Nepal is known the world over as a nation of colour and contrasts - a hidden Shangri-La of nature, culture and adventure. Its biggest draw for visitors is undoubtedly the majestic Himalayas, home to eight of the world's 10 highest peaks in the world. There is, however, a whole lot more to Nepal than its heights. Powerful rivers rush out from the Himalaya providing world class rafting opportunities as they cascade down the middle hills and empty out into the steamy flatlands of the Terai in the south. Here, exotic game, including the Royal Bengal tiger and the one-horned rhino, and innumerable species of birds have made the jungle reserves their home. Indeed, the breathtaking biotic diversity of Nepal is mirrored by the equally diverse people whose rich cultural heritage colours this nation with festivals and rituals, songs and dances, and a piety the level of which is matched by few places on this earth. The many artistic temples and monuments they have built testify this piety. This peaceful Himalayan Kingdom is thus a naturalist's dream, an adventurer's paradise and a living ethnographic museum.
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