Virtual Heritage Talk-Sacred Geography of Nepal
N epal is mainly situated in the Himalayas including parts of the Indo-Gangetic plain, bordering Tibet to the north and India in the south, east, and west. It is narrowly separated from Bangladesh by the Siliguri Corridor and from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim. The geographical features of Nepal are unique as it has a diverse geography that includes fertile plains, forests, hills, and the tallest mountains. “Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural state, with Nepali as the official language”. Its capital Kathmandu is the largest city in the country. Though there were many religious sects in Nepal, the majority of the Nepalese were either Hindus or Buddhists. These two religions were co-existed in harmony through centuries. The Gopalas and Mahisapalas were the earliest rulers of Nepal. Their capital was Matatirtha located in the southwest corner of Kathmandu Valley. From the 7th or 8th century BCE the Kirantis seem to have ruled the region. There is a reference to the Kiranti king Yalumber in the Mahabharata.
