National Parks of Nepal

Overview

The stunning National Parks of Nepal set a great example for protecting wildlife and plants while showcasing incredible natural beauty. Nepal is wonderful and has much more to offer than the rugged Himalayas. You can explore lush jungles, wildlife, and a variety of plants in the lowlands. Due to conservation efforts in recent years, Nepal’s landscape has remained mostly untouched by humans, and wildlife numbers are growing. For example, the population of Royal Bengal tigers has increased by over 60% in the last decades. Nepal is now home to some of the last one-horned rhinos.

For local people, many mountains and lakes are connected to stories and beliefs, as the landscape is essential to their spirituality. You can explore villages found in the parks and enjoy the history locals share. There’s no place like Nepal where you can experience nature and culture.

12 Popular National Parks of Nepal

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Shey-Phoksundo National Park lies in the trans-Himalayan area of northwestern Nepal and is the largest National Park in Nepal. The park spans the Dolpo and Mugu districts and supports diverse species and vegetation. The Shey-Phoksundo National Park’s geographical highlights include the Himalayan peaks to the north and Lake Phoksundo to the south. Pine, walnut, willow, oak, and cypress grow at lower altitudes, whereas pine, spruce, juniper, and birch at higher elevations.

Berberis, wild rose, and caragana can be found in alpine locations, although higher elevations are typically arid, with grass, alpine meadows, and few trees. You can see 286 botanically significant plant species in the park. Several animals are in the region, like sheep, ghoral, musk deer, leopards, Himalayan tahr, and jackals. 

You might encounter snow leopards, which are rare and endangered in the upper region. The Shey Phoksundo National Park is home to over 200 different species of birds, including yellow-throated marten, wood accentor, and crimson-eared rose finch. Aside from these, the park has six reptile species and 29 butterfly species. 

Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park, located in western Nepal, is the home to Late Khaptad Swami, a well-known scholar and hermit. The park has 224 types of medical herbs and 270 bird species. Some of the more common ones include various kinds of impheyan pheasants, partridges, flycatchers, bulbuls, cuckoos, and eagles.

While hiking in Khaptad National Park, you can see animals like barking deer, wild boar, ghoral, Himalayan black bears, and langur monkeys. The park features religious sightseeing at Tribeni. This National Park of Nepal is home to several historical temples. Every Jestha Purnima, the annual celebration of Ganga Dashhara, takes place here. Sahashra Linga is another religious site located at 3,200 meters, making it the highest point of the park.

Bardia National Park

Bardia National Park of Nepal is the largest and most undisturbed national park. It covers 374 square miles. The park is around 70% forest, with the Siwalik Hills on its northern border and the Karnali River on its eastern bank. The remaining area is grassland. The Babai River Valley also cuts through the National Park. Since farming stopped, the valley has naturally regenerated. There are currently over 800 kinds of vegetation and 600 species of wildlife. 

You can see Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and Indian elephants that wander in the park. One of the most famous elephants, Raja Gaj, is an impressive 11.3 feet tall at the shoulder. Numerous fish are in the river tributaries and oxbow lakes, and a Gangetic dolphin and a fishing cat have previously been seen. This National Park of Nepal is definitely a piece of heaven. 

Langtang National Park

Langtang National Park covers 660 square miles in the central Himalayas, featuring the beautiful Langtang Valley and the beautiful Gosaikunda Lake. This alpine freshwater lake (4,380 meters) stays frozen for six months yearly, from October to June. In Hindu mythology, Gosaikunda is believed to be the home of the gods Shiva and Gauri. Many tourists visit this place during the Gangadshahara and Janai Purnima festivals.

You can see breathtaking Langtang Lirung in the Langtang National Park of Nepal, the tallest peak in the Langtang Himal Range. It towers over the park at 7,245 meters and is known for its vertical relief. Langtang, like Sagarmatha National Park, belongs to the Scared Himalayan Landscape. Temperatures can vary greatly throughout the park as altitude and flora change from tropical forest to alpine scrub. 

Sagarmatha National Park

The Sagarmatha National Park covers 443 square miles. It extends from the Nepal-Tibet border in the north to the Dudh Koshi and Bhotekoshi rivers and the Gokyo lakes in the south. The Gokyo Lakes are the world’s highest freshwater lake system, and both Hindus and Buddhists visit to bathe in them during the Janai Purnima festival. While traveling through this National Park, you can see the majestic Himalayan mountain range in eastern Nepal, with Mount Everest at 8,848.86 meters. 

Sagarmatha is also home to Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Pumori peaks, all rising above 6,000 meters. With a large portion of the park at a high altitude, 69% of the land is barren, 3% is forested, and 28% is grazing land. You might also see the exclusive snow leopard while trekking above 3,500 meters or the Indian leopard at a lower elevation. Sagarmatha National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is now part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape. 

