Besides India, Nepal shares its international land border with which other country?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: China

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, located between two large nations. Questions about which countries share borders with which neighbors are very common in competitive exams and help candidates strengthen their mental world map. This particular question tests if you know that although Nepal is closely associated with India, its other international neighbor is China, not any of the smaller countries around the region such as Bhutan or Bangladesh.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Nepal is landlocked and already known to share a long border with India.
  • The question asks about the other country sharing a border with Nepal, apart from India.
  • Options provided include China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
  • We consider only land borders, not sea boundaries.


Concept / Approach:
The concept here is regional geography of South Asia. Nepal stretches roughly from the foothills of the Himalayas up to the high Himalayan range. To the south, east, and west, it borders India. To the north, across the high mountain frontier, it borders China, specifically the Tibet Autonomous Region. Bhutan and Bangladesh are neighboring countries in the region but they do not share a border with Nepal, and Afghanistan and Pakistan lie further to the northwest. Remembering that the Himalayas form a natural border between Nepal and China helps solidify this fact.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Nepal is located between India and China in the Himalayan region. Step 2: Visualize that India surrounds Nepal from the south, east and west. Step 3: Remember that the northern boundary of Nepal runs along the Himalayas and borders China. Step 4: Check that Bhutan and Bangladesh are separate countries located east and south east, with no direct contact with Nepal; Afghanistan and Pakistan are located much further to the west. Step 5: Conclude that the only correct answer is China.


Verification / Alternative check:
One verification method is to recall common exam statements that Nepal is sandwiched between India and China. Many school level maps clearly show that the Tibet region of China lies directly north of Nepal. Another check is to remember trade and road links: Nepal has important mountain passes that connect to Tibet and hence to China, which would not be the case if there were no border. Thinking through these facts confirms that Nepal shares borders with only two countries, India and China.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bhutan: Bhutan lies to the east of Nepal, but they are separated by a strip of Indian territory and therefore do not have a common border.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh is south east of Nepal and is separated by Indian states; there is no direct Nepal Bangladesh land border.
Afghanistan: Afghanistan is in Central Asia and is far away from Nepal, so it cannot share any direct boundary with it.
Pakistan: Pakistan shares borders with India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China, but not with Nepal, so it is also incorrect.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes rush through such questions and pick Bhutan or Bangladesh because they think of them as small neighbors in the same region. This happens when the mental map is vague. Another pitfall is confusing sea proximity with land borders, but Nepal is landlocked and has no coastline at all. To avoid these errors, remember the simple phrase that Nepal lies between India and China with no other countries touching it. That single phrase fixes the correct picture in memory.


Final Answer:
Besides India, Nepal shares its international land border with China.

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