Thursday, January 21, 2010

Mount Dhaulagiri Climbing history in Nepal.



Dhaulagiri was first climbed on May 13, 1960 by Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nyima Dorji and Nawang Dorji, members of a Swiss/Austrian expedition. The expedition leader was Max Eiselin; they used the Northeast Ridge route which had been reconnoitered one year earlier by an Austrian expedition led by Fritz Moravec. This was also the first Himalayan climb supported by a fixed-wing aircraft. The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-6, crashed during an approach and was later abandoned in "Hidden Valley" north of the mountain.
The vast majority of ascents to date have been via the first ascent route, which is the "Normal Route" on the mountain. However ascents have been made from almost every direction. It is one of the deadliest mountains in the world, with a 40% fatality rate.

Mount Dhaulagiri in Nepal.




Dhaulagiri (धौलागिरी) is the seventh highest mountain in the world. Elevation is 8,176 meters high.It forms the eastern anchor of the Dhaulagiri Himal, a subrange of the Himalaya in the Dhawalagiri Zone of north central Nepal. It lies northwest of Pokhara, an important regional town and tourist center. Across the deep gorge of the Kali Gandaki to the east lies the Annapurna Himal, home to Annapurna I, one of the other eight-thousanders. Dhaulagiri means "White Mountain".

Mount Kanchajangha inNepal.







Kangchenjunga- (Limbu Language: Sewalungma), is the third highest mountain in the world (after Mount Everest and K2), with an elevation of 8,586 metres (28,169 ft). Kangchenjunga translated means "The Five Treasures of Snows", as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450 metres. The treasures represent the five repositories of God, which are gold, silver, gems, grain, and holy books. Kangchenjunga is called Sewalungma in the local Limbu language, translates as 'Mountain that we offer Greetings to'. Kanchenjunga or Sewalungma is considered sacred in the Kirant religion.
Three of the five peaks (main, central, and south) are on the border of North Sikkim district of Sikkim, India and Taplejung District of Nepal, while the other two are completely in Taplejung District. Nepal is home to the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area Project run by the World Wildlife Fund [3] [4] [5] [6] [7], in association with Government of Nepal. The sanctuary is home to the Red Panda and other montane animals, birds and plants. India's side of Kangchenjunga also has a protected park area called the Khangchendzonga National Park.
Although Kangchenjunga is the official spelling adopted by Douglas Freshfield, A.M. Kellas, and the Royal Geographical Society that gives the best indication of the Tibetan pronunciation, there are a number of alternative spellings which include Kangchen Dzö-nga, Khangchendzonga, Kanchenjanga, Kachendzonga, Kanchenjunga or Kangchanfanga. The final word on the use of the name Kangchenjunga came from His Highness Sir Tashi Namgyal, the Maharaja or chogyal of Sikkim, who stated that "although junga had no meaning in Tibetan, it really ought to have been Zod-nga (treasure, five) Kang-chen (snow, big) to convey the meaning correctly". Following consultations with a Lieutenant-Colonel J.L.R. Weir (HMG political agent to Sikkim), he agreed that it was best to leave it as Kangchenjunga, and thus the name remained so by acceptance and usage.
Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest mountain in the world, but calculations made by the British Great Trigonometric Survey in 1849 came to the conclusion that Mount Everest (known as Peak XV at the time) was the highest and Kangchenjunga the third-highest.[3] Kangchenjunga was first climbed on May 25, 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band of a British expedition. The British expedition honoured the beliefs of the Sikkimese, who hold the summit sacred, by stopping a few feet short of the actual summit.

Time line for Cho Oyu in Nepal.

1952 First reconnaissance of north-west face by Edmund Hillary and party.[1]
1954 First ascent by Austrians Joseph Jöchler and Herbert Tichy, and Pasang Dawa Lama (Nepal)[1]
1958 Second ascent of the peak, by an Indian expedition. Sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama reached the peak for the second time. First death on Cho Oyu.[1]
1959 Four members killed in an avalanche during a failed international women's expedition.[1]
1964 Controversial third ascent by a German expedition as there is no proof of reaching the summit. Two mountaineers die of exhaustion in camp 4 at 7,600m (24,935ft).[1]
1978 Edi Koblmüller and Alois Furtner of Austria summit via the extremely difficult southeast face.[1]
1983 Reinhold Messner succeeds on his fourth attempt,[1] with Hans Kammerlander and Michael Dacher.
1984 Dina Štěrbová, Věra Komárková. First women expedition.
1985 On February 12, Maciej Berbeka and Maciej Pawlikowski make the first winter ascent (repeated three days later by Andrzej Heinrich and Jerzy Kukuczka).
1994 First solo ascent via the South West face by Yasushi Yamanoi.
2009 Clifton Maloney, husband of United States Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, dies after climbing the mountain.

