Nepalese History, Geography, People and their origin

History:

In the earlier days, Nepal was divided into small principalities which were fighting against
each other. It was not till the arrival of the Mallas from north India that Nepal was launched
into its first flowering of social and artistic creativity. The Mallas also took control of a major
part of Nepal and Tibet. But, pattern of small, independent kingdoms continued and Nepal
could not be unified. The Mallas had three separate kingdoms in the Kathmandu Valley itself,
with their capitals at Kathmandu, earlier known as Kantipur, Patan, known as Lalitpur and
Bhadgaon, known as Bhaktpur. The Mallas left their stone inscriptions in temples and carved
them on the bases of statues. As the Mallas grew weaker due to family feuds, they were
replaced by the Shahs. It was during the rule of King Prithvi Narayan Shah (1730-75) that
Nepal became more unified. He came from the Gurkha region. He was the first to use these
tough fighters to strengthen his rule. The Gurkhas are still valued as great fighters and a large
number of them are serving in the Indian and British armies. The King Prithvi Narayan Shah
was responsible for the exclusion of European traders from the country. As the Shah dynasty
became weak, the Ranas took over Nepal in 1846. The monarch only became a figurehead
while the Ranas ruled the country. Nepal lost war to the British in 1857 and accepted their
nominal allegiance. As a result, the Gurkhas fought several wars for Great Britain. They sided
with them during the first War of Indian Independence in 1857. The British were so pleased
with their loyalty that they returned some of the territories they had occupied after the defeat
of the Nepalese. Subsequently, the Gurkhas fought other battles for Britain, including World
War I & II. They fought in all parts of the World. After a popular revolution made by the
ninth King Tribhuvan of Shah dynasty in 1950-51, the Ranas were defeated. The King
Tribhuvan died in 1955 and was succeeded by his son Mahendra. Nepal became a member of
the United Nations in 1955. The King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was the 10th king in the
dynasty. The King Birendra abolished party system. In 1990, a popular democratic revolt led
to the re-establishment of a multi-party democratic system based on adult franchise. The new
democratic Constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. The king
remains the titular head of the government. In 1994, Nepal elected communist party to form
the government which has since been replaced by coalition government.

Geography:

Nepal is bounded in the north by Tibet – the autonomous region of China, in the east by
Sikkim and West Bengal, in the south by Bihar and in the west by Uttar Pradesh. The land
extends approximately for 885 km from east to west, and 193 km from north to south. The
land in Nepal can be broadly divided into three regions which are Himalayan region,
Mountain region and Terai region. The altitude of the Himalayan Region ranges between
4877 metres and 8848 metres with the snow-line running around 4877 metres. It includes all
the major peaks of the Himalayas. The mountain region covers about 64 percent of the total
land area of the country. It is formed by the Mahabharata Range which soar up to 4877
metres. The lowland Terai region lies at an altitude of 305 metres and occupies about 17 per
cent of land area. Kachanakawal, the lowest point in the country, has an altitude of only 70
metres. It is located in Jhapa district of eastern Terai. The land rises from the Terai, the
southern plains covered with tropical jungles and fertile farm land at almost sea level to the
high Himalaya mountains in the north with valleys and lush hills in between within a distance
of less than 200 km. The lowlands of the Terai are about one hundred metres above sea level.
This, together with monsoon rains along the slopes facing south has resulted in compacting
virtually all climate zones on the earth. Except the Terai region in the extreme south, the mid-
valleys are seldom higher than 1220 metres above sea-level. Out of the ten peaks, eight
highest peaks lies in Nepal. The Himalayas are the youngest and the highest mountain chains
in the world. About a third of its 1000 km. long Himalayan range lies within Nepal. It has a
convergence of 1310 magnificent pinnacles and peaks over 6000 metres including the world’s
eight of the 14 giant peaks over 8000 metres high. Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak
and Kanchanjunga, the third highest peak lies in Nepal. The other six peaks in Nepal are
Lohtse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manalsu and Annapurna I. Some of these
unconquerable mountain peaks provide a vivid contrast with hand-sculpted landscape of
farms in mountain valleys.

