National Parks Thanks to Nepal’s extensive and effective parks and reserve system, the country has managed to preserve more endangered species of flora and fauna than any other country in Asia. Now, the protected areas in Nepal include 10 national parks, 3 wildlife reserves, one hunting reserve and 6 conservation areas and 11 buffer zones covering an area of 34,186.62 sq. km, that is, 23.23 percent of the total area of the country. Chitwan National Park (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Activities: Jungle safari on elephant back, jungle walk, canoe ride, jeep drive, experience of Tharu culture Accommodation: Resort hotels and lodges Access: The park headquarters at Kasara is a 21-km drive from Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu Wildlife: 56 species of mammals that include one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, rhesus monkey, langur, deer, leopard, gaur, wild boar, wild dog and wild cat; 49 species of amphibians and reptiles that include the endangered long snouted gharial, marsh mugger crocodile and python. Birds: 539 species of birds that include summer migrant birds like paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta and parakeets etc. during, while winter birds include waterfowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, bar-headed geese, cormorants and migratory birds from Siberia Vegetation: Deciduous forest with 600 plant species Best Season: October-March (average temperature 25 degrees Celsius); April- June (hot, up to 43 degrees Celsius), July-September (rainy) Park Headquarters: Kasara Added Attraction: Devghat, Padavnagar, Balmiki Ashram, Kabilaspur, Chepang Hills Trail Entrance Fee: Nepali - Rs. 100 per day per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 750 per person per day, foreigners - Rs. 1,500 per person per day Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) Activities: Trekking, mountaineering, experience of Sherpa culture Accommodation: Resort hotels, lodges, tea houses, camping Access: Fly to Lukla which is 30 minutes by air from Kathmandu and then trek onward Wildlife: Himalayan tahr, ghoral, musk deer, pika (mouse hare), weasel, jackal, black bear, wolf, lynx and snow leopard Birds: 193 species of birds including impeyan pheasant (Danphe), blood pheasant, red-billed chough, yellow-billed chough, snow cock, snow pigeon, Himalayan griffon and lammergeier Vegetation: Pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes, while above 3,500 m, forests are dominated by silver fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees Best Season: October-November and March-May; December-February (snow, daytime temperature 5 degrees Celsius) June-September (rainy) Park Headquarters: Mendalphu, Namche Bazaar Entrance Fee: Nepali - Rs. 25 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 1,500 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 3,000 per person per entry Bardia National Park Activities: Jungle safari on elephant back, jungle walk, boat ride, jeep drive Accommodation: Jungle lodges Access: Three hours drive (95 km) from Nepalgunj, which is 1 hour by air or 516 km by road from Kathmandu Wildlife: 53 mammals that include the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, elephant, swamp deer, black buck; reptiles include gharial crocodile, marsh mugger crocodile; fresh-water Gangetic dolphin is commonly seen in the Karnali River Birds: 400 species of birds include Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and sarus crane Vegetation: Sal, savannah forests and grasslands Best Season: October-March, April-June (hot, up to 42 degrees Celsius), July-September (rainy) Park Headquarters: Thakurdwara Entrance Fee: Nepali - Rs. 50 per day per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 500 per person per day, foreigners - Rs. 1,000 per person per day Khaptad National Park Activities: Trekking Accommodation: Camping Access: Fly from Kathmandu-Nepalgunj (60 min.), then fly to Chainpur (Bajhang)20 min. and then a three-day walk; or fly Kathamndu-Dhangadi (1 hr 10 min.) 670 km by drive, then 10 hurs drive to Silgadi and then 1 day trek Wildlife: Wildlife include barking deer, wild boar, ghoral, Himalayan black bear, yellow-throated marten, rhesus monkey and langur monkey Birds: 270 species of birds, the common ones being different varieties of impheyan pheasant, partridges, flycatchers, bulbuls, cuckoos and eagles Vegetation: Grasslands and forests of subtropical, temperate and sub alpine vegetation; 224 species of medicinal herbs Best Season: March-May and October-November (10-20 degrees Celsius); June-September (rainy), December-February (snow) Park Headquarters: Khaptad Added Attraction: Ashram of Khaptad Swami, Khaptad Lake, Tribeni, Sahashra Linga (at 3,200 m, the highest point of the park), Ganesh Temple, Nagdhunga and Kedardhunga Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Free, SAARC nationals - Rs. 100 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 1,000 per person per entry Langtang National Park Activities: Trekking, mountaineering, experience of Tamang culture Accommodation: Lodges, camping Access: From Dhunche, which is 117 km by road from Kathmandu Wildlife: Wild dog, red panda, pika, muntjac, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr, ghoral, serow, rhesus monkey, langur monkey, snow leopard Birds: 373 species of birds including tragopan and impeyan pheasant Vegetation: Sub-tropical forests below 1,000 m giving way to alpine shrubs and grasslands Best Season: October-November and March-May (cold at higher elevation); June-September (monsoon), December-February (snow) Park Headquarters: Dhunche Added Attraction: Holy Lake