Mount Cho Oyu in Nepal.
















Cho Oyu (or Qowowuyag; in Nepal. Tibetan in Wylie transliteration: jo bo dbu yag; Chinese: 卓奧有山, Pinyin: Zhuó'àoyǒu Shān) is the sixth highest mountain in the world. Cho Oyu lies in the Himalayas and is 20 km west of Mount Everest, at the border between China and Nepal. Cho Oyu means "Turquoise Goddess" in Tibetan.
Cho Oyu was first attempted in 1952 by an expedition organised and financed by the Joint Himalayan Committee of Great Britain as preparation for an attempt on Mount Everest the following year. The expedition was led by Eric Shipton and included Tom Bourdillon, but technical difficulties at an ice cliff above 6,650m (21,820ft) proved beyond their abilities.
The mountain was first climbed on October 19, 1954 via the north-west ridge by Herbert Tichy, Joseph Jöchler and Sherpa Pasang Dawa Lama of an Austrian expedition.[1] Cho Oyu was the fifth 8000 metre peak to be climbed, after Annapurna in June 1950, Mount Everest in May 1953, Nanga Parbat in July 1953 and K2 in July 1954.
Just a few kilometres west of Cho Oyu is Nangpa La (5,716m/18,753ft), a glaciated pass that serves as the main trading route between the Tibetans and the Khumbu's Sherpas. Due to its proximity to this pass and the generally moderate slopes of the standard northwest ridge route, some climbers consider Cho Oyu to be the easiest 8,000 metre peak to climb[2], and it is a popular objective for professionally guided parties.

Hinduism in Nepal.



Hinduism is a complex religion with a vast literature and an enormous range of gods and devotional practises. Annapurna Circuit trekkers are most likely to come into contact with Hindu people in the Kali Gandaki valley and also at Muktinath. Muktinath is a site for pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhists. Because of the extensive nature of Hinduism even a simple summary would be beyond the scope of this work. Instead, I have simply described the Hindu Gods who are worshipped by pilgrims at Muktinath.

Buddhism in Npal.


Buddhism derives its name from its founder Sakyamuni Buddha. Sakyamuni means 'sage of the sakya clan'. He was the son of the King of the Sakya clan. Buddha however is a title, meaning 'one who is enlightened and will enlighten others'. This title may be applied to any historical or even present day enlightened person. Here Buddhism differs from Christianity familiar no doubt, even if a little vaguely, to many readers. There is and can be only one Christ, but their have been and may be many Buddhas. Christianity is also distinguished in that it has a clearly defined relatively small Scripture, which has remained unchanged for 1,500 years or more. Buddhism, by contrast, has a huge and ever expanding range of scriptural literature, as any visit to any Gompa on the Annapurna circuit will demonstrate. Like Christianity, Buddhism includes the life story of its founder within its literature Before we move on to Buddha's life story, a little explanation of some of the concepts of Buddhism may be needed. Buddhists believe in a cycle of birth and rebirth, extinguished only by 'enlightenment'. Sakyamuni's previous lives as a 'Boddhisattva' are part of his lifestory. A Boddhisattva is someone who has reached the point where his advance in wisdom means that enlightenment is inevitable. There is a lot of technical jargon to master. It's a bit like computers.

The Gurung Cast in Nepal.

