Annapurna Conservation Area

The Annapurna conservation Area is one of the best trekking trails in the world. The area spreads around Kaski, Mustang, Manang, and Lamjung districts of Central Nepal. Starting with an altitude of 790 m, the area reaches as high as 8,091 m of mt. Annapurna. Ghandruk is the first experience and further down is Ghorepani that provides fantastic panoramic view of the Annapurna ranges. Equally eye catching area hills of rhododendron that blossom every spring. The turning point of the Annapurna Circuit is Jomsom. The trek southeast from Jomsom, leads to the scenic Tilicho Lake area at an altitude of 4,919 m. In the circuit route, is the famous Hindu religious sites Muktinath Temple. The vegetation in this region includes various species of orchids and rhododendron. Wildlife includes 102 different kinds of mammals including rare endangered snow leopard and a very good population of blue sheep. The region also boasts of around 474 species of birds including multi-colored impheyan, koklas and blood pheasants. In addition the region is also home to 39 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians.  

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Leopard

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is popular as trekking, hiking and recreation area, the Park offers the nearest retreat from Kathmandu. The park was established as a Watershed and Wildlife Reserve in 1976 and was declared as a national park in 2002 for the protection of its flora and fauna. Vegetation varieties in the park include its 129 species of mushrooms while animals include 19 species of mammals including Himalayan black bear, leopard, barking deer, wild boar, wildcat, rhesus monkey and langur monkey. The park also boasts of 177 species of birds and 102 species of butterflies.

The Parsa Wildlife Reserve

The Parsa Wildlife Reserve spreads over parts of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa and Bara districts. The vegetation is tropical and sub tropical mostly covered with Sal forest, while the hills are covered with chir pine. Khair, Sissoo and Silcotton are found along water areas. The reserve provides good habitat for animals like wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull and wild dog. Other common animals in the reserve are sambar, chital, hug deer, barking deer, langur monkey, rhesus macaques, striped hyena, rat,   palm civet and jungle cat. There are 370 species of birds found in the reserve, one being the endangered great hornbill found in certain parts of the forest. Other bird species include peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers and woodpeckers. Apart from birds and animals the reserve is also habitation by snakes like king cobra, common cobra, krait, rat snake and python.

Koshi Tappu wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu wildlife Reserve has carved a place for itself as a bird watcher’s paradise. The reserve spreads over Saptari and Sunsari districts in East Nepal over the embankments of Rivers Koshi. The reserve has been recognized as a Wetland Site from 1987. The vegetation of the reserve is mainly grassland with patches of scrub and deciduous riverine forest. The reserve has recorded around 479 species of bird variety, some of which fly all the way from Siberia during winter. A wide variety of ducks, herons, storks, egrets, ibis are seen on the riverbanks. Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve also has one of the few elephant stables of Asia. Other animals found here are wild buffalo, wild boar, hog deer, spotted deer, blue bull and jackal. Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin are also found here.

LANGTANG NATIONAL PARKS

It was established in 1976 to conserve the unique flora and fauna of the region. It is the nearest natioanal Park of the capital Kathmandu in the Central Himalayan Region. The 1710 sq. km. of the park extends over parts of Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhupalchok districts in the southern mountainous terrain of the Nepal-China (Tibet) border. In 1998 an areas of 420 km2 in and around the park declare as a buffer zone. The park represents a meeting point between indo-Malayan and Palearctic realms, and holds a rich biodiversity.

