11 Interesting Facts about Nepal Which Will Amuse You

Nepal is a beautiful country with never-ending stunning landscapes, charismatic mountains, and mesmerizing lakes with a wide variety of flora and fauna in the country. Therefore, traveling to Nepal always fascinating to travelers and tourists around the world.

Nepal is known for its mighty mountains and its natural beauty. Moreover, Nepal is also rich in endangered plants and species; some of the rarest animals like the one-horned Rhino, the Bengal tiger, and their national flower Rhododendron. The nature and wildlife of Nepal are immensely rich. Apart from that, there are many other interesting things about Nepal, which are listed below;

1. Major Part of Himalayas is in Nepal

The Himalayas is the largest mountain chain in the world that stretches over 3500 km across Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. And the major part of that majestic mountain range lies in Nepal. 

Nepal is home to eight among the world’s 14 8000m peaks, including the highest peak of the world, Mount Everest. Over 1,300 peaks of the Himalayas in Nepal are over 6,000 m high, earning the ‘Himalayan nation’ title. The Himalayas in Nepal is the reason why mountaineering and trekking in Nepal is famous worldwide.

2. Nepal was never under any foreign invasion

Nepal is among the few countries which were never colonized by any other country. Despite being a small nation, Nepal has always been a sovereign nation. And that is the reason why Nepal does not have an independence day, unlike many other nations. Nepal is also the oldest country in South Asia.

3. Nepal’s Unique Triangular Flag

Nepal is the only country in the world with a non-rectangular flag, making its triangular flag very unique. The Himalayan nation’s flag consists of two red triangles combined with a blue border. The upper triangle consists of the moon, and the lower triangle has the sun. It symbolizes that the nation will stay as long as the sun and stars remain in the sky. The basic design of this flag is believed to be over 2000 years old.

4. Once Upon a Time-The Weed Capital

Nepal was once a hotbed for weed lovers in the 1960s. Marijuana lovers from all over the world flocked to Nepal to fire a pot. The chain got broken after weed was illegalized in Nepal in 1973. As of now, weed is illegal and not available for buy and sale. However, Nepal has a favorable climate for weed growth, which is why we can find the growth of weeds everywhere, mostly in the rural area, around the roads, ditches, farmlands, and mountainside.

5. Birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha

The founder of Buddhism, Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Kapilvastu which lies in Nepal. Buddha was born as a prince of Shakya dynasty- Siddhartha Gautam. His exact birthplace is preserved in Lumbini, Nepal inside the Maya Devi temple. Lumbini in Nepal is the holiest pilgrimage site for Buddhists all over the world.

6. Surprising Internet Speed

The internet speed in Nepal is surprisingly low in comparison to most of the countries in the world. As per the survey conducted by the internet testing and analysis firm Nepal’s average mobile internet speed is 10.78 megabytes per second, while the world’s average is 28.02 Mbps. Further, in 2019, Nepal was ranked 130 out of 145 countries in mobile internet speed.

7. The Living Goddess-Kumari

The only living goddess in the world-Kumari can be found in Nepal. The literal meaning of Kumari is a Virgin girl. In Nepal, these Kumari, or “living goddesses,” are pre-pubescent girls considered to be the earthly manifestations of divine female energy, incarnations of the goddess known as Taleju, the Nepalese name for Durga. As children, they live in temples, are carried in chariots during festivals, and are worshipped by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists. They retire upon puberty. 

8. The Brave Gurkhas

Nepalese people are known for their bravery worldwide. Nepalese Gurkha soldiers have been an integral part of the British Army since 1815 when the British East India Company clinched a peace agreement after it suffered heavy casualties during an invasion of Nepal. The name Gurkha comes from Gorkha- the land of brave men from where the unification of Nepal initially started. “Better to die than being a coward” is the main motto of the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers.

9. Holder of Numerous Records

Nepal Holds several records, which makes a high profile for the Small Country. Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world at the height of 8,848 m. There are lakes like Tilicho lake- the lake at the highest altitude at the height of 4800m, Shey Phoksundo Lake- the deepest lake of 145m at the height of 3600m, the deepest gorge of Kali Gandaki-1200m, and the highest valley on Earth- the Arun valley.

Nepal also holds some of the world-famous Guinness world records and different international prizes, international recognitions, and involvements that have made the profile of this small country to be one of the best.

10. Nepal has over 80 ethnic groups and 123 Languages

Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious country that boasts unity in diversity. It has over 80 diverse ethnic groups residing in this country with harmony and peace who speak more than 123 local languages and dialects. Different ethnic groups of Nepal have different cultures, traditions, and festivals that everyone celebrates with mutual respect and harmony. A cultural and historical tour in Nepal will show how diverse Nepal is.

11. Untouched by Religious and Ethnic Riot

Despite being a country with numerous ethnic groups and religions, not a single drop of blood has ever been shed in Nepal in the name of religious and ethnic riots. Nepal is a secular state, where the Constitution provides freedom to practice any culture and religion, which is something for the world to learn from Nepalese people who hold utmost respect for Unity and Patriotism. There is not a single case where there has been a clash in the name of religion in Nepal.

Nepal holds rich cultures, magnificent vistas, and amusing secrets. From experiencing the exotic culture in the plains of the Terai to exploring the remote path of the Himalayas and with ten UNESCO Heritage, Nepal has a lot to offer. Hiking in Nepal is the ultimate adrenaline rush for all adventure seeker; the extraordinary lifestyle of the Nepalese people, the breathtaking sceneries and the religious norms promises to inspire, amaze and elevate you.  

If you are yet to visit this landlocked country, our Nepal travel guide can help you explore Nepal your way. Venture into this ultimate spiritual destination and take back memories for a lifetime.