|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Parks
|
|
|
 Royal Chitwan
National Park
This is one of the most popular national
parks in Nepal. The park is situated in
the sub-tropical lowlands of southern
Nepal, lying between two mountain
ranges, the Shivalik and the Mahabharat
range.
This is the flood plain of three rivers,
the Rapti, the Reu and the Narayani. The
forest is dominated by Sal trees (shorea
robusta) and tall grasses.
This is the natural habitat of
endangered animals like Bengal tigers,
one-horned rhinoceros, gharial
crocodile, gaur (the world's largest
wild cattle), four species of deer,
leopards, wild dogs, fishing cats,
leopard cats, python and Gangetic
dolphin. There are over 50 species of
mammals and 450 species of birds in the
park.
Before 1950, this area used to be the
hunting reserve for the ruling class of
Nepal. The hereditary prime ministers of
the Rana family, who ruled Nepal for 104
years, often used to invite people from
England and India as their guests and
huge numbers of tigers and rhinos were
killed.
Today the tourists can ride elephants
and view the wild animals at close
range. |
 Sagarmatha
National Park
This is the highest national park in the
world, with the entire park located
above 3,000 m ( 9,700 ft). This park
includes three peaks higher than 8,000
m, including Mt Everest.
With its terrain cut by deep rivers and
glaciers, this park can be divided into
four climate zones
- A forested lower zone,
- A zone of alpine scrub,
- The upper alpine zone which
includes upper limit of vegetation
growth,
- The Arctic zone where no plants
can grow.
In the lower forested zone, birch,
juniper, blue pines, firs, bamboo and
rhododendron grow.
Above this zone all vegetation are found
to be dwarf or shrubs.
As the altitude increases, plant life is
restricted to lichens and mosses.
Plants cease to grow at about 5,750 m
(18,690 ft), because this is the
permanent snow line in the Himalayas.
The Sagarmatha National Park is one of
the most beautiful places on the Earth,
especially in summer. After the first
monsoon rains in June, the hillsides
become green and different varieties of
flowers start blooming, and butterflies
of myriad species appear in different
colors.
118 species of birds and 26 species of
butterflies have made this park their
home.
Some of the endangered animals that are
found in this park are musk deer, wild
yak, red panda, snow leopard and
Himalayan black bear. Many other animals
such as Himalayan thars, deer, langur
monkeys, hares, mountain foxes, martens,
and Himalayan wolves are living here.
The oxygen gets thinner with the
altitude. Therefore, the animals here
are adapted to living on less oxygen as
well as a cold temperature. They have
thick coats or shortened limbs to
prevent loss of body heat. The Himalayan
bears go into hibernation in caves
during the winter when there is no food
available. |
Langtang
National Park
Located about 32 km (20 miles) north of
Kathmandu, this park consists of the
beautiful Langtang Valley, and several
high altitude glacial lakes. One of the
famous lakes is Gosainkunda, which is a
sacred lake for Hindu pilgrims. People
from the plains come every year to bathe
in this icy cold lake in August. This
park also includes more than 40
villages. |
Rara National
Park
From the east, the high pass of
Bul-Bhulei (12,000 ft) forms the gateway
to the Rara National Park. Rara is one
of the favourite National Parks of
Nepal, spread out over 44 square
kilometers.
This park is named after a lake called
Rara. This is one the biggest lakes in
Nepal, covering an area of about 15
square kilometers at an elevation of
2,990 m ( 9,717 ft). The Rara Lake,
formed on a plateau, is surrounded by
beautiful forests of pine and fir
forests. Exotic birds and rare wildlife
can be seen in this protected area. This
sweet-water lake is said to be 145
meters deep at the center and has a few
streams flowing into it.
The late King Mahendra was very fond of
this place and would camp for many days
in the serene and awe-inspiring
surroundings of the beautiful lake. He
composed many beautiful poems while
camping near this lake.
On all sides, the lake is surrounded by
gentle slopes covered with beautiful
pine and fir forests, alpine flowers
like potentillas, irises, geraniums,
lilies of the valley, daisies, sweet
peas, yellow dwarf chrysanthemums, phlox
and nasturnums.
The Rara National Park was established
to protect the unique beauty of the lake
and to preserve the surrounding
ecosystem. The lake is the home of water
birds found in this area. This park has
Himalayan bears, Himalayan thar, musk
deer and snow leopards. |
 Makalu Barun
National Park
This national park lies in the
wilderness at the eastern border of
Mount Everest National Park and is more
remote.
Its altitude ranges from 1,000 m to more
than 8,000 m. This park contains four of
the five highest mountains in the world.
Most of the northern part of this park
includes dense forests, valleys of the
Barun River, great waterfalls and deep
gorges. It contains more than 3,000
flowering plants. Also about 67 species
of medicinal plants and aromatic plants
are to be found here. This park is the
home of more than 50 species of animals
and 400 species of birds. |
Shey Phoksundo
National Park
This is the largest national park in
Nepal and stretches over the Trans
Himalayan region. This park represents a
whole range of climates that are found
in Nepal. This is the only park in Nepal
where the Tibetan desert type of fauna
and flora are found.
The main attractions of this park are
the Phoksundo Lake and the Shey
Monastery. Because of its remoteness,
very few tourists visit this national
park. Suligad (543 ft, 167 m), the water
fall at the highest elevation in the
world, comes from Phoksundo Lake at
11,855 ft (3,647 m).
The wild animals that are found here are
Tibetan hare, Himalayan weasels,
Himalayan black and brown bear, blue
sheep, wild yak, Tibetan antelope, wild
yak and different varieties of
pheasants. |
 Khaptad
National Park
This park is situated in the far western
mountains of Nepal. It was established
mainly for religious purposes. A Hindu
guru called Khaptad Swami -- also a
naturalist -- has been living in this
secluded area for many years. It was
because of his efforts that an area of
about 225 square kilometers (89 square
miles) was set aside as a national park.
Most of the park has been designated as
a sacred forest.
This park mainly consists of rolling
hills covered with pastures and oak and
coniferous forests. |
Royal Bardiya
National Park
This park is situated in western Nepal
to the south of the Shivalik range. The
vegetation and wild life found in this
park are similar to those of the Royal
Chitwan National Park. In addition, the
wild elephant and swamp deer are also
found here. Rhinos in this area became
extinct a long time ago. Therefore, 13
rhinoceros were captured in Chitwan
National Park and introduced in this
park. There is a greater chance of
viewing tigers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