Gosainkunda Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 25 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 1,500 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 3,000 per person per entry Makalu Barun National Park Activities: Trekking, mountaineering Accommodation: Camping Access: Fly to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu (40 minutes) and then a six-day walk Wildlife: Endangered red panda and snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, ghoral, Himalayan tahr, wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan marmot, weasel, langur monkey and serow; Arun River has 84 varieties of fish including salmon Birds: 400 species of birds including wren babbler, olive ground warbler Vegetation: Sub-tropical forests to sub-alpine and alpine vegetation as the altitude increases; 48 species of orchids, 87 species of medicinal herbs, 25 of 30 varieties of rhododendrons found in Nepal, 48 species of primroses and 86 species of fodder trees Best Season: October-November and March-April; April-May (hot at lower elevations), June-September (monsoon) Park Headquarters: Seduwa Entrance Fee: Nepali - Rs. 25 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 1,500 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 3,000 per person per entry Rara National Park Activities: Trekking Accommodation: Camping, lodge Access: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (1 hour); Nepalgunj to Talcha Airport (35 minutes) then 2-hour trek to Rara Lake Wildlife: Endangered red panda and musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, jackal, Himalayan tahr, wild yellow-throated martin, wild dog, wild boar, common langur, rhesus macaque and common otter; three species of snow trout can be seen in the lake Birds: During winter 272 species of birds are seen here including coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe, red crested pochard, mallard, common teal, merganser and gulls; migrant water fowls and gallinaceous birds can also be seen during certain seasons Vegetation: Coniferous forests and blue pine dominate the park and the lake area respectively; rhododendron, juniper, spruce, oak and cypress are found around 3,000 m while at higher altitude, pine, spruce and fir are more common Best Season: February-April and October-November Park Headquarters: Hutu Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 25 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 1,500 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 3,000 per person per entry Shey-Phoksundo National Park Activities: Trekking, mountaineering Accommodation: Camping Access: Fly to Dolpas Jufal Airport from Nepalgunj (20 minutes) and then a three-day walk Wildlife: Sheep, ghoral, musk deer, leopard, wild dog, marmot, weasel, mouse hare, rhesus and langur monkeys, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear and jackals; 6 species of reptiles Birds: Over 200 species of birds including yellow throated marten, Tibetan partridge, wood snipe, white-throated tit, wood accentor and crimson-eared rose finch, impeyan pheasant, cheer pheasant, chough, raven, Tibetan snow cock, Tibetan twit, Himalayan griffon and lammergeier Butterflies: 29 species of butterflies Vegetation: 286 floral species of botanical importance: pine, walnut, willow, oak, cypress in the lower altitude and pine, spruce, juniper and birch at higher regions; berberis, wild rose and caragana are seen in alpine areas while the regions higher up are mostly arid with grass alpine meadows with barely any trees Best Season: March-May and September-October Park Headquarter: Sumduwa Added Attractions: Lake Phoksundo, Dho village (one of the highest settlements in the world) Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 25 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 1,500 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 3,000 per person per entry Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park Activities: Trekking, bird watching Access: Drive from Kathmandu city center to Budhanilkantha (11 km) then trek Wildlife: 19 species of mammals including Himalayan black bear, leopard, barking deer, wild boar, wild cat, rhesus monkey and langur monkey Birds: 177 species of birds Butterflies: 102 species of butterflies Vegetation: 129 varieties of mushrooms Best Season: September-May; June-August (rainy) Park Headquarters: Shivapuri Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 10 per person per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 250 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 250 per person per entry Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (Wetland Site) Activities: Game viewing, bird watching Accommodation: Resorts, tented camp Access: 90-minute drive (40 km) from Biratnagar, which is 50 minutes by air or 500 km by road from Kathmandu Wildlife: Elephants, wild buffalo, wild boar, hog deer, spotted deer, blue bull and jackal; reptiles include gharial crocodile; Gangetic dolphins are found in the Koshi River Birds: 479 species of birds, some of which fly all the way from Siberia during winter Vegetation: Grassland with patches of scrub and deciduous riverine forests Best Season: October-March, April-June (hot), July-September (rainy) Park Headquarters: Kusaha Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 50 per day per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 500 per day per entry, foreigners - Rs. 1,000 per day per entry Parsa Wildlife Reserve Activities: Jungle safari on elephant back; jungle walk, jeep drive Access: Fly to Simara from Kathmandu (15 minutes) and then by road to the reserve headquarters (7 km), or overland from