Parsa National Park

Parsa National Park, located in the Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal, covers 242.24 square miles. The elevation ranges from 590 meters in the Siwalik Hills to 435 meters at its lowest point. You can see stunning landscapes as they are mainly grasslands and subtropical forests with over 900 species of flora. According to studies, the tiger population is on the rise, with 19 Bengal tigers and 3 Indian rhinoceros in 2017. Besides tigers and rhinoceros, you can see leopards, giraffes, and sloth bears in this National Park of Nepal. 

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has established itself as a birdwatchers’ paradise. The reserve covers the Saptari and Sunsari districts in East Nepal along the River Koshi embankments. It is recognized as a Wetland Site since 1987. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve’s vegetation is mainly grassland, with patches of scrubs and deciduous riverine forests. 

The reserve has recorded approximately 479 species of birds, some of which fly all the way from Siberia during the winter. There is a diverse population of duck herons, storks, egrets, and ibis. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve also has one of Asia’s few elephant stables. In this park, you can see wild buffalo, boar, hog deer, spotted deer, blue bull, and jackal. Gharial crocodiles and Gangetic dolphins can also be found here.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan has been translated in numerous ways, including “Heart of the Jungle” and “Leopard Jungle.” With such translations, it’s no surprise that the area used to be a popular hunting zone for the ruling class. Chitwan’s forest and grasslands were home to roughly 800 rhinos in 1950. But by the end of the 1960s, there were just 95 left. To prevent the rhino extinction, Nepal established its first national park, which was later designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

The National Park now covers 367.81 square miles of south-central Nepal’s Inner Terai plains. The subtropical climate creates high humidity throughout the year. It allows broadleaf woods spanning 70% of the park area and grasslands covering 20% to flourish. In this park, you can see some of the world’s tallest grasses, including elephant grass, grow in the grasslands. The park’s most notable inhabitants include mugger crocodiles, gharials, and the Bengal tiger. 

Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve

Shuklaphanta National Park is in Nepal’s far-western lowlands, the Terai. Shuklaphanta is Nepal’s second largest wildlife reserve in the Terai due to its subtropical jungle. The park’s open grasslands and numerous waterholes stretch a vast expanse of plain grasslands and Sal forests, while marsh vegetation is found along rivers and lakes. 

Previously a hunting area, the reserve was later turned into a wildlife reserve to conserve swamp deer. Nearly 2,000 swamp deer, 50 wild elephants, and 30 tigers live here. You can encounter animals like spotted deer, blue bulls, barking deer, hog deer, wild boars, leopards, jackals, langurs, and rhesus monkeys.

Makalu Barun National Park

The Makalu Barun National Park of Nepal covers the districts of Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu in the northeast. You can witness the unique Himalayan biodiversity. As altitude increases, the vegetation shifts from subtropical forests to subalpine and alpine zones.

You can see flora as the park is home to 48 orchid species, 87 medical plant species, and 25 of Nepal’s 30 rhododendron variations. There are 19 bamboo species, 15 oak species, 48 primrose species, and 86 fodder trees. The park also has 400 bird species. The endangered red panda, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, and serow are among the wildlife species. The river Arun, which flows through the park, is home to 84 different fish species.

Annapurna Conservation Area

Annapurna Conservation Area has some of the top trekking routes in the world. The area spreads over Central Nepal’s Kaski, Mustang, Manang, and Lamjung districts. The area begins at 790 meters and extends to 8,091 meters at Mount Annapurna. In villages like Ghandruk and Ghorepani, you can experience the breathtaking panoramic view of the Annapurna ranges.

Jomsom is the Annapurna Circuit Trek’s turning point. This region’s vegetation includes several orchid and rhododendron species, and wildlife includes 102 different types of mammals. The Annapurna Conservation Area is also home to around 474 bird species, 39 reptile species, and 22 amphibian species.

Rara National Park

Rara National Park of Nepal lies in the Himalayas. It is the smallest national park in Nepal, with an area of 106 kilometers in the Mugu and Jumla districts. Its main feature is Rara Lake, at a height of 2,990 meters. Rara National Park has a diverse flora and wildlife, with 1070 plant species identified. The vegetation is mainly temperate and subalpine and depends on the height. The park has 51 different types of mammals and 241 bird species.

Conclusion

Nepal is a country known for its peaceful nature and diversity. Nepal is also regarded as a nature-gifted country due to its breathtaking natural beauty. Nepal has a rich biodiversity. Tourists travel to Nepal to connect with nature and wildlife. They are also drawn to its national parks to see wildlife up close. You can see different flora and fauna in the National Parks of Nepal. The Nepalese government has established two protected areas since 1973. Traversing through the national parks of Nepal will allow you to witness the rich biodiversity of Nepal.

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