Fact 1: Only Country with a Non-Rectangular Flag
Nepal's flag is distinctive as it is the only national flag that is not rectangular. Its design consists of two pennants, one stacked over the other, both featuring a crimson red backdrop embodying the national flower of Nepal, the Rhododendron. The blue border signifies peace.
Fact 2: The Home of Mount Everest
Known as Sagarmatha in Nepal, Mount Everest is the world's highest peak at 8,848 meters above sea level. Climbers from all over the globe travel to Nepal with the aspiration of conquering its majestic height.
Fact 3: The Densest Concentration of World Heritage Sites
Kathmandu Valley alone houses seven World Heritage Cultural sites within a radius of 15 kilometers, making it the place with the densest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Fact 4: Only Living Goddess on Earth
Nepal hosts a unique practice of worshiping a pre-pubescent girl as a living goddess, known as a "Kumari." The tradition is an intricate combination of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Fact 5: A Landlocked Yet Watershed Country
Despite being landlocked, Nepal is the second-richest country in the world in terms of water resources. It has a network of rivers that could feasibly generate enough hydropower to meet the entire world's demand.
Fact 6: Birthplace of the Buddha
The founder of Buddhism, Lord Buddha, was born in Lumbini, Nepal in the 6th century B.C. Lumbini serves as a significant pilgrimage site that Buddhists from around the world visit.
Fact 7: Delight for Bird Watchers
Despite its small size, Nepal hosts about 9% of the world's bird species. The nation has recorded 850 different species of birds, making it a paradise for bird watchers.
Fact 8: Country without an Independence Day
Nepal is among the very few countries that do not have an Independence Day because it was never fully colonized throughout its history despite being surrounded by former British colonies.
Fact 9: Fertility Festival - Bel Bibaha
Nepal organizes a special ceremony known as Bel Bibaha or Ihi, where pre-pubescent Newar girls get married to the fruit of a wood-apple tree, believed to ensure that the girl becomes and remains fertile.
Fact 10: Bizarre Time Zone
Nepal uses Nepal Standard Time, which is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is one of only three regions globally that uses a quarter-hourly time zone.
Fact 11: Yeti Tales and Trails
Nepal is home to countless folklore and sagas of the Yeti, the infamous ‘Abominable Snowman'. Some locales in the region even have what they claim are 'Yeti footprints'.
Fact 12: No McDonald's Restaurant
If you're a fan of the golden arches, you'll be disappointed to learn there is not a single McDonald's restaurant in the entirety of Nepal.
Fact 13: Whiskey Drinking Tradition
Among the Newar community in Nepal, a unique custom exists where a baby's first rice-feeding ceremony includes the child being given a small taste of homemade whiskey.
Fact 14: Nepal is a Cowboy Hat’s Birthplace
Fun fact, the famous Dhaka topi, a type of woven cowboy hat which is also a national symbol of Nepal, was worn by Tom Cruise in the movie 'Far and Away', sparking a surge in Western interest in the accessory.
Fact 15: Elephant Polo’s World Headquarters
Nepal is the world headquarters for the strange but appealing sport of Elephant Polo, which is governed by the World Elephant Polo Association.
Fact 16: Toe Wrestling & Other Strange Sports
Nepal also hosts more obscure sports, including toe wrestling, in which opponents interlock their toes and strive to pin the other's foot down.
Fact 17: Vegetation Paradise
Despite its relatively small size, Nepal is home to approximately 2% of all the flowering plant species in the world.
Fact 18: Sky Cemeteries
"Sky burial" is a unique mortuary custom practiced in some parts of Nepal in which the deceased are left out in the elements or placed on mountaintops to be consumed by vultures and other scavengers.
Fact 19: More than 123 Languages
Nepal's cultural diversity extends to languages too. More than 123 languages are spoken as a mother tongue by different communities throughout this hospitable country.
Fact 20: Endangered Species Refuge
Nepal is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Some of these, including Bengal tigers, red pandas, one-horned rhinoceroses, and snow leopards, are endangered species and are protected in various National Parks across the country.