Nepal a destination of diverse diversity.

 

Officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a small Himalayan land squeezed in between the Peoples' Republic of China and the Republic of India in the Southern region of Asia. With an area covering 147,156 square km, Nepal is a landlocked country. It lies above the border of the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates which indeed formed the magnificent mountain range. 

The east to a west stretch of the land is around 800 km and the north to south averages 200 km. historically; Nepal is one of few countries with a sovereign history, as no external forces have been able to colonize. Also known as the land of the Gurkhas, Nepal has a rich history.

Bhaktapur Durbar square

Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. As per the 2011 census, there are 126 ethnic groups and 123 spoken languages in Nepal with their diverse and distinct cultural and religious practices. Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religion in Nepal as the origins of these religions are tied to this Himalayan land. Apart from that, followers of other world religions like Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, and other minor spiritual practices are growing. In other words, Nepal can be known as a country with religious harmony. 

The country seems to be the perfect amalgamation of diverse demographics. In other words, the population of Nepal is influenced by different races of people around Asia. The people of Nepal are called Nepalese and are mostly the descendants of migrants from India, Tibet, Burma, and China. Brahmins, Chhetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Sherpa, Rai, Limbu, Tharu, Kusunda are among the major ethnic groups in Nepal however there are other smaller and minority groups.   

Nepal has mostly known for the towering snow-capped mountain peaks with eight of the world’s tallest including the highest peak of the world Mt.Everest (8848 m). However, here lie thousands of mountain peaks if you consider other smaller peaks below the eight thousand meter mark. The northern belt of the country is full of these amazing mountain peaks which act as the barrier for the clouds resulting in a diverse climatic condition. 

Thus making Nepal a perfect destination for mountaineering and peak climbing. This mountainous terrain makes Nepal one of the pioneer destinations for trekking and hiking in the world.  It might seem like Nepal is just about mountains, however, there is much more than that.  In other words, Nepal is a diverse land in diverse categories. The mid-stretch of the country encompasses green hills covered with a wide range of elevation. On the southern belt lies the fertile Indo Gangetic plain which is a source of the majority of the agriculture production.

View from Gokyo Ri ( Gokyo lake, Mt Cholatse, and Ngozumba glacier)

Agriculture and livestock farming is the major occupation in Nepal. But in recent times the major income source for the country has been foreign employment. It is estimated that more than eight million youths are working in various foreign employment destinations where the majority of them are in low-wage destinations like Qatar, Saudi, Oman, Malaysia, etc. However, the numbers of youths interested in going for a studying purpose in more developed countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany are increasing thus, creating a vacuum for the employment market in Nepal. 

The tourism and service industry was estimated to be the major sector for earning foreign currencies in Nepal; however, the Corona crisis had this industry dismantled. The government of Nepal had planned the year 2020 to make the much-needed leap in advertising the tourism potential of Nepal. As the pandemic seems to be phasing out and the vaccination programs seem to be going properly, it can be expected that the tourism industry will again be the major source of economic gain for the country and its people. 

Besides that, the country is blessed with fast-flowing perennial rivers and the government of Nepal is trying to expand the investment in Hydroelectricity projects. The government has allowed public, private, and international investors to participate in investing in this sector which in near future is expected to be the major source of energy production.

Dzhopa (crossbreed of Yak and cow)

The Himalayan country is gifted with diverse geographical and topographical properties. The towering mountain peaks to the green hilly region to the low Terai region. The lowest point is 60 meters and the highest is 8848 meters above sea level and the distance between these two points is around 200 meters. Such a property of the country makes Nepal with a wide variety of climatic zones. These climatic variations are the main reason for the unique biodiversity with diverse flora and fauna to flourish. 

The green cover is estimated to be around 45% of the total land area which includes the scrublands and grasslands. The alpine region is mostly composed of alpine shrubs and meadows. The sub-alpine region is mostly covered trees like Himalayan fir, Himalayan pine, Himalayan hemlock, Oak, and Rhododendron. The lower hills are covered with mostly Sal, Chilaune, Katus, and Chir pine, and the southern plains are covered mostly with Sal and Sisau trees including the grasslands. 

In contrast to its relatively small land area, Nepal houses about 4% of mammals species, 8.9% of bird species, 1% of reptile species, 1.9 fish species 3.7% of butterfly species, and many others. Among them, the most notable mammal species are Red Panda, Snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, Asiatic Elephant, Great One Horned Rhinoceros, Bengal Tiger, Himalayan Thar, Ghoral, Jharal, and Freshwater Dolphin. 

The notable bird species are Impeyan Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Kalij, Spiny Babbler, white-rumped vulture, Bengal florican, and much more. In another word, Nepal’s wildlife and biodiversity another major jewels for the country. Nepal has been putting up effort in preserving biodiversity as there are 10 national parks, 3 conservation areas, 3 wildlife reserves, 1 hunting reserve, 11 buffer zones, and 10 wetlands. This diverse biodiversity feature makes Nepal a potential wildlife tourism hotspot, There are various trips and tours to explore the wildlife in Nepal.

Blue Sheep (Thar)

Even though Nepal is a small country according to the land area and its ranking in the world. The country is a perfect amalgamation of diverse diversities. A country with a vivid cultural and natural heritage, that visiting once is not enough. The people are of welcoming nature and are jeweled with smiles. The country has gone through many tragedies in a couple of decades: the Royal Massacre, ten years of Maoist insurgency, political instability, and the 2015 earthquake. 

However, the people of this country are mostly focused on getting up even they fall instead of complaining. This fighting spirit and the helpful nature of the people have helped this Himalayan country not to break down. The country of Nepal does not have a huge economic footprint in the world. 

The two years of the COVID situation, had everyone in a panic, however as the COVID cases are going minimal the hope for better days is on the horizon once again. If you are interested in exploring this Himalayan country, feel free to get in touch with Vertex Holiday. We provide all kinds of adventure and leisure travel services in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.