Be grateful to Prithvi Narayan Shah: Historian Panta

At a time when some sections of the politicians blame Prithvi Narayan Shah for failing to culturally unite Nepal, historian Professor Dinesh Raj Panta says all Nepalis must be grateful to king Prithvi who gave them the chance to live as proud Nepalis from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west. As a human being, king Prithvi could have some good traits and some shortcomings and he should be evaluated on the basis of his good and bad traits, says Panta. Panta has penned 18 books related to King Prithvi as a solo author and over a dozen books as a joint author. When Prithvi was born in 1979 BS, there were 52 states within the current Nepal’s geography. Had the Gorkha king Prithvi not begun the unification by annexing Nuwakot in 1801 BS, Nepal would not have been able to maintain its independent identity in front of the expanding British empire and the falling Mugal empire, says Panta. Dr Panta only those lacking study say that Prithvi Narayan united Nepal’s geography but not the cultures. “Had not he united Nepal culturally as well, why would he receive tika from Shakya Kumari in Kathmandu? Why would he conserve cultures and festivals of other areas? Why would the Pandes, the clan of the king’s Rajguru, would accept as Kathmandu’s Bajrayogini as their clan god? ,” asks Panta. Saying that Nepal was unified with the leadership of Prithvi Narayan and efforts of people from all ethnic groups, Panta says celebrating Prithvi Narayan’s birthday (Poush 27, tomorrow) as the National Unity Day will only raise the dignity of Nepalis and Nepal. Though something must be done to end the gap between different regions and different classes in Nepal, Panta says, light decisions on federalism and other issues without any serious study could push the country back to the stage before the unification. Recalling the relevance of Prithvi Narayan’s saying that the country is like a yam in between two boulders, Panta says timely modification in Prithvi Narayan’s foreign policy would help maintain a good foreign policy of the country. It would also avoid a situation whereby leaders give fiery speeches on foreign policy issues but finally give in to the foreign forces. Currently, Panta is involved in preparing an over-700-page book through compilation and editing of Prithvi Narayan’s letters. However, because of the lack of publishers, the book has not been published yet. Rather than blindly criticizing or hailing Prithvi Narayan Shah, may all start evaluating him rightly, Panta wished on the occasion of the unifier king’s birth anniversary.

Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह) (28 December 1945 – 1 June 2001) was a King of Nepal. The son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre. He is the most internationally well-known Nepalese king in modern history. Birendra was born at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu as the eldest son of the then Crown Prince Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and his wife Crown Princess Indra Rajya Laxmi.[1] Birendra was the first Nepalese monarch to receive a formal education. He spent eight years studying at St Joseph's College, a Jesuit school in Darjeeling, India. On 13 March 1955 his grandfather King Tribhuvan died and his father succeeded to the Nepalese throne. With his father's ascension Birendra became the Crown Prince of Nepal. In 1959 Birendra enrolled at Eton College in the United Kingdom. After studying at Eton until 1964 he returned to Nepal where he began to explore the country by travelling incognito to remote parts of the country where he lived on whatever was available in the villages and monasteries.[1] He later completed his education by spending some time at the University of Tokyo before studying political theory at Harvard University from 1967 to 1968.[2] Late King Birendra enjoyed to travel in his youth and went on trips to Canada, Latin America, Africa and a number of Asian countries. He was also an art collector and supporter of Nepalese crafts people and artists. He also learnt to fly helicopters.[3] Birendra was married to Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Rana from the Rana family on 27 February 1970.[4] The wedding which was billed as one of the most lavish Hindu nuptial ceremonies in history cost $9.5 million to stage.[5] Birendra and Aishwaraya had three children and one half daughter Princess Teesha. Prince Dipendra (27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001) Princess Shruti (15 October 1976 – 1 June 2001) Prince Nirajan (6 November 1977–1 June 2001) [edit] Reign Birendra succeeded to the throne on 31 January 1972 on the death of his father. On his ascension he was effectively an absolute monarch as he inherited a country where political parties were banned and he ruled through a system of local and regional councils known as panchayats.[3] Birendra resented the absolute monarch tag maintaining that he presided over a democracy in which representatives to the assembly were indirectly elected and saying that his poor and backward country could not afford a democracy based on party politics and that it needed firm and decisive government.[6] His first trips abroad as king were to India in October 1973 and China two months later as he believed that Nepal, sandwiched between the two Asian powers, should have good relations with both.[7] In an attempt to maintain the panchayat system of government prominent leaders of the Nepali Congress Party were arrested.[3] Because of the growing pro democracy movement Birendra announced that a referendum to decide between a non-party and a multi-party system would be held. The referendum was held in May 1980 with the non-party system winning by a margin of 55% to 45%.[7] During the 1980s the restraints that had been imposed on political organisations were starting to ease and liberal student-led groups were starting to appear demanding constitutional change in Nepal.[2] He was made a British Field Marshal in 1980. In 1990 a series of strikes and pro-democracy riots broke out in Nepal. Because of the rioting Birendra agreed to become a constitutional monarch. He appointed an independent Constitution Recommendation Commission to represent the main opposition factions and to prepare a new constitution to accommodate their demands for political reform. The commission presented him with the draft of the proposed constitution on 10 September 1990. The new constitution would make Birendra head of state of a constitutional monarchy with a system of multiparty democracy. The draft constitution was approved by the Prime Minister K.P. Bhattarai and his cabinet and so on 9 November 1990 Birendra promulgated the new constitution transforming Nepal into a constitutional monarchy.[8] However, the quarrels between various political parties and numerous social problems led to the Nepalese Civil War, a conflict between Maoist rebels and government forces, which lasted from 1996 until 2006. [edit] Death

