Over View

Nepal is the country where Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world, is located. Mountaineering and other types of adventure tourism and ecotourism are important attractions for visitors. The world heritage Lumbini, birth place of Gautama Buddha, is located in southern Nepal, and there are other important religious pilgrimage sites throughout the country.

The government of Nepal has declared 2011 to be Nepal Tourism Year, and hopes to attract one million foreign tourists to the country during that year.[1] The tourist industry is seen as a way to alleviate poverty and achieve greater social equity in the country. The government of Nepal has also declared Lumbini Tourism Year 2012 to promote Lumbini - a birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its geographical position and altitude variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 metres above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest all within a distance of 150 kilometres resulting in climatic conditions from sub-tropical to arctic. This wild variation fosters an incredible variety of ecosystems, including the greatest mountain range on earth which has eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains, thick tropical jungles teeming with a wealth of wildlife, thundering rivers, forested hills and frozen valleys. Within this spectacular geography is a rich cultural landscape. The country has over forty ethnic groups and sub-groups who speak over 93 languages and dialects. The majority of the population is found in the Kathmandu Valley located in the centre of Nepal and home of three major towns, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.