Nepal or the Republic of Nepal is landlocked by the Peoples Republic of China and India.
The capital city is Kathmandu.
Popular attractions include temples, shrines, national parks, pilgrim sites, Chobar Gorge and its famous bridge, Vally and Lake Phewa, with its cluster of lakeside hotels, restaurants and shops and of course the mountains including Mount Everest.
Many sports played at national as well as at international level in Nepal. The most common sport played in Nepal is cricket followed by football.
The Nepal national cricket team has achieved great achievements in comparison to other sport including participation in World Cup (World T20), cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane's participation in international leagues and gaining the One Day International status. Nepal's national sport is Volleyball - officially declared on 23 May 2017.
Nepal experiences five seasons and climatic zones which broadly corresponding to the altitudes. The seasons are summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring.
The Himalaya blocks cold winds from Central Asia in winter, and forms the northern limit of the monsoon wind patterns.
Once thickly forested, deforestation is a major problem in all regions, with resulting erosion and degradation of ecosystems.
The remarkable differences in climatic conditions are primarily related to the enormous range of altitude within such a short north-south distance.
Nepal has a lot of culture and history embedded in the country so the small towns and villages are popular tourist attractions.
Nepal is the birthplace of Buddha, and the cultural impact of his life and teachings can be witnessed in the multitude of exquisite temples that dot the valleys and mountain slopes. Nepalese culture is diverse, reflecting different ethnic origins of the people.
The Newar community is particularly rich in cultural diversity; they celebrate many festivals, well known for their music and dance. A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat-tarkari, a spicy lentil soup, served over boiled rice with curried vegetables.
The Newar community, however, has its own unique cuisine. It consists of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian items served with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
