Medicinal Plants in Nepal

Medicinal plants are those which relieves us from different ailments, diseases, disorders or help to regulate the body function. Traditionally ancestors in Nepal are using these plants for curing diseases.Different parts of the medicinal plants like roots, leaves, fruits, oil extracts, flowers, stems are used as medicine. 


As Nepal has almost all form of ecosystems exist in world except marine and desert ecosystem, it has diversity in flora and fauna also. Many species of plants found in Nepal are identified as medicinal purpose plants. All forms of climatic conditions and topography has led to host around 7000 species of plants among which 10% of total are used for the production of Ayurvedic, Yunani and Siddha medicine.

Medicinal plants in Nepal  are proved to be effective and functions without side effects. Apart from manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines and direct use, medicinal plants are used to make cosmetics, perfume, incense stick, oil, soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc. The use of medicinal plants has directly contributed to the livelihood of the people in Mountain region in Nepal for many centuries. Some people of Himalayan collect the medicinal plants and their parts from the forest ans shell them in the hilly region and terai region of Nepal. Medicinal palnts and herbs are also used in kitchen to add flavor, color, increase appetite and enhance taste. Herbs like timur, turmeric, garlic, ginger etc are used in Nepalese Kitchen as well.

Many plants like Spikenard(jatamasi), Cordyceps sinensis(Yarsagumba), Serpentine(Sarpagandha), Padmachal, Titepati, holy basil(Tulsi), ginger, Emblica(Amala), chiraito etc are used in Nepal to eithe directly use them as medicine in a raw state or to produce herbal medicines.

Various Medicinal Plants in Nepal

ROOT: Dactylorhiza hataigirea (Paanch Aule), Spikenard (Jatamasi), Acoruscalamus( Bojho), Allium( Ban lasun), Sugandhawal, Vyakur etc.

LEAVES: Himalayan Yew( LaunthSalla), Mugwort(Titepati), Justicia adhatoda(Asuro), Tejpat, Kumkum ,Vorla etc.

SEED & FRUITS: Peepal, Rudraksha, hog pulm (lapsi), Katus, Rittha, Shikakai, harro, barro, Amala etc.

SEEDLINGS: Cordyceps sinensis (Yershagumba), Swertia chirayita(Chiraito), Jhyau, Majitho, Centella asiatica(Ghodtapre), Somlata, Nagbeli etc.

BARK: Walnut, Connamon (Dalchini), Betulaulis(Bhojpatra), barberry(Chutro), Chhatiwan, Totala, Palaash, Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Margosa tree(neem) etc.

FIBERS: Rhododendron, Nageshwor, Asuro, Simal etc

COLOR: Pipal, Majitho, Amala, Mehandi, Ghantiful etc.

GUM & RESIN: Black asphaltum(silajit), Khoto, Kainerrium sikeemens(Gokuldhoop), Red Sandalwood (Raktachandhan) etc.

Note: Medicinal plants should be collect at the appropriate time. While collecting the parts of medicinal plants other parts should not be harmed. 

SAARC and Nepal For Regional Cooperation

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical  union of nations in South Asia. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.


Nepal has played an important role in SAARC since the beginning. In fact, Nepal has direct role in the formation of SAARC. The ides of regional co-operation in South Asia was discussed in early 1947 but it had not been realized at that time. Then in 1977, a Colombo Plan Consultative Committee meeting was held in Kathmandu. In the meeting the King Birendra delivered an inarguable speech. He proposed for regional cooperation among the south Asian countries sharing river waters. Other participant countries like this idea. Among three years, Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rehman proposed to form a regional cooperation body during the meeting of the officials o the foreign ministries if the seven countries in Colombia in 1981. The proposal was accepted by all seven countries. With the first submit held in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, SAARC was born.

Nepal is a founding member of SAARC. Nepal has contributed to SAARC in all the way it can. There are a numbers of high level SAARC offices in Nepal. SAARC Secretariat is located in Thamel of Kathmandu. The Secretariat is the highest office of SAARC. Likewise, SAARC Tuberculosis Center (Bhaktapur) and SAARC Information Center are also in Nepal.

