Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west. It is home to the Himalayas, including Mount Everest, and has a diverse geography that includes mountains, hills, and plains. Nepal is a federal secular parliamentary republic with Kathmandu as its capital and official language as Nepali. The country has a rich cultural heritage, being the birthplace of Buddha and a significant pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.