Name: Naresh Kazi Tamrakar
Present status: Lecturer
       in Central Department of Geology
       Section of Natural Resource
       Sedimentary Research Division
Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu　

NEPAL “ the roof of the world”

The Himalayan kingdom exhibits images of snow-capped mountains and green hills with eye-catching staircase farms. The country is diverse ethnically as well as geographically, having rich cultures and traditions, temples, stapes, palace squares and sculptures. It is a home of 24 million Nepalese and the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha.

Geography

Nepal is a sovereign independent kingdom

sand-witched between Tibet autonomous region of

China (north) and India (east, west and south).

Nepal has area of 147,181 km² (approx. 885 km

E-W and 145 to 241 km N-S) and comprises three

geographic zones from the north to the south. These

are (a) Himalayan region (altitude between 4877

and 8848 m with snow line running around 4884 m),

(b) Midland-mountain region (altitude from 610 to

4877 m comprising the Mahabharat and the

Siwalik ranges), and (c) Terai region (up to 300 m

characterized by plain and low lands). The Himalayan region comprises eight of the world’s 14 giant peaks exceeding eight-thousand meter altitude; Everest (8848m), Kangchenjunga (8588m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8463m), Cho Oyo (8201m), Dhaulgiri (8167m), Manasulu (8163m) and Annapurna (8091m). The Midland-mountain and the Terai regions occupy respectively 64% and 17% of the total land area. The country is almost mountainous with a quarter of the total land area lying over 3000m altitude. Although Nepal lies in sup-tropical latitude, it enjoys sub-tropical monsoon in the Terai region, through warm temperate climate in the Midland-mountain region to cool temperate and alpine climates in the Himalayan region.

Total population of Nepal is 24,302,659 (male-51% and female-49%). Population growth rate is 2.6%. Seventy percent of the total population is of working age. In rural areas, male and female literacy rates are 33 and 9%, whereas in urban areas these are 62 and 37% respectively. Population below poverty line is 42%. Per capita GDP/GNP ($) is 165. More than 91% of the economically active population is engaged in agriculture and the rest on trade, industry and service.

History of Nepal: at a glance

A legend holds that the Kathmandu valley was a lake. The Buddhist saint Manjushri from China drained the lake and built a shrine that developed to the stupa of Swayambhu. Then, several Tibeto-Burman migrants probably from north Bengal, Burma, Tibet, Mongolia and China settled the valley.

With the initiation of the Kirat Period (800 BC – 300 AD) the recorded history of Nepal began. Kiratis, invading from the east, established a kingdom in the Kathmandu valley. Lord Gautam Buddha visited the valley during the time of the 7^th king. A couple of century later,

Ashoka, the great emperor of India, who embraced Buddhism, visited Lumbini (the birthplace of Buddha) and Kathmandu. His daughter married the local prince and further spread the religion.

The Licchavi Period (300 – 1200 AD) initiated when Licchavis invaded from India in about 300 AD and inherited art (stone crafts) and pagoda architecture. In 602 AD the first of three Thakuri dynasties began with the ascent of Amsuvarma. His daughter Bhrikuti married to Tibetan King and contributed to spread Buddhism to Tibet and

China. On the other hand, it was the period when

the great architect named Arniko went to China

and spread pagoda style architecture.

The Malla Period (1200 – 1769 AD) began

in 1200 AD and brought art and culture in the

Kathmandu valley. Brick and tiles were first used to

construct houses and temples. Villagers started to

settle in a compact society. The caste system was

initiated according to occupation of people. Newar

community (believed to be named after Nayar from

south India), flourished in the Kathmandu valley.

By the early15^th century Newari was introduced as

a court language in the valley. Before that was used Sanskrit. Several great buildings, fine woodcarvings and powerful sculpture seen today belonged to this period. Land was cultivated and trade encouraged. A momentary siege by the Muslim invaders from India obstructed the progress. Despite, this is the period when art, culture, agriculture and trade developed to the peak, thus, is a glorious era in the history of Nepal.

