Country Fact File

The facts and figures

• Capital: Kathmandu
• Population: 29 million
• Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
• Time Zone: GMT + 5.45
• International dialling code: +977
• Languages: Nepali, although Nepal has over 30 languages

The Fun stuff

Read

• Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
• The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes: Notes from Nepal by Barbara J Scot
• Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan

Do

• Visit the International Mountain Museum in Pokhara: Pokhara is a must-visit city in itself and for those who have an interest in climbing, the museum in a great insight in to the history of the mountains.
• Adrenalin sports: Nepal is an amazing destination for adrenalin sports fanatics offering opportunities for all abilities in activities like mountain biking, white water rafting and of course, trekking.

Eat: Daal Bhaat, boiled rice with a lentil sauce accompanied by curried vegetables (tarkaari)

Cost of a beer: £1.10 (126NPR) approx.

Did you know?

• Nepal has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains
• Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is not rectangular in shape
• The country's national flower is the rhododendron
• The Gurkhas take their name from the 8th century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath

Useful links:

• Lonely Planet
• ww.nepaltourism.info
• www.visitnepal.com
• Gogapyear.com
• FCO’s Locate Service