Area
147,181 sq kilometres or 56,827 sq miles.
Population
22,904,000 (latest official estimate 2000).
Population Density
157.7 per sq kilometre (est. 2001).
Capital
Kathmandu. Population: 1,093,414
(est. 2001).
Geography
Nepal is a landlocked kingdom that shares borders
with Tibet to the north and northwest, and India to the west, south
and east. Nepal is divided into 5 regions which are the Himalayas, the Mahabharat Lekh, the Midlands or Pahar, the
Siwaliks and the Terai.
The best area of Nepal sits on the southern part of the Himalayas,
stretching down from the highest summit through
hilly
country to the
upper
fringe
of the Ganges Plain. The mountainous central region is crossed
by the Lower Himalayas where there are 8 of the highest summits
in the world, leading up to Mount Everest. Wildlife in the country includes
leopards, tigers, gaur, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and deers.
Government
Constitutional monarchy.
Head of
State : King Maharajadhira Gyanendra since 2001.
Head
of Government : Vacant
Language
Nepali is the official language; however, many other
languages which include Maithili and Bhojpuri are spoken. English is spoken in
business areas and by people in the tourism trade.
Religion
Mostly Hindu and Buddhist and a small Muslim minority.
Time
GMT + 5.45.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. There are frequent black outs. |
