History of Geological Studies in the Nepal Himalaya and Their Implications for Sustainable Geotourism Development

Abstract

Nepal has a long history of geological investigations due to the diversity of geological settings, and the paper has synthesized the historical evolution of geological research in Nepal to trace the journey from occasional observations in the 19th century to present-day interdisciplinary studies for promoting the importance of formulating the scope of geotourism. The history of geological studies began with pioneering naturalists like Hooker in 1854 and Medlicott in 1875, succeeded by the systematic surveys by Toni Hagen in the 1950s, Stöcklin, and Bhattarai, who mapped the detailed geology of the central Mahabharat Range in 1977, and subsequent growth of studies from international groups and Nepalese researchers. Growing interest in geological studies in the Nepal Himalaya is because of unique geological characteristics within the Himalayan mountain system, making geology a fundamental academic discipline for understanding natural resources, geohazards, hydropower development, etc. The establishment of the geology department in 1968 at Tri Chandra College, Tribhuvan University, and the master’s program in 1976 have fulfilled the needs of geological education over the past several decades and have played a vital role in graduating skilled geologists. The history of geological explorations has provided a significant effort in academic activities and prospects of geological studies in Nepal. An exceptional preservation of geological records in the Nepal Himalaya makes it a natural laboratory for investigating mountain-building processes and disaster risk management that highlights the importance and scope of Himalayan geodynamics for sustainable geotourism development.