National Parks and reserves
Makalu Barun
Langtang National Park
The park and conservation area is
situated in the Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu
districts, bordered by the Arun River on the east,
Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park on the west,
the Nepal-Tibet border on the north and Saune Danda
(ridge) to the south. The Park covers 2,330 sq. kms.
This is the only protected area in Nepal with
designation of a Strict Nature Reserve. It has some
of the richest and most unique pockets of plants and
animals in Nepal, elsewhere lost to spreading human
habitation. Stepping up the slopes are a series of
vegetation zones starting with tropical sal forest
below 1,000 m. elevation: subtropical schima
castanopsis forest at 1,000 2000 m. fir, birch,
rhododendron forests in the sub?alpine(3,000?4,000
m); and herbs, grasses and rhododendron/juniper
shrubs in the alpine pas trues (4,000?5,000 m).
There are 47 varieties of orchids, 67 species of
bamboos, 15 oaks including Arkhoulo, 86 species of
fodder trees and 48 species of primrose. Over 400
species of birds have been sighted in the Makalu
Barun area, including two species never before seen
in Nepal the spotted wrenbabbler and the olive
ground warbler. Wildlife includes the endangered red
panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, clouded
leopard and possibly snow leopard, in addition to
more substantial populations of ghoral, thar, wild
boar, barking deer, Himalayan marmot and weasel,
common langur monkey and the serow. The Arun river
system contains 84 varieties of fish.
Access: To reach Makalu Barun National Park &
Conservation Area, take the daily flight from
Kathmandu to Lukla, Phaplu, Lamidanda, Bhojpur and
Tumlingtar. Visitors choice to fly any one air link
airports then trek.
Langtang is one of
the most unspoiled national parks of
Nepal. Situated North of Kathmandu,
it is the most easily accessible
highland sanctuary from the capital.
Langtang covers 1,710 sq. km.
forming the upper catchment areas of
two of Nepal’s largest river systems
? the Trishuli and Koshi. There is
great latitudinal variation,
starting at 1,500 m. and ascending
to the top of Mt. Langtang Lirung at
7,234 m. As a result the park has
immense ecological diversity. Some
of the most attractive areas of the
park include the Langtang Valley,
the holy lakes at Gosainkunda, and
the forested hillsides above the
village of Helambu.
The deep gorges of Bhote Koshi and
Langtang Khola are thickly forested
with rhododendron, oak, maple and
alder. The stretch of forest around
Ghoda Tabela in the lower Langtang
Valley and below Gosainkunda is
inhabited by the red panda, a rare
and threatened symbol of a healthy
Himalayan ecosystem. Other animal,
common to these forests are wild
boar, Himalayan black bear, ghoral,
grey langur monkey and leopard. The
rare Himalayan hony guide has been
sighted here and the park also the
home for Impeyan, Tragopan and kalij
pheasants among others.
Larch, a rare deciduous conifer, is
also found in the forest of lower
Langtang Valley. Further up,
Himalayan tahr, musk deer and snow
leopard can be found. The upper
Langtang Valley is one of he few
known breeding grounds of the ibils
bills besides the Tibetan snow cock
and snow partridge.
Like other Himalayan nature parks,
Langtang has to be explored on foot.
There are several possible trails to
choose from depending on preference
and time available. The langtang
Valley is easily approached from
Dhunche town and park office, which
is a day’s drive from Kathmandu. The
upper reaches of Langtang can be
reached in four days of easy
walking, however, it is advisable’
to spend a few days around the
forest at Ghoda Tabela to watch for
the red panda. Once above Langtang
village and the monastery at Kyangin,
visitors can explore the high valley
of Langshisa Yala peak and Tsero, Ri.
These and other villages of upper
Langtang are inhabited by people of
Tibetan descent whereas the
villagers of Dhunche, Bharkhu and
Syabru further down are home to the
Tamangs of Nepal’s middle hills.
Access: The high pass out of
Langtang, Gang la(5,132 m), can be
negotiated only by well prepared
hikers with guides, food and camping
equipment. The Gosainkunda can also
be reached in a few days from
Dhunche, making it possible to visit
both areas in the same outing.
Alternatively, trekkers can hike to
Gosainkunda from Sundrijal in the
Kathmandu Valley via the picturesque
villages of Helambu. The richly
forested route that climbs steeply
from here to Thare Pati and Gopte
Cave is alive with birds and
flowering rhododendron and orchids
in the spring. Tourists can visit
the Langtang National Park anytime
from March to November but it is
best to avoid the monsoon season
because of rains and overflowing
rivers. The nature enthusiast on the
other hand might find the rainy
season ideal because of the
profusion of plant life.