The Gurungs of Nepal numbers about 170,000 according the 1971 Nepal census. They are an oriental people who migrated to the foothills of the Himalayas many centuries ago. The first Gurung village south of the Himalaya is said to be Khhol, the ruins of which are high in the forest of northern Larjung. The highest Gurung villages were originally at an altitude of 3,500 metres. These high villages have mostly now been abandoned in favour of newer villages which lie at a lower altitude, between 2,500 metres and 1,000 metres.
The origins of the Gurungs are contained in a written text which appears to be derived from a traditional oral history. This history has been translated by both Bernard Pignede in the 1960s and Don L Messerschmidt in the 1970s. The two versions suggest that the Gurungs may not be averse to the adjustment of their history to suit the politics of the day. In fact in 2005 the Gurungs ceremonially burned all the copies they could find of Pignede's book, together with a printout of the original version of this web page!
The story tells of Prince Locan who left India with his wife and his priest Bali Acharya to spend time in religious retreat in the Himalayas. Whilst there, they liked it so much that they decided to stay in the Himalayas, rather than return home. They settled down and started families. Prince Locan's sons founded the Ghale, Ghotane and Lama clans. The priest's sons founded the Lamechane clan. The story goes on to say that Prince Lochan threw a trident at the Himalayas and settled where it fell. Afterwards all their sons came down from Mount Kailash (the holy mountain in Tibet) and settled in the forest of Larjung. Thus the Gurungs claim to have both Indian and Tibetan origins. Their present day appearance suggests that they are from Tibet.
The change in the story between the 1960s and 1970 is the Indian origin of Prince Locan. This may have been added to improve relations with Kathmandu. Or of course it might just be true.
Anyone who has travelled among the Gurung people will know that they are good company. They are known for good fun and teasing. This good nature may have its origins in the 'Rodi' institution. Gurung teenagers are prepared for adulthood and marriage in youth associations known as Rodi. It is a girls' institution based in a semi-permanent dormitory, organised by sponsoring parents with a daughter of Rodi age. The couple are known as the Rodi father and mother. The members are Rodi friends. Boys are not left out of this, they are equal participants, and are invited by the girls. The Rodi members take part in group entertainment. Rodi is a time to have fun and for finding affection, love and marriage. The Rodi also work as a team to help with farm work. Sadly the institution of Rodi is declining with the increasing Hinduisation of the Gurung.

The Culture of Annapurna Region.

When you trek in the Annapurna region you will see many fascinating ways of life and ancient cultural and religious sites and activities. However, whilst on the trek, there is very little information available to satisfy the curious. The information here is a summary of the anthropological research undertaken in the region, as well as a basic explanation of the religions of the region. Sources of further reading may be found in the bibliography.
The culture of the Annapurna region stems from its peoples, their ancestral origin, and their religions. The people of this region migrated here from Tibet in times long ago. They arrived at different times from different regions, bring different religions. There are at least 3 main groups and 3 separate religions. These peoples and religions coexist for the most part happily.

Annapirna Trek Descriptions.



Three treks in the Annapurna region are described. Each route description includes references to villages, mountains, places of interest, lodges and also Global Positioning System latitude and longitude readings. Times are given for the treks. These times are of course the author's times. No two people walk at the same pace. After the first couple of days' trekking you will know how much to adjust the guidebook times by to estimate your own times. The times do not include resting time.
You will need to add rest days to your trek. You should allow 1 day in 5 for resting to enjoy the trek. You should also add a day to get your trekking permit. The durations given below exclude rest days and sick days.

The Annapurna Range in Nepal.




The Annapurna Circuit is the popular name for a 300 kilometre trek in Nepal around the Annapurna mountain range in the Himalayas. The trek reaches an altitude of 5,300 metres on the Thorung La pass, touching the edge of the fabled Tibetan plateau. The magnificent mountain scenery, seen at close quarters includes Annapurna 8,091 metres which was the first 8,000 metre peak to be climbed, the magnificent ice pyramid Dhauligiri 8,167 metres, once the home of the legendary Buddhist guru Padmasamba, and Machhupuchhare 6,993 metres, considered by many to be the most beautiful mountain in the world.
The trek follows ancient paths used as trade routes between Nepal and Tibet. These paths have long facilitated the flow of cultures and religions in this remote and formerly inaccessible region. Today Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism and the mysterious Bon-Po religion still coexist and interpenetrate one another in this region which contains many pilgrimage sites.
The unusually wide range of climatic zones in such a small area as the path ascends from 900 metres to 5,300 metres provides a chance to see many different plants and animals, and the different ways of life of the many peoples who live there.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Exploring new avanues of Education in Nepal.

International Education Foundation Nepal (IEFN), an educational service oriented organization, was established with a vision of providing quality education and educational services to Nepalese students who are willing to pursue their further studies abroad and excel in their respective fields.

IEFN is committed to providing the best educational guidance and helping students to explore the new avenues of education and lay the foundations for more advanced studies in specialized universities so as to broaden their knowledge and succeed in making difference to the world around them.

We are a team of professionals and we offer the resources that allow our clients to push their studies to their full potential because of our distinctive educational guidance. Our research informs and constantly invigorates our services and as a student, you will also benefit from the constant stream of national and international educational experts and academics who visit IEFN to consult staff and to give lectures.

