Nepal Parichaya

N ever End Peace and Love

UNIT-1
Government logo
 Etymology “Nepal”

• A very long time ago, the King of the • The name Nepal comes from the Tibetan
Gopala dynasty ruled over it. They were word "Niyampal" which means "holy
called 'Nepa',so, after the name of the land". In Tibetan language, 'Ne' means
dynasty who ruled over it, the country was house and 'Pal' means wool, thus, this
named as Nepal. region is taken as the place where wool is
• The Sanskrit word Nepalaya means "the found. Since sheep are reared in this
base of the mountains”. The name 'Nepal' region, it's normal getting 'Pal' or 'Pasham',
is assumed to have been formed by adding 'Pashmina' (wool).
the suffix 'Aal' (place) to the word 'Neep' • In the dialogue of Lepchas (one of the
(the foot of hill). Just as Himal and ancient tribe of Nepal), 'Ne' means 'holy'
Panchal, the name Nepal was formed with and 'Pal' means 'cave'. As this place is holy
Neep (foot) and Aalaya (residence) to for both Hindus and Buddhist, it got its
mean the residence at the foot of hill. name 'Nepal'.
Introduction
• Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia.
• The current population of Nepal is 29,766,948 based on projections
of the latest United Nations data. (as of 8/1/2021)
• A census has been taken in every ten years. (2068 B.S. was the
latest)
• It is the 49th largest country by population
• It is the 93rd largest country by area
• The national flag officially adopted on December 16th 1962
• World's highest Peak lies only in Nepal named Mount Everest,
8,848.86 meter or 29,032 feet. (ranked 1st) 2019
• The lowest point is Mukhiyapatti Musharniya 59 m (194 ft) in
Dhanusa District in Province No. 2 of south-eastern Nepal
(Janakpur).
Nepal Profile
• Location:
Between India & Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China.
• Area: 1, 47, 181 sq. km, stretching 800 km from east to west and from 90 to 230 km north to
south.
• Population: Approx. 26 million with absent population of 1.9 million and growth rate of
1.35% per annum
• Capital city: Kathmandu — Population of about 800,000 in the city itself. Believed to be
approximately 1.5m in the entire Kathmandu valley.
• Peoples: There are 126 caste/ethnic groups reported in the census 2011. Chhetri is the largest
caste/ethnic groups having 16.6% (4,398,053) of the total population followed by Brahman-
Hill (12.2%; 3,226,903), Magar (7.1% ; 1,887,733), Tharu (6.6% ; 1,737,470), Tamang (5.8%
; 1,539,830), Newar (5% ; 1,321,933), Kami (4.8% ; 1,258,554), Musalman (4.4% ;
1,164,255), Yadav (4% ; 1,054,458) and Rai (2.3% ; 620,004).
• The smallest district of Nepal is the Bhaktapur district with an area of 119 square
kilometers.
• Dolpa is the largest district of Nepal covering 5.36% of the total landmass of the country
• Nepal currently comprises 77 districts (Rukum and Nawalparasi district were divided into
Eastern Rukum and Western Districts and Parasi and Nawalpur districts)
• Language(s): There are 123 languages spoken as mother tongue reported in census 2011.
Nepali is spoken as mother tongue by 44.6 percent (11,826,953) of the total population
followed by Maithili (11.7% 3,092,530), Bhojpuri (5.98%; 1,584,958), Tharu (5.77%;
1,529,875), Tamang (5.11%; 1,353,311), Newar (3.2%; 846,557), Bajjika (2.99%;
793,418), Magar (2.98%; 788,530), Doteli (2.97%; 787,827), Urdu (2.61%; 691,546).
• Religion(s): There are ten religious categories reported in the census 2011. Hindu is
followed by 81.3 percent (21,551,492) of the population followed by Buddhism (9%;
2,396,099), Islam (4.4%; 1,162,370), Kirat (3.1%; 807,169), Christianity (1.4%; 375,699),
Prakriti (0.5%; 121,982), Bon (13,006), Jainism (3,214), Bahai (1,283) and Sikhism (609).
• Topography: From the World’s Deepest gorge ‘Kali-Gandaki’ to the highest point on
earth, the Mt. Everest at 8848m.
• Vegetation: Nepal possesses some of the most outstanding bio-diversity in the world,
ranging from sub-tropical Rain-forests to Alpine Deserts.
• Climate: Climate ranges from sub-tropical in the low lands to Arctic higher altitudes.
• Seasons:
Winter (December – February)
Summer (March – May )
Monsoon (June – August)
Autumn (September – November)
• National Festivals:
Dashain, Tihar, Shivaratri, Nepali new year (Baishak first), Teej, Chad etc.
• World Heriatge Sites:
In Nepal, there are two UNESCO world heritage site respectively cultural world
heritage site and another is natural world heritage. UNESCO cultural world
heritage site have eight site respectively Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar
Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath,
Changunarayan and Lumbini. Seven Cultural World Heritage Sites are situated
within 20 kms of radius, in the Kathmandu Valley except Lumbini. Another
UNESCO natural world heritage site including two site respectively Sagarmatha
National Park (Mt. Everest National Park) and Chitwan National Park.
• Flora and Fauna:
840 different species of wet-land, migratory and residential bird, 8% of the world’s population of
birds.
• Home to Endangered Species Like:
Royal Bengal Tiger, One horned rhino, Snow – Leopard, Red Panda, Brown Bear, Assamese
Macaque, Gangetic Dolphin, Wolf, Wild Elephant, Giant Horn – Bill, Swamp Deer, Wild Yak,
Tibetan Antelope, Black Buck, Four Horned antelope, Musk Deer, Pigmy Hog, Haspid Hare,
Pangolin, Gharial, Indian Bustart, Saras Crane, Impean Pheasant, Python etc.
• Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR).
• Political-System: Federal Democratic Republic.
• Government: Constitutionally, Nepal is a parliamentary democracy with a largely ceremonial
President as Head of State and a Prime Minister as Head of Government. The Prime Minister
currently leads a coalition government. The current Legislative Parliament has 601 members.
• Head of State: Rt. Hon. President Ms. Bidya Devi Bhandari
• Head of Government: Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba
• Membership International Organisations/Groups: United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement,
South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-
Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Nepal in World Map:-Nepal occupies 0.3 and 0.03 % of
land area of Asia and the world respectively.
• Nepal is of roughly rectangular shape. It runs in the northwest-southeast
direction, stretching about 850km from west to east, 200 km from north to south.
• Sharing its border with China and India, Nepal sits between latitudes 26°and 31°
N, and longitudes 80° and 89° E. The altitude in Nepal descends from the
northern lofty mountains (above 4000m) to the central hill region (1000-4000m
above sea level) and the southern lowlands (below 1000m).
• Nepal is a landlocked sovereign nation, strategically located between China and
India. Nepal is located in Southern Asia in the Northern and eastern hemispheres
of the Earth. Nepal shares its borders with the Indian States of Uttarakhand, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim in the south, east and west; while it is
bordered by China in the north. Nepal is separated from Bhutan by Sikkim. At the
south eastern edge of Nepal, lies the independent nation of Bangladesh. Nepal
contains 8 of the world’s 10 highest mountain peaks including, Mount Everest and
Kanchenjunga.
New map of Nepal
Group Discussion
Geographical Division: Territory, River, Climate.

