Background: In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government, which the king subsequently tasked with paving the way for elections to be held in spring of 2005. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government and assumed power.
April 14th 2008Asia » Nepal » Lumbini We are now in Nepal and have been for over a week now. Our final days in India were well spent although with perhaps a little too much time spent on public transport.
Delhi was interesting and amu ... [full story]
April 8th 2008Asia » Nepal » Lumbini Manu had decided it was to be an early start - supposedly to avoid the early morning traffic getting out of Kathmandu. Obviously it wasn't early enough as we spent the next TWO hours sat in a traffic ... [full story]
March 23rd 2008Asia » Nepal » Lumbini Well hello everyone! After nearly 7 weeks it has been so good to contact people and catch up with what has been going on back home. I cannot explain how wonderful my experience was on the project in ... [full story]
March 2nd 2008Asia » Nepal » Lumbini We travelled to the border of Nepal Varanassi after a 7 hour train ride to Gorakhpur, a 3 hour local Indian bus to the Nepalese border at Sunnali, then hopped off and walked across. I am so geeky as I ... [full story]
January 28th 2008Asia » Nepal » Lumbini We arrived in Nepal this morning from Varanassi after a 7 hour train ride to Gorakhpur, a 3 hour local Indian to the Nepalese border at Sunnali and then a further 45 minutes by taxi to our first locat ... [full story]
November 1st 2007Asia » Nepal » Lumbini Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautama Siddhartha Buddha, the man who gained enlightment under Bodhi tree and became Buddha. Extensive research has proven this to accurate and Maya Devi Temple at Lumbin ... 11 photos[full story]
December 22nd 2007Asia » Nepal » Lumbini Nu ben ik echt aan het rondreizen. In het begin van deze week ben ik naar Tansen gereisd. Omdat er een staking was van de bussen in Pokhara ben ik vertrokken in een mini-busje. Opeengepropt met 10 Nep ... [full story]
October 31st 2007Asia » Nepal » Lumbini Na vier weken nepal zijn we natuurlijk heel wat wijzer geworden over de cultuur, het land en de volkeren. Een paar bijzondere feitjes wilden we jullie niet onthouden:
Eten:
De Nepalezen kennen in ... [full story]
Map of Nepal
Nepal's Flag