Furthermore, most of the universities and colleges we offer blend practical experience with rigorous academic analysis so as to broaden the knowledge of students in certain fields. And we value diversity as students come from all walks of life and many different districts of Nepal. Everyone is encouraged to achieve their full potential in an environment of dignity and mutual respect. Hence, if you would like to explore better educational opportunities abroad, we are equipped to make the best of them. We look forward to welcoming you.

Administration in Nepal.

The Ministry of Education and Sports is the apex body responsible for initiating and managing educational activities in the country. The Minister of Education, assisted by the State/Assistant Minister, provides political leadership to the Ministry. The Ministry, as a part of the government bureaucracy, is headed by the Secretary of Education and consists of the central office, various functional offices and offices located at the regional and district levels. The Central Office or the Ministry is mainly responsible for policy development, planning and monitoring and evaluation regarding different aspects of education.

With a purpose of bringing education administration nearer to the people, the Ministry has established five Regional Directorates and 75 District Education Offices in five development regions and 75 districts respectively. These decentralized offices are responsible for overseeing nonformal and school level educational activities in their respective areas. Regional Directorates are mainly responsible for coordinating and monitoring and evaluation of education activities and the District Education Offices are the main implementing agencies. NCED[citation is an Apex body for teacher training in Nepal. There are 34 Educational Training Centers under NCED to support the teachers in pedagogical areas. ETC Sunsari, ETC Dhulikhel and ETC Tanahun/ Educational Training Center Damauli, are the leading training center under NCED. NCED was established in B. S. 2050 but it could not take speed much until Arjun Bahadur Bhandari was appointed as an Executive Director. Now it is running in full fledged and implementing "Teacher Education Project" to train the pre-service and in-service teahcers throughout the country.

Education in Nepal.

Modern education in Nepal began with the establishment of the first school in 1853. However, this school was only for the members of the ruling families and their courtiers. Schooling for the general people began only after 1951 when a popular movement ended the autocratic Rana family regime and initiated a democratic system. In the past fifty years, there has been a dramatic expansion of educational facilities in the country. As a result, adult literacy (15+) of the country was reported to be 48.2% (female: 34.6%, male: 62.2%) in the Population Census, 2001, up from about 5% in 1952/54. Beginning from about 300 schools and two colleges with about ten thousand students in 1951, there now are 26 thousand schools (including higher secondary), 415 colleges, five universities and two academies of higher studies. Altogether 5.5 million students are enrolled in those schools and colleges who are served by more than 150 thousand teachers.
Despite such examples of success, there are problems and challenges. Educational management, quality, relevance, access are some of the critical issues of education in Nepal. Societal disparities based on gender, ethnicity, location, economic class, etc. are yet to be eliminated. Resource crunch has always been a problem in education. These problems have made the goal of education for all a challenge for the country.

Higher Education in Nepal.

It is said that education is a life long process, but the basic education that one gets during the formative year definitely contributes to the shaping of one's future and outlook. This is where; the school and high school education assumes importance.Today's school is not merely a school it is much more.Its teachers and staff together with the guardians and students give it a wholesome environment. As student not only finds a guru here but guides and friends for life. It is a place to inculcate the fundamentals of honored values. The education of the weak brains between the ages of 17 - 18 is counted within the school education in the international arena.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Higher Secondary eduction in Nepal.

It is said that education is a life long process, but the basic education that one gets during the formative year definitely contributes to the shaping of one's future and outlook. This is where; the school and high school education assumes importance.Today's school is not merely a school it is much more.Its teachers and staff together with the guardians and students give it a wholesome environment. As student not only finds a guru here but guides and friends for life. It is a place to inculcate the fundamentals of honored values. The education of the weak brains between the ages of 17 - 18 is counted within the school education in the international arena.

Girl education in Nepal.

Girls Education Nepal was established in May 2005 by Nonna Lamponen and Amanda McKay. The programme sponsors girls from underprivileged families to attend school near their homes.
Our mission is simple – to enable girls to have a better future through education. Sponsorship is aimed at the most desperate cases – children who otherwise would have little chance of going to school. All girls are welcomed regardless of age, religion, location, previous education or background.Girls Education Nepal was established in May 2005 by Nonna Lamponen and Amanda McKay. The programme sponsors girls from underprivileged families to attend school near their homes.
Our mission is simple – to enable girls to have a better future through education. Sponsorship is aimed at the most desperate cases – children who otherwise would have little chance of going to school. All girls are welcomed regardless of age, religion, location, previous education or background.

