Nepal

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Nepal, a country of southern Asia.

It's bounded on the north by the Tibetan region of China, and on the east, south and west by India.

The country accommodates numerous tribal groups that are primarily descen -dants of three groups of people: Tibeto Burmese, Tibetans and Indo -Europeans.

Religion:

Hinduism is the state religion.Buddhism is widely followed. Others; Muslim and Kirant

Cities:

Most of the country's people live in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. Other large cities are Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Biratnagar.

Language:

The national language is Nepali, but there are numerous other languages related to the Tibetan and Indian languages; Maithali,Bhojpuri,Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Magar, Awadhi,.....

Nationality: Nepalese

Ethnic groups: Chhettri, Brahman-Hill, Magar, Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Muslim, Kami, Yadav, etc

Background

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003.

In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned party leaders, and assumed power.

The king's government subsequently released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April 2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament to reconvene on 28 April 2006. Source: CIA - The World Factbook -- Nepal

Kathmandu, capital of Nepal

It is a lively, crowded city of half a million. It’s full of the roar of motorcycles; the beeping of horns by taxi drivers swerving around sacred cows resting in the middle of busy thoroughfares; and men and boys trying to sell you carpets or hashish or the all-purpose nostrum "tiger balm," change dollars on the black market, or take you for rickety rides in bicycle rickshaws.Much business takes place on the street – and also in the many shops and in the restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Religion too takes place in the streets, dotted with Hindu and Buddhist shrines and temples.

Images: A tourist-street in Kathmandu and Cremation of dead people in Kathmandu.

Overview of Buddhism

Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, being exceeded in numbers only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. It was founded in Northern India by the first known Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In 535 BCE, he attained enlightenment and assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who has awakened). Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, now part of Nepal.

Top 10 countries with the highest percent of Buddhists.

Country

Thailand

Cambodia

Mongolia

Myanmar

Bhutan

Japan

Sri Lanka

Laos

Vietnam

Singapore

There are basically two types of Buddhism:

There are many different variations which have developed with little conflict. This has been because at its core is a philosophical system to which such additions can be easily grafted.

The main branches:

Theravada or Hinayana - the Lesser Vehicle:

Hinayana is practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The Lesser Vehicle Buddhism is based on the teaching of the Vinaya Pitaka.

Vinaya Pitaka thought that Buddha was a man, a very special man, a very special person but nevertheless human.

The Theravada believes that there is no reality corresponding to the concept of God that we can rely on for salvation.

Mahayana - the Greater Vehicle

Mahayan accommodated and change it’s religious beliefs and practices to the religious expectations and ideas of people.

The Mahayanas interpreted and transformed the Buddha and his teachings into divine being of personal nature and transcendence.

Mahayanas believes that people can achieve Buddha hood based on their ethics, enlightenment and compassion and one may become a Bodhisattva, a saviour, who helps others.

There are four variants of Mahayana Buddhism:

1. Tibetan Buddhism 2. Zen Buddhism 3. Pure Land Buddhism 4. Nichiren Buddhism

Images: Left to right.

*A buddhist monk with his cat. Taken at Sera monastery out -side Lhasa, Tibet.

*Buddha of What Maha That temple - Ayuthaya. This Buddha can be found in Ayuthaya in Thailand.

*Prayer Wheels. Taken at Swayambhunath, or monkey temple, in Kathmandu


	Home Travel The World Asia Nepal Travel The World Nepal, a country of southern Asia. It's bounded on the north by the Tibetan region of China, and on the east, south and west by India. The country accommodates numerous tribal groups that are primarily descen -dants of three groups of people: Tibeto Burmese, Tibetans and Indo -Europeans. Religion: Hinduism is the state religion.Buddhism is widely followed. Others; Muslim and Kirant Cities: Most of the country's people live in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. Other large cities are Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Biratnagar. Language: The national language is Nepali, but there are numerous other languages related to the Tibetan and Indian languages; Maithali,Bhojpuri,Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Magar, Awadhi,..... Nationality: Nepalese Ethnic groups: Chhettri, Brahman-Hill, Magar, Tharu, Tamang, Newar, Muslim, Kami, Yadav, etc Background In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April 2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament to reconvene on 28 April 2006. Source: CIA - The World Factbook -- Nepal Kathmandu, capital of Nepal It is a lively, crowded city of half a million. It’s full of the roar of motorcycles; the beeping of horns by taxi drivers swerving around sacred cows resting in the middle of busy thoroughfares; and men and boys trying to sell you carpets or hashish or the all-purpose nostrum "tiger balm," change dollars on the black market, or take you for rickety rides in bicycle rickshaws.Much business takes place on the street – and also in the many shops and in the restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. Religion too takes place in the streets, dotted with Hindu and Buddhist shrines and temples. Images: A tourist-street in Kathmandu and Cremation of dead people in Kathmandu. Overview of Buddhism Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, being exceeded in numbers only by Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. It was founded in Northern India by the first known Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In 535 BCE, he attained enlightenment and assumed the title Lord Buddha (one who has awakened). Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, now part of Nepal. Top 10 countries with the highest percent of Buddhists. Country Thailand Cambodia Mongolia Myanmar Bhutan Japan Sri Lanka Laos Vietnam Singapore There are basically two types of Buddhism: There are many different variations which have developed with little conflict. This has been because at its core is a philosophical system to which such additions can be easily grafted. The main branches: Theravada or Hinayana - the Lesser Vehicle: Hinayana is practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The Lesser Vehicle Buddhism is based on the teaching of the Vinaya Pitaka. Vinaya Pitaka thought that Buddha was a man, a very special man, a very special person but nevertheless human. The Theravada believes that there is no reality corresponding to the concept of God that we can rely on for salvation. Mahayana - the Greater Vehicle Mahayan accommodated and change it’s religious beliefs and practices to the religious expectations and ideas of people. The Mahayanas interpreted and transformed the Buddha and his teachings into divine being of personal nature and transcendence. Mahayanas believes that people can achieve Buddha hood based on their ethics, enlightenment and compassion and one may become a Bodhisattva, a saviour, who helps others. There are four variants of Mahayana Buddhism: 1. Tibetan Buddhism 2. Zen Buddhism 3. Pure Land Buddhism 4. Nichiren Buddhism Images: Left to right. A buddhist monk with his cat. Taken at Sera monastery out -side Lhasa, Tibet. Buddha of What Maha That temple - Ayuthaya. This Buddha can be found in Ayuthaya in Thailand. *Prayer Wheels. Taken at Swayambhunath, or monkey temple, in Kathmandu