The state of Nepal is located on the plains and hills, but most of it is mountainous areas. On this territory there are a variety of ecosystems: from the subtropical jungle to the Arctic Himalayas. The nature of Nepal's national parks is one of the distinctive features of this country.
Popular parks in Nepal
Conservation areas occupy about 20% of the total area of the country. These are excellent places for ecological tourism:
- The Chitwan National Park occupies an area of 932 square kilometers in the territory of Nepal. km. In 1984 this park was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, this is one of the few places on Earth where you can observe the disappearing species of animals in their natural habitat. The park is covered with deciduous forest. The shores of the three rivers flowing here are inhabited by amphibian reptiles and a variety of different bird species. The main attraction of the Royal Chitwan Park is over 400 royal rhinoceroses and about 60 Bengal tigers. Next to them live monkeys langur, macaques, leopards, deer, wild cats, dogs, wild boar, etc. On the river Kapti you can go down in a canoe. It will be interesting to visit the elephant farm and admire the lake Twenti-Southend Lake.
- National Park Langtang in Nepal is located on an area of 1710 square meters. km. It is best to come here in the autumn, in October-November, or in the spring. From June to September, the rainy season comes in this area, and from December to February, a lot of snow falls, so these seasons are not suitable for traveling through the park. Here you can do mountaineering, trekking. Many will be interested to get acquainted with the life of the local people - Tamang.
- In the Bardiya National Park you can go on an elephant or jeep safari. For fans of extreme sports, an alloy is proposed along a mountain river. Fans of outdoor activities make hikes in the jungle.
- Sagarmatha Park is located in the highlands of Nepal. The greatest height of its territory reaches 8848 m. On the territory of Sagarmatha there is the highest point of the planet - Mount Jomolungma or Everest. In addition to it, there are two more eight-thousand meters: Lhotse, whose height is 8516 m, and Cho-Oyu, with the highest point of 8201 m. Tourists are attracted to Sagarmath by the possibility of climbing Mount Everest, here you can follow the trekking route, visit the Buddhist monastery of Tengboche , admire the snow-covered mountain peaks.
- In the Annapurna National Park is located a mountain with the same name, which is considered the most dangerous on the planet. At an altitude of 6,993 m, there is the peak of Machapuchare, which is revered as the home of the god Shiva. Here, even the ascent is prohibited, so as not to disturb the peace of the local spirits. In the mountain massif Annapurna grows the largest in the world rhododendron forest. In the park, tourists can visit the Muktinath temple complex - a sacred place for Buddhists and Hindus. To get to the park, you need to get a tourist registration card and a special permit.
- The smallest park in Nepal is Rara . Here is the largest lake of the same name. Lying at an altitude of 3,060 meters above sea level, this reservoir is declared the national treasure of Nepal. The best time to visit the park is September and May.
Nepalese nature reserves
In addition to national parks, there are many nature protection objects on the territory of the country with the status of "reserve". The most noteworthy among them are the following:
- The reserve of Nepal Cauchy Tapu covers an area of 175 square meters. km. There are excellent places for bird and animal watching. You can visit them from March to October.
- The Parsa reserve is located in the central part of Nepal, near the Chitwan National Park. Here live wild elephants and leopards, tigers and bears, blue bulls and wild dogs. In the reserve there live monkeys and barking deer, reed cats and striped hyenas, many snakes and rats that are the food of large animals.
- Reserve Manaslu is a state-protected territory, covering an area of 1,663 square kilometers. km. Here there are 6 climatic zones: arctic, alpine, subalpine, temperate, subtropical, tropical. The nature of this area is untouched by man. The reserve is inhabited by 33 species of mammals, 110 species of birds. Here you can find more than 2000 species of flowering plants. Many of them have medicinal properties. The track around Manaslu is considered one of the most difficult to pass in the Himalayas.
- A unique royal reserve called Safari Park Gokarna is located 10 km from the capital of Nepal. Every day there are guided tours from Kathmandu, during which you can ride on an elephant and admire wild animals in their natural habitat. In the park you can see the pagoda Gokarneshvar Mahadev.