Monday, January 4, 2010

General Provision in Nepal.

If any part of this agreement is found void and unenforceable, it will not affect the validity of the balance of this agreement, which shall remain valid and enforceable according to its terms. This agreement shall not prejudice the statutory rights of any party dealing as a consumer. This agreement may only be modified by a writing signed by an authorized officer of Adobe. updates may be licensed to you by Adobe with additional or different terms. This is the entire agreement between Adobe and you relating to the Software and it supersedes any prior representations, discussions, undertakings, communications or advertising relating to the Software.

Modern Industries in Nepal.

The largest manufacturing industries in Nepal produce jute, sugar, cigarettes, beer, chemicals, tea, vegetable ghee (clarified butter used in Indian and Nepali cooking) and oil, matches, soap, shoes, and processed leather. While industries such as jute, tea, and sugar use local raw materials, other industries have to import inputs from India. Mining is based on deposits of limestone (for cement), clay, garnet, magnetite, and talc. Surveys of other deposits have been sporadic and inadequate, and the difficulty of the terrain has limited development.

Tourism in Nepal.

TOURISM. While the topography of Nepal has hampered economic development, it has also blessed the country with the matchless beauty of the mighty Himalayan mountain range in the north, rugged hills and valleys with cultural centers such as Kathmandu, and sub-tropical climes in the south that house rare species of wildlife such as tigers, rhinos, and gharial crocodiles. Ever since the successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, the tourist industry has been booming. For a country that was closed to the world until the mid-20th century, tourist arrivals of almost half a million in 1999 are impressive. A network of trekking agencies, hotels, and restaurants exists. There were a total of 708 hotels in 1999, with 31,355 beds. Tourism is an important contributor to the economy, constituting 3.6 percent of GDP and 26.3 percent of export earnings. Recognizing this, the state has supported the industry by building airports in otherwise inaccessible areas and opening up tourist routes. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Nepal's allure as a tourist destination stemmed as much from the Himalayas as it did from its exotic appeal and the relatively easy availability of marijuana. Today, the industry is more broad-based, and mountaineering, trekking, white-water rafting, wildlife tours, cultural tours, and pilgrimages attract young and old, rich and poor alike. Almost a third of visitors are from neighboring India. The influx of tourists has been a strong influence on the Nepalese people. Ethnic groups such as the Sherpas, who escort mountaineering expeditions, have benefited considerably from their involvement with tourist activities. Culturally, Nepal has been exposed to western influence. Environmentally, the country has suffered adverse effects from tourism, though awareness of environmental issues is growing. Tourism will continue to represent an important renewable resource, with government targets of a million visitors a year promoted through campaigns such as "Visit Nepal Year 1998" and "Destination Nepal 2002." Lately, pollution in the Kathmandu Valley, political violence, strikes in the hotel industry, and the royal massacre of 2001 have threatened to dent the number of tourist arrivals. Nevertheless, the potential for the expansion of tourism-related activities such as the provision of rural infrastructure and the local production of specialized food and equipment remains high.

The Lives of the Poor and Rich in Nepal.

A rural family often lives under precarious conditions. In a typical village in the hills, a poor household relies on the produce from a small plot of land that has no irrigation facilities and is subject to erosion every year. A woman usually lives in her husband's house with his parents and siblings. The family house is made of stone and provides only 1 or 2 shared rooms. Cooking is done over an open stove in the main room. If they are fortunate, the family might own livestock such as cattle or chickens. Very little can be set aside from year to year, so they are unable to afford basic necessities. Such pleasures as a varied diet, clean water, fuel, medicines, decent clothing, and electricity may not be available. Education is considered a luxury that detracts from the time the children, especially the girls, can spend working. Water is drawn from the

Traditional Costumes of Sherpa in Nepal.

Traditional Costume of Sherpa in NepalSherpa dress is similar to that worn by Tibetans. Both men and women wear a long inner shirt over a pant-like garment, both made out of wool. Over this, they wear a thick, coarse, wraparound robe (bakhu) that reaches to below the knees and fastens at the side. A sash is belted around the waist. Both males and females wear high, woolen boots with hide soles. The uppers are colored maroon, red, and green (or blue), and the boots are tied on with colored garters. An unusual feature of women's dress is the multicolored striped aprons worn to cover the front and back of the bodies below the waist. Both married and unmarried women wear the rear apron, while the front apron is worn only by married women. Various ornaments and a distinctive cap called a shyamahu complete the dress of the Sherpa woman.Traditional Sherpa dress is rapidly disappearing among Sherpa men. Many younger men who have worked for mountaineering expeditions wear Western-made high-altitude clothing.

