Maharajadom of Nepal

The Maharajadom of Nepal
नेपाल अधिराज्य
Nepal Adhirajya

[[]] map of Nepal
Cities
Capital	Kathmandu
Coordinates	latitude: 27° 42' 0" N longitude: 85° 20' 0" E
Government	constitutional monarchy
Head of State	Her Royal Majesty Maharani Shruti
Head of Government	Mr. Ram Baran Yadav
Demonym	Nepali
Founding	1642
Independence	December 21, 1768
Area	147,181 km² 56,827 mi²
Population	29,300,000
Ethnicities	Old Nepalese (Newar, Limbu) 18% Tibetan (Bhotia, Sherpa, Thakali) 24% Nepalese (Gurkha) 42% numerous indigenous peoples 16%
Languages
Official	Nepali 52%
Other	Kumaoni 5% Garhwali 4% numerous indigenous 5%
Religions
Official	Shaivism 81%
Other	Newar Buddhism 11% Mundhum 4% Yuma Samyo 1%
Currency	1 Himalayan Rupee (Rs) = 20 sukaa (s) = 240 paisa (p)
Time zone	UTC +6:00
ISO Code	NP
Telephone Code
Registration
Aviation	NPL
Amateur radio	NPL
Radio prefix	NPL
Organizations	Himalayan Confederacy
Sports
Official	soccer
Other	cross-country skiing archery

History

The Shah Maharajas of Nepal

Name	Succeeds	Reign	Died	Notes
1) Prithvi Narayan		1768-1775	1775	united Nepal
2) Pratap Singh	father	1775-1777	1777
3) Rana Bahadur	father	1777-1799	1805	succeeded at age of 2; mother and uncle as regents; extended kingdom to Garhwal and Kumaon (*here's* Uttarakhand); abdicated; murdered by stepbrother Sher Bahadur
4) Girvan Yuddha Bikram	grandfather	1799-1816	1816	grandmother and uncle as regents; signed Treaty of Yamuna
5) Rajendra	father	1816-1847	1881	succeeded at age 3; queen mother as regent; abdicated
6) Surendra Bikram	father	1847-1881	1881
7) Prithvi Bir Bikram	grandfather	1881-1911	1911	installed nation's water and sanitation systems; names daughter crown princess until brother born
9) Tribhuvan Bir Bikram	father	1911-50, 1951-1955	1955	succeeded at age 5; mother as regent; exiled; ended reign of Ranas as prime ministers
10) Mahendra Bir Birkram	father	1955-1972	1972	constructs Mahendra Highway across entire Terai
11) Birendra Bir Bikram	father	1972-2001	2001	murdered by crown prince in family massacre on June 1
12) Shruti	father	2001		survives massacre; hospitalized for two months

Regnal Titles and Styles

• The ruler of the Maharajadom of Nepal has the titles of Maharajadhiraja of Nepal, Maharaja of Lambjang and Kaski, Raja of the Gorkhalis, Raika of Kumaon, Raja of Garhwal, Raja of the Chaubisi Rajya and the Baise Rajya, Prince of Barsi, Nuwakot and Patan.
• The Maharajadhiraja of Nepal has the style of His Royal Majesty.
• The wives of the maharajadhiraja have the style of Their Majesties.
• The heir apparent, the yuvarajadhiraj, has the style of His Royal Highness.
• The consort of the yuvarajadhiraj, the crown princess, has style of Her Royal Highness.
• The eldest son of the yuvarajadhiraj, the nava yuvaraj, has the style of His Royal Highness.
• The wife of the nava yuvaraj has the style of Her Royal Highness.
• Younger sons of the sovereign, the adhirajkumars, have the style of Their Royal Highnesses.
• Younger daughters of the sovereign, the adhirajkumaris have the style of Their Royal Highnesses.
• Sons-in-law of the maharajadhiraja have the style kumar.
• Grandchildren of the maharajadhiraja in the male line have the style of Their Royal Highnesses.
• The younger sons and all the daughters of the yuvarajadhira have the style of Their Royal Highnesses.
• The sons of the maharajadhiraja by lesser wives or concubines have the style of rajkumar.
• The daughters of the maharajadhiraja by lesser wives or concubines have the style of rajkumari.