Pashupatinath temple is a temple of Lord Shiva and is the holiest place for Hindus. The sacred temple lies on the banks of river Bagmati, 5 kms east of Kathmandu city. Non-Hindus are strictly prohibited from entering the temple. It has a two-tiered roof and four silver doors. Devotees from all over the world come here to pay their homage to lord Shiva. The temple precinct is crowded with devotees especially during Shivratri (Shiva's Night), celebrated during April/ March and Teej which falls on August /September.

How tall is Mt. Everest? The official altitude of the world's highest peak is 29,029 feet (8,848m). However, the National Geographic Society has determined the height to be 6 feet taller, 29,035 feet, but the Nepali government has not yet been made this new altitude official. Shifting tectonic plates continue to push Everest upward, along with the whole Himalaya mountain range, at 1.6 to 3.9 inches (4 to 10 centimeters) per year. Where is Mt. Everest? Everest is part of the Himalaya mountain range along the border of Nepal and Tibet. It is located 27° 59' North latitude, 86° 55' East longitude. Why is it called Everest? In 1841, Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, first recorded the location of Everest. It was subsequently named "Peak XV". In 1865, it was renamed Mt. Everest to honor Sir George. Everest is also called Chomolungma in Tibet and Sagarmatha in Nepal. Jet Stream off EverestIs it windy at the top of Everest? Yes. Blowing with the strength of a hurricane at 118+ miles/hour, the Jet Stream blasts the rocky, icy summit of Everest nearly all year long. The Jet Stream is a constant wind force at 4 - 6 miles above the earth. Observers can tell when the Jet Stream is blowing on the summit of Everest from the long while stream of ice crystals extending out from the tip of the mountain. Those wishing to actually stand on the summit have to choose their moment carefully: the mountain is most inviting in early May, when the Jet Stream is pushed northward over Tibet by the arrival of the monsoon. There is also a window of opportunity in the Fall when the Jet Stream is again pushed northward. Is the air very thin on Everest? As the altitude increases, the oxygen content of the air decreases dramatically. At 9,800 feet, for example, there's about 2/3 of the oxygen in the air than at sea level. At 20,000 ft, there is roughly half the oxygen content in the air. At 29,035ft, the summit of Everest, there is only a third of the oxygen in the air. How does your body get used to the altitude? Mountaineers climbing Everest establish a camp at the base of the mountain, and four higher camps before reaching the summit. For the next 30 days or so, they will move up, then down again, allowing their bodies to get used to the reduced oxygen content of the air. This process is called acclimatization. Acclimatizing properly is essential to safely ascend to high altitudes. Climbers acclimatize by ascending slowly, resting one day for every 1,000 feet they climb in one day. They drink plenty of liquids and eat healthy food. They also practice a rule of thumb: climb high, sleep low. Climbing high, then descending to lower altitudes allows the body to build up and gain strength with fresh oxygen, digest food better, get sounder sleep and any wounds can heal and they'll feel much stronger by descending. It was also allow them to build up their bodies, worn from the low O2 content, with fresh oxygen. Some climbers don't like to go down, but the significant benefits on the body from staying at lower altitudes make it worth it. It's important that the climbers don't stay down too long because it's possible to lose some acclimatization in the process. Camp One at 21,000ftHow high are the camps? The approximate elevations of each of the camps are: Base Camp - 17,500ft (5,400m) Camp 1 - 20,000ft (6,100m) Camp 2 - 21,300ft (6,500m) Camp 3 - 24,000ft (7,400m) Camp 4 - 26,000ft (8,000m) Summit - 29,035ft (8,850) What is the temperature high on Everest? At the summit, the temperature can be 100°F below zero. But on a good summit day, a climber can expect around -15°F What is the hardest part about climbing Everest? Tunc Findic crossing Khumbu IcefallEach climber has a different opinion about what is the most difficult part of climbing Everest. Most would agree, though, that the altitude is tough to deal with. And most will also have stories about crossing the infamous Khumbu Icefall going from Base Camp to Camp One. Mountaineers climb through this moving sea of ice using ordinary aluminum garden ladders. When was Everest first climbed? On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal & Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand climbed to the summit of Everest via the Southeast Ridge Route What are some other important "firsts"? The first woman to climb Everest was Junko Tabei of Japan. She climbed via the Southeast Ridge on 16 May, 1975. Appa Sherpa has made the most successful ascents of Everest. He has reached the top 11 times. On May 8, 1978, Peter Habeler of Austria and Reinhold Messner of Italy climbed made the first ascent without bottled oxygen via the Southeast Ridge. Ang Rita Sherpa has reached the summit 10 times, all without oxygen. Reinhold Messner climbed for 3 days completely alone from his base camp at 6,500m without the use of artificial O2. Messner climbed via the North Col to the North Face and the Great Couloir. Babu Chiri Sherpa set the speed record from the Nepal side. Davo Karnicar made the first true ski descent. At age 16 Temba Tsheri Sherpa become the youngest person to Summit Everest in 2001. American Sherman Bull, at age 64, is the oldest person to summit Mount Everest, also in 2001. Anna Czerwinska was born on 7/10/49 and climbed Everest from Nepal side, making her the oldest woman to reach the summit. On 24 May, 1996, Hans Kammerlander of Italy Hans made the fastest ascent of Everest via the standard North Col-North Ridge-North Face. He left base camp at 6,400m on 23 May at 5pm and was on the summit 16 hours, 45 minutes later at 9:45 am the next day. He descended most of the route on skis. Andrej & Marija Stremfelj of Slovenia were the first married couple to summit together on 7 October, 1990. Peter Hillary of New Zealand was the first son of a summiteer to reach the summit on 10 May, 1990. First Ascent by an American was made by James Whittaker via the Southeast Ridge Route on May 1, 1963. Whittaker summitted with Sherpa Nawang Gombu. Stacey Allison made the first Ascent by an American Woman via the Southeast Ridge Route on 29 September, 1988. Mexican climber Ricardo Torres was the first Latin American. In May, 2001, American Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to summit Everest.

