Nepal

Sanghiya Loktāntrik Ganatantra Nepāl

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

सं�घी�य लो�कता�न्त्रि �क गणता � ने�पा�लो

Nepal

a landlocked country with

Tibet to the north & India to the south

Nepal is dwarfed in size and population by its neighboring countries, China and India.

The population is just over thirty million people, over half of whom live on less than two dollars a day.

Most of Nepal’s population lives in the

southern and central regions.

The flat Terai to the south has a long border with India. The Pahad, or hill region, sits between the Terai and the high mountain region to the north called the Parbat, which borders China and Tibet.

Seven of the eight highest mountains in the world are located in Nepal, including Mt. Everest in the Parbat.

Landscape of Nepal

The Economy of Nepal

Over three-quarters of the people rely on agriculture for employment.

The major crops are tea, rice, corn and wheat. Due to the seasonal nature of such work, unemployment can be as high as 50%.

Tourism has fallen off due to political disturbances within Nepal during the past decade and a half.

Per capita income is $1,200 per year, just over $3 per day. Over a quarter of the people live on less than $1 per day. Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries.

A Brief History of NepalFor much of its history, Nepal was a monarchy. From the late 14th century until 1768, there were actually three kingdoms of Nepal. After unification of the monarchies and until 2006, there was one royal family that ruled the country.

A Brief History of NepalWhile never formally colonized, Nepal was defeated by British colonial forces in the early 1800’s. The British were impressed by Nepalese fighting skills and a term of surrender included the right to recruit soldiers. Thus began the famed Gurkha military force of Nepal. In 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra (far left) murdered his parents and other family members before committing suicide.

सं�घी�य लो�कता�न्त्रि �क गणता � ने�पा�लो

Dipendra’s uncle, Gyendra, assumed the throne after the massacre. A civil war started in 1996 between Maoist forces and the monarchy, leading finally in 2006 to the dissolution of the monarchy and the founding of the Republic of Nepal.

Nepal & the capital of

KathmanduAlthough a large city of 1.5 million people and the most populous in Nepal, the capital still has only 5% of the country’s total population.

Funeral ghats in Kathmandu where bodies are cremated and the ashes spread in river waters.

Many of the poor search through the waters for jewelry or other valuables.

Funeral Ghats

Religion

in

Nepal

Although Nepal is the birthplace of Buddhism, only 10% of the population is Buddhist. Over 80% of the population is Hindu, sharing that majority faith with India to the south. The majority of Buddhists live in the mountainous north, close to Tibet.

Trekking in NepalMy time in Nepal was spent mostly on the two most famous & popular trekking routes, the Annapurna Circuit and within the Khumbu region. I joined two friends for a month-long hike of the Annapurna Circuit.

My friend Bonk gets his hair done up while on the Anaprurna Circuit.

The Annapurna Circuit

This trek passes through four regions of Nepal, Lamjung & Myagdi at lower elevations and Manang & Mustang at higher elevations.

The isolation of this route will soon be changed by a road project nearing completion.

Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit

The lower elevations are wetter and forested, but the trail eventually enters some of the highest inhabited terrain in the world.

The Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit terrain varies between lower and higher elevations but grows increasingly drier with altitude. Closer to the northern frontier, there are more Buddhist monasteries, stupas and monuments.

Bonk, Nicole & myself at Thorung La Pass, which at 5,416 meters (17,769 feet) is one of the highest mountain passes in the world.

Mustang (once known as the Kingdom of Lo)

Over 9,000 people live here and tourism is more strictly regulated. Elevation is over 2,500 meters (8,000 feet)

after a month on the Annapurna Circuit in western Nepal and a week in Kathmandu, I spent six weeks on my own hiking in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal, where Mt. Everest is located. Part of this trek was a climb of a 6,000 meter peak (20,000 feet) arranged with a mountaineering company before I left Kathmandu. I spent two weeks on the lower hill trails, working my way upwards to the higher regions.

The Khumbu Region –

The Pahad or hill region of Nepal (before Khumbu)

It is possible to fly into the higher mountain region of the Khumbu, but I decided to take more time and hike through this region.

The Khumbu Region

Daybreak along the Khumbu Trail…

With its proximity to Tibet, the Khumbu region also has many signs of Buddhist influence and many monasteries.

The monument to the left is for climbing guide Scott Fischer, who is featured in the book, “Into Thin Air.”

I had arranged before leaving Kathmandu to meet with a mountaineering company to make a climb of a peak called Lobuje East, the summit of which is 6,145 meters or 20,161 feet. From there, I went up to Everest Base Camp before heading west to the valley of Gokyo.

To the left is the Khumbu Glacier, which leads up to the base of Mt. Everest.

Mt. Everest8,848 meters or 29,029 feet

Tibetan name

Chomolungma

Nepalese name

Sagarmāthā

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west. People create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.

Buddha

I have climbed my mountain, but I must still live my life.

Tenzing Norgay

My father considered a walk among mountains the equivalent of church.

Aldous Huxley

सं�घी�य लो�कता�न्त्रि �क गणता � ने�पा�लो

Nepal