Himalaya

Territory Hill(Pahad)
Tarai (plain)
 Himalayan region
• (Sanskrit: himá (हिम, "snow") and ā-
laya (आलय, "abode, receptacle,
dwelling")). So, the name “Himalaya” - Inner Himalaya Region :- it occurs
literally translates into Adobe of very little rainfall. Dry climate is found
Snow. in this region. People of this region
transport food grain, clothes and other
• In Tibetan, the Himalaya means the
goods by mules, horses, yak, etc.
Land of Snow. And in Chinese, it is Barley, wheat, and potatoes are
called Ximalaya. produced up to the height of 3,000
• They are divided into two parts meters. Very few people live here
- Inner Himalaya Region during the cold winter.
- Frontier Himalaya Region
• Frontier Himalaya Region:- the • It is the home of the highest mountains of
rivers of this area (Kaligandaki, etc.) the world:-
are believed to be older than the -Everest 8,848.86m (ranked 1st),
Himalaya. There are human
settlements in Manang, Mustang and -Kanchenjunga 8,586m (ranked 3rd),
there lie many mountain passes -Lhotse 8516m (ranked 4th),
enroute to Tibet. This area is known -Makalu 8481m (ranked 5th),
as Himalayan desert as it lies in the
rain shadow area. -Cho Oyu 8201 (ranked 6th),
• Mount Everest Nepalese name is -Dhaulagiri 8167m (ranked 7th),
“Sagarmatha” also means ‘Forehead -Manaslu 8156m (ranked 8th),
of the Sky’. It is in Solukhumbu -Annapurna 8091m (ranked 10th)
district.
Continue..
• Because of the harsh terrain,
transportation and communication
facilities in this region are very
limited and only about 8 percent of
the total population lives here.
 CONTINUE..
• It includes 16 districts • Majority of the people are Buddhist
• It has steep and rocky land structure • Main castes include Sherpa, Thakali,
which lacks problem in Manangi etc.
transportation. • There is significant influence of
• The major crops grown in this northern culture (Khassa, Lhasa, Vote
region are barley, wheat, and other southern marginal places of
buckwheat, maize, potato etc. china)
• Main wildlife found in this region • The houses are constructed with stones
are Himalayan black bear, snow and woods with flat roofs and very
leopard Jharal, pheasant Munal small door and windows
Kaliz etc. • Religious places are Dudhkunda,
Gosainkunda, and Muktikchettra
CONTINUE..

