Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia with China in the north and India in the south, east and west. There are about 101 ethnic groups speaking over 92 languages. The distinction in caste and ethnicity is understood better with a view of customary layout of the population. The official language of Nepal is Nepali which is spoken and understood by a majority of the population. The ethnic groups have their own mother tongues.

Nepal falls in the temperate zone north of the Tropic of Cancer. Nepal has vast water systems which drain south into India. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions: Himalayan region, mid hill region and the Tarai region. The highest point in the country is Mt. Everest (8,848 m) while the lowest point is in the Tarai plains of Kechana Kalan in Jhapa (59 m).

Eight of the world’s highest peaks (out of fourteen) that are above 8000 m lie in Nepal. Nepal holds the so called “waters towers of South Asia” with its 6,000 rivers which are either snow-fed or dependent on rain.

The Himalayas act as a barrier to the cold winds blowing from Central Asia in winter, and form the northern boundary for monsoon rains, leaving some places like Manang and Mustang rain-free. Eighty percent of all the rain in Nepal is received during the monsoon (June-September). Winter rains are more pronounced in the western hills. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm, but it varies by eco-climatic zones, such as 3,345 mm in Pokhara and below 300 mm in Mustang.

There is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views. As with most of the trekking areas in Nepal, the best time to visit are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time for rhododendrons o bloom while the clearest skies are found after the monsoon in October and November. However, Nepal can be visited the whole year round.

185 species of mammals are found in various parts of the Nepal. Nepal’s dense Tarai jungles are home to exotic animals like the Asiatic elephant, the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger among others. Reptiles found in Nepal are Crocodiles, snakes, turtles and monitor lizards.

Nepal has more than 850 recorded species of birds. Amazingly, half of these birds can be seen in and around the Kathmandu valley alone. The hills around the valley especially Nagarjun, Godavari and Phulchowki are popular birding areas.

Of the total number of species found globally, Nepal possesses 2.80 percent plants. Nepal has 6,391 flowering plant species, representing 1,590 genera and 231 families.

Nepal is a culturally diversified country. Customs and traditions differ from one part of Nepal to another. A conglomeration lies in capital city Kathmandu where cultures are blending to form a national identity. Religions practiced in Nepal are: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, Bon, ancestor worship and animism. Nepal does not have a distinct cooking style. However, food habits differ depending on the region. The regular Nepali meal is dal (lentil soup), bhat (boiled rice) and tarkari (curried vegetables), often accompanied by achar (pickle).