### Interesting Facts
1. Nepal is the only country in the world with a non-rectangular national flag (it consists of two stacked triangles representing the Himalayas and two major religions). 2. It is home to Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali), the highest point on Earth at 8,848.86 meters. 3. Lumbini, located in the southern Terai plains, is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha). 4. Nepal was never colonized by a foreign power and does not celebrate an Independence Day. 5. The Kathmandu Valley contains the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world (seven sites within a 15km radius). 6. The Gurkhas, soldiers from Nepal, have been an integral part of the British and Indian armies since the 19th century, renowned for their bravery and the iconic Khukuri knife. 7. The Kali Gandaki Gorge is considered by many measures to be the deepest gorge in the world. 8. Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 14 "eight-thousanders" (mountains over 8,000 meters). 9. It is one of the few places in the world that worships a Living Goddess, known as the Kumari. 10. The elevation of the country ranges from just 59 meters above sea level to 8,848 meters within a span of about 200 kilometers. 11. The official Nepali calendar, Bikram Sambat (BS), is approximately 56 years and 8.5 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar. 12. Dal Bhat (lentil soup and rice) is the national dish, typically eaten twice a day by the majority of the population. 13. Chitwan National Park holds one of the world's highest populations of the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros. 14. The national flower is the Rhododendron, and forests of it bloom vibrantly red and pink in the spring. 15. The official day off for the weekend is Saturday, while Sunday is a regular working day. 16. The legendary Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, originates from Sherpa folklore in the high Himalayas of Nepal. 17. Namaste (pressing palms together and bowing) is the traditional greeting, meaning "I bow to the divine in you." 18. Momos (steamed or fried dumplings) are arguably the most popular fast food and urban snack in the country. 19. The country recognizes over 120 distinct spoken languages. 20. The cow is the national animal of Nepal and is considered sacred; slaughtering them is strictly banned.