Sherpa, Thakali
Manangi Houses
 Hilly (Pahad)
• This region at North is almost all occupied
• It does not generally contain snow.
by Mahabharata range with high hills and
• It lies in the middle part between dense forests.
northern and southern part of the • And below the Mahabharata range at
country. southern part there lie the Siwalik range
• It covers 68% of the total area of which is covered by lower hills and valleys.
Nepal. • The Char Kosher Jhadi, jade, a dense forest
• The Hilly Region, surrounded by that begins from Mahabharata range and
ends at the border of Nepal and India in the
Himalayan region and Terai region
Terai
at North and south.
Pictures

Mahabharata range Siwalik range

. •.

Continue..
• It has a number of beautiful hills, hillocks,
valleys, terrace land, small valleys, besi,
tars, gorges and meadows.
•There is a moderate climate
•It includes 40 districts
•It is divided into three subdivisions;
-Mahabharat Lek
-Mid hill
-Siwalik
•The houses are constructed with stones mud
and woods.
• Main crops grown in this region are
rice, maize, wheat, millet, barley,
buckwheat, potato, oilseeds,
soybeans, etc.
• Main trees found in this region are
Lapsi, Bamboo, Katus, Khayar.
• Majority of people are Hindus. Main
castes includes Brahmin, Chettri,
Rai, Magar, Tamang, Magar, Thakali,
Kami Damai Sarki are living in this
region.
• Some of the religious places of the
region are Halesi mahadev, Taal
Barahi, Changu Narayan,
 Tarai region or plain (is also spelled Terai)

• The Tarai is low, flat, fertile land and • It covers 17% of the total area of Nepal.
engaged to the border of India. • The Tarai includes several valleys
• The flat land from east to west lying to (dun), such as the Surkhet and Dang
the south of the mountain region up to valleys in western Nepal, the Rapti
the Indian border is called the Terai Valley (Chitwan) in central Nepal.
Region • The word tarai, a term presumed to be
• This is also called Madhesh derived from Persian, means "damp,"
• This region is also called granary of and it appropriately describes the
Nepal. region's humid and hot climate.
• The width of the region is between 25 • It has plain land structure with soft soil
to 30 kilometre. and minimum rocks.
• It includes 21 districts.
• It has three major rivers: • Some main towns are Biratnagar,
-The Kosi, Rajbiraj, Dharan, Itahari, Kakadvitta,
Bhadrapur etc.
-The Narayani
• Major places of the region are
-The Karnali (longest river) Janakpurdham Lumbini, Chitwan
• It is divided into three subdivisions; National Park, royal National Park.
- Proper Terai • The local population mostly uses
- Bhabar Terai Maithali, Bhojpur and Tharu
languages.
- Inner Terai (Doon area)
• Diversity of vegetation and animals
• It has the largest commercially is very high due to temperature,
exploitable forests. fertile land and availability of water.
•
• Main crops cultivated in this •Dress up includes especial items
region are rice, wheat, maize
modified according to the hot
oilseeds, and other which can be
grown in this climatic belt. climate, dhoti Kurta shirt pant sari
etc.
• Main wild animals in this region •The houses are constructed either
include: tiger, elephant, rhino, deer
• This region includes agriculture, with concrete or with bamboos
and straws.
animal husbandry, business and
•Most people got to Gulf country
trade industries.
•This region has main castes like and Asian country for financial
source.
Brahmin, Chhetri, Tharu, Teli, Satar,
•Mithila art is the remarkable
Rajput
features of Terai region.
 Koshi Region

River Gandaki Region • there are altogether 6,000 rivers.