Rule of Succession

Equal primogeniture among the legitimate descendants of Maharaja Prithvi Narayan.

Toponymy

Scholars believe that the word Nepal is derived from the word Nepa, which refers to the Newar Kingdom, the present day Kathmandu Valley. With Sanskritization, the Newar word Nepa became Nepal.

Government

Provinces

Province anchal	Capital	Area	Population	Prefecture jilla	Notes
Dhankuta (D)	Dhankuta	20,960 km² 8,0930 mi²	4,021,000	Sagarnatha (Rajliraj) (DS) Koshi (Biratnagar) (DB)
Kathmandu (K)	Kathmandu	27,410 km² 10,583 mi²	8,022,000	Bagmati (Kathmandu) (KB) Narayani (Birgunj) (KN) Janakpur (Janakpur) (KJ)
Pokhara (P)	Pokhara	23,579 km² 9,104 mi²	4,331,000	Dhawalagiri (Baglung) (PD) Gandaki (Pokhara)(PG) Lumbini (Butwal) (PL)
Birendranagar (B)	Birendranagar	21,944 km² 8,473 mi²	1,162,000	Karnali (Jumla) (BK) Bheri (Nepalgunj) (BB) Rapti (Tulsipur) (BR)
Dipayal (Y)	Dipayal	18,755 km² 7,241 mi²	2,187,000	Mahakali (Mahendranagar) (YM) Setei (Dipayal-Silgadhi) (YS)
Garhwal (G)	Pauri	32,769 km² 12,652 mi²	4,087,000	Chamoli (Chamoli) (GC) Rudraprayag (Rudraprayag) (GR) Pauri (Pauri) (GP) Uttarkashi (Uttarkashi) (GU) Tehri Garhwal (Tehri)(GT) Dehadrun (Dehardrun) (GD) Hardwar (Hardwar) (GH)
Almora (A)	Nainital	21,056 km² 8,130 mi²	3,494,000	Pithoragarh (Pithoragarh) (AP) Bageshwar (Bageshwar) (AB) Almora (Almora) (AA) Champawat (Champawat) (AC) Nainital (Nainital) (AN)

Thus, the total area of the maharajadom is 166,473 km² (64,276 mi²), slightly smaller than *here's* Uruguay and slightly smaller than *here's* American state of Wisconsin.

Geography

• For a small territory, the Nepali landscape is uncommonly diverse, ranging from the humid Terai in the south to the lofty Himalayas in the north. Eight of the world's ten highest mountains are in Nepal.
  • Chomolangma (Saint Mother) (Everest) (8,848 m)
  • K2 (8,611 m)
  • Kangchenjunga (8,586 m)
  • Lhotse (8,511 m)
  • Makalu (8,463 m)
  • Cho Oyu (Turquoise Goddess) (8,201 m)
  • Dhaulagiri (White Mountain) (8,167 m)
  • Manaslu (Mountain of the Spirit) (8,163 m)
  • Nanga Parbat (8,125 m)
  • Annapurna (Full of Food) (8,091 m)
• Nepal lies in the Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows, an area of 121,300 square kilometres (46,800 sq mi), extending along the north and south faces of the Himalaya Range from the Kali Gandaki Gorge in Lo eastwards through Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, and on into India's Arunachal Pradesh state, and northernmost Myanmar.
• The alpine shrub and meadows lie between approximately 4,000 and 5,500 metres (13,000 and 18,000 ft) elevation. Permanent ice and snow lie above 5,500 metres (18,000 ft). The Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests lie below 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) along the southern slopes of the range, from Lo to Bhutan.

