Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
agriculturally productive than those with a northern exposure;
this is because they receive more direct rays of the sun as well
as more rainfall.
The hill region includes several valleys and plateaus. Of
the valleys lying within the Mahabharat range, none is more
important than the Kathmandu Valley. Located in the central
part of the country, the valley is the site of Nepal's ancient, hisᆳ
toric capital city, Kathmandu.
Mountain Region
The mountain region, formed by the Himalayas, stretches
across the northernmost part of the country. It is bordered by
the Mahabharat range to the south and by the Tibetan Plateau—
the “Roof of the World”—to the north. The mountain region,
which ranges from about 6,500 to 29,035 feet (2,000 to 8,850
meters), includes 8 of the world's 10 highest peaks. Most of
the region is covered with permanent snowfields, resulting in
very little vegetation, population, or economic activity. Hence,
Nepal's physiography has been further divided into six regions
based on the standard altitudinal divisions. Major portions of
the transᆳHimalayan lie in the western part of the mountain
region of Nepal.
The Himalayas: Where Earth Meets Sky
Himalaya means “abode of snow” in the Sanskrit language.
According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the towering ice
and snowᆳmantled range is a sacred and holy place. It is occuᆳ
pied by Lord Shiva, who married the princess of one of the
Himalayan kingdoms. Many Hindu religious books mention
visits from gods and goddesses to the Himalayan region on difᆳ
ferent occasions. This emphasizes the holiness of the Himalayas
to those of the Hindu faith, and it strengthens the respect they
hold for the mountains. Today, the range still holds mystical
and sacred importance to various peoples. Yet it is the awesome
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