Karnali Region
Koshi Region
• The area between Mt. Kanchanjanga in the east and Mt. Langtang
(Gosainthan) in the west is called the Koshi Region.
• The coverage of Koshi Region is nearly 60,000 square kilometers.
• Indravati, Tamba Koshi, Bhote Koshi, are main formation
• The Kosi River is 720 km long and Biggest/Largest river
• Its water discharge capacity on average is 2,500 m3/s

Sapta Koshi (Tributaries)

Likhu
Indrawati Sunkoshi Tamor
(smallest)

Arun
Tamakoshi Dudhkoshi
(largest)
Narayani or Gandaki River System (Central Nepal)
• The area is covered by the Gandaki river, from Mt. Langtang
in the east to Mt. Dhaulagiri in the west is called the Gandaki
region.
• Its total coverage area around to 46,300 km2
• Seven main tributaries of it are: Trishuli, Budhigandaki,
Daraudi (smallest), Madi, Marshyangdi, Seti, and Kaligandaki
(biggest).
• Deepest River is Narayani ( below devghat in chitwan)
• The river is 338 kilometer long
• The basin also contains three mountains over 8,000 m
(26,000 ft), namely Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Annapurna.
• Its water discharge capacity on average 2,025 m3/s
Karnali Region (West Nepal)
• The area is covered by the Karnali river from Mt. Dhaulagiri, in the east
and Mt. Vyas, in the west is called Karnali Region.
• The Karanali is the longest river in Nepal
• Seven main Tributaries of it are: Humla, Mugu, Thuli Bheri, Tila,
Budiganga and Seti.
• The covering rea is 42,000 square km
• The length of the river is 507 kilometer.
• Its water discharge capacity on average 2,990 m3/s
(Mechi and Mahakali) asked by rajan
 Sub-Tropical Monsoon Climate

Warm Temperate Climate

Climate Cool Temperate Climate

Alpine Climate

Tundra Climate
 Warm Temperate
Sub-Tropical Monsoon Climate
Climate
• This type of climate, found at the altitude
• This type of climate is found in the from 1,200 to 2,100 meters (4000-7000
Terai, Bhavar, Doon and Chure area feet) of the Chure and Mahabharat
up to the altitude of 1,200 meters mountain range, is warm in the summer
(4000 feet). (Grishma) and cold in the winter season.
• The temperature reaches up to 38-42 • In the summer season, the temperature
degree centigrade in the summer while rises up to 24-31 degree centigrade and
it comes down up to 15-5 degree comes down to 0 degree centigrade in
centigrade in the winter. the winter season.
• the western Terai is hotter than the • there is rainfall up to 250 centimeters in
eastern Terai. the southern slopes whereas the rainfall
• It is very hot mainly in the Terai region in the northern slopes is up to 100
including Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj centimeters.
(Hottest area of Nepal, and Kailali.
 Cool Temperate Climate Alpine Climate

• The cold climate is found in Nepal at

• the altitude from 2,100 to 3,350 meter
(7,000- 11,000 feet) of the Mahabharat the altitude from 3,350 to 5,000
mountain range, the climate of this region meters (11,000-16,000 feet) in the
is warm in the summer and very cold in Himalayan region.
the winter. • The temperature in the region rises up
• The temperature reaches 15 degree to 10 degree centigrade in the months
centigrade to 20 degree centigrade and of Chaitra, Baishakh and Jestha while
comes down up to 0 degree centigrade in
the winter. at other times (about 9 months) of
the year it remains below 0 degree
• There's rainfall of 10 centimeters in the
monsoon and snow fall occurs in the centigrade.
winter. • There is no farming here but the
• Due to the low temperature and less region is suitable for cattle raising.
rainfall, there is little farming here.
 Tundra Climate

