It was finally united as a monarchy, but it is still struggling to maintain democracy, and since the 1990s, the country has experienced civil strife. Nepal is regarded as the home of the gods and was, for many years, kept a secret. Once an unknown country, it was first visited by mountaineers and later became a favourite hang out for hippies. In 1989, the country was opened up yet again with many restrictions for tourists being lifted. The Nepalese government has reserved 35 per cent of the total country in order to create natural sanctuaries. There are nine national parks and three wildlife reserves. Due to the varied landscape, the weather in Nepal differs enormously from one district to another. As a general rule, the climate falls and the amount of rainfall decreases the higher up you go. In the high-altitude deserts such as the Tibetan Plateau, temperatures linger just above freezing for most of the year and it virtually never rains. The population of Nepal is made up of a myriad of tribal groups. The most prominent tribe is the Newars, in Kathmandu. Others include the Thakalis, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Chepangs, Tibetans, Bhotias, Rais and Limbus. Daman lies southwest of Kathmandu and claims to have some of the most stunning vistas across the Himalayas. There is a perfectly clear panorama of snow-capped mountains from Dhaulagiri to Mount Everest. Pokhara is a thriving little village which has made its claim on much of Nepal’s tourism. It is a vibrant place, full of backpackers, market stalls, music and Buddhist mantras. Overall, despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, Nepal is an extremely popular tourist destination as well as one of the most stunning countries in the world. It may not have an extensive tourist infrastructure, but there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep visitors busy. | 
