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Nepal
Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, the kingdom
of Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, time-worn temples, and
some of the best walking trails on earth. It's a poor country,
but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The
kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination and
it's a difficult place to dislodge from your memory once you return.
This is why so many travellers are drawn back to Nepal, armed
the second time round with a greater appreciation of its natural
and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire
for improved leg-definition.
In June 2001, Nepal's Crown Prince Dipendra allegedly shot and
killed King Birendra and eight other members of the royal family.
In November 2001, King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency
and issued a 'Terrorist and Destructive Activities' ordinance
shortly after, designating the Maoist Nepal Communist Party a
terrorist organization.
The strife caused by the royal killings has further compounded
an already volatile situation. Six years of Maoist rebellion against
the government made international headlines in spring 2001 with
baandhs (strikes) almost every week. A ceasefire negotiated
in August 2001 has since collapsed due to the intransigence of
a remarkably corrupt government (The Economist), leading to a
rise in armed robbery and violence by Maoist guerrillas, including
several deadly attacks on government forces in early 2002. This
and September 11 have had a negative impact on tourism and the
whole business in the country.
Though the violence is not aimed at tourists, the current climate
poses a real risk for all Western visitors in remote and rural
areas. Visitors to Nepal should remain cautious and avoid public
gatherings. Trekking and travelling at night outside the Kathmandu
Valley are not recommended. The districts of Banke, Dang Syangja,
Surkhet, Rukum, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Rolpa, Salyan and Gorka are
considered especially dangerous.
Full country name: Kingdom of Nepal
Area: 140,800 sq km
Population: 24 million
Capital city: Kathmandu (pop 535,000)
People: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias,
Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
Language: Nepali (also called Gurkhali)
Religion: 90% Hindu, 5% Buddhist, 3% Muslim, 2% other
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Prime Minister: Kumar Nepal
King: no more kingdom
GDP: US$27.4 billion
GDP per head: US$1100
Annual growth: 6%
Inflation: 6.1%
Major industries: Tourism, carpet, textile, small rice, jute,
sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement and brick production,
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, water buffalo
meat
Major trading partners: India, US, Germany, UK, Singapore, Japan
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