Under the leadership of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, founder of modern Nepal, unification of many divided kingdoms in the west and the east of the Kathmandu valley and the valley itself took place, and the Shah Period began (1769 – present). The shah rulers, rooted from Udaipur’s Rajput princes, established capital of the Modern Nepal in Kathmandu. Bahadur shah, son of Prithvi Narayan Shah, further expanded the kingdom of Nepal in 1810 to the size-double its present size. A huge war with British took place for two years and then ceased in 1816 when “Treaty of Friendship” terminated Nepal’s expansion policy. The period of frequent conflicts, supremacy, democracy and constitutional monarchy stepped in this period. The late King Birendra became the most beloved and popular king in the history of Nepal. His approach of making Nepal “Zone of Peace” was endorsed by more than hundred nations. Now, Nepal is the neutral headquarters of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Nepal has now multiparty democracy with constitutional monarchy system. The increasing rate of population and rural poverty are Nepal’s major problems. Other problems are declining industries due to free market policy, trade deficit, lack of internal production and resource management, and increasing dependency upon neighboring countries.

People and religion

Nepal is the only Hindu country in the world. Of the total population, Hinduists, Buddhists and others are respectively 85%, 11 % and 4%. Most of the Kathmandu’s Newars are Buddhists. There is a harmonious blending of Hinduism and Buddhism in the country.

Two major groups in Nepalese society are Tibeto-Burmans from the north and Indo-Aryans from the south. Both sides inherited many customs. Nepal has more than 61 ethnic groups and 70 dialects. Sherpas, Dolpas, Lopas, Bragaonlis, Manangis are Tibetan-speaking people living in the northern mountains. Sherpas are popular climbers and mountain guiders. Brahmins, Chettris, Newars, Tamangs, Thakalis, Gurungs, Magars, Rais, Limbus, Sunuwars and Chepangs live in Middle-mountain region and have their own dialect. Generally, Gurungs, Magars,

Rais and Limbus go to join Gurkha army. The

Newars are the original people of the Kathmandu

Valley and are traders, skilled artists and craftsmen,

with their own language and unique occupational

caste system that began during the Malla Period.

Tharu, Danuwar, Kumhal, Majhi and Darai, who

speak different northern Indian dialects, are the

people of the lowland Terai.

There are many national and local festivals

in Nepal. Among them Dasai and Tihar (Oct-Nov)

are the biggest national festivals. Other festivals

observed are Indra Jatra, Budha Jayanti, Chaitra

Dashain, Holi Purnima, Shivaratri, etc.

Art and architecture

The temples are sites of magnificent stone

and woodcarvings. Most of the stone carvings

belonged to 11^th and 12^th centuries and reflect the

influence of Indian art from the Gupta and the

Palasena periods. Woodcarvings are from 17-18^th

centuries usually found in pillars, doors and

window frames. Temples are classified into three

types: pagodas, shikaras or stupas. Pagodas are

squared, with several slanting roofs that get

smaller with height (e.g. Five-storied temple in

Bhaktapur). The building is often made up of brick.

Shikaras are similar in design to Indian temples, best recognized by a majestic dome roof (e.g. Krishna temple in Patan palace square). Stupas usually have a cubic base with a spherical body and towered roof (e.g. Swayambhu and Bouddha stupas). Stupas are Buddhist temples, but pagodas and shikaras may be Hindu or Buddhist temples.

There are ten UNESCO world heritage sites in Nepal. Seven of

them are cultural heritage sites located solely in the Kathmandu

valley. One of the historical and cultural sites is situated in Lumbini.

Two natural sites are Sargarmatha National Park and Royal Chitwan

National Park.

Copper statues appeared in the valley around 8^th century AD.

These images usually represent religious deities or legendary figures.

Images often contain semi-precious stones, usually coral or turquoise,

or are partly or fully plated with gold (e.g. Medicine Buddha).

Various jewelry of gold and silver are used by different ethnic

groups. Jewelry includes earrings, nose rings, pendants, engraved

silver belts, anklets and bracelets.

Thanka, a kind of painting on rectangular piece of cotton, is

famous among Buddhists. Thanka was originated in the late 14^th

century. Themes of Thanka include images of Buddhist figures, mandala (geometric pattern) designs, the wheel of life design, or scenario.

Clay oil lamps are traditionally important and common pottery. Besides these, flowerpot, wine container, food grain container, water container etc are the famous pottery. Woolen carpets, pashmina shawls and cotton caps are among popular handicrafts.

Economic aspects

Agriculture is the major occupation of Nepalese and more than 91% of the active populations are involved in it. Agriculture accounts for more than 40% GDP. Generally, staircase farmlands in the mountain and plane lands of Terai are the sites of cultivation. Rice is the major food grain, produced 3 million tons per annum. Other major crops include maize, wheat, mullet and barely. Huge amount of cash crops such as sugarcane, tobacco, tea, jute and oil seeds are

cultivated for domestic use and export.