Nepal has alreadly held three submit. Third, Eleventh and eighteenth submit were held in Kathmandu. Nepal has contributed in development of agriculture, health, family, planning, transportation, water resources, among other region. Our country has also contributed against child and women trafficking, drug trafficking, terrorism. Nepal follows the SAARC mission of poverty alleviation and crime control. SAARC logo was designed by the Nepali citizen Sailendra Maharjan. Nepal has also  held South Asian Federation Games .

Major Tourist areas In Nepal

Nepal is famous for trekking, mountaineering and cultural and wildlife tourism. About 85 %  of tourist visit Nepal for the sake of pleasure and adventure. Areas in different part of the county has several places of historical, cultural and religious importance. Not only the green tea garden of Illam but also places like Dharan, Dhankuta, Hile,  Patan, Basantapur, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, mustang, Jomsoom, Kagbeni, Surkhet, Gorkha, Manakamana, Chitwan, Palpa, Lumbini, Bardiya, Muktinath Helambu, changunarayan amd many more has their own way of describing them self.

Kathmandu

Pokhara

Chitwan

Everest base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp

Patan

Bhaktapur

Lumbini 

Rara

Mustang

Kagbeni

Muktinath

Gorkha

Manakamana

Chandragiri Hill

Nagarkot

Phewa Tal

Janakpur

and many more

Natural vegetation In Nepal

Various types of natural vegetation are found in  Nepal. Land form, climate, soil  type altitudes etc have brought this diversity in the pattern of the natural vegetation. The Distribution pattern of the natural vegetation is found according to the altitude  in general. There are six broad type of natural Vegetation in Nepal.

The Topical and sub tropical forests are found  in Taria and Chure.  Sal, Sisau, Khayar, Satisal anr mainly found in these forest. Temperate forest is found above the sub tropical forest where trees such as Kattus, Chilaune, uttis, and Malato are found. Evergreen Coniferous forest is found above the temperate forest. The tree  species such as Laliguras, BhojPatra, Dhupi, Salla etc are found in this forest.

 

The Alpine forest is found above the ever green coniferous forest where thorny bushes are commonly found because of low temperature are found. Snow and glaciers covers the cold desert area. The vegations such as lichens and mosses are found in this area.

Monsoon Climate In Nepal

About 80% rainfall occurs in Monsoon in Nepal, so that there is remarkable diference between average annual rainfall and the average monsoon rainfall. Like the pattern of annual rainfall, monsoon  rainfall pattern also decrease from the east to the west. The western part of Nepal also higher monsoon rainfall compared to annual rainfall.

The Summer monsoon orginates in the Bay of Bangal and moves along the southern flank of the Himalayans. Thus, the rainfall decreases from the east to west. It is heavily concentrated in the southern part of Annapurna Region , eastern Nepal and in the Langtang  area. The northern part of the mid west and far west receives less monsoon rainfall compared to the other part of country.

The maximum rainfall has been recorded at Lumle in Pokhara. Unlike mean annual rainfall, the north western part of the country also receives higher amount of  rainfall  in summer

 

The monsoon Climate is favorable for rice plantation in Nepal. Most of the people in village area are busy in their field, working with muddy field for planting rice for their next year food source.

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Summers and Winters In Nepal

Summer remain  hot and moist in Nepal in general. But the generalization of climatic condition is too difficult. Variation notices in place  within the altitude and latitude. This variation is resulted by the physical diversities of the country. Like the  winter season, the temperature zones in summer sun in east-west direction parallel to the topographic features. The temperature in May, June and July are the hottest throughout the country.

In summers the Southern Terai Belt experience hot weather condition with 27 to 30 degree temperature. Western Tarai experience higher temperature than the average of tarai and sometimes ‘ hot waves ’ also take place.