Buffer zone management is a joint venture between the park office and the local communities. Local communities have a decision-making role in the management of such areas. Additionally, the local communities or the BZ receive 30 to 50 % of the park revenue for the better management of natural resources to ensure a sustainable supply of resources and community development

Climate

September through May offers a variety of natural splendors, from lush temperate river valleys with screeching langur to spectacular old growth forest and glacial-craved cliffs rimmed by snow-covered peaks. The weather is also relatively dry except January-February when one may come across snow.Autumn is the best time to visit the park. By April bursts of red, pink, and while rhododendrons stretch into towering canopies of fir and oak forests. Advent of warm weather makes the Yak and Chauri herds ascend to higher elevation, making occasional camps in the pasturelands, to follow years of tradition. From June to august, skies are heavy with monsoon rains. During August, a lively festival at Gosaikunda Lake attracts thousands of Hindu pilgrims and September witnesses’ spectacular display of wild flowers, while livestock herds, once again, return to lower pastures

Shey-phoksundo National park

Shey-phoksundo National park is situated in the Trans-Himalyan region of north-west Nepal. It is Nepal’s largest national park. With diverse terrain and altitude veriation, the park spreads over Dolpa and Mugu districts and supports a broad range of wildife and vegetation. Geographical landmarks of the park are the Himalayan Peaks in the north and Lake Phoksundo, in the southern region. Vegetation includes pine, walnut, willow, oak, and 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. The park contains 286 flora species of botanical importance. Animals found in the region are sheep, ghoral, musk deer, leopard, wild dog, marmot, weasel, mouse hare, rhesus and langur monkeys, Himalyan tahr, Himalyan black bear and jackals. In the upper region is seen the rare and endangered snow leopard. Over 200 species including yellow-throated marten, Tibetan partidge, wood snipe, whitethroated tit, wood accentor, and crimson-eared rose finch are found in the park. Other species of birds found here are lmpeyan, cheer pheasant, chough, ravens, Tibetan snow cock, Tibetan twit, brown dipper, Himalyan griffon and lammergyer. Apart from these, the park is home to 6 species of reptiles and 29 species of butterfly.

Dhaulagiri (8,167m): The seventh highest mountain in the world.

The Dhaulagiri massif lies northwest of Pokhara and climbing this mountain was at first considered impossible. It looked formidable and the French expedition that came to Nepal in 1950 and successfully climbed Annapurna I, didn’t even give this peak a second thought. Captain William ebb who came in 1809 was the first European to set eyes on Mt. Dhaulagiri. When he calibrated the height of the mountain, he was amazed. Up until then, the Andes in South America were considered the highest chain of mountains in the world. The news of this new discovery left the rest of the world incredulous. For many years since the revelation, Dhaulagiri was thought to be the highest mountain in the world.

“The White Mountain” as it was known to foreigners, was one of the peaks that could not be conquered during the Golden Decade. Although numerous attempts were made throughout the 1950s, none were successful. A string of expeditions arrived in Nepal: the Argentinians tried their luck in 1954. A Swiss- German team gave it a shot in 1955, and were followed by the Argentinians making a bid in 1956 once again, but with no better luck. In 1958, the Swiss were back and returned yet again without reaching the summit. Then it was the turn of the Austrians who could go no further than 7,802m.

In 1960, another Swiss expedition arrived in Nepal led by Max Eiselin and the team included Kurt Diemberger and Norman Dyhrenfurth who went on to earn a name for themselves. They brought along a Pilatus Porter named ‘Yeti’ which was piloted by Ernst Saxer for making drops on the French Pass up in the mountain. The expedition met with countless problems and was compounded by the crash of the Yeti. The pilot and repairman luckily escaped unhurt and walked all the way back to Pokhara from the mountain. But the expedition persevered and 13th May 1960 proved to be a lucky day for the mountaineers as it was a bright sunny day with practically no wind blowing. Six members of the expedition reached the summit to become the first to climb Dhaulagiri. They were Kurt Diemberger, Nawang Dorjee Sherpa, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Peter Diener and Nima Dorjee Sherpa. Ten days later, Jugo Weber and Michel Vaucher followed in their footsteps and made it to the top. Nawang Dorjee became the first Nepali to climb the peak.

The numbers were amazing on this climb, 13 members set off to climb the mountain, summitted on the 13th and it happened to be the 13 eight-thousander to be climbed. No bad luck there.