I stole this from http://the-voyagers.tripod.com
on Adventures in Nepal (Nepal), 21/Oct/2009 03:09, 34 days ago
Facts about NepalCapital:KathmanduLanguage:Nepali (official)& 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects. Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is related to the Indian language, Hindi, and is spoken by about 90 percent of the population in either native or second language fluency. Many Nepalese in government and business also speak English.National Calendar:The Nepali year begins in mid-April and is divided into 12 months: Baisakh, Jestha, Asadh, Shrawan, Bhadra, Aswin, Kartik, Marga, Poush, Phalgun, Chaitra.Saturday is the official weekly holiday.Unification Day:1768 (by Prithvi Narayan Shah - First King)Constitution Birth:November 9, 1990National Bird:DanpheNational Flower:the spectacular rhododendron 'gras' in NepaliLand use:arable land: 17% permanent pastures: 15%forests and woodland: 42%Geography:landlocked; strategic location between India and Chinese-occupied Tibet; extremely diverse terrain ranging from fertile plains and broad valleys to containing eight of the world's ten highest peaks.Climate:Nepal has a climate that ranges from subtropical summers with mild winters in the southern lowlands to an alpine climate with cool summers as well as severe winters in the mountains. Average annual precipitation decreases from 1,778 mm (70 inches) in the east to 899 mm (35 inches) in the west.People:Ethnic Groups:Among the earliest inhabitants were the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley and aboriginal Tharus in the southern Terai region. The Indo-Nepalese migrated from India and are ancestors of the Brahman and Chetri caste groups, which account for nearly 80% of the population. The Tibeto-Nepalese account for the remainder and trace their origins to central Asia and Tibet, including the Gurungs, Magars and Tamang in the west, Rais and Limbus in the east, and Sherpas and Bhotias in the north.Religion:90% Hindu (official state religion) 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% Other (Christian, indigenous& animistic practices) While Nepal is the only Hindu country in the world, Hinduism has synthesized with Buddhism in Nepal. As a result, Buddhist and Hindu shrines and festivals are respected and celebrated by all.Infant mortality rate:75.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total: 57.84 yearsmale: 58.3 years, female: 57.35 years (2000 est.)Distribution:15% Urban, 85% Rural (2001 census)Issues:Illegal trafficking in women is one of the biggest issues facing Nepal today. Lured by promises of employment in big Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbia and Kolkatta, large numbers of Nepali young girls are smuggled by flesh traders and forced into prostitution. The flesh trade is made simpler due to the open border ensuring free movement of people. Nepali NGOs estimate that hundreds of thousands of Nepali women, mostly teenagers are forced to work in brothels in India. The United Nations has expressed concern over the growing trafficking and urged the Nepali and Indian authorities to initiate action to curb this trade.Economy:'Real' GDP per capita:$1,101Rank:159 / 191 (2000)GDP Composition:agriculture: 41% industry: 22% services: 37EnergyNepal has no reserves of oil or gas, and only small coal reserves. Commercial energy consumption in Nepal is made up of hydroelectricity, coal, and oil products. Noncommercial energy sources, such as wood, animal wastes, and crop residues, account for a significant share of the country's total energy consumption. Nepal is a net energy importer. Oil is the main import and in 1998 it is estimated that Nepal imported 10,000 barrels of oil per day for products such as kerosene, diesel, jet fuel, gasoline.Swift rivers flowing south through the Himalayas have massive hydroelectricity potential to service domestic needs and the growing demand from India. Hydropower exports are one of the major domestic resources which can fuel economic growth in Nepal, but development of these resources requires significant capital investment.Nepal's installed electric generating currently is around 300 megawatts (MW). Only a small share (around 1%) of Nepal's potential hydroelectric power capacity currently is being exploited. Potentially, Nepal could be a large net power producer and exporter and private investment in hydropower development is growing rapidly. Hydro projects currently under construction in Nepal should nearly double the country's total generating capacity over the next two years. At present, however, the country faces frequent power outages and shortages (yet another obstacle to economic growth), while only around 15% of the country's population has access to electricity.Renewable energy, including micro-hydro, biomass, solar energy, etc. are gaining popularity in Nepal, particularly in remote regions of the country. Rural electrification is a main priority of Nepal's current Five-Year Plan. This will involve expanding the country's transmission and distribution grid, and possibly installing thousands of solar power units -- particularly in remote areas of the country -- over the next several years.Government:Executive branchChief of State:KingGyanendra Bir BikramShah DevBorn in 1947,Gyanendra is theyounger brother ofthe late KingBirendra, who died ina shooting incidentat the royal palaceon 1 June 2001. Hewas crowned kingon the 4th after Birendra's son, Dipendra,who had been declared king immediatelyfollowing Birendra's death, died of injuriessustained during the palace shooting.Gyanendra is thought to be a moreforceful man than the late Birendra, even, some say, an advocate of a return to absolute monarchy. However, shortly after his ascension to the throne, he has declared his support for thecontinuity of Nepal's constitutionalmonarchy.Educated in India and Nepal, Gyanendra is well known in Nepal for his conservationwork. He is also interested in developingthe kingdom's tourism potential. A successful businessman, he has interests many ventures throughout the kingdom. Most will be divested in the near future to avoid any appearance of impropriety.Gyanendra is married and has two children. His youngest son, Paras, who isnow considered the crown prince, leads acontroversial lifestyle and has been at thecenter of numerous DUI fatalities including a very popular singer who died last year.The lateKing BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev succeeded to the throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, and crowned king 24 February 1975. The late Crown Prince DIPENDRA, King for two days while he lay in coma after the shooting incident, was thought to be the gunmen who massacred nine people in his family before turning the gun on himself.Head of Government:Prime MinisterSher Bahadur DeubaCabinet:appointed by the king on the recommendation of the PMLegislative branchBicameral Parliament consists of the NationalCouncil (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; 1/3 of the members elected every two yrs to serve six-yr terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-yr terms)Judicial branchSupreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council.Political parties and leaders:Nepali Congress(Girija Prasad Koirala, party president)Communist Party of Nepal / United Marxist-Leninist(Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary)Marxist-Leninist(Sahana Pradhan, chairman)Rastriya Prajantra Party(SuryaBahadur Thapa);Nepal Sadbhavana Party(Gajendra Narayan Singh, president)Nepal Workers and Peasants Party(Narayan Man Bijukchhe, party chair)Rastriya Jana Morcha(ChitraBahadur K. C., chairman)Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal(Lila Mani Pokharel, general secretary)MediaPress laws restrict reporting on themonarchy and national security, andjournalists have reportedly been detainedafter covering alleged police abuses andcorruption. However, the press is considered to enjoya fair amount of freedom.A range of publications, from Maoist tomonarchist, carry criticism of thegovernment. In January 2001, private FMstations were prohibited from airing newsbroadcasts, but the decision wascontested.Radio broadcasting started in 1951, while TV did not begin until 1986. Only about10% of the population has access totelevision - only 14% have electricity.Sources: CountryWatch, BBC, IMF_uacct = "UA-3483228-1";urchinTracker();