Nepal 's wildly varying ecosystems support a vast range of vegetation and wildlife. This includes over 6,500 known species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers, more than 800 bird species (at nearly 10 per cent of the entire world's bird species, the figure is higher than that of Canada and the United States combined!), and a large number of reptiles and mammals.
There are several reasons for the tremendous diversity of plant and animal species found in Nepal . Its phenomenal topography contains ecological zones that in most other parts of the world, are separated by thousands of kilometres. Nepal 's geographical location, climate, altitude and aspect all combine to make it a nature lover's paradise.
Official Name: |
Kingdom of Nepal ( Nepal Adhirajya) |
Abbreviation |
NP |
Capital |
Kathmandu |
| Chairman |
King Gynendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev S |
Head of Government |
Prime Minister Girja Parsad Koirala (Latest) |
Population |
23 Million (2005 estimate) |
Area |
147,181 sq. km. (54,633 sq. mi.) |
Time Zone |
5 hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT |
Language |
Nepali (official) |
Religion |
Hinduism and Buddhism |
Unit of Currency |
Rupee |
National Emblems |
The rhododendron; a white cow; a green pheasant; two Gurkha soldiers, one carrying a khukri and a bow and an arrow and the other a modern rifle; peaks of the Himalaya Mountains; the moon and the sun, both with faces showing Hindu caste marks, two crossed Nepali flags and khukris; the footprints of Gorakhnath, the guardian deity of the Gurkhas; and the royal headdress. At the base of the design a red scroll carries the national motto in Sanskrit: "The Motherland Is Worth More than the Kingdom of Heaven ." |
National Anthem |
"May Glory Crown Our Illustrious Sovereign" |
National Holidays |
National Day (Birthday of King): c. December 28
Prithvi Jayanti: c. January 11
Independence Day: c. February 18
Plus other Hindu and Buddhist festivals |
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. |
Physical Quality of Life Index |
36 |
Date of Unification |
1768 (by Prithvi Narayan Shah) |
Date of Constitution |
November 9, 1990 |
| Zoo -Biodiversity |
184 Species Mamals |
| Avi - fauna |
865 Birds Species |
| |
560 Species Butter flies |
| |
184 Reptiles - 154 snakes Species, Fish 171 Species |
Weights and Measures |
Traditional measures are commonly used. The most important of these are ropani = 0.05 ha.(0.8 ac.); bigha = 0.1 ha.,(1.67 ac.); murhi = 72 kg.(160 lb.). |
Per capita income |
$170 (FY92) |