Industry in Nepal is in infant stage of growth. It represents less than 10% GDP and possesses growth rate of 6%. Most of the industries are of small-scale and cottage types, situated in central and east Nepal. Recently, some large-scale industries (sugarcane, paper and cement factories) have been established. Major industries in the country are woolen carpet, garment, leather products, textile, paper, and metal crafts. Major mining industries are cement, building stones, marble, sand and gravel, magnetite, lead and zinc.

Nepal imports manufactured goods and petroleum products of US$ 1 billion per annum. It exports chiefly agricultural materials (pulses, jute, tea, tobacco, hides and medicinal herbs), garments, carpets and other handicrafts (paper crafts, pashmina shawl, metal crafts, etc.) of export value US$ 135 million per year. The major sources of foreign currency are commodity export, service, tourism and Gurkha remittances. The annual gross domestic product is about US$ 4.3 billion, contributed 41% by agriculture, 22% by industry and 37% by service.

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the World. Factors, which are adverse to the development of Nepal, are mountainous topography, land locked position, and lack of proper utilization of resources, weak infrastructures and lack of proper policies to development.

Kathmandu: the capital city with seven world heritage sites

Although civilization started as soon as the lake in the valley was drained out, the city was established in 723 AD by king Gun Kamdev. It was then called “Kastha Mandap” a temple made of a single tree built in 1596 AD by King Laxmi Narashinga Malla, and the term from which the name Kathmandu was derived. The Kathmandu valley, originally recognized as Nepal and a separate kingdom itself, consists of three cities (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur), each an artistic exposition of temples, palaces, brick-paved courtyards and quaint streets.

About 2 million people live in the Kathmandu valley. Newars are the native and predominant inhabitants. However, many people from different ethnic groups have migrated to Kathmandu. Population growth rate is 5%. People living in Kathmandu have average per capita income of US$ 386. Tourism is the major industry with an annual tourist flow of about 400,000.

The Kathmandu valley is rich in cultural and architectural heritages. Historical monuments, ancient temples, numerous shrines, golden pagoda, deities,

stone water spouts, brick-paved courtyards and houses, hand

carved doors and windows are the treasures. There are seven

UNESCO world heritage sites (within 30 km² of area) in the

valley as follows:

(1) Kathmandu Palace Square is the complex of palace,

courtyards and temples built in the 12^thand 18^th centuries

(Malla and Shah periods). It is an ancient seat of Nepalese

Royalty. The palace is located in the heart of the city.

(2) Swayambhu Stupa is the most fascinating architectural

jewels of the world. It is believed to have been built in 250

BC (Kirat Period). It is located in a hillock from where the city

of Kathmandu can be viewed.

(3) Bouddha Stupa is one of the oldest and largest Buddhist

monuments ever built in Nepal. The stupa stands on three-

level mandala style platforms on the valley floor. The stupa

is said to have been built in 500 AD (Licchavi Period).

(4) Pasupatinath Temple is a unique example of the Nepalese

architecture built prior to 500 BC (early Kirat Period) and is

one of the largest Hindu temple complex in South Asia. The

temple isconsidered one of the holiest shrines of all the

Hindu temples. The temple comprises two-storied golden

pagoda with four silver doors. Many shrines of various Hindu

god and goddess are built inside the complex.

(5) Patan Palace Square is the complex of palace, courtyards,

pagoda temples, shikaras (17^th century temple of Hindu god

Krishna), statues of god and goddess and religious objects.

It was built during Malla Period. It is located in Patan, one of

the cities in the Kathmandu Valley.

(1) Bhaktapur Palace Square is also the complex of 55-window

palace, courtyards, pagodas, golden gates, stone

waterspouts and shrines. It was built in 15^th century during

the Malla Period. The palace is located in Bhaktapur.

(2) Changu Narayan Temple is situated on a hillock located

about 12 km from Kathmandu. The temple is the

masterpiece of pagoda architecture of Licchavi Period and

is dedicated to the Hindu god Bishnu. The finest stone

carvings can be observed in this temple. Probably, this is the

only relict pagoda architecture of Lichhavi Period, as Mushlim

invaders from India destroyed other during the Malla Period.