Shey Phoksundo National Park
Parsa Wildlife Reserve
Shey Phoksundo is Nepal’s largest national park and
covers 3,555 sq. km. Sitting astride the Dolpa and Mugu districts of western Nepal, the park was established to protect the trans
Himalayan ecosystem found only in few areas of the Kingdom. The unique park includes the Kanjiroba Himal, with many peaks of over 6,000 meters, as well as the famous Shey Monastery, the Phoksundo Lake and the Langu Gorge.
The flora of the area include pine, walnut, willow, oak, poplar and cypress in the lower southern parts. In the higher reaches, pine, spruce, juniper and birch predominate. The alpine areas are vegetated by berberries, wild rose and caragana.
The and trans Himalayan mountains and grassy alpine meadows to the north are almost devoid of trees but
have caragana and dwarf juniper.
The wildlife of Shey Phoksundo include a good population of blue sheep and ghoral, musk deer,
leopard, wild dog, wolf, marmot, weasel, mouse hare, rhesus and
langur monkeys. The higher reaches and the haunt of the elusive snow leopard. The adjoining Tibetan
region is home to such rare animals as the great Tibetan sheep, Tibetan wild ass, Tibetan gazelle and
antelope, and wild yak. Bird species of the park include the Impeyan and cheer Pheasant, chough, raven,
Tibetan snow cock, Tibetan twit, brown dipper, Himalayan griffon and lammergeier. The park is inhabited
by people of Tibetan descent who follow the pre-Buddist Bon religion and some of the main villages are
Ringmo, Pugmo, Salclang, Kugun, and Tatgaun. On the august full moon all Dolpa villagers converge on the Shey
(Crystal) Mountain in a festival to walk around the holy peak three times in as many days.
Access: The nearest airstripis at Juphal, south of the park.
Visitors can also fly to Jumla from where it is a 10 day hike to the
Phoksundo and Shey areas. The best time to visit this park is from April to November.
Parsa Wildlife Reserve occupies
parts of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa and Bara
districts in central Nepal. The reserve headquarters
is situated at Adabar on the Hetauda-Birgunj highway
and the Reserve covers 499 sq. kms. and established
in 1984.
The dominant landscape of the reserve, the Churiyahills ranging from 750m. to 950m. run east-west of the reserve. The reserve has sub-tropical monsoon climate. The forest is composed of tropical to subtropical forest types with sal constituting 90% of the vegetation. In the Churiya hills Chir pine grows and along the stream and rivers Khair, Sissoo with silk cotton tree occur. Sabai grass a commercially important grass species grows well in the southern face of Churiya hill. The reserve supports a good population of resident wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull, wild dog. Other common animals are sambar, chital, hogdeer, barking deer, langur, striped hyena, ratel, palm civet, jungle cat etc.There are nearly 300 species of birds in the reserve. Giant hombill, peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers, woodpeckers etc. are few other common birds found in the reserve. Many kinds of snakes like king cobra, common cobra, krait, rat snake, pythons are found in the reserve due to hot tropical climate.
Access: Parsa wildlife reserve is easilyaccessible from Kathmandu, being well connected by a national highway and daily flight to Simra.
Khaptad National Park
Sagarmatha National Park
Khaptad, Nepal’s newest park area, is in the middle hills of the Far-West of the country. The 225 sq kms. area of the park is situated where the districts of Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham meet. Khaptad is plateau of grassland and forest cover at an elevation of about 3,000 meters. The mixed conifer and broad-leaf forests are an excellent example of the vegetation that once covered much of west Nepal’s middle hills. The forest consists of a mixture of tall fir, yew, rhododendron, oak, dense strands of bamboo and smaller shrubs. This habitat provides good cover for bear, leopard, barking and musk deer, as well as birds like the Impeyan, koklas and kalij pheasants. This park is special because it represents one of the few remaining mid-mountain ecosystems in Nepal Himalaya. At the north-eastern corner of the park, a small serene lake and swampy area called Khapted Daha is religious site where Hindu pilgrims come to worship Shiva on the full moon of July? August each year. Here lived the ascetic, the Khaptad Baba, who was known and revered throughout Nepal.
Access: The easiest access is to fly to Dipayal or Chainpur or Sanfebagar or Kolti from where it is a few days hike to the national park. It is also possible to drive to Silgadi from Dhangadi. The best time to visit Khaptad is in March and April and in October and November Travellers should hike with camping equipment, food and guides, arranged through trekking agents in Kathmandu.
Unique among natural heritage sites world-wide is the Sagarmatha National Park, which includes Mt. Everest (8,848 m) and other high peaks such as Lhotse Shar, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Kangtega, Gyachung Kang, Tharnserku
and Kwangde. Located North?east of Kathmandu,
Sagarmatha National Park is 1,148 sq km. in area and consists
of the upper catchment areas of the Dudh Koshi, Bhote Koshi and the Imja Khola rivers. Much of the park lies above 3,000m.
