Interview #3 --- Nepal Country Report

Nepal Country Report

Despite being considered one of the world’s poorest countries, Nepal is a country rich in beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures.

Map of Nepal (6)

Nepal is a small country, slightly larger than Arkansas, covering a total area of 147,181 sq/km.  Nepal shares its borders with China to the north and India to its south. Even though Nepal is a relatively small country, its population density is larger than the most populated country in the world; China. In July 2011 the estimated population of Nepal was 29,391,883. The Capital of Nepal is Kathmandu which is also the largest city in Nepal, its population in 2009 was 990,000. The current government system is Federal Democratic Republic which was adopted in 2008.  The official language of Nepal is Nepalese. Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular. (1)

     The highest point of the country is the peak of Mt. Everest at 29,029 ft (8), which is also the highest point in the world. Because most of Nepal is covered by the Himalayan Mountains its climate varies greatly from region to region. In the southern part of the country the summers tend to be hot and humid while the winters tend to be milder. In the northern part of the country the summers tend to be milder and the winters more harsh. 

The majority of the country’s workforce is involved in agriculture which accounts for about 30% of the country’s GDP.  The main exports of Nepal are textiles, grain and herbal remedies.  The majority of Nepal’s exports are traded with India. The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupee its current value in US dollars is $0.01.

Nepal's most popular sport is soccer, with cricket gaining popularity among the youth. According to Sagar, the junior cricket teams are quite good. They have beaten some of the best teams from Africa, England, and Pakistan. Another popular sport in Nepal is Gulli-Danda, this game is played mostly by young and by farmers when they are checking on their herd. 

   (4) Gulli-Danda

                                                                        

Nepalese festival (3)

Nepal has over 100 different ethnic groups, and more than 90 different languages and dialects (2); Nepal is a country with an extremely diverse and celebrated culture.  Nepal’s two main religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, greatly impact the lives of the people. In Nepal religion influences the art, clothing, food, and daily rituals of the Nepalese people. Each year they celebrate over 50 festivals. The longest and most widely celebrated festival is called Dashain. This is a celebration of the destruction of evil. The Dashain festival lasts 15 days, during this time the Nepalese people generally take vacations with their families. (7) Another popular festival is called Holi, or the festevals of color. Durring Holi the Nepelese people toss baloons filled with colored water at each other, to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Holi Fesitival (5)

Nepal, despite its small size, has a lot to offer. One day I hope to experience the breathtaking landscapes and diverse culture Nepal has to offer.

Works Cited

(1) "CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 12 Oct. 2011. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html>.

(2) Diwasa, Tulasi, Chura Bandhu, and Bhim Nepal. "The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal." The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal: Future Directions. Kathmandu: UNESCO Office in Kathmandu, 2007. Print.

(3)Festivals of Nepal. Digital image. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://unitedweblog.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/tihar_deusi_bhaili_03.jpg>.
(4) "Gulli-danda.MP4 - YouTube." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sWSyinFqt8>.
(5) Holi Nepal - YouTube. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W-NjjI0Xyg>.
(6) Map of Nepal. Photograph. The World Factbook. CIA.gov. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
(7) "Nepal Festivals and Information about Dashain, Tihar, Lhosar, Teej, Indra Jatra - VisitNepal.com." Nepal Travel, Trekking, Tours Information and Provides Tips on Traveling through Bhutan and Tibet. Web. 20 Oct. 2011. <http://www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/nepal_festivals.php>.

(8) "Tallest Mountains in the World - A Listing of the World's Tallest Mountains." Geography Home Page - Geography at About.com. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/tallestmountain.htm>.