11 Interesting Facts about Nepal Every Traveler Should Know
How about knowing some of the interesting facts about Nepal before you plan on visiting the country? It will surely help you in keeping away from certain things and moving towards something interests you. Nepal is a small nation famous for having the Himalayan range under its name; you will get to see a certain blend of tradition, culture, and food which you might never forget. Note down some of these facts about Nepal for convenience.1. Unique Nepali Calendar
It’s interesting and surprising at the same time, because the Nepali calendar is around 67 years and 8.5 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar, and this is why the Nepali celebrates their official new year in mid-April. They use a solar calendar with fixed dates for most of the official purposes and have a lunar calendar dedicated to traditional and religious festivals.
2. Slaughtering cow is illegal
Nepal also follows a rule of prohibiting the slaughtering of the cows in the country. This rule is followed for the single reason of the cow’s meat being a taboo. Cattles are considered to be sacred in the world religion like Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and many others, which is another reason why it is prohibited to slaughter cows.
3. The spoken language is Nepali and second language is English
If you’re visiting Nepal anytime soon, then learn some of the basic words and things in Nepali. Let’s say you must understand and will be able to speak enough to get around this beautiful country easily. However, English is the second widely spoken language and you will be able to communicate in English in the capital city.
4. There is more than one Durbar Square
One of the other interesting facts about Nepal is that Nepal is a proud owner of three Durbar Square, which are found in three temple cities called Patan, Thamel, and Bhaktapur. You will be able to get a clear glimpse of Nepal in each of these cities. The cities have some ruins that explain the changes but they still have a lot to offer in terms of information.
5. Most Unique National Flag
The best part about Nepal flag is that it is non-rectangular and only Nepal is known to have that shape of the national flag in the entire world. The flag is in maroon (red), white and blue, these three colors holds utmost importance from the past. The design of the flag is very crucial and proven that it is 2,000 years old.
6. I Salute the God in You
Namaste, is the handshake that people follow as an act of welcoming the guests. The handshake is quite uncommon because they put their palms together bow the forehead to say Namaste or Tashidele, the word translated into ‘I salute the God in you’.
7. Nepal was once named as the weed capital
This fact is a little surprising because it is considered illegal to buy and sell that item. However, in Nepal the weed could be found almost everywhere, in rural area, farm lands, mountains and any safe place travelers could reach.
8. Nepal is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha
The birthplace of The Gautam Bhudhha is Kapilavastu, which is in Lumbini in Nepal. This part falls in the southern area of Nepal and it’s considered a very sacred place for Buddhists. It’s a fact that Lord Buddha is symbolized as Peace and he is considered as the ‘Light of Asia’.
9. The Only Place where Living Goddess Kumari is Found
Nepal is the only place, which worships a living goddess; they follow a very customized tradition of worshipping the pre-pubescent girl. It is seen as an event of divine female power.
10. Nepal is known as the Harmony Country
Nepal is the most peaceful country anyone can visit. This is an awesome fact because till now not a drop of blood is shed due to religious complications, riots, or any other problem. Domestic war have led to some bloodshed, but it never includes ethnic riot.
11. Mysterious Yeti
This fact is a mysterious ad that the list will be incomplete if the famous Yeti is not mentioned. This creature is spotted in the Himalayas by a lot of travelers who trodden and took the secluded path to Himalaya. The matters are real and serious because in the year 1958, Sir Edmund Hillary even leaded an expedition to find Yeti.
These interesting facts about Nepal make it even more interesting. The beauty of this place is doubled with the mystery and uniqueness that it offers. Don’t forget to carry your camera to capture the beauty of this place.
Further Reading:
5 Things about Safety in Nepal