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LANGTANG NATIONAL PARK (1,710 sq km)
The Park extends over of Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Sindhupalchok
districts in the mountainous terrain of Nepal-China (Tibet)
border.
The chief attraction of this park is the Langtang range in the
north and several lakes in the south. High altitude jungles with
diverse vegetation and wildlife, scenic lakes, glaciers and
Himalayan peaks combine to make Langtang an attractive
destination for visitors. Twenty five percent of the park’s
total area is covered by forest, starting at sub-tropical
forests below 1,000 meters giving way to alpine scrubs and
grasslands toward higher altitude. Animals seen here are wild
dog, red panda, pika, muntjac, musk dear, Himalayan black bear,
Himalayan Tahr, ghoral, serow, rhesus monkey, common langur,
snow leopard among others. Common birds seen here are tragopan,
impeyan and pheasants (kalij). The Langtang Valley is also
renowned for its holy lake Gosainkunda. Thousands of Hindu
pilgrims visit the lake area every year, especially during the
Janai Purnima festival every Auguse.
Activities: Trekking, mountaineering
Accommodation: Lodges, camping
Access: From Dhunche which is 117 km by road from Kathmandu
Best Season: Oct-Nov and Mar-May (cold at higher elevation);
Jun-Sep (monsoon), Dec-Feb (snow)
Park Headquarter: Dhunche
MAKALU-BARUN NATIONAL PARK (2,330 sq km)
The park spreads over the districts of Sankhuwasabha and
Solukhumbu I northeast Nepal. One of the prime attractions for
visitors to the park is experience the unique Himalayan bio
diversity. The vegetation range from sub tropical forests to sub
alpine and alpine as the altitude increases. The park boasts of
47 species of orchids, 67 species f medicinal herbs, 25 of
Nepal’s 30 varieties f rhododendron, 19 bamboo species, 15 oak
species, 48 species of primrose and 86 species of fodder trees.
The park also offers bird-watching opportunities with its 400
species of birds, including the rare spotted wren babbler and
the olive ground warbler. Wildlife include the endangered red
panda, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard tops,
ghoral, tahr, wild boar, barking deer, Himalayan marmot, weasel,
langur monkey and serow. River Arun that flows through the park
has 84 varieties of fish including salmon.
Activities: Trekking, mountaineering
Accommodation: Camping
Access: Fly to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu (one hour) and then a
six-day walk
Best Season: Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr; Apr-May (hot at lower
elevations), Jun-Sep (monsoon)
Park Headquarter: Seduwa, Tel: 029-560136
RARA NATIONAL PARK (106 sq km)
Rara National Park in the far northwestern part of the country
offers a representative sample of the region’s flora and fauna.
Sprawled over Mugu and Jumla districts the heart of the park is
the country’s biggest lake, Lake Rara, from where the park gets
its name. The lake is as deep as 167 meters at some places, and
drains into the River Mugu Karnali via Nijar Khola. The park is
mainly covered with coniferous forest while the area around the
lake is dominated by blue pine. Rhododendron, juniper, spruce,
oak and cypress are found around 3,000 meters while at higher
altitude pine, spruce and fir are more common. The rich
vegetation of the park is a home to the endangered red panda,
musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, jackal, Himalayan Tahr,
wild yellow-throated martin, wild dog, wild boar, common langur,
rhesus macaque and common otter. During winter the park abounds
in bird varieties like coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked
grebe, red crested pochard, mallard, common teal, merganser and
gulls. Migrant water fowls and gallinaceous birds can also be
seen during certain seasons. As for water life in the lake, the
trout is the only fish recorded so far.
Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camping
Access: Fly to Jumla form KTM via Nepalgunj and then a 3 day
walk, or by bus from Nepalgunj to Surkhet (114 km) and then a
week’s walk
Best Season: Feb-Apr and Oct-Nov
Park Headquarter: Hutu
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