The Hill reason experience 20 to 24 degree temperature. However, inner Tarai, river valley ans basins experience 20 to 27 degree temperature on average. The temperature of the mountain regions remains below 6 degree in general. But the temperature of the higher altitude above 5000m and snow covered areas remains below zero degree.

Temperature goes on decreasing with the increase in the altitude. Besides, the local factor such aas mountains, slope and aspects also influence the temperature. The temperature zones run in east to west this clearly shows that temperature decrease from south to north.

The winter temperature of the northern Nepal goes below -3 degree Celsius while it remain at 15 to 20 degrees in the southern part. It is quite cold in the Mountain region . the temperature of Tarai, inner Tatai, and Chure remain around 12 to 18 degree Celsius.  Tarai  experience  extreme cold in the morning . The cold waves has sometimes damage winter crops.

 Kathmandu Valley also experience very cold temperature in winter and sometime goes below zero degree. The temperature of the middle belt remain between  6 to 9 degree on an average. It is neither too cold nor too hot in this region. The average  temperature of the northern part of the country is low while the average temperature of the southern is high.

Rivers and Hydropower Projects In Nepal

Nepal is the second largest countey after brazil in water resources. There are thousands of rivers in the country. Most of the big rivers in the country originates  from the mountain and Middle hill. The river orginaring from the mauntains such as Arun, TamaKoshi, kaligandaki,Karnali, ans so on are snow fed rivers. These are perennial rivers.

The  flow of the water in the rives is originated from the middle hill  decreases in winter season. The rivers originating from the Churiya are naot –perennial so they dry up in the winter. There are three most important River system in Nepal; Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali. The Koshi is the longest river of Nepal. It has Seven Tributaries namely Arun. Tamor, Sunkoshi,Dudkoshi,Likhu, Tamakoshi, and  Indrawati which drain the estern reason of Nepal.

Gandaki lows in the central part of the Country. It has also seven main tributaries namely Kali-Gandaki, Bhudi-Gandaki, Marsyangdi, Trishuli, Seti, madi and  Daraudi. Similarly, Karnali flows in the western part of the Nepal and has its main tributaries as Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Bheri, Tila  and Seti.

Besides these main rivers there are many important rivers of second and third order. Some of them are Mechi, Kamala, Bagmati, Rapti, Mahakali and so on.

Beside Many river in  Nepal, It has not get most of its renewable natural resources like water. Production of the electricity is Low. The history of hydro electricity started in 1911 with the development of th Pharping Hydropower plant. By 2009 Nepal produces 635 MW of electricity from both big and small hydroelectricity projects.

 Among the major hydro plants , Kaligandaki(144MW) , Marsyangdi(69MW), Kulekhani I(60MW), Kulekhani II(32MW), Khimti(60MW), Bhotekoshi(36MW), Trisuli(21MW), Devghat are the important for generating electricity in Nepal. Among the smaller hydro power project Seti(15KW), Tatopani I & II(2000KW) , phewa(1088KW), Tinau, and namche are significant. 

Airports In Nepal

Airports in Nepal plays a very important roles as it carries goods and services to and from places very quickly  because of the tough Geographical structure. Air service in  Nepal started after establishing Royal Nepal Airlines  Corporation. It provides both domestic and international air services. In addition to NAC, there are also many private airlines in Nepal.

There are 45 airports in Nepal. The Tribhuvan international Airport(TIA) in Kathmandu is the only international Airport. The big jets at first land here and tourist and other people fly to other places by small  aircraft operating as domestic flights. Most of the domestic flights to hill and mountain are operated from Kathmandu and few from Biratnagar, Pokahara and Nepalgung.

In addition to TIA, there are 33 all weather airports from where flights operates in rainy season too. Out of total airports 13 are in Tarai District, 16 in Hill and 15 airports in Mountain district.

National Parks in Nepal

Along with her natural beauty, Nepal is the country of cultural and biological diversity. Nepal has different types of conservation areas for the protection and management of the endangered species and other valuable mammals, flora and fauna such as one horned rhino, spotted tiger, red panda and many plant species. 

