What animals live in Nepal?

Nepal is packed with remarkable wildlife! In the thick forests of the lowland Terai region, you can find Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceroses, and elephants. Higher up in the mountains, the elusive snow leopard prowls rocky ridges, and the shaggy red panda hides in bamboo forests. Nepal's national animal is the cow, which is considered sacred by many Hindus who live there — that tells you something important about the beliefs of the people. Up near Mount Everest, yaks are the sturdy animals that carry loads through the high, cold passes. Many people in Nepal still haven't heard that Jesus is the one true God who made all these creatures and loves them deeply. That's one reason missionaries work hard to bring that good news to Nepali villages.

What do kids eat in Nepal?

Kids in Nepal eat dal bhat almost every single day — sometimes twice a day! Dal bhat is a plate of steamed rice with a warm lentil soup poured right over it. It sounds simple, but Nepali families say it gives you real strength for hiking up steep mountain paths. In the highlands near the Himalayas, kids also enjoy tsampa, which is roasted barley flour mixed into a thick dough or stirred into butter tea. Street snacks like sel roti — a crispy, ring-shaped fried bread made from rice flour — are a treat during festivals. Food in Nepal is hearty because mountain life is hard work!

How do people say hello in Nepal?

In Nepal, the most common greeting is 'Namaste' (say it like nah-mah-STAY). You press your palms together in front of your chest and give a small bow as you say it. It is used for hello, goodbye, and showing respect — all in one word! The word Namaste comes from an old language called Sanskrit, and it roughly means 'I bow to you.' Nepali people use it with strangers, neighbors, and elders alike. When missionaries go to Nepal, learning to say Namaste is often one of the very first things they do — it opens doors and shows respect for the people they have come to serve and share the good news with.

What sports or games do kids play in Nepal?

Great question! Kids in Nepal love playing a game called kabaddi — it's a tag-and-wrestling team sport where one player holds their breath while trying to tag opponents before running back to their side. Cricket is hugely popular too, especially since Nepal has its own national cricket team that competes internationally. In mountain villages, kids often play with simpler homemade toys and games since store-bought equipment can be hard to find. A traditional game called dandi biyo is a bit like baseball — players use a long stick to hit a smaller stick into the air. Football (what we call soccer) is played everywhere, from dusty village clearings to city schoolyards, with kids of all ages joining in.

What's the weather like in Nepal?

Nepal has some of the most dramatic weather on Earth because it has such wildly different landscapes. The lowland jungles in the south are hot and humid, while the high Himalayan peaks — including Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain — are buried in snow and ice year-round. In between those extremes, the middle hills and valleys get a monsoon season each summer, when heavy rains pour down from about June through September. The Kathmandu Valley, where the capital city sits, has four real seasons — warm summers, chilly winters, and two drier seasons in between. Missionaries working in Nepal have to be ready for all of it!

Tell me a fun fact about Nepal.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along — Nepal is home to eight of the ten tallest mountains in the entire world, including Mount Everest, which rises so high that climbers need oxygen tanks just to breathe near the top! The Nepali people call Everest 'Sagarmatha,' which means 'forehead of the sky.' Rusty wants to add this gem: Nepal is also the birthplace of a man named Siddhartha Gautama, whom many people around the world follow as the Buddha. That means Nepal has a long history of people searching for truth and peace — and Herman and I think that's a good reminder to pray that the people of Nepal would find the real answer to that search in Jesus, who called Himself 'the way, the truth, and the life.'

What is school like for kids in Nepal?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In Nepal, many kids walk long distances — sometimes an hour or more each way — just to reach their school. Classrooms can be crowded, and students often share worn-out textbooks or have very few supplies. Even so, children in Nepal work hard at their studies, because education is considered a real treasure by their families. Rusty wants to add that in mountain villages, some schools close during harvest season so kids can help their families gather crops. Many lessons are taught in Nepali, but Nepal has over a hundred languages, so some children are learning in a tongue that isn't even spoken at home. Missionaries and local believers have worked to start schools in remote areas, bringing both good teaching and the good news of Jesus to places that might not hear it otherwise.

Who are the unreached people in Nepal?