People and Custums in Nepal.

The total population of Nepal is about 23.1 million (Population Census 2001). About eighty six percent of Nepalese follow Hinduism; eight percent Buddhism and the rest three percent follow Islam. The population comprises various groups of different races with diverse culture, languages and dialects. Some of the main groups are Gurungs and Magars in the western region; Rais, Limbus and Sunwars in the eastern mid hills; Sherpas, Manangpas and Lopas in the northern part, Newars in and around the capital valley of Kathmandu; Tharus, Yadavas, Satar, Rajvanshis and Dhimals in the Terai region; and Brahmins, Chhetris and Thakur are generally spread throughout the country.

Famous Sherpa in Nepal.

One of the most well known Sherpas is Tenzing Norgay. In 1953, he and Edmund Hillary became the first people known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.[3][4][5] Norgay's son Jamling Tenzing Norgay also climbed Everest in honor of his father with the famous Ed Viesturs and Araceli Segarra during the disastrous year of 1996.Two Sherpas, Pemba Dorjie and Lhakpa Gelu, recently competed to see who could climb Everest from Basecamp the fastest. On May 23, 2003, Dorjie summited in 12 hours and 46 minutes. Three days later, Gelu beat his record by two hours, summiting in 10 hours 46 minutes. On May 21, 2004, Dorjie again improved the record by more than two hours with a total time of 8 hours and 10 minutes.[6]On May 21, 2009, Apa Sherpa successfully summited Everest for the nineteenth time, breaking his own record for most successful ascents.[7] Perhaps the most famous Nepalese female mountaineer is Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepalese female climber who died during the descent. Another woman Sherpa who is well known is the two-time Everest summiteer Pemba Doma Sherpa, who died after falling from Lhotse on May 22, 2007.[8]

Religion of Sherpa in Nepal.

The Sherpas belong to the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. The oldest Buddhist sect in Tibet, it emphasizes mysticism and incorporates shamanistic practices and local deities borrowed from the pre-Buddhist Bon religion. Thus, in addition to Buddha and the great Buddhist divinities, the Sherpa also have believe in numerous gods and demons who are believed to inhabit every mountain, cave, and forest. These have to be worshiped or appeased through ancient practices that have been woven into the fabric of Buddhist ritual life.Many of the great Himalayan mountains are worshiped as gods. The Sherpas call Mount Everest Chomolungma and worship it as the "Mother of the World." Mount Makalu is worshiped as the deity Shankar (Shiva). Each clan recognizes mountain gods identified with certain peaks that are their protective deities.The day-to-day religious affairs of the Sherpas are dealt with by lamas (Buddhist spiritual leaders) and other religious practitioners living in the villages. It is the village lam a, who can be married and is often a householder, who presides over ceremonies, and rituals. In addition, shamans (lhawa) and soothsayers (mindung) deal with the supernatural and the spirit world. They identify witches (pem), act as the mouthpiece of gods and spirits, and diagnose illnesses.An important aspect of Sherpa religion is the monastery or gompa . There are some two dozen of these institutions scattered through the Solu-Khumbu region. They are communities of lamas or monks (some-times of nuns) who take vows of celibacy and lead a life in isolation searching for truth and religious enlightenment. They are respected by and supported by the community at large. Their contact with the outside world is limited to the annual festivals to which the public is invited, and the reading of sacred texts at funerals.

Sherpa Cast in Nepal.

Sherpas were of immeasurable value to early explorers of the Himalayan region, serving as guides and porters at the extreme altitudes of the peaks and passes in the region. Today, the term is used casually to refer to almost any guide or porter hired for mountaineering expeditions in the Himalayas. However, in Nepal, Sherpas insist on making the distinction between themselves and general porters, as Sherpas often serve in a more guide-like role and command higher pay and respect from the community.Sherpas are renowned in the international climbing and mountaineering community for their hardiness, expertise, and experience at high altitudes. It has been speculated that a portion of the Sherpas' climbing ability is the result of a genetic adaptation to living in high altitudes. Some of these adaptations include unique hemoglobin-binding enzymes, doubled nitric oxide production, hearts that can utilize glucose, and lungs with an increased sensitivity to low oxygen.[2]

Financial Service in Nepal.