Climate:

Nepal is a land of extreme contrasts as far as the climatic conditions are concerned. The
climate in Nepal ranges from the subtropical monsoon conditions in the Terai region to cool
temperate conditions in the higher areas and an alpine climate with snow and extreme day
temperature in the mountains. As Nepal is situated in the northern hemisphere, so during the
summers, it is the rainy season in Nepal. The monsoon lasts across the whole country from
June to September when over 75% of the annual rainfall occurs. The amount of rainfall
decreases from south to north and from east to west. The Mahabharat Lekh forces the moist
monsoon airstream to rise that causes heavy rains on the hills in the south, especially in the
Terai region. The Spring season is warmer than the autumn. In the high mountains in winters,
the temperature drops below zero, while in the Kathmandu valley, daytime temperature rarely
drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Pokhara is lower and warmer and more pleasant than
Kathmandu in winter but hotter, more humid and less comfortable in summer. The post-
monsoon period from October to November is characterized by settled weather, clear skies,
no rain and moderately high temperatures. As winter approaches it gets cooler, especially at
night. This is an ideal time to visit Nepal.

People:
One of the greatest assets of the Nepal is its people. These people resides in the mountains,
hills, the lower hills or the Terai and the great plains of Nepal. Over the last century, there has
been a move in population from west to east, and a continuous flow into India. Over 40% of
the population live in the Terai, 56% in the central region and 5% in the Kathmandu Valley.
Hindi, Nepali and Mailthali are widely spoken in the Terai. More than 6 million Nepalis live
in the Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. The Nepalis are known for their
honesty, hospitality and their ability to grin and bear whatever the situations are. Interwined
into this fine tapestry of more than 112 different indigenous, ethnic and sub-class groups, are
the modern immigrants to Nepal, people from Tibet, Bhutan, the erstwhile kingdom of
Sikkim, Darjeeling and the north-eastern states of India.

Social origins
The Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Bhote and Sunwar are the main tribals of Tibetan origin who
resides in the centre and east, while the Magar and Gurung lives in the west. High caste
Brahmins, Thakuris and Chettris dominate the Hindu social system. They speak Nepali
language and are closely related to the dominant communities of northern India. Today,
Hindus make up 90% of Nepal’s population. The Mongoloid people have entered into the
country from the Tibetan plateau in the north and comprises of 20% of the people of Nepal.
While from south, the Indo-Aryan people have entered into the country, who comprises 80%
of the total population of Nepal.
Newars
The Newars belongs to Mongolia and have settled in the Kathmandu Valley for over 2000
years. They have absorbed many Indian characteristics, including Hinduism. The majority of
the Newars are Saivite Hindus, while some of them are Buddhists. They speak the Newari
language which is commonly placed in the Tibeto- Burman family, and influenced by both
Tibeto-Burman and Indo-European languages. Despite losing political power in the mid 18th
century, Newaris still follow their identity, language and rituals that are combination of
Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism. The Newars are the creators of the three separate cities of
Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu that join together to make the modern capital of Nepal.

The Newars believes that the goddess Kumari temporarily resides in the bodies of the Newar
Buddhist girls. Nearly a dozen communities have Kumaris, and each is worshipped with
offerings of ornaments, food and money. Most of the girls give up this holy post on reaching
puberty, although, recently the Kumari of Patan retained her post till the age of twenty. Since
her feet were literally not allowed to touch the ground, a relative carried her around. The
Newars also believes that the Kathmandu Valley was a deep lake until the Boddhisatva
Manjusri swung his mighty sword to create a huge cleft in the encircling mountains. The
Newars were the Nepal’s leading traders, who organize the trains of basket carrying porters
over the trans-Himalayan passes to Tibet. The Newars are also the remarkable craftsmen.
They developed the country’s unique building style that successfully blends influences from
India, China and Tibet, with carved wood beams and pagoda-like temple roofs. The skillfully
built temples and palaces, delicately engraved stone and metal images, carved wooden
columns and pillars and the history laden shrines and stupas stands as testimony to the artistic
achievements of the Newars.

