Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, the national parks in Nepal offer a beautiful range of activities and sites to visit that are sure to wow you. Imagine tall mountains, sloping valleys, green grass, blue skies, and exotic animals prancing around you – Nepal will give you all that and so much more.
One of the best trips in Nepal is a visit to the many national parks it boasts of. Home to a variety of flora and fauna due to its unique geographical location, Nepal offers a range of budget-friendly and amazing options for nature tourism. If you’re confused about where to go in Nepal, don’t worry.
1. Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is the oldest national park in Nepal, which was established in 1973 and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. The total area of this national park is 952.63km. sq. This park is located in the inner Terai of the southern part of Nepal. The altitude range starts from 100m to 815m.
There are 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds, 126species of fish, and 56 species of herpeto-fauns available in this park. The most delightful thing about this park is, that it has endangered but beautiful one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Gharial, and house elephant. Besides this, you can experience a hundred birds on the bank of the Rapti and Narayani rivers. This park also has the world’s tallest grass species. Diverse species of other fauna and flora like Bison, Wild bears, vultures, and many more.
2. Rara National Park
Declared a national park in 1976, it is situated in far-flung and isolated Mid-West Nepal. Guarded by dense alpine coniferous vegetation, Rara NP offers a representative sample of the region’s rich flora and fauna. It boasts of over 500 diverse varieties of flowers, 214 birds, and 20 mammal kinds. However, the cherry on the top is the Rara Lake at 2,990m, which on a clear day offers awesome reflections of mountains.
3.Langtang National Park
Nepal’s second-oldest and second-largest National park; Langtang National Park is the nearest Himalayan National park from Kathmandu. Established in 1976 AD, the national park covers an area of 1,710 sq. km (660 sq. mi). Later in 1998, an area of 420 sq. km in and around the park was declared its buffer zone. The national park is inside the borders of the Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Sindhupalchok districts.
The park represents a meeting point between Indo-Malayan and Palearctic realms. So the national park is rich in biodiversity and an interesting area for researchers from all around the world.
Langtang offers an eye-catching view of mountains filled with some rarest animals. The range covers natural variations from dense sub-tropical to alpine environments. Hence, it is one of the most ecologically diverse national parks in Nepal. Likewise, the Nepal government also claims Langtang national park as one of the most scenic national parks and a conservation site.
4. Bardiya National Park
Bardiya National Park is the largest as well as off-the-beaten National Park in Nepal. Bardiya National Park was established in 1988, as Royal Bardiya National Park which is located in the northwest of Nepalgunj adjoining the eastern bank of the Karnali River and intersected by the Babai River in the Bardiya District. Bardiya National Park covers an approximate area of 968 sq. km and is surrounded by lovely villages and fields inhabited by an indigenous ethnic group.
Bardiya National Park is considered the most undisturbed and less-visited park in Nepal due to its remoteness. Bardiya National Park can be an ideal option to experience the wilderness of Bardiya and observe the rich biological diversity. Bardiya National Park has been also contributing to preserving the originality and the wilderness of the ecosystem.
5. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
A perfect place to hike just at the edges of Kathmandu Valley. A go-to place that can be explored in less than a day. Shivapuri National park lies on the south side of Kathmandu valley and has reached almost three districts being; Kathmandu, Nuwakot, and Dhading. The vast hills that cover the
south side of Kathmandu valley habitat various rare species like leopards, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan goral, and so on. There are different trails that you can explore in the park and the trails can lead you to prominent trekking destinations like Gosaikunda and Langtang. But that is not only the best thing about this place, but the main best thing about this place is also the city view you get once you get towards the top. The view radiates the feeling of pure satisfaction in a place that is wonderful in many ways.
6. Sagarmatha National Park:
Definitely a famous place, a place that has not only forests and rivers but ties with the holiest place for Buddhists all over the world. A mystical place that can be called the forbidden valley and has the highest peak all over the world. People come from many places all over the world just to see the highest peak of the world; Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) standing tall at 8848m height. Sagarmatha National Park gives adventurers and explorers the thrill of journeying to this forbidden valley while overcoming different trails and difficulties. For the people who have an interest in wildlife, many rare species can be found in this national park being; the snow leopard, red panda, and so on.