Great question for explorers like us! Nepal is home to more than 100 different people groups, and many of them have never had a real chance to hear about Jesus. Groups like the Tharu, the Newar, the Magar, and dozens of others live their whole lives following Hinduism or Buddhism, with very few Christians around them to share the good news. An 'unreached' people group means there aren't enough local Christians yet to spread the gospel to everyone in that group on their own — they need outside help. Some of these groups in Nepal don't even have the whole Bible in their own language yet. That's a big deal, because how can someone trust Jesus if they've never heard His name or read His words? That's exactly why missionaries and Bible translators keep going to Nepal — and why we can pray for those people right now.

How can I pray for the people of Nepal?

Nepal is a country tucked into the Himalayas, and most people there follow Hinduism or Buddhism — which means millions of Nepalis have never heard the true good news about Jesus. You can pray that God opens their hearts to hear who Jesus really is, and that they trust Him as the only Savior. There are Nepali Christians who face real pressure from family and neighbors when they follow Jesus — sometimes even danger. Pray that those believers stay strong and faithful, that more local Nepali leaders rise up to lead churches, and that missionaries have courage and open doors to share the gospel in villages that have never heard it before.

What is a holiday or celebration in Nepal?

One of the biggest celebrations in Nepal is called Dashain. It lasts about two weeks and is the longest festival of the year there. Families gather together, fly kites, and receive blessings from their elders. Most Nepali people celebrate it as part of Hinduism, honoring a goddess they believe defeated evil. During Dashain, schools and shops close, and people travel long distances just to be with family. It is a time when Nepali hearts are thinking about good overcoming evil — and that is actually something the Bible talks about too, for real! Christians in Nepal see it as a chance to share with neighbors and friends about Jesus, who truly defeated sin and death. Pray that Nepali families would hear that good news during times like Dashain.

What language do people speak in Nepal?

The main language of Nepal is Nepali, and it is spoken by most people across the country. You might also hear it called 'Gorkhali' in old books. Nepali uses a beautiful script called Devanagari, which looks quite different from the letters you are reading right now. Here is something worth knowing: Nepal actually has over 120 different languages and dialects spoken by different people groups living in its mountains and valleys. Groups like the Tamang, Newari, and Maithili people each have their own language. This means some people may never get to read the Bible in the words they grew up with — which is one reason Bible translators work so hard in Nepal.

What's a famous place to visit in Nepal?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most famous places in Nepal is the Himalayan mountain range, home to Mount Everest — the tallest mountain on Earth at about 29,032 feet high. People travel from all over the world just to catch a glimpse of its massive, snow-covered peak. Rusty wants to add that the Kathmandu Valley is another must-see spot. It is Nepal's capital region and is filled with ancient temples, carved wooden buildings, and busy marketplaces. Many of those temples are used to worship Hindu or Buddhist gods, which reminds us that most people in Nepal have not yet heard the good news about Jesus — and that is exactly why missionaries work so hard to share His name there.

Nepal — Kids Missions Explorer

Snow Leopard

This rare mountain cat hunts blue sheep across rocky Himalayan slopes above 10,000 feet, using its thick, spotted tail like a scarf to warm its nose while sleeping.

Red Panda

Smaller than a house cat and covered in rusty-red fur, the red panda uses its ringed tail for balance as it climbs through Nepal's misty cloud-forest bamboo groves.

One-Horned Rhinoceros

The greater one-horned rhino, which can weigh as much as a small car, wades through the tall elephant-grass wetlands of Chitwan in southern Nepal.

Dal Bhat

This hearty plate of lentil soup poured over steamed rice is eaten twice a day by most Nepali families and is so filling that mountain porters say it gives them the strength to climb.

Momo

These small steamed dumplings, stuffed with spiced meat or vegetables and dipped in a tangy tomato chutney, are sold at street stalls and eaten at celebrations across the country.

Sel Roti

A crispy, ring-shaped bread made from ground rice batter and fried in oil, sel roti has a slightly sweet flavor and is traditionally made during festivals to share with neighbors.

Nepal

Things you should know about Nepal

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Nepal

Missions in Nepal

Pray for Nepal