Situated in the south of central Nepal, the Chitwan National Park is one of the country's natural treasures. The park covers an area of 932 sq. km and is home to a variety of animals and plants. The first section of the park was set aside for animals by King Mahendra in 1959. Later, in 1963, more land was added for a rhinoceros sanctuary. The entire park was first recognized as a united national park in 1973 when it was gazetted as being Nepal’s first national park. It now covers the area of the Tikauli forest from the hills of Mhabharat, the Rapti River and quite a sizable area on the river's southern bank. The park has received much attention in more recent years as a result of it being declared a World Heritage site in 1984. The National Park is seen as preserving a unique eco system which is significantly valuable to the world. Much of the area is made up of subtropical lowlands, forest and hills. In order to preserve the area as best as possible, only a small portion of the park is used for tourism. 1996 also saw the establishment of a zone around the park which consists of forest and private lands. The park and local communities join together in their efforts to manage natural resources in these zones. Birds and animals are left very much undisturbed and it is felt that there are a large number of undiscovered animals inhabiting the region. The Chitwan National Park is a beautiful place with incredible diversity in both plant and animal species. It is well worth a visit if you are in the region.

Cobra Snake or in English is called Cobra Snake has a Latin name naja sputatrix. Snake is a snake species that have venom neurotoxins and hemotoksin type. If the snake bites its prey this species can inject / venom through fangs poison into their prey of blood vessels. Therefore, if exposed to toxic if bitten hemotoksin cause great pain, feeling hot like fire. Therefore, it may be useful for guidance and help can be done immediately. Unlike snake venom neurotoxins as the type that the victim may not feel any pain at all, and often victims do not even feel bitten. Therefore cobra snake bite victim in general can still be saved because of the speed. Cobra Snake spread very widely, in the bushes, fields, until the rice paddies, and even in the house. Normally, the species breed in cobra snake rat hole that is no longer used, or after the mice eaten by them. Inside the parent nest of cobras lay eggs and guard until they hatch. The foods usually consumed in addition to rats, frogs, fish, birds, chicks, lizards and others. Cobra Snake is spewing venom paralyzes the type of bird, and a bite to inject venom through their teeth. But the poison is injected / not strong enough to be sprayed with a poison that is injected directly into a vein. Cobra Snake develop neck and straightened his body when it feels threatened and is ready to inject venom. semprotnya always aim at the eyes of his victim. Can or toxins that affect the human eye and cause temporary blindness can be cured when it is washed with water. Cobra Snake is also frequently used by medical experts from China for use as medicine. For blood and bile that is used in herbal medicine for various illnesses. Especially for the meat used for therapeutic treatment are difficult to cure skin diseases like eczema.

DANFE

The Himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus also known as the Impeyan Monal or Impeyan Pheasant or Danphe. It is the National bird of Nepal, where it is known as the Danfe, and the state bird of Uttarakhand. There is, so far, no confirmed record of subspecies in the Himalayan Monal. However, recent studies have shown that the male Himalayan Monals of northwestern India lack the white rump that many Himalayan Monals have, and have more green on the breast, indicating the possibility of a second subspecies.

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