Nepal is a small landlocked country, sandwiched between India and China. Nepal not only has the world's tallest mountain, Mt Everest, but also 8 of the tallest ten mountains in the world. The landscape of Nepal is very diverse, often separated into three distinct groups: the mountainous Himalayas of the North, the low-lying Terai plains of the south, and the hilly region in the middle of the two. The majority of Nepal’s population lives in the hilly midlands, living off of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Despite its tourism and energy production potential, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately a third of the population living below the poverty line. The civil war between the Maoist rebels and the government that took place between 1996 and 2007 severely hurt its economy and tourism industry. In 2008, the formal Kingdom of Nepal became a representative democracy.
Many tourists are surprised to find that Hinduism makes up over 80% of the population, with Buddhist at 11% given its Tibetan ties. In practice, many Nepalese will combine the two religions ideas and traditions throughout their life. Over 100 languages are spoken in Nepal, which speaks to its vast ethnic diversity. The different religious and ethnic groups live harmoniously together throughout Nepal.