Indo-Nepalese
The Indo-Nepalese groups comprises the 80% of the population and consists of the people of
the Terai, Paharis (Hill people) and Tharus. There was also considerable early Buddhist
influence, although the Lamaistic Buddhism that entered Nepal from the N was quite
different. The Tharus are believed to be the descendants of some of the original inhabitants of
the Terai and are distributed along Lumbini, just inside the Nepal'
s border with India. There
are about 800,000 Thaurus who are farmers and generally practice a form of Hinduism that is
mixed with animist beliefs.

Tibeto-Nepalese
The Tibeto-Nepalese groups include the Gurung, Magar, Rai and Tamang which have
contributed towards the famous Gurkha regiments of the British army. The Gurungs live in
the shadow of the great Annapurna mountain, and are known for their strength, endurance and
fearlessness. As early as the 16th century they were much sought after by Indian princes and
in the late 18th century formed the martial stock which created the Gurkha kingdom. In the
19th century, these groups were largely placed in the British army. The word Gurkha is a
geographical term that refers to the Gurung, who came from the fortress town of Goraknath.
There are about 300,000 Gurungs who depend strongly on the military as a source of income.
Gurkhas have played distinctive and gallant roles in British wars and campaigns since 1815.
The Gurkhas have won 26 Victoria Crosses for gallantry and various other battle honours and
are regarded as an intrinsic and loyal element in British army. Some villages derive over 75%
of their income from military service and are dependent on it. The Magars and Rais are very
large groups, and are placed in the Gurkha regiments. Most of them are subsistence farmers
who lives in the middle Zone hill country of Western and Central Nepal from the high
mountain down to the Terai. They all have Mongoloid features. The Tamangs believes that
the first mother of the Tamangs was a cow who bore 3 sons, the youngest of whom, Tolgu,
founded the race. The Tamangs practise a religion which looks like Tibetan Buddhism
blended with Hindu teachings and also incorporate elements of their ‘old’ religion based on
shamanism. They live just beyond the Newari-Hindu cultural area of the Kathmandu valley.
Most of the Tamangs are subsistence farmers, but their name describes that they were the
horse traders and similar to the Sherpas.

Thakalis
The Thakalis originates from the Kali Gandaki gorge and are influenced by both Hinduism
and Buddhism. They have established little hotels all along the Annapurna Circuit and
extended their influence as hoteliers to other parts of the country. There are only about 10,000
Thakalis and were the subsistence farmers, before Nepal was opened up to tourists.

Bhotiyas
The Bhotiyas lives in the northern part of Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and along the Indo-Tibetan
border in Garhwal, Kumaon and Himachal Pradesh. They are Mongolian who gradually
moved off from the Tibetan plateau. They include the world renowned Sherpas, who
immigrated from Tibet about 600 years ago. The word Sha means east, pa means people.
Earlier, the Sherpas were traders and porters, who carried butter, meat, rice, sugar, paper and
dye from India, and salt, wool, jewellery, Chinese silk and porcelain from Tibet and beyond.
The Sherpas live in the Solu Khumbu region of glacial valleys at the southern approaches to
Everest. Due to the close of the border following the 1962 war between India and China, their
economy was undermined. Due to various mountaineering expeditions and trekkers, the
Sherpas found their load carrying skills, both on normal treks and at high altitudes, in great
demand. The Sherpas also received considerable help to set up schools and small hospitals.
The foundation is named after Edmund Hillary, the first European who reached the top of
Everst and felt that he had a debt to repay the Sherpas.

http://www.indovacations.net/english/Nepalpeople.htm 2008.09.16.