Himalayan Kingdom 

cctv.com 02-17-2005 16:32

Nepal, a land of scenic splendor, a kingdom of religious treasures, is a top destination for tourists from all over the world. At the end of last year, CCTV International visited Nepal to report on the country's tourism, culture and religion. Asia Today brings you the first in our five-part series of Nepal, up-close.

Cradled by the great heights of the Himalayas, the kingdom of Nepal is a land of eternal attraction. Lying between India and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nepal's northern border is lined by the Himalayas including Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest, and the tallest mountain in the world. Its southern border is a strip of partly forested, partly cultivated land. It is this huge diversity, over a very small space that brings the country unparalleled advantages in tourism.

Nepal is the only official Hindu nation in the world, about eighty six percent of its population are Hindu. Another eight percent practice Buddhism. Among its eight Cultural Heritage Sites, seven are in Kathmandu Valley. Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha was added to the world heritage list by UNESCO in 1997. At the crossroads of the great civilizations of Asia, seven groups of Hindu and Buddhist monuments, as well as the royal cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhadgaon, illustrate Nepalese art at its height.

Religion is a prominent factor in everyday Nepali life. Nepalese follow age-old Hindu and Buddhist religious practices. For centuries, all the different religious groups of Nepal live together in peace and harmony. That's why Nepal was once also known as the land of eternal peace.

With tourism being the main earner for Nepal - one of the poorest countries in the world, the Nepali government goes to great lengths to promote it. Tourists contribute 3.5 percent of the country's GDP and 15 percent of the total foreign exchange earnings. Political instability in the country in recent years threatens the tourist industry. But people still come.

Travel in Nepal allows people to reconnect themselves with nature, while settling their souls in the temples and shrines. It's a country that always welcomes you with a smile.

Editor:Hu  Source:CCTV.com