Borders

Nepal is bordered by on the:

North: Tibet, Lo
East: Sikkim
South: Bengal, Oudh
Southwest: Samraj
West: Samraj
Northwest: Jammu

The Maharajadom of Nepal is contiguous with *here's* Republic of Nepal (minus the Mechi zone, and the districts of Dolpa, Mustang, and Manang) and the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Climate

• Nepal has a great deal of variation in climate. A tropical and subtropical climate exists in the Terai Region. Outside the Terai, however, the climate is completely different. The remarkable differences in climatic conditions are primarily related to the enormous range of altitude within such a short north-south distance. The presence of the east to west Himalayas to the north and the monsoonal alteration of wet and dry seasons also greatly contribute to local variations in climate. There are five climatic zones in Nepal based on altitude, the tropical and subtropical zone below 1,200 meters in altitude, the cool, temperate zone of 1,200 to 2,400 meters, the cold zone of 2,400 to 3,600 meters, the subarctic climatic zone of 3,600 to 4,400 meters, and the arctic zone above 4,400 meters.
• Altitude also affects annual rainfall or precipitation patterns. Up to about 3,000 meters, annual rainfall totals increase as the altitude increases. Thereafter, annual totals diminish with increasing altitude and latitude. In addition to this latitudinal differentiation in rainfall, two other patterns can be discerned. First, given the northwestward movement of the moisture-laden summer monsoon (June to September), the amount of annual rainfall generally decreases from east to west. Second, the horizontal extension of hill and mountain ranges creates a moist condition on south- and east-facing slopes whereas it produces a major rain shadow on the northern sides of the slopes. The aridity increases with altitude and latitude, especially on the northern slopes, and reaches its climax in the inner Himalayan region and on the Tibetan Plateau. Eastern Nepal receives approximately 2,500 millimeters of rain annually, the Kathmandu area about 1,420 millimeters, and western Nepal about 1,000 millimeters.
• The towering Himalayas play a critical role, blocking the northwesterly advances of moist, tropical air from the Bay of Bengal, and ultimately leading to its conversion to rain in the summer. In the winter, this range prevents the outbursts of cold air from Inner Asia from reaching southern Nepal and northern India, thus ensuring warmer winters in these regions than otherwise would be the case.
• In addition, there are seasonal variations in the amount of rainfall, depending on the monsoon cycle. The pre-monsoon season generally occurs during April and May, characterized by the highest temperatures, reaching 40° C during the day in the Terai and other lowlands. The hills and mountains, however, remain cool.
• The summer monsoon, a strong flow of moist air from the southwest, follows the pre-monsoon season. Even though the arrival of the summer monsoon can vary by as much as a month, in Nepal it generally arrives in early June, preceded by violent thunderstorms and lightning, and lasts through September, when it begins to recede. The plains and lower Himalayas receive more than 70 percent of their annual precipitation during the summer monsoon. The amount of summer monsoon rain generally declines from southeast to northwest as the maritime wedge of air gradually becomes thinner and dryer. Although the success of farming is almost totally dependent on the timely arrival of the summer monsoon, it periodically causes such problems as landslides; subsequent losses of human lives, farmlands, and other properties (not to mention great difficulty in the movement of goods and people); and heavy flooding in the plains. Conversely, when prolonged breaks in the summer monsoon occur, severe drought and famine often result.
• The post-monsoon season begins with a slow withdrawal of the monsoon. This retreat leads to an almost complete disappearance of moist air by mid-October, thus ushering in generally cool, clear, and dry weather. The post-monsoon season lasts until about December.
• After the post-monsoon, comes the winter monsoon, a strong northeasterly flow marked by occasional, short rainfalls in the lowlands and plains and snowfalls in the high-altitude areas. The amount of precipitation resulting from the northeast land trade winds varies considerably but increases markedly with elevation. The secondary winter precipitation in the form of snow in the Himalayas is important for generating a sufficient volume of spring and summer meltwaters, which are critical for irrigation in the lower hills and valleys where agriculture predominates. Winter precipitation is also are indispensable for the success of winter crops, such as wheat, barley, and numerous vegetables.