Kathmandu (150 km via Hetauda) Wildlife: Wild elephant, tiger leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull, wild dog, sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, langur monkey, rhesus macaque, striped hyena, rat, palm civet and jungle cat; reptiles include king cobra, common cobra, krait, rat snake and python Birds: 370 species of birds including the endangered great hornbill; other birds found here include the peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers and woodpeckers Vegetation: Tropical and sub-tropical mostly covered with Sal forests, while hills are covered with chir pine, khair, sissoo and silk cotton Best Season: October-March; April-June (hot, 30-35 degrees Celsius), July-September (monsoon) Park Headquarters: Adhabar Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Rs. 50 per day per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 500 per day per entry, foreigners - Rs. 1,000 per day per entry Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve Activities: Wildlife viewing on elephant back Accommodation: Jungle lodges Access: Fly (1 hour 10 minutes) or drive to Dhangadhi (670 km from Kathmandu) then drive 1 hour 30 minutes (60 km) Wildlife: Swamp deer, 50 wild elephants, 30 tigers, spotted deer, blue bull, barking deer, hog deer, wild boar, leopard, jackal, langur and rhesus monkey; reptiles include marsh mugger crocodile, cobra, python Birds: Sarus crane, swamp francolin, grass owl, warblers, flycatchers, Bengal florican Vegetation: Sub-tropical jungle of Sal and open grasslands Best Season: October-March; April-June (hot, 42 degrees Celsius), July-September (rainy) Reserve Headquarters: Majhgaon, Kanchanpur Entrance Fee: Nepali - Rs. 50 per day per entry, SAARC nationals - Rs. 500 per day per entry, foreigners - Rs. 1,000 per day per entry Annapurna Conservation Area Activities: Trekking, mountaineering Accommodation: Resort hotels, lodges, camping Access: From Pokhara, which is 202 km by road or 30 minutes by air from Kathmandu Wildlife: 102 mammals including blue sheep and endangered snow leopard; 39 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians Birds: 474 species of birds including multi-colored impeyan pheasant, kokla and blood pheasant Vegetation: Various species of orchids and rhododendrons Best Season: March-May; September-November ACAP Headquarters: Hariyo Kharka, Pokhara Added Attractions: Muktinath Temple, Tilicho Lake, Mustang, Manang Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Free, SAARC nationals - Rs. 200 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 2,000 per person per entry Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Activities: Trekking, mountaineering Accommodation: Tea houses, camping Access: Fly to Taplejung via Biratnagar from Kathmandu Wildlife: Endangered snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, red panda, blue sheep, rhesus monkey Birds: 252 species of different birds including impeyan pheasant, red-billed blue magpie, ashy drongo Vegetation: 20 indigenous gymnosperms, 15 among Nepals 23 endemic flowering plants, 30 varieties of rhododendron species and 48 varieties of orchids Best Season: March-May; September-November Park Headquarters: Lelep Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Free, SAARC nationals - Rs. 200 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 2,000 per person per entry Manaslu Conservation Area Activities: Trekking, mountaineering Accommodation: Camping, lodges Access: By bus to Dhading (87 km from Kathmandu) or to Besi Sahar (106 km from Pokhara) and then trek Wildlife: 33 species of mammals including snow leopard, musk deer and Himalayan Tahr; three species of reptiles Birds: 110 species of birds Vegetation: 1,500-2,000 species of flowering plants Best Season: March-May; September-November Park Headquarters: Prok Entrance Fee: Nepalis - Free, SAARC nationals - Rs. 200 per person per entry, foreigners - Rs. 2,000 per person per entry Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Activities: Trophy hunting, game viewing Accommodation: Camping Animals: Blue sheep, leopard, ghoral, serow, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur, mouse hare; endangered species include musk deer, wolf, red panda Birds: Pheasants, partridges; endangered species include cheer pheasant and Danphe Access: Four days walk from Baglung, which is 72 km from Pokhara by road Best Season: March-April, October-November; July-September (monsoon), December-February (cold, windy, snow) Reserve Headquarters: Dhorpatan Entrance Fee: Please contact the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) dnpwc.gov.np for the latest information. NEW CONSERVATION AREAS Gaurishanker Conservation Area: Gaurishanker Conservation Area comprises the Sagarmatha National Park and Buffer Zone in the east, Langtang National Park and Buffer Zone in the west and Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north. It has an area of 2,179 sq. km which spreads over three districts - Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindupalchowk. Its headquarters is Charikot. Blackbuck Conservation Area: Blackbuck Conservation Area lies in Bardia district covering an area of 15.95 sq. km. This is the first organized effort to conserve the endangered Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). Api Nampa Conservation Area: Api Nampa Conservation Area lies in Darchula district and covers 1,903 sq. km in 21 VDCs. The snow leopard, musk deer, clouded leopard, ghoral, Himalayan black bear and Himalayan tahr are found in the area
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 03:42:05 +0000
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