Nepal is primarily famous for its enormous mountains and many beautiful national parks, such as the giants Everest, Langtang, and Makalu. However, Nepal has more to offer than just its mountains. Twelve national parks have expanded from the lowland Terai region to the high Himalayas. The best way to discover Nepal is by visiting its national parks, massive mountains, and prominent cultures.
The Terai, bordering India, is home to several national parks featuring lush jungles and diverse wildlife. Other national parks in the hills are easily accessible from the capital, Kathmandu. They don’t need days of wilderness trekking to enjoy. Among them is a list of Nepal’s eight most beautiful national parks, along with what tourists can expect to see there.
Key Takeaways
- Nepal boasts stunning national parks, including Chitwan, Sagarmatha, and Bardia, each offering unique landscapes and diverse wildlife.
- Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famous for its one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tigers.
- Sagarmatha National Park, home to Mount Everest, boasts breathtaking landscapes and a variety of trekking routes.
- Langtang National Park, easily accessible from Kathmandu, showcases a diverse array of flora and fauna alongside the historic Gosainkunda Lake.
- Explore Nepal’s diverse national parks for an unforgettable adventure and experience the country’s breathtaking natural beauty.
Chitwan National Park
The Chitwan National Park was established in 1973 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The most famous national park in Nepal is Chitwan National Park. It is the most accessible of Nepal’s jungle national parks at the Indian border and is about an equal distance from Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The Chitwan National Park boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna, including the one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, birds, and many more.
It takes about four to five hours by bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The best time to visit Chitwan National Park is between November and March. Temperatures on the Terai are sweltering between April and October.
Sagarmatha National Park
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world and is home to the Sagarmatha National Park. Mount Everest means Sagarmatha in Nepali. It is perhaps the world’s most famous and highest mountain. Everest is located on the northern edge, near the border with Tibet, of the Sagarmatha National Park, which was designated as a National park in 1976.
UNESCO listed Sagarmatha National Park as a World Heritage Site in 1979 due to its exceptional natural characteristics. However, the park has much more to see than “just” Everest. Some other very high mountains are close to Everest and within the park (Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Pumori), as well as the dazzlingly blue Gokyo Lakes, Namche Bazaar, the ice-cold Dudh Kosi River, and remote valleys.
Many travelers visit Sagarmatha National Park on the famous Everest Base Camp trek, but that’s just one of many trekking routes through the park. Trekking to the park is the only way to get there because there is no road access unless you can afford a private helicopter tour. All day long, weather-based flights leave for the small airstrip at Lukla from Kathmandu.
Bardia National Park
Bardia National Park is more challenging than Chitwan, situated far west of Nepal, but fewer people go there. The features of the Bardia National Park are a great chance to see tigers. The last free-flowing river of Nepal, the Karnali, flows through Bardia after it has made its way down from Tibet. At the end of a 10-day white-water rafting trip down the Karnali, it’s an epic way to visit Bardia.
People who have been visiting Nepal for decades say Bardia (also spelled Bardiya) is like how it used to be before Chitwan became so popular.
Bardia can be accessed either from Kathmandu via a long bus trip. A flight from Kathmandu to Nepalganj is a short, overland journey. It’s best to visit places like Chitwan when the weather is cooler.
Shuklaphanta National Park, wetlands, and grassland areas are even further west than Bardia. Avid bird and wildlife enthusiasts can combine visits to the two parks in one trip.
Also Read: Shuklaphanta National Park: Paradise For Wildlife Observation
Langtang National Park
Langtang National Park is the first national park in the Himalayas. It was established in 1976 to preserve the region’s diverse flora and fauna. It is the nearest national park in the Central Himalayan region of Kathmandu.
The Langtang National Park is one of the most easily accessible for the multi-day treks from Kathmandu. They can reach them on a bus after a few hours of travel, unlike a flight, which is like many other routes. The 7-day Langtang Valley trek goes along the Langtang River close to the Tibet border.
Enormous landslides triggered by the 2015 earthquake tragically wiped out Langtang’s small village, killing hundreds of locals and tourists. Since then, infrastructure has been restored. From Kathmandu, take a Jeep or Bus to Dhunche or Syabru Besi.
Apart from the diverse flora and fauna, Gosainkunda Lake and its cultural aspects are the principal characteristics of the Langtang National Park.
Shey Phoksundo National Park
The Shey Phoksundo National Park is partly located in the eastern part of the Rara National Park in the Dolpo region, an ethnically Tibetan area in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. The vibrant turquoise Phoksundo Lake is a main trekking attraction throughout the park.
Apart from that, Shey Gumba, Crystal Mountain, and Yangtser Gumba are also features of the Upper Dolpo Trek. Peter Matthiessen published “Snow Leopard” to a keen reader of travel literature in 1978. Afterward, the Upper Dolpo to Shey Gompa became a famous tourist destination.
Kathmandu to Dolpo is accessible by both flight and overland journey. The easiest way to explore Shey Phoksundo National Park is by flying from Kathmandu to Dolpo via Nepalgunj. The trekkers require a special permit to enter Upper Dolpo. The park was established in 1984 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Travelers who are short on time in Nepal or have to stay near Kathmandu can still enjoy visiting a national park right on the outskirts of the capital. The Sivapuri-Nagarjun National Park has two unlinked areas: Sivapuri in the north and Nagarjun in the west. Nagarjun is a highly unlinked park. Shivapuri is more frequently visited, and the park is commonly referred to as Shivapuri National Park.
It is the ideal place to go for a day of hiking, as the lookout points at the Nagi Gumba monastery offer a sweeping view of Kathmandu. The park is also where the Bagmati holy river begins in Baghdwar, deep in the forest near Mt. Shivapuri ‘s summit.
The Shivapuri part of the park is easily reachable from Kathmandu. It is recommended to take a bus or taxi to Budhanilkantha, a suburb located on the city’s northern edge.
Makalu Barun National Park
The Makalu-Barun National Park is a less frequented alternative for tourists seeking an authentic mountain wilderness experience, located just east of the Sagarmatha National Park. This national park is noteworthy for its vast range of altitudes. For example, the lowest and highest points in the park differ by approximately 26,000 feet.
The Arun River runs through the park, and the Arun Valley Trek can be linked to the Everest Base Camp Trek to the west. A short flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar takes you to the park.
Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Makalu Base Camp Trek
Rara National Park
The highlight of western Nepal’s remote Rara National Park is Rara Lake, one of the country’s most beautiful and deepest lakes. Situated at 9,809 feet, many tourists like to camp beside the lake after trekking through coniferous trees and juniper forests.
Trekking in the Shey Phoksundo National Park can be combined with another spectacular Phoksundo Lake trek to the east. It is possible to enter the Rara National Park from Kathmandu via a flight to Nepalganj and then another to Talcha, Jumla, or Juphal.
Conclusion
Nepal is home to some of the world’s most magnificent national parks. Each park has unique flora and fauna that appeal to adventurers and nature lovers seeking an ultimate wild experience. When planning your travel to Nepal, include these eight national parks. Experience the diverse beauty of Nepal’s national parks-from the snow-capped mountains of Sagarmatha to the lush subtropical forests of Chitwan. Pack your bags and embark on an unforgettable adventure!