Sagarmatha is rugged, with deep gorges, glaciers and
unnegotiable ice and rock faces. Locally known as the ‘Khumbu’, it is the home of the famous Sherpa people.
The Sherpas make a living by farming barley and potatoes and
graze their yaks in high altitude pastures. Young Sherpas have also made their name in mountaineering
and the trekking industry has of late become the community’s economic mainstay. In 1979 the park was declared a World Heritage Site.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies
on the flood plains of the Sapta koshi in Saptari
and Sunsari districts of eastern Nepal. The Reserve
covers 175 sq. kms and established in 1976.
Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to
depths ranging from 10 to 300 cm. occurs during the
monsoon. The Sapta Koshi river also changes its
course from one season to another. The vegetation is
mainly tall Khar pater grassland with a few patches
of Khair sisso, scrub forest and deciduous mixed
riverine forest.
The reserve offers important habitat for a variety
of wildlife. The last surviving population (about
100 individuals) of Wild Buffalo or Arna are found
here. Other mammals occurring here are hog deer,
wild deer, spotted deer and blue bull.
The reserve also assists the local economy by
providing fishing permits and allowing the
collection of edible fruits and ferns in season.
Access: Koshi Tappu is easily accessible from
Kathmandu, being well connected by a national
highway. There are daily flights from Kathmandu to
Biratnagar and road connected Biratnagar to national
highway.
Besides national parks and wildlife reserves His Majesty’s Government of Nepal has also set aside a hunting reserve at Dhorpatan where controlled hunting of some species is allowed.
Covering an area of 1,325 sq. km., the reserve is situated on the southern flanks of Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m.) in districts of Rukum, Baglung and Myagdi in western Nepal.The area’s vegetation is characterised by well-developed mixed-hardwood forest at lower elevation and many plant species of drier climate to the north. Tree species include fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. As in many other protected environments of Nepal, the reserve includes several villages inhabited by hill tribes as well as people of Tibetan descent who
supplement farming with trade and animal husbandry. The reserve is one of the prime habitats of blue sheep, a highly prized trophy animal, which is the main target of hunters. Other game species are ghoral, serow, Himalayan tahr, black bear, pheasant and partridge Endangered species of the area include the red panda and cheer pheasant. Controlled hunting is allowed with proper licence and certain seasons of the year.
Game licence is issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation in Kathmandu and there are a few hunting outfitters who can make arrangements for expeditions. Besides hunting, Dhorpatan is also an attractive destination for the trekker and wildlife enthusiast as protection has
enabled animal numbers to increase in this rarely visited area
Access: Visitors can hike from Pokhara, which takes about five days, or fly to Dolpa. The best time to visit Dhorpatan is spring and autumn.
Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve
Bardia National Park
This wildlife reserve is situated
in the extreme south-west of Nepal. The name of the
park is derived from the largest of these grasslands
which is known as Sukla Phanta. The park area is 155
sq kms. and would be 305 sq kms. after the
completion of its extension. Sukla Phanta’s
grassland is one of the last remaining habitat for
such threatened animals as the hispid hare and the
pygmy hog. Besides these, Sukla Phanta is the
stronghold for another endangered animal, the
barasingha, or swamp deer.
Other wildlife of the park included spotted deer,
also seen in large numbers, hog deer, nilgai, wild
dog, jackal, porcupine and otter. The park and the
adjoining forest is the territory of small number of
tigers which because of open terrain, are not
uncommon to sight on the prowl. Wild elephants have
also been sighted in the park.
A stop at the Rani Tal is a must. This small lake
attracts birds and animals alike. Herons, ducks,
storks, kingfishers and egrets vie for food and
swamp deer wallow at the edges. From a nearby machan
one can watch while thousands of water fowl mingle
on the lake surface while it is not uncommon to see
hundreds of swamp deer grazing at the water-edge in
the evening light. The experience is unique.
Other ways to view wildlife in the park is by
driving in landrovers near the lake and river and on
nature walks with trained trackers.
Access: There are air links Kathmandu via
Nepalgunj to the nearby Mahendranagar airstrip.
There is a bus service from Nepalgunj and Kathmandu.
The best time to visit from October to April.
The Bardia National Park is situated on the eastern banks of the Karnali river, about 400 kms. west of Kathmandu. The park is 968 sq kms. in area and extends from the Churia hills southward to the gentle slopes of the “Bhabhar’. The higher grounds of
the Churia have dry deciduous forest of mostly hardwood sal. The porous slopes of the Bhabhar support large
open grasslands known locally as ‘Phantas’. These are some of the last remaining grasslands that once covered much of
the Gangetic plains.