The use of institutional financial services has been slow to spread in rural areas. Until the mid-1990s, most Nepalese banks were state controlled or owned. The country's first commercial bank, Nepal Bank Ltd., opened in 1937. The central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank, opened in 1956, and Rastriya Banijya Bank opened in 1966. Specialized financial institutions such as the Nepal Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC) and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) were also established to provide assistance to private industry and small farmers, respectively. These have had mixed success since traditional moneylenders still play a central role in village financial affairs. By 1990 the ADB had only granted loans to 9 percent of all farming families. Since 1984, foreign banks have been allowed to operate in Nepal as part of a strategy to encourage foreign investment. By the beginning of the 21st century, there were 14 commercial banks and 45 finance companies in Nepal.

KIrat History and Culture in Nepal.

Nepal is a very ancient country, which was ruled by many dynasties in the past. Among them, the Kirat rule is taken as a very significant one, being the longest period that extended from pre-historic to historic period. In ancient Hindu scriptures, Nepal is referred as the "Kirat Desh" or "the Land of Kirats".When the 28th Kirat King Paruka was ruling in the valley, the Sombanshi ruler attacked his regime many times from the west. Although he successfully repelled their attacks, he was forced to move to Shankhamul from Gokarna. He had built a Royal Palace called "Patuka" there for himself. The Patuka Palace is no more to be seen, except its ruins in the form of mound. "Patuka" had changed Shankhamul into a beautiful town. The last King of the Kirat dynasty was Gasti. He proved to be a weak ruler and was overthrown by the Sombanshi ruler Nimisha. It brought to the end of the powerful Kirat dynasty that had lasted for about 1225 years.After their defeat, Kirats moved to the eastern hills of Nepal and settled down divided into small principalities. Their settlements were divided into three regions; namely, "Wallo-Kirant" or "near Kirant" that lay to the east of Kathmandu, "Majh-Kirat" or "central Kirat," and "Pallo-Kirat" that lay to the far east of the Kathmandu valley. These regions are still heavily populated by Kirats. Rai(Khambu) are the inhabitants of near and central Kirat. Although, they are also quite densely populated in "pallo-Kirat".[2]By religion, Kirats were originally nature worshippers. They worshipped the sun, the moon, rivers, trees, animals and stones. Their primeval ancestors are Paruhang and Sumnima. Hinduism was introduced to and imposed on the Kirats only after the conquest of Gorkhali rulers whose root was in India. Kirats were quite tolerant and liberal to other religions. That was why Buddhism flourished during the Kirat rule in Nepal. Buddhism had rekindled a new interest and attitude among the people. Kirats had also built many towns. Shankhamul, Matatirtha, Thankot, Khopse, Bhadgoan and Sanga were prosperous cities with dense population. Thus, it can be safely said that the Kirat period had paved the way for further development and progress of Nepal in all sectors in future.

The Rai in Nepal.

The Rai, also known as the Khambu(people of Khumbu region). They are one of Nepal's most ancient indigenous ethnolinguistic groups. The Rai(Khambu) belong to the Kirati group or the Kirat confederation that includes the Limbu, the Sunuwar, Yakkha Dhimal, Koche, Meche,Hayu ethnic groups.According to Professor Dor Bahadur Bista(anthropologist,Tribhuvan University) and late Professor Suniti Kumar Chatterji(linguist and Kiratologist,Calcutta university)Kirats migrated from east via north Burma and Assam along the mid-hills(lower mountains) along with their pigs in ancient times.(ref.30,31).According to Prof. Suniti Kumar Chatterji(linguist and kiratologist) and other prominent linguists,Rai,Limbu,and Dhimal languages are Pronominalised(Austric/Kol influence)strongly indicating earliest migratory wave of these peoples compared to other Tibeto-Burmans whose languages are non-pronominalised.(ref.31)The traditional homeland of the Rai(Khambu) extends across Solukhumbu,Okhaldhunga (Wallo Kirat or Near Kirat), home of the Bahing,Wambule subgroups), Khotang, Bhojpur and the Udayapur districts (Majh Kirat or Central Kirat),home of Bantawa,Chamling etc. in the northeastern hilly/mountainous region of Nepal, west of the Arun River in the Sun Koshi River watershed. Rais are also found in significant numbers in the Indian state of Sikkim and in the northern West Bengal towns of Kalimpong and Darjeeling.

Cottage indrustries in Nepal.

