For centuries the Kingdom of Nepal was divided into many principalities. East was ruled by Kirats, the Newars in the Kathmandu Valley, while Gurungs and Magars occupied the mid-east. During the reign of Kirats emperor Ashoka arrived from India to build a pillar at Lumbini in memory of Lord Buddha. The Kirats were followed by the Lichhavis whose descendents today are believed to be the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley. During this period, art thrived in Nepal and many of the beautiful woodcarvings and sculptures that are found in the country belong to this era. After the Lichhavi dynasty, Malla Kings came to power in 1200 AD.

They also contributed a lot to Nepal's art and culture. However, the kings were not united among themselves. After almost 600 years of rule, during the late 18th century Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha, conquered Kathmandu and united Nepal into one Kingdom. Because of the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal was isolated from rest of the world. Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal's first Prime Minister to wield absolute power during the mid 19th century. He set up an oligarchy and the Shah Kings remained figureheads. In the early 1950s the Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement. At present, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan country in South Asia that overlaps with East Asia, bordered by Tibet to the north and by India to the south, east and west. For a small territory, the Nepali landscape is uncommonly diverse, ranging from the humid Terai in the south to the lofty Himalayas in the north. Nepal boasts eight of the world's top ten highes mountains, including Mount Everest on the border with China. Nepal has been made famous for its tourism, trekking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, national wildlife parks, jungle safaris, river rafting, sport fishing, and its many beautiful temples and places of worship. Kathmandu is the capital and largest city. The other main cities include Pokhara, Biratnagr, Lalitpur (Patan), Bhaktapur, Birendranagar, Bharatpur, Siddhartanagar (Bhairahawa), Birgunj, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, Hetauda, Dharan and Mahendranagar. The origin of the name Nepal is derived from the Nepal Bhasa, which is the language of Newars and has its origin to the fact that Kathmandu Valley used to be called Nepa, the term that is still used by Newars. Some say the name also comes from an ancient sage living in the area.Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

The capital city of Nepal ( Kathmandu ) was built by king Gun Kamdev in 723 A.D. It is said that Kathmandu was a lake in the past and was made habitable by Manjushree, who cut open the hill to south Chovar as to allow the water of the lake to flow out.
It is said that Kathmandu city was named after "Kastha-Mandap" meaning the temple made of wood in Sanskrit, an imposing pagoda near Hanuman Dhoka Palace. It was built in 1596 out of a single tree by King Laxmi Narashingha Malla.Kathmandu Valley possesses several historical monuments, old palaces and palace squares, shrines and temples, ageless traditions and legends all make it a living museum that any visitor would cherish its vivid memory in his/her heart for ever.Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

Pokhara is an enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley. It is Nepal’s centre of adventure. The city of Pokhara is renowned for its setting rather than its historical or cultural endowments. Its quiet lakeside location and proximity to the mountains mean it is an ideal starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking and rafting destinations. Pokhara is a place of remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fishtailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6,977 m) rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic. The valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes, and of course, the world famous views of the Himalaya. Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations

Bhaktapur is clean, calm and quiet. Nepal's best preserved ancient city, it is one of the nation's least polluted townships as well. While here, visitors not only enjoy close-up views of the majestic monuments, magnificent mountains and the creative men best known for their long traditions of art, culture and craftsmanship, but also explore a different dimension of human civilization.

The ancient city of Patan is known as the city of fine arts. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carving. The diversity of the medieval culture that allowed both Hinduism and Buddhism to flourish has left a rich legacy of impressive sightseeing in this city for today's travelers. Greek guide greece guide rhodes kos rhodos hotels travel cos greece holidays vacation rhodes guide greek rhodos cos hotel holiday vacations