Open Borders
Nepal opened its borders to tourists in 1950’s and ever since has been irresistible to tourists, especially hikers. The reason for this is the Himalayas, which span from the great plains of the Indian subcontinent into the Tibetan Plateau. Nepal is an interesting country with a rich history, much of that great history focuses on the Kathmandu Valley.
Over many years, Nepal’s lands have expanded and contracted, but one area of land it has always kept has been the Kathmandu Valley. Within this valley, a rich culture and political power has grown. Because of its geographical significance, Nepal has long been the perfect place for religious worship – for its isolation from distraction and persecution and international trade, for its position between the great markets in India to the South and China to the north.
Rich History
Bridging the culture of China and India, Nepal’s history begins with the Hindu Kiratis. These were Mongol peoples that are indigenous to these hills, coming from India, Burma and Tibet. The Kiratas spelled किरात in Sanskrit are hunter tribes from the high hills of the Himalayas. Their Stone Age tools have been dug up by Russian achaelogical teams and found to date back 30,000BC.
Changu Narayan Temple Kathmandu Nepal Photo Credit
The Buddha comes from Nepal. He spent many days meditating and seeking enlightenment, eventually gaining the title of ‘enlightened one’. Pillars and monuments have been made in his name in Lumbini – the birth place of the Buddha. Buddhists were strong for a while but in 300 AD Indian Licchavis invaders overthrew the Kiratis who established themselves in East Nepal. Today there are three main religions in Nepal, Hinduism, Buddhism and Tourism.
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