Economy

• The chief occupations, which employ more than 60% of the workforce, are small-scale subsistence farming (rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, barley, wheat, potatoes) and the raising of yaks, cattle, sheep, pigs, and tanguns, a sturdy breed of pony valued in mountain transportation.
• Wood and leather products, processed foods, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, textiles, and handicrafts are also important.
• Fuels, grain, machinery, vehicles, and fabrics are the major imports.
• Cardamom and other spices, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, fruit, and precious stones are the primary exports.
• Hydroelectric power is a most important resource, with some electricity being exported to India.
• Tourism is a significant though restricted activity, and it is the country's largest source of foreign exchange.

Culture

National symbols

• National mammal: cow
• National bird: Himalayan monal (danfe) (Lophophorus impejans)
• National fish: golden mahseer (sahar) (Tor putatoria)
• National reptile: gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
• National flower: rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum)
• National dish: Dal Bhat
• National emblem: Gules, in chief a stylized crescent moon with eight rays visible out of sixteen and in base a stylized twelve-rayed sun white bearing human faces, a bordure azure.
  • For a crest, standing on a snow-capped mountain a monal proper.
  • For supporters, standing on a grassy compartment on the dexter a zebu cow and on the sinister an Asiatic black bear rampant proper, charged on their shoulders with a dharma wheel or.
  • All in front of a rhodedendron tree proper.
• National dress: daura suruwal for men; sari for women
• National anthem:

Shri man gumbhira

Shri man gumbhira nepali prachanda pratapi bhupati

Shri pach sarkar maharajadhiraja ko sada rahos unnati

Rakhun chi rayu eeshale praja phailiyos pukaraun jaya premale

Hami nepali bhaeesarale.

May glory crown you

May glory crown you, illustrious Sovereign,

You, the gallant Nepalese,

Shri Pansh Maharajadhiraja, our glorious ruler,

May he live for many years to come

And may the number of his subjects increase.

Let every Nepalese sing this with joy.

• National sport: kapardi
• National dance: mahakali, lakhev
• National instrument: sarangi
• National colors: red and blue

Nepali public holidays

Date	Name	Notes
8 February 2011; 28 January 2012	Saraswati Puja	Celebration in honor of Saraswati
17 February	The Bada Maharaja's Birthday	Fathers' Day - Her Majesty's husband was born in 1969
19 March 2011; 8 March 2012	Holi	A spring festival celebrating Vishnu's defeat of Hinanyakashipu
11 April 2011; 23 March 2012	Vasant Navratri	Festival worshiping Shakti
15 April 2011; 13 April 2012	Naya Varsha	Nepali New Year
1 June	Memorial for Victims	Anniversary of the Royal Massacre in 2001
1 July	The Maharani's Coronation	Her Majesty was crowned in 2001
22 August 2011; 10 August 2012	Krishna Janmashtami	Krishna's birthday
28 September 2011; 6 October 2012	Dashain	Victory of the goddess Durga
16 October	The Queen's Birthday	Mothers' Day - Her Majesty was born in 1976
26 October 2011; 3 November 2012	Divali	Commemoration of the return of Rama from his exile and his vanquishing Ravana
9 November	Constitution Day	The constitution was approved by King Birendra in 1990
21 December	Independence Day	The nation was founded in 1768

Infrastructure

Nepal remains isolated from the world's major land and air routes although, within the country, aviation is in a better state, with aerodromes in the major cities and towns. The hilly and mountainous terrain in the northern two-thirds of the country has made the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. There are just over 8,500 km. (5,282 mi.) of paved two-lane roads. The Trans-Confederacy rail line links Kathmandu with Jammu City to the west and Darjeeling to the east.

Internally, the poor state of development of the road system makes volume distribution unrealistic. Landlocked, rugged geography, few tangible natural resources and poor infrastructure are all factors in stunting the economic growth.

There is less than one telephone per 19 people. Landline telephone services are not adequate nationwide but are concentrated in cities and district headquarters. Mobile telephony is in a reasonable state in most parts of the country with increased accessibility and affordability. There were around 175,000 internet connections in 2005.