As early as 1952, the Nepalese government recognized that industrialization would have to take into account the severe limitations imposed by the country's geography. Cottage industries—the local production of traditional handicrafts—were seen as a way to engage the underemployed rural population and contribute towards export earnings. In Nepal, these industries have included pottery, handmade paper and products, woodwork, metal work, weaving, embroidery, and basket making, and draw on artistic traditions dating back centuries. However, even with the creation of Cottage Industries Training Centers across the country, many of these crafts have been in decline. Still, they contribute about 60 percent of industrial production, with the garment and carpet industries showing rapid growth since the 1980s and earning 84.3 percent of export earnings from countries other than India.

Economic Sources in Nepal.

GDP (2007/2008): $12.69 billion.Annual growth rate of real GDP (FY 2007/2008): 4.7%.Per capita income (gross national product, FY 2007/2008): $470.Avg. inflation rate (Consumer Price Index, mid-October 2008 est.): 14.1%.Natural resources: Water, hydropower, limited but fertile agricultural land, timber.Agriculture (32.12% of GDP): Products--rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, oilseed, jute, millet, potatoes. Cultivated land--25%.Industry (7.6% of GDP): Types--carpets, pashmina, garments, cement, cigarettes, bricks, sugar, soap, matches, jute, manufactured goods, hydroelectric power.Trade (2007/2008): Exports--$892 million: carpets, pashmina, garments. Major markets--Germany and the U.S. Imports--$2.79 billion: manufactured goods. Major supplier--India.Central government budget (FY 2008/2009): $3.14 billion; military allocation $163.43 million.Official exchange rate (as of September 19, 2008): NPR 75.00 = US$1.00.Fiscal year: July 16-July 15.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Everest Base Camp Trek.

Everest Base Camp trek, a very well known mountain trek, starts at the upper Phakding and follows the Dudh Kosi valley which climbs up to the Sherpa capital of Namche, a bustling bazaar that’s a junction for trekkers, the local Sherpa and expeditions en route to the mighty Mt. Everest. All along this part of the trail, villages are interspersed with magnificent forests of rhododendron, magnolia and giant firs. In both the early autumn and late spring, the flowers on this portion of the trek make it the kind of walk you will remember for a long, long time.From Namche, we trek along a high traversing path where we have our first good views of Everest and then head towards Thyangboche Monastery, which is a 2 hour climb. The monastery sits at 3867m in a clearing surrounded by dwarf firs and rhododendrons. The monastery is structurally located on a ridge top with commanding views of the Everest landscape. The view from this spot, seen to best advantage in the morning, is absolutely mesmerizing and stunning and is rightly deemed to be one of the most magnificent in the world.We then descend to the Imja Khola and continue to the villages of Pangboche and Pheriche before finally approaching the Khumbu Glacier. We then follow the glacier, first to Lobuche, a vantage point for some spectacular views of the Ama Dablam, Taweche and other peaks and then hike to Gorak Shep for a breather.We also have the opportunity to ascend Kala Pattar [5554m] from where we can get some awesome views of the Himalayan giants which literally numb your senses with breathless admiration that beholds the eye; and makes up for the lung-bursting climb

Sir,Edmund Percial Hillary.

(20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. He was named by Time Magazine as one of 100 most influential people of the 20th century.Hillary became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school, making his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the RNZAF as a navigator during World War II. Before the successful expedition in 1953 to Everest, he had been part of a reconnaissance expedition to the mountain in 1951 and an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho Oyu in 1952. As part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition he reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He would later also travel to the North Pole.Following his ascent of Everest he devoted much of his life to helping the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded. Through his efforts many schools and hospitals were built in this remote region of Nepal.

Measuring Mt.Everest in Nepal.

After taking six readings, the surveyors came to six different results. They decided to take an average, which came to 29,000 feet. However, Waugh considered this figure to be too neat for nature, so he and his team settled for a height of 29,002 feet. Waugh named this tallest peak after his predecessor, George Everest, but although the name has remained the same, its official height has not. Chinese and Indian surveyors took their own readings and came to a different measurement of 29,030 feet. These variations were put down to the shifting ice on the peak of the mountain.

Mount Everesat in Nepal

Everybody knows that the world highest mountain is in Nepal.Officially, Mt.Everest has been set 8,848 meters high and this measurement is under review due to more recent measurements.The Asian continent is always colliding with the out crops of India, forcing the mountains up wards, but it does not end there. Attempts, to measure the height of Mt.Everest have been going on since the great trigonometric survey of India was commissioned in 1808 and it is still being reviewed.