• The coolest and dry climate of Himalaya region is called Polar or Tundra
climate.
• There is usually continuous snowfall in this region and snowfall occurs as
rainfall.
• Since the temperature in the land over 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) is below
0 degree centigrade, the snowstorm occurs after the afternoon.
• The climate of this region is also called Himalaya desert climate.
 History: Ancient period, Medieval period and Modern period
• Ancient period
• First dynasty to rule the Nepal was Gopala dynasty(From the 7th or
8th Century B.C). The first ruler of Nepal were Gopalbamshis. The Gopala
were cow herders; they entered Nepal in search of pasture land for their cows.
Legends say that a sage named Ne selected a king from among the cow
herders, hence the word Nepal was formed. (Gopalbamshis rulers)
• Mahishpalbamshi kings: rearing buffaloes, Mahispals defeated Gopalbamshis.
• Then ruled by Kiratis (800 BC to 300 AD). The first Kirati king was
Yalambar. The remarkable events of this era is the arrival of Gautam Buddha
and spreads the Budhism. Indian emperor Ashoka, also visited Katmandu and
Lumbini also ordered the famous Ashoka pillar to be built, to mark the
birthplace of Buddha, Patan city-(yala)
• The rulers of Lichhavis dynasty(Golden Age):-When Lichhavies, lost
their political fortune in India, came to Nepal. They attacked and defeated
the last Kirati king, Gasti. They were the Rajputs, from Bihar and Uttar
Pradesh of today’s India. Mandev is one of the Lichhavi king of Nepal
who came and improved the economy and making great contributions for
the development of the art of building, temples, images and places. The
famous Changu Narayan temple was also built during this period. The
most famous king from the Lichhavi dynasty remains to be Amshuverma,
who married his daughter Bhrikuti to the Tibetan King (Tsong Tsen
Gampo) Shrongchangampo. This established friendly relations with Tibet
and also opened up trade routes with Tibet. Later the Mallas conquered
over them in 1200 A.D.
• Medieval Period
• It is believed to have started of “Nepal Sambat” in 936 BS (October 20,
879 AD).
• Geographically, it was sometimes unified, sometimes fragmented,
sometimes expanded and sometimes contracted.
• This period refers to the “Malla Period”
• Ari Malla is regarded as the first ruler in Nepal.
• The word Malla literally means a Wrestler, it is said that Ari was the fond
of wrestling.
• Establishment of baise and chaubise kingdom.
Modern period
• PRITHIVI NARAYAN shah the founder of the modern history and
geography of Nepal, has given the message of unity in his glorious message
“ Let all be aware that the country has not earned with my little difficulty, it
is the garden of four color 36 castes”.
• the Gorkha king started unifying all the lands and states and ethnicities of
Nepal, and it’s varied land, split into mountains, and of Hindu and Buddhist
majority areas, into modern Nepal.
• Rajendra Laxmi Shah, Bahadur Shah and Bhimsen Thapa have major
contribution.
Language, literature and Arts of Nepal
Langauge

• Nepali language is the official language. It is developed through Sanskrit and Indo- Aryan language, bhot -
Burmese etc.
• The languages; kirat, Sanskrit.pali etc. and scripts; Bramhi, Sirijunga (Limbu), Devanagari, Ranjana etc. are
found in ancient period.
• After the Jaysthiti Malla newari language was found in written form and Pharasi and Urdu by Muslim traders
also found at the medieval period.
• The script used in Sanskrit, Nepali, Hindi and present Newari language is the Devnagari script which is found
to have developed from the Brahmi script. The script Brahmi got its name because it had been created by
Brahma (the Creator God of the Hindu Trinity) himself.
• The development process of Nepali language
-Initial phase
-Medieval phase
-Modern phase sundari, madhavi,
Literature

• Literature covers all story, poetry, novel, essay, drama etc.

• The development and expansion of Nepali literature is studied by dividing it
in to three ages:
Motiram bhatta
- Primary Age: From the Beginning to 1939 BS, inscription, press
- Medieval Age: 1940 to 1974 BS
- Modern Age: 1975 BS to till date lekhnath paudel,Madan puraskar.
Arts

• Nepali Arts has been especially found to be categorized into four categories:
-Architecture(Peak, Pagoda, Mixed style)
-Painting(Book Painting, Wall Painting, Scroll Painting/thanka)
-Sculpture (Stone Sculpture, Wooden Idols, Clay Idols, Metal Idols
-Woodcraft.(window, door, musical instrument)
Peak Pagoda
Mixed style Scroll Painting
End