Kingdom of Nepal

Geographic Coordinates

Land Statistics    Coastline 0 (landlocked)    Land Areas (land) 52,819 sq miles ( 136800, sq km) (water) 1544, sq miles ( ss ss4000 ) (TOTAL) ss s ssss 54363 ( 140800, sq km)    Land Area ( all countries ) ssss

Land Statistics    Land Areas 52,819 sq miles ( ss ss136800 ) (water) 1544, sq miles (

4000, sq km) (TOTAL) 54363, sq miles ( 140800, sq km)

• Facts and Figures Name Nepal (long form) Kingdom of Nepal Population 27,676,500 Capital City Kathmandu (1.3 million) Languages Nepali (48%), Maithali (12%), English, and over 90 additional (mother National Day July 7 Official Currency Nepalese Rupee (NPR) Religions Hindu (80%), Buddhist (10%), others

• A Brief Description Nepal, the fabled land of Buddha, Hindu temples, and unrivaled mountain scenery, was controlled by a myriad of factions since the 4th century. The modern Nepalese state began in the late 18th century when King Prithvi Narayah Shah successfully unified most of the individual ethnic groups and small principalities into one entity. In search of additional lands, Nepal ventured into India, subsequently losing part of its own territory to British India, but retaining its independence. Nepal was at the time controlled by a monarch (for life and by hereditary right), but in 1951, the Nepalese monarch (under great pressure) ended that system of rule, and instituted a cabinet system of government. Only one year after the country's first election in 1959, King Kahendra dismissed the cabinet, dissolved parliament and banned political parties.

Since 1990, turmoil and Nepal have traveled hand-in-hand, as a bloody insurgency, a royal family massacre and assorted governmental conflicts and squabbles have dominated the headlines. In early 2005 (once again) the king dissolved the government and assumed power.