1. An Exceptional Flag
Did you know that Nepal is the only country in the world with a non rectangular flag? Their unique flag features double triangles to represent the Himalayan Mountains and the country’s two major religions: Hinduism and Buddhism. Inside the upper triangle is a crescent moon, and inside the lower triangle is the sun. Nepal put these two planets in their flag design to express the hope that their country will last as long as the sun and the moon! Some say that the moon also suggests the cold weather of the Himalayas, while the sun suggests the intense heat of the southern lowlands. The flag used to have human faces on both planets, but in 1962 they were sadly removed to modernize the flag.
2. A Mythical Creature
Nepal is home to the one-and-only yeti! The yeti is a legendary ape-like beast from Himalayan folklore that walks upright on two feet in the snowy mountains. Older stories about this creature make them sound pretty scary (possibly to keep people from traveling too far outside the village), but nowadays they’re depicted in a much friendlier way. Some of Nepal’s Buddhists even honor the yeti as a protector of the doors to a mythical kingdom.
3. Holy Cow!
The national animal of Nepal is the cow! Hinduism considers cows sacred as they are believed to embody the goddess Lakshmi- goddess of prosperity and wealth. These mooing friends are especially celebrated on Gai Tihar, the third day of the Hindu festival of Tihar. Locals decorate them with flower garland necklaces and ceremonial red powder before offering them their favorite tasty treats like grasses and fruits. Other days of the Tihar festival celebrate crows, dogs, and even oxen.
4. A Majestic Mountain
On the Northern border of Nepal lies a chain of tall, snowy peaks: the Himalayan mountain range. The highlight of this natural wonder is Mount Everest- the tallest point above sea level on Earth! In Nepal, this 50-60 million year old mountain is also known to different peoples as the “Forehead of the Sky” or “Goddess Mother of the World.” Considered a sacred spot by local peoples, it’s also a daring destination for mountain climbers from around the world. These brave adventurers are lured in by Mount Everest’s height of over 29,000 feet! That’s like 20 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other- woah!
5. The Sherpa People
Sherpas, also called Sharwas, are a truly incredible group of mountain-dwelling Nepalese people. Their name doesn’t actually come from Nepali but from a Tibetan word meaning “Eastern People” (as they migrated from Tibet). Sherpas have heightened strength and remarkable endurance at high altitudes from living in the world’s highest regions for thousands of years; they even have special genetic adaptations to help them use their oxygen more efficiently in low-oxygen environments. Many Sherpas make a living supporting visiting climbers on their treks by expertly guiding them, carrying their gear, setting up their camps, securing their climbing routes, teaching them about Sherpa culture, and much more. The most famous Sherpa climber of all is Tenzig Norgay, who in 1953 became one of two men to reach the peak of Everest.
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