South Asia.

GMT + 5.75.

147,181 sq km (56,827 sq miles).

26.3 million (UN, 2005).

178.69 per sq km (2005).

Kathmandu. Population: 1.5 million (2005).

Nepal is a landlocked kingdom sharing borders with Tibet to the north and northwest, and India to the west, south and east. The country can be divided into five zones: the Terai, the Siwaliks, the Mahabharat Lekh, the Midlands or Pahar, and the Himalayas. The greater part of the country lies on the southern slope of the Himalayas, extending down from the highest peaks through hill country to the upper edge of the Ganges Plain. The hilly central area is crossed by the Lower Himalayas, where there are eight of the highest peaks in the world, leading up to Mount Everest. Wildlife in Nepal includes tigers, leopards, gaur, elephants, buffalo, deer and rhinos.

Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: King Maharajadhira Gyanendra since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala since April 2006. Recent history: King Gyanendra ascended the throne in June 2001 soon after then Crown Prince Dipendra gunned down his parents King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya and seven other royals before killing himself. On 1 February 2005, the King dismissed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Government, for failing in its mandate to hold elections and to restore peace. He took power directly himself. His move was also accompanied by a state of emergency, which included a number of measures including censorship of the press and suspension of many fundamental rights. He subsequently appointed a mainly pro-monarchist Cabinet to govern under him, largely drawn from the pre-democratic Panchayati era. The escalating crisis between the King, political parties and the Maoist insurgents culminated in mass strikes and demonstrations against the King's direct rule in spring 2006. The King recalled Parliament in April 2006 and appointed Girija Prasad Koirala, the leader of the largest political party Nepali Congress, as Prime Minister.

The official language is Nepali (spoken by 49 per cent). There are many other languages, including Maithili and Bhojpuri. English is spoken in business circles and by people involved in the travel trade.

Mainly Hindu (81 per cent) and Buddhist (11 per cent), with a small Muslim minority (4 per cent).

220 volts AC, 50Hz. There are frequent power cuts.

As a foreign visitor, one must be careful to respect local customs in order not to cause offence. The following are some local conventions it is advisable to adhere to: never step over the feet of a person, always walk round; never offer food and drink which is ‘polluted’, in other words, food that you have tasted or bitten; never offer or accept anything with the left hand, use the right or both hands. It is rude to point at a person or statue with a finger (or even with a foot). Often when people shake their head, it means 'yes.' Shoes and footwear should be removed when entering houses or shrines. Kitchens and eating areas of houses should also not be entered with footwear, as the hearth of a home is sacred. Do not stand in front of a person who is eating as this means your feet will be next to his food; squat or sit by his side. Local Chorten are built to pacify local demons or dead persons and should be passed by in a clockwise direction, as should temples; the earth and universe revolve in this direction. Small flat stones with inscriptions and supplications next to the Chorten should not be removed as souvenirs; this is considered sacrilege by the Nepalese. Avoid touching a Nepalese dressed all in white; his dress signifies a death in the family. Shaking hands is not a common form of greeting; the normal greeting is to press the palms together in a prayer-like gesture (Namaste). A gift given to a host or hostess will probably be laid aside unopened; to open a parcel in the presence of a guest is considered uncivil. Casual wear is suitable except for the most formal meetings or social occasions. Bikinis, shorts, bare shoulders and backs may not be appreciated. Men only remove their shirts when bathing. Overt public displays of affection, especially near religious places, are inappropriate. Seek permission before entering a temple; some do not allow westerners or non-Hindus to enter. Do not take leather articles into a temple. Nepalese cities are generally safe, but take sensible precautions with personal possessions. Photography: Always ask permission first. In general, it is allowed outside temples and at festivals, but not at religious ceremonies or inside temples; however, there is no hard and fast rule and the only way to be sure of not giving offence is to ask first and accept the answer.