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Country Fact File : Nepal
Volunteer in Orphanages in Nepal

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Country Fact File

Nepal Flag The birthplace of Buddha and home of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. These facts alone make Nepal a spiritual and cultural treasure. This small landlocked nation has held Western imaginations for many hundreds of years – and visitors, once Nepal finally allowed foreign access, have always return home exhilarated, and wanting to return. Although a very poor country, Nepal has much to offer the traveller: some of the best walking and trekking trails on earth, rafting the white water of fast flowing rivers, elephant back safaris through the jungle in search of the elusive tiger, or just hanging out in Kathmandu visiting temples and watching people go about their everyday life. Once bitten – you won’t want to return home…

Location	Southern Asia, between China and India
Area	140,800 sq km
Border Countries	China, India
Climate	Varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain	Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Highest Point	Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Natural Hazards	Severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environmental Issues	deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Population	25,873,917 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others
Religions	Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2% note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
Languages	Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in government and business also speak English
Type of Government	On 28th May 2008, a newly elected Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic, abolishing the 240 year-old monarchy. Nepal today has a President as Head of State and a Prime Minister heading the Government.
Capital	Kathmandu
Independence Day	1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
Chief of State/ Head of Government	Head of Government: President Ram Baran Yadav (since 23 July 2008)
Currency	Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Time	GMT +5.45

Did you know?

Nepal contains or shares 8 of the 10 world’s highest mountains

The one-horned Rhino found in Nepal, is one of only 5 Rhino species worldwide

Over 800 bird species (more than 1/10th of the world’s total) have been sighted in Nepal

Nepal’s population is currently doubling every 30 years

Useful Numbers & Web Addresses

International dialing code: +977

Police tel: 100

Ambulance tel: 102

British Embassy: PO Box 106, Lainchaur, Kathmandu. Tel (1) 410 583

Embassy in the UK: 12a Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QV. Tel +44 (0) 20 7229 1594