Nepal amazing facts

Nepal is a beautiful country rightfully called a paradise on earth. Here we are listing the most fun and interesting facts about Nepal. The most baffling fact about Nepal is that all of the following happens within the limited area of 147,181 sq. km (56,827 sq. mi) and within the extending length of 885 km (550 mi) SE – NW and the width 201 km (125 mi) NE – SW.

GEOGRAPHY 

  • Nepal has 8 out of the world’s 14 highest mountains including Mount Everest.
  • In a span of 100 km going from South to North at any part of Nepal, you can experience hot tropical climate to bone-chilling Artic type weather with an altitudinal variation that ranges from 70 meters to 8848 meters.
  • Nepal boasts over the most thrilling places on the earth such as the highest lake on the earth (Tilicho 4800 meters), the deepest gorges (over 6000m) in Kaligandaki, the highest valley on earth (Arun valley) and the tallest grassland in the world in Chitwan.
  • Kaligandaki is the river older than the Himalayas. Therefore, it acts as a major ecological dividing line of the whole eastern and western Himalayas.
  • Nepal is a four-season destination.
  • Nepal is called an Amazon of Asia. The hidden treasure of its rich biodiversity is not yet fully explored. Many new species could be discovered from Nepal.

BIODIVERSITY

  • Nepal has more than 360 species of Orchid which constitutes over 2% of the world’s orchids.
  • Nepal has 8 % of the total species of birds found in the world.
  • Nepal comprises 6% of the world’s rhododendron species.
  • Nepal harbors 5980 species of flowering plants which cover 2.4% of the world’s total. Over 250 species of the flowering plants are endemic in Nepal (i.e. It is not found elsewhere else in the world.)
  • It is said that Nepal has the largest moth in the world (Atlas Moth)
  • Some of the largest wild honeybees are found in Nepal.
  • The only natural breeding ground of the Long Snouted Gharial crocodile exists in the Nepalese river.
  • The mysterious creature of the Himalayas called Yeti is said to be spotted in the Nepalese Himalayas by many. Sir Edmund Hillary even led an expedition to find the Yeti in 1958.
  • The second-largest population of One-horned Rhino is found in Nepal.
  • Nepal has one of the best habitats for Snow Leopard.
  • Sukla Phanta in West Nepal harbors the world's largest herd of Swamp deer.

CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, AND PRIDE:

  • Nepal has the only living goddess in the world called Kumari. Kumari literally means virgin in Nepali.
  • Nepal was never been under any foreign invasion. Thus Nepal does not have an independent day because Nepal was never colonized. Nepal is also the oldest country in South Asia.
  • Nepal has the densest concentration of World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu valley alone has 7 World Heritage Cultural sites within a radius of 15 kilometers. No wonder Kathmandu is called the living cultural museum of the world.
  • Nepal is the only country with a non-rectangular flag. The current flag has been in place since 1962 although the basic design has been used for over 2,000 years in Nepal.
  • People in Nepal greet one another by saying “Namaste” or “Namaskar” with their palms together and bow their forehead. Namaste is directly translated as ‘I salute the God in youˇ. 
  • Elephant polo game was originated in Meghauli, Nepal. Tiger Tops in Nepal is the headquarters of elephant polo and the site of the World Elephant Polo Championships.
  • Some of the highest permanent human habitats in the world exist in the Himalayan region of Nepal.
  • Nepal has over 80 ethnic groups and 123 Languages.
  • Nepal opened its borders in 1949.

ENVIRONMENT:

  • Over 19% of the total country’s landmass is protected under National Park and Protected Area in Nepal.
  • Shivapuri National Park at Budhanilkantha in Kathmandu is the only World’s National Park close to the capital and international airport.
  • The multi conceptual park management system was first successfully implemented in Annapurna Area and now ACAP is the world model for conservation and sustainable development (1986).
  • Under developing country like Nepal and with abundant ancient infrastructure, it is the first in the world to survive 8 magnitude earthquake with minimal human and property damage.
  • World’s best weed (marijuana) grows wild in Nepal. Especially in the rural areas. Though it’s not legal yet marijuana grows almost everywhere in Nepal and is used basically for animal digestion ailments.

ADVENTURE:

  • Gosainthan (8046 m) is the Nepali name for Shisha Pangma, the 14th highest peak in the world that falls in Tibet.
  • Nepal boasts a few of the world’s most popular trekking trails such as Annapurna Circuit Trek and Everest Base Camp Trek.
  • Nepal is one of the best arenas for Extreme & Adventure Sport tourism such as mountaineering, cannoning, paragliding, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, bungee jumping, high altitude marathon, etc.
  • Karnali in Simikot is one of the best rivers in the world for kayaking and most of the upstream Nepalese rivers offer the best rapids for white-water rafting.