Overview
Nepal, a small Asian country located in the lap of the Himalayas, is famous for its diverse landscapes and large wildlife. Known for its natural beauty Nepal is home to numerous flora and fauna. To preserve and protect these unique biodiversities the country has built conservation areas where the wildlife are unharmed from any human hand and where they can grow their population reducing the risk of the wildlife going extinct. The protected regions are packed with wildlife, some extremely rare in other places so the National Parks are famous for exploration. Here are Nepal's top 10 National Parks:
Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmatha National Park is located in the Northeastern region of Nepal in the Solukhumbu district. Spread around 1148 square Kilometers the Park is home to the famous and largest mountain in the world, Mountain Everest standing with an elevation of 8848 meters. The Park is situated in a rugged terrain landscape with towering peaks dominating the sky in every direction. The Park is famous for the Himalayas, Glaciers, Gokyo lakes and many more natural beauties. Tourists can find wildlife such as Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Himalayan Monal, etc in the Park. Animals such as Snow leopards, Red pandas and Himalayan black bears are considered to be endangered wildlife.
You can reach Sagarmatha National Park via air from Lukla airport or by trekking through Lukla to Namche bazaar and then to Everest Base Camp or Gokyo lakes as you prefer. The Park offers many adventures and provides trekkers, mountaineers, or tourists with an unforgettable journey.
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is located in the South-Central region of Nepal in the Chitwan district which is 160 Kilometers away from the capital city, Kathmandu. The National Park covers an area of 952 square Kilometers. The Park has dense tropical and subtropical forests, open grasslands and numerous rivers such as Rapti and Narayani. The Park is famous for its biodiversity and natural green lush forests. The Park is home to species such as Bengal Tiger, horned Rhino, Asian Elephant and Sloth Bear. The National Park consists of more than 500 species of birds including some rare endangered species such as Bengal Florican and the beautiful Great Hornbill. You can reach Chitwan National Park in a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur airport as well as from a 5 to 6-hour drive from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Langtang National Park
The Park lies in the Central Himalayas of Nepal,32 km away from Kathmandu. The National Park lies along 1710 square Kilometers across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk districts. The Park consists of many lush subtropical forests, terraced fields as well as glacial lakes and towering peaks such as Langtang Himal at an elevation of 7227 meters. The National Park houses wildlife such as Red Panda, Himalayan Tahr, Snow leopard and over 250 species of birds. Danphe is a rare and famous bird found at Langtang National Park.
Tourists can reach Langtang National Park by bus from Kathmandu which takes about 7 hours. From here you have to trek across the National Park exploring different Himalayas, and villages which makes Langtang National Park a famous trekking destination for trekkers.
Bardia National Park
The Bardia National Park lies in the Far Western Terai region of Nepal, spread across 968 square Kilometers the National Park is located in the Bardiya district. The landscape around the National Park includes dense sal forest, grasslands and numerous rivers. The Park is famous as it houses the rare and large Mammal Bengal Tiger, Wild Elephants, One-horned Rhinos as well as rare Dolphins. The Park consists of over 400 species of birds the most famous one being the Bengal Florican. You can reach Bardia National Park from Kathmandu in a 1 hour flight reaching Nepalgunj and then a 2-3 hour drive to the National Park or you can also take an 11-12 hour bus drive from Kathmandu or Pokhara directly to the Park.
Shivapuri National Park
Shivapuri National Park lies on the Northern side of the Kathmandu Valley and covers an area of 159 square Kilometers spread over districts such as Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk. Situated in the Kathmandu valley the National Park is a famous hiking place for the tourists as well as the locals. The Park consists of lush forests, hills, ridges, and peaks, the highest peak being the Shivapuri peak at an elevation of 2732 meters. The Park is home to species such as Himalayan Black Bear, Indian Leopard, Jungle Cat and over 300 species of bird including the Spiny Babbler and the Eurasian Eagle Owl.
The National Park is very feasible as you can reach there with a 30 to 45-minute bus or bike ride. The entry points of the National Park are Budhanilkantha or Balaju.
Shey Phoksundo National Park
The largest and most famous National Park of Nepal is the Shey Phoksundo National Park lying in the remote districts of Dolpa and Mugu making the national Park fresher and more conserved. The National Park is on the Northwestern side of Nepal and is spread across 3555 square kilometres. You can explore the rugged landscape as well as dense forests, plateaus of the Himalayan region and the mesmerizing blue view of the Phoksundo Lake which is a must-go place for tourists exploring Nepal. The Park homes rare and endangered wildlife such as Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Musk Deer, and the Tibetan Wolf as well as 200 species of birds, the Himalayan Griffon and white-throated tit being the most famous ones.
The National Park lies in a remote area so you have to take a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and then catch another flight from Juphal to Dolpa. From here you have to trek for 2 or 3 days to reach Shey Phoksundo Lake.
Makalu barun National Park
Makalu Barun National Park lies in Eastern Nepal covering 1500 square Kilometers across the Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu districts. The National Park includes landscapes such as deep gorges, lush forests and towering peaks including Mount Makalu, the fifth-highest mountain in the world. The National Park houses more than 3000 species of plants and 440 species of birds. It is mainly famous for endangered species such as the Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Asiatic Black Bear, Clouded Leopards and the Himalayan Musk Deer.
You can take a flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar which only takes 45 minutes. Next, a drive to Num takes you to the starting point of the Park. From here you trek along the Park passing through different villages on the route.
Khaptad National Park
Khaptad National Park lies in the Far Western region of Nepal. The National Park covers an area of 225 square kilometres across the Bajhang, Bajura, Doti and Achham districts. The Park includes thick forests as well as open grasslands. You can capture colourful Rhododendron and Oak trees throughout the Park. The famous Khaptad plateau located at an elevation of 3000 meters offers stunning views. The Park homes species such as Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard and Barking Deer and over 270 bird species, Impeyan Pheasant and Cheer pheasant being the most famous ones.
You can reach Khaptad National Park by flight from Kathmandu to Dhangadi or Nepalgunj and then drive to Silgadhi by bus which takes 8 to 10 hours. From here you have to trek for a day to reach the headquarters at Khaptad.
Shuklaphanta National Park
Shuklaphanta National Park is situated in the Southwestern part of Nepal in the Kanchanpur district. The National Park covers an area of 305 square Kilometers. The Park consists of large open grasslands, lush forests and wetlands. The National Park is home to one of the largest herd of Swamp Deer of Nepal. Other species such as Bengal Tigers, Indian Rhinoceros, Asian Elephants and birds such as Bengal Florican and Sarus Crane are also conserved here.
You can reach Shuklaphanta National Park by flight from Kathmandu to Dhangadi which takes about one hour. From here you take a 3-hour flight to reach the National Park. You can also take a 10 to 12-hour bus drive from Kathmandu.
Banke National Park
The last National Park on the list is the Banke National Park which lies in the Western region of Nepal spread over 500 square Kilometers in the Banke district. The Park is famous for its dense sal trees, lush forests and grassland landscapes. The National Park homes species such as Bengal Tigers, One-horned Rhinoceros, Asian Elephants, Four-horned Antelope, Giant Hornbill and more than 300 species of birds. The National Park has played a great role in the conservation and growth of the number of Tigers in Nepal.
You can reach Banke National Park by a flight from Kathmandu to Nepal which approximately takes 1 hour and then drive to the headquarters of the Park by a 2 hour drive. You can also take a 10 to 12-hour drive from Kathmandu to Thakurdwara, the headquarters directly from Kathmandu.
