Nepal is a small country in South Central Asia. It is surrounded by India on the east, west and south, and China to the north. The country is renowned for its extremely close proximity to the Himalayan mountain range-most notably the peaks of Mt. Everest and K2-the two tallest mountains in the world.

The population of Nepal is around 22 million and is divided into two ethnic groups. The Indo-Nepalese and the Indians of the Tarai, who account for nearly 80 percent of the population. The Tibeto-Nepalese who account for the remainder.

The official religion in the country is Hinduism with 90 percent of the country having those beliefs. Five percent are Buddhists, and three percent are Muslims.

Nepal offers free schooling to children between the ages of six and 11.

The national language is Nepali, but English is also widely used and understood.

Nepal has a climate that ranges from subtropical summers with mild winters in the southern lowlands to an alpine climate with cool summers to extremely severe winters in the Himalayan Mountains.

Trips to Nepal are often to the mountainous section of the country. People wishing to scale some of the tallest peaks in the world mount expeditions from towns nestled at the base of the Himalayas.

The University of Denver recently sent a service-learning organization on a trip to Nepal. Kristen Weaver, a sophomore at DU, said the culture was “very rich and had a depth to it. The religion integrates in a way I wasn’t used to.” The group stayed close to the capital of Kathmandu but could visit a nearby village for a weekend.

Round trip airfare to Nepal costs more than $1,000. Once in Nepal, lodging is easy to find because much of the local economy is based upon tourism.

For more information, students should check with the Study Abroad Office.