Royal Chitwan National Park (932 Sq km)

Location: Royal Chitwan National Park, the oldest national park in Nepal, is situated in the sub-tropical inner terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. The park was designated as World Heritage Site in 1984.

Features: The Park covers the pristine area wit a unique ecosystem of significant value to the world. It contains the Churiya hills, ox bow lakes and flood plains of Rapti River, Reu and Narayani Rivers. Approximately 70% of the park vegetation is sal forest. The remaining vegetation types include grassland 20%, riverine forest 7%, and sal with chirpine3%, the latter occurring the top of the churia range. The riverine forests consist mainly of Khair, sisso and simal. The grassland forms a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The saccharun species, often called elephant grass, can reach 8 m. in height. The shorter grasses such as Imperata are useful for thatch roofs.

There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park especially renowned for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, the tiger and the gharial crocodile along with many other common species such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, stripped Hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard and python. Other animals found in the park include the sambhar, Chittal, Palm civet, Langur and Rhesus monkey.

There are over 450 species of bird in the park. Among the endangered birds is Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. Common birds found in the park includes the peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, king fisher, flycatcher and woodpeckers. The best time of bird watching is March and December. More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles occur in the park, some of which are the marsh crocodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises.

The park is actively engaged in the scientific studies of several species of wild fauna and flora.


Sagarmatha National Park (1,148 sq km)

Location: Sagarmatha National Park is located to the northeast of Kathmandu in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The park includes the highest peak in the world, Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest), and several other well known peaks such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyo, Pumori, Amadablam, Tham-serku, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachung Kang. The

Park was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Features: the mountains of Sagarmatha National Parks are geographically young and bracken up by deep gorges and glacial valleys. Vegetation includes pine and hemlock forest at lower altitude, fir, juniper, birch and rhododendrons occurs during spring (April and May), although other faunas are most colorful during the monsoon season (June to August).

Wild animals most likely to be seen in the park are Himalayan Tahr, gorals, serow, and musk deer. The snow leopard and Himalayan black bear are present but rarely sighted. Other mammals rarely seen are the weasels, marten, Himalayan mouse hare (pika), Jakal and langur Monkey.

The park is populated by approximately 300 of famed Sherpa people whose lives are inter-woven with the teachings of Buddhism. The main settlements are Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Khunde Thame, tyangboche, Pangboche and Phortse. The economy of Khumbu Sherpa community has been traditionally been heavily based on trade and livestock herding. But with the coming of international mountaineering expedition since 1950 and the influx foreign trekkers, the Sherpa economy today is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism.

Langtang National Park (1,710 sq km)

Location; Situated in the central Himalaya, Langtang is the nearest park fro Kathmandu. The area extends fro 32 km north of Kathmandu to the Nepal China (Tibet) border.

Features: Langtang National park encloses the catchments of two major river systems: one draining west into the Trishuli River and The other east to the Sun Koshi River,

Some of the best examples of graded climate conditions in the central climatic conditions in the central Himalaya are found here. The complex topography and geography together with the varied climatic patterns have enabled a wide spectrum of vegetation type to be established. These include small areas of subtropical forest (below 1000m), temperate oak and pine forest at mid elevation, with alpine scrubs and grasses giving way to bare rocks and snow.

Oak, chir pine, maple, fir blue pine hemlock, spruce and species of rhododendron make up the main forest species.

Along with the existing forest cover, approx. 25 % of the total area provides habitat for wide range of animals including wild dogs, red panda musk deer, black bear, Himalayan Tahr, ghoral, serow, monkeys and common languor. The Trishuli-Bhotekoshi forms an important route for birds on spring and autumn migration between India and Tibet.

About 45 villages (846 households = ca. 4500 people) are situated within the park boundaries, but they are not under park jurisdiction. In total about 3000 households (ca.16,200 people) depends on park resources for wood and fire wood. Culturally the area is mixed, the home of several ethnic groups, which have influenced the natural environment over the centuries.

Royal Bardiya National Parks (968 Sq Km.)

Location: Royal Bardia National Park is situated in the mid far western Terai, east of Karnali River.

Features: the park is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai. About 70% of the park is covered is with dominantly sal forest with the balance a mixture of grassland, savannah and riverine forest. The approximately 1500 people who used to live in this valley have been resulted elsewhere. Since farming has ceased in the Babai Valley, natural vegetation is regenerating, making it an area of prime habitat for wild life.

The park provides an excellent habitat for endangered animals like the rhinoceros, wild elephant, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial crocodile, marsh mugger crocodile and gangatic dolphins. Endangered birds include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silvereared messia, and sarus crane. More than 30 different mammals, over 200 species of birds and many snakes, lizards and fish have been recorded in the park’s forest, grassland and river habitats. A good number of resident and migratory birds are found in the park.

Shey-Phoksundo National Park (3555 sq km)

Location: Shey-Phoksundo National Park is situated in the mountain region of western Nepal, covering parts of Dolpo and Mugu districts. It is the largest national park in the country.

