birthplace of Buddha, the home of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. These facts alone make Nepal a spiritual and cultural treasure. This kingdom has held Western imaginations for many hundreds of years – and visitors always return home exhilarated, and wanting to return. Although a very poor country, it has much to offer the traveller – some of the best walking and trekking trails on earth, rafting the white water of fast flowing rivers, taking elephant back safaris through the jungle in search of the elusive tiger, or just hanging out in Kathmandu visiting temples and watching people go about their everyday life. Once bitten – you won’t want to come home…
| Location | Southern Asia, between China and India |
| Area | 140,800 sq km |
| Border Countries | China, India |
| Climate | Varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south |
| Terrain | Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north |
| Highest Point | Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.) |
| Natural Hazards | Severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons |
| Environmental Issues | deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions |
| Population | 25,873,917 (July 2002 est.) |
| Ethnic Groups | Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others |
| Religions | Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2% note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995) |
| Languages | Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in government and business also speak English |
| Type of Government | Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy |
| Capital | Kathmandu |
| Independence Day | 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah) |
| Chief of State/ Head of Government |
Chief of State: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to the throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah) Head of Government: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur CHAND (since 11 October 2002) |
| Currency | Nepalese rupee (NPR) |
| Time | GMT +5.5 |
Did you know?
Nepal contains or shares 8 or the 10 world’s highest mountains
The one-horned Rhino found in Nepal, is one of only 5 Rhino species worldwide
Over 800 bird species (more than 1/10th of the world’s total) have been sighted in Nepal
Nepal’s population is currently doubling every 30 years
Useful Numbers & Web Addresses
International dialing code: +977
Police tel: 100
Ambulance tel: 102
British Embassy: PO Box 106, Lainchaur, Kathmandu. Tel (1) 410 583
Embassy in the UK: 12a Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QV. Tel +44 (0) 20 7229 1594
1 888 653 6028
Duration and Costs
| Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 4 Weeks | US$2140 |
| 6 Weeks | US$2410 |
| 8 Weeks | US$2600 |
| 10 Weeks | US$2770 |
| Group Size |
|---|
| Maximum eight, plus project staff. |
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