The western end of the Bardia is bounded by numerous water?ways of the Karnali which have created many
large and small gravel islands. These islands and much of the lower ground area covered by a mosaic of
grassland and riverine forest of acacia, sisam and the large
buttressed silk cotton trees. In spring, the silk cotton blooms and the forest comes alive with scarlet
flowers.
Bardia is the home of a wide varietyof animals, many of which live in and around the Phantas. These open grasslands such as Baghora and Lamkoili are the best places to view animals. The most conspicuous of which is the spotted deer. Other ungulates include black buck, hog deer, samber deer, wild boar and
barasingha or swamp deer. Two species of monkeys, the langur and the rhesus macaque are also present.
The park is famous for its small herds of wild elephants which are rarely seen.
The park also boasts a small population of the rare gharial, the
marsh mugger crocodile and the Gangetic dolphin. The island of the Karnali river harbours the sub continent’s largest antelope species, the nilgai or blue bull. The Karnali and Babai rivers attract a large number of wintering
waterfowl along with resident species such as herons, kingfishers and wall creepers. More than 350 bird species have been recorded in Bardia, truly a bird watcher’s paradise.
Access : To reach Bardia, take the daily flight or public bus
from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, from where it is a five hour drive to the park office at Thakurdwara. This nature sanctuary is best visit form October to April.
Chitwan National Park
Rara National Park
Nepal’s first and most famous national park is situated in the Chitwan Doon or the lowlands of the Inner Terai. Covering an area of 932 sq km. the park includes hilly areas of the Siwalik Range covered by deciduous sal forest. A fifth of the park is
made up of the floodplains of the Narayani, Rapti, and the Reu Rivers and is covered by dense tall elephant grass interspersed with riverine forests of silk cotton (kapok), acacia and sisam trees. This ecologically diverse area is the last remaining home in Nepal for more than 300 of the endangered Asian one-horned rhinoceros and harbours one of the largest populations of the elusive and rare Royal Bengal tiger. Besides rhino and tiger, Chitwan also supports a great variety of flora and fauna.
There are four species of deer, including the spotted chittal,
leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, rhesus monkey, grey langur monkey, wild dog, small wild cats, the white stockinged gaur (the world’s largest wild cattle) and many other smaller animals. The swampy areas and numerous oxbow lakes of Chitwan provide a home for marsh crocodiles. In a stretch of the Narayani river is found one of the few remaining populations of the rare and endangered fish only eating gharial, or Gangetic crocodile. Here also is found one of the world’s four species of freshwater dolphins.
For the ornithologist and the amateur bird watcher the park offers excellent possibilities with more than 450 species recorded. Some of the resident specialities are several species of woodpeckers, hornbills, Bengal florican, and redheaded trogons. Winter birds such as waterfowl, Brahminy duck, pintails and bareheaded geese, amongst many other cold weather visitors are drawn by the sanctuary of the park’s rivers. In the summer
the forest is alive with nesting migrants such as the fabulous
paradise flycatcher, the Indian pitta and parakeets.
Access : Chitwan is easily accessible from Kathmandu, being
well connected by a national highway to Bharatpur and to Sauraha. There are daily fights from October through May to Meghauli airstrip just outside the park boundary. Another exciting alternative is a two to three day raft trip down the
Trishuli river to Narayanghat or directly into the western edge of
the park.Visitors can stay in one of the several lodges and camps inside or outside the park. Visitors can actively participate in exciting stalks through the forest looking or animals signs. One unique Chitwan experience is elephant back safaris in search of the one-horned rhinoceros, leopard, deer, bear, monkey and crocodile. Few visitors can ever forget the excitement of crashing through 20 feet high elephant grass and sightseeing wildlife. Apart from elephant safaris, the traveller will be happily occupied for several days with nature walks, canoe rides down the park rivers, and land-over drives through the forest.
Situated about 370 km. north-west of Kathmandu, Rara is
Nepal’s smallest and most scenic national park covers 106 square km.
Much of the park is at an altitude
of about 3,000 meters forested by conifers. The park was established in 1976 and protects some of the
most beautiful alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems of the Himalaya.
The centre piece is the pristine Lake
Rara, also Known as Mahendra Tal, the biggest lake in Nepal.
The lake is surrounded by richly forested hills, Chuchemara Danda at 4,087 meters is the best vantage point to
get stunning views of the lake andthe thickly forested hillsides and the snow-capped peaks around it.
Other summits in the park area are Ruma kand (3,731 m.) and Malika Kand
(3,444 m.), situated to the north of the lake