There are ten National parks, six conservation areas, three wild life reserve  and one Hunting reserve in Nepal. In addition there are twelve buffer zones of National parks and wild life reserve. The different types of conservation areas covers around 23% area of the country.

The Royal Chitwan National Park is the oldest National Park. It is also included in the World Heritage Site. Among the National Park , She-phoksundo national park is the largest(3555sqkm) and Rara National park is the smallest (106sqkm). Out of the conservation areas Annapurna Conservation Area is the largest(7629sqkm)  and Blackbuck Conservation area  is the smallest with 16.95sqkm.

Mountains and Peaks in Nepal

 Nepal is well known for its Himalayan Mountains. Among the fourteen highest peak in the world eight including the highest peak Mt. Everest lies in this country. Nothing on Earth Can beat the exhilaration of scaling these mountains. No wonder Nepal is the favorite destination for mountaineers and every traveler who loves trekking and expeditions trudge up the Himalaya.

 

Nepal ranges from about 60m to 8848meters elevation. Elevation goes on increasing from south to the north. About 23% percent of area lies  below 500meter elevation , 36% below 1000m, 55% between 1000- 5000 m and remaining  9% area lies above 5000m.

There are hundreds of mountain peaks and ranges in Nepal. The Chure, the Mahabharat and the Himalayas are the major system of mountains. The Chure lies in the lower elevation in the Tarai. The Mahabharat range lies above the Chure. The Himalayan range lies in the northernmost part of the country. These mountain ranges are distributed horizontally from north to south.

There are many passes in the mountain ranges. Mount Everest(8848m), Choyu(8153), Lotse(8501), lies in the Singhalila mountain range; Makalu(8475m) lies in the Kummbakarna Mountain range; Machhapuchre(6993m) and Annapurna(8091m) are in Annapurna mountain range  and Dhaulagiri(8137m) lies in the Dhaulagari mountain range.

Natural Beauty of Nepal

Nepal is very beautiful Country rich located in South Asia where Naturally formed amazing landscapes and mountain Range melt the heart of every travellers visiting them.

Nepal is home to eight out of the fourteen highest peak in the world.  No wonder  that Nepal has always been a preferred destination of mountaineers. The country offers adequate mountaineering experiences to both the seasoned and inexperienced mountaineers. From the breathtaking heights o Himalayas the river crashes down through the foothills, fed by monsoon rains and melting snow, on their way to the great Plans of Ganga. 

                                

The great peaks of the Himalayan , rushing rivers, unique terrains and exotic wildlife makes Nepal paradise for the adventure lovers. The Himalayan country is a mystical place filled with rugged snow peak mountains, pristine nature, rich biodiversity , awesome landscapes and culture as diverse as the varying topography of the country.

Visitors can plenty of experience in the treks an tours in Nepal . The trek trails offer breathtaking scenery, contact with local people and opportunity to explore unique conventional cultures. No matter if you want spiritual experience or the travel adventure excursion of a life time, enchanting Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal has every gift for you.

Physical and Physiological Description Of Nepal

Physically, Nepal has diverse and unique physical features. there are three major types of physical features in Nepal i.e the Mountain, the Hill and the Terai horizontally distributed from north to south. The Tarai belt is an extensive flat land that extends from the far east to the far west. The Hill consist of river basins,valley,tar,upland slopes with various types of physical features. The Mountain lies in the northern most part of the country. It has very beautiful mountain peaks of various elevation.

This arrangements of the major physical features of the country are cut by various rivers flowing from north to south. The three major rivers namely Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali have disected the country resulting in great physical diversity throughout the country.

Physiography refers to the surface land form characteristics. Physiography of Nepal has been mainly divided on the basis of river, relief, structure, altitude and geographical distribution. Nepal has diverse geological and geographical structure. The Country has thousand of  rivers flowing from north to south forming gorges, river basins and valley. There is a maximum relief, steep slope and rugged terrain that have resulted in distinct landforms topography.