Features: the park contains luxuriant forest, mainly comprised of blue pine, spruce, cypress, poplar, deodar, fir, and birch. The Jugdula River valley consist mostly of Quercus species. The trans Himalayan area has a near desert type vegetation of mainly dwarf junipers and a caragana shrub.

The park provides prime habitat for the snow leopard and the blue sheep. Other common animals found in the parks are ghoral, Himalayan tahr, serow, leopard, wolf, jackal, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan weasel, Himalayan mouse hare, yellow-throated marten, langur and rhesus monkeys.

The park is equally rich in many species of birds, such as the Impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant, red and yellow billed cough, raven jungle crow, snow partridge and many others.

Rara National Park (106 Sq km)

Location: Rara National Park is located in North-east Nepal about 371 km air distance from Kathmandu. Most of the park including Lake Rara lies in Mugu District; a small area is within Jumla District of Karnali Zone. This is the smallest park in Nepal, containing the country’s biggest lake (10.8 sq km) at an elevation of 2990m.

Features: Park elevation range from 1800 m to 4048m. The park contains mainly coniferous forest. The area around the lake is dominated by blue pine, black juniper, and west Himalayan spruce, oak, Himalayan Cypress and other associated species. At about 3350 m, pine and spruce give way to fir oak, and birch, deciduous tree species like Indian horse chestnuts, walnut and Himalayan poplar are also found. A small portion of park serves as an ideal habitat for musk deer, other animals found in the park includes Himalayan black bear, leopard, ghoral, Himalayan tahr and wild boar. Snow trout is the only fish species recorded in and migrant waterfowls are of interest to park visitors. The great crested grebe, black-necked grebe, and red crested pochard are seen during winter. Other common birds are the snow cock, chukor partidge, impeyan pheasant, kalij pheasant and blood pheasant.

Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area (2330 sq km)

Location: the park conservation area are situated it the Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu Districts, bordered by Arun River in the east, Sagarmatha National Park in the west, the Nepal china border on the north and the Saune Danda to the south.

Features: this is the only protected area in Nepal with a strict nature reserve. The park has some of the most richest and unique pockets of plants and animals in Nepal, elsewhere lost to spreading human habitation.

Stepping up the slopes are various vegetation zones starting with tropical sal forest below 100 m elevation; sub tropical Schma-Castanopsis forest at 1000-2000m, fir/birch/ rhododendron forests in the sub alpine (3000- 4000M); and herbs grasses and rhododendrons/juniper shrubs in the alpine pastures (4000-5000m). There are 47 varieties of orchids, 67 species of economically valuable medicinal and aromatic plants, 25 of Nepal’s 30 species of rhododendron, 19 species of bamboos, 15 oak including Arkhoulo, 86 species of fodder trees and 48 species of primrose. Over 400 species of birds have been sighted in Makalu-Barun area, including the two species never seen before in Nepal, the spotted wren Babbler and he olive ground warbler. Wildlife includes the endangered red panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard and possibly the snow leopard. In addition to more substantial population of ghoral, Himalayan tahr, wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan marmot and weasel, common languor monkey and the serow. The Arun River system contains 84 varieties of fish. Some 32,000 people inhabit the conservation area.

Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (305 Sq km)

Location: The Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is situated in the southern part of Far-Western Nepal in Kanchanpur District.

Features: Predominant sal associated with asna, simal, karma, khair and sissoo are found along the riverside. Main grass species of the phantas are Impetrate cylindrical and Saccharum heteropogon, used extensively by the local people for thatching.

The reserve provides the prime habitat for swamp deer, an estimated population of 2000 to 2500 of this species is found in this reserve. Other wild animals in this reserve are the wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chital, hog deer and wild boar. A total of 200 species of birds have been recorded in this reserve. Many grassland birds along with the Bengal floricans can be seen in the Phantas. Marsh mugger, Indian python, monitor lizard and snakes like cobra, krait and rat snakes are recorded in the reserve.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (175 Sq km)

Location: Koshi Tappu Wildlife reserve lies on the flood plains of Sapta Koshi in Saptari and Sunsari Districts of Eastern Nepal. The reserve is defined by the eastern and western embankments of the river.

Features: Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to depth 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 the Kharpater grassland with a few patches of khair sissoo scrub forest and deciduous reverine forest.

The reserve offers important habitat for a variety of wild animals. The last surviving population (about 100) of wild buffaloes or arnas are found here. Other mammals are hog deer, wild boar spotted deer, and the blue bull.

The river also assists the local economy by providing fishing permits and allowing the collection of edible fruits and ferns in season.

A total of 280 species of birds have been recorded in this reserve. These include 20 species of ducks, 2 species if ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican.

The Koshi barrage is extremely important as a resting place for migratory birds. Many species recorded here are not seen elsewhere in Nepal.

The endangered gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi River.

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