*Sadly many of the people in these photos from 2008 will have been badly affected in some way from the tragic 2015 earthquake, and many of the historical buildings are no longer standing.*

Wedged between India and Tibet, Nepal is a land of extremes and incredible variety. The Kathmandu valley is studded with UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the country has fertile valleys, clear lakes and of course the Himalayas. Its lowest point is a mere 70m (230ft) above sea level while its highest is Mt Everest at 8,850m (29,028 ft).

It's a poor country and despite its huge hydro-electric power potential Nepal struggles to provide a reliable electricity supply to its people. During our visit in December 2008 the power was switched off initially for 6 hours each day which quickly rose to 10 hours a day. This 'load shedding' now lasts 16 hours a day and is predicted to continue for the next 5 or 6 years. Some shops, restaurants and hotels provide limited power from generators during the peak morning and evening times.