Nepal is almost synonymous with Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world with an elevation of 8,848 meters. However, it is not the only tall mountain in Nepal, which is a landlocked country known for its high mountains. With a land area of just 147,181 square kilometers (36.4 million acres), Nepal is home to eight of the 10 tallest mountains in the world. The other peaks are Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters), Lhotse (8,516 meters), Makalu (8,485 meters), Cho Oyu (8,167 meters), Dhaulagiri I (8,167 meters), Manaslu (8,163 meters), and Annapurna I (8,090 meters).
Another thing that comes to mind when thinking about Nepal is it’s haphazardly shaped flag. It is the only country in the world with a flag that doesn’t have the regular four sides. Two other countries don’t have the rectangular flags: Switzerland and Vatican City. There are over 28 million people in the country with 123 recognized languages aside from the official Nepali. Being called “fat” in Nepal is also recognized as a good thing. This adjective refers to a healthy person rather than an overweight one. So tourists should not feel bad when a Nepali will call them fat.
With so many mountains in Nepal, the country takes care of many areas recognized for its biodiversity. There is so much more to discover in Nepal other than Mount Everest, and the other tall mountains. Here are five national parks in Nepal that are worth visiting:
1. Banke National Park
This park was established in 2010 with authorities calling the area a gift to the Earth because of its rich flora and fauna. The park covers the districts of Banke, Dang, and Salyan. A large part of the park covers the foothills of Churia Hills, which is a mountain range outside the Himalayas.
It has an exciting wildlife population that includes Asiatic wild elephant, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, and tiger. There are also over 300 species of birds documented in the park. Among them are Bengal and lesser florican, black stork, and giant hornbill. Gharial crocodiles are also present in the Babai and Rapti rivers. Python snakes also call the park home.
When it comes to the park’s flora, over 100 species of trees and just as many species of flowering plants are found in the park. Among the common trees are axlewood, Khair, and sal.
2. Khaptad National Park
This park was mostly established because of its spiritual significance to Hinduism. It was the advice of holy man Khaptad Baba, which prompted the government to establish this area as a national park, which traverses through the districts of Achham, Bajhang, Bajura, and Doti. Khaptad Baba lived in this area starting in the 1940s until his death in 1996. This is where he meditated and worshiped Shiva. Khaptad Baba eventually became a spiritual saint. There are monuments of Khaptad Baba within the park.
Religious intentions aside, the park is also a wildlife sanctuary. It is home to Himalayan black bears, pheasants, musk deer, leopards, peregrine falcons, white-rumped vultures, and wild dogs.
3. Langtang National Park
This is the first national park established within the Himalayas. It is significant not just for its natural beauty but also for its religious significance. As expected, the park covers high mountains, with a minimum altitudinal range of 6,450 meters. The highest peak is the Langtang Lirung at 7,245 meters.
Various water bodies pass through the park such as the Bhote Kosi and Trishuli Rivers. The park is also home to Gosainkunda Lake, which is situated at an altitude of 4,300 meters. The lake is considered sacred. The area surrounding the lake is supposedly the home of Hindu god and goddess Shiva and Gauri. The lake’s water is considered holy, hence during important Hindu festivals, locals climb the park to go to the lake. Hindu pilgrims from other parts of the world visit the holy lake, too.
The park’s landscape is also a favorite among photographers and artists. The sunrise and sunset in the area are just magical. The night sky is also memorable.
4. Parsa National Park
Gaur, also known as Indian bison, has quite a large population in this park. Around 105 gaurs have been documented in the park. This is significant because the gaur is considered a vulnerable species, which means it has the potential to become extinct. The guar is also the largest extant bovine. There were also four Bengal tigers found in the park. Four is considered a low population, hence the Bengal tiger is considered an endangered species. The presence of these animals prompted Nepali authorities to establish Parsa as a wildlife reserve in 1984, which was elevated as a national park in 2017.
The park covers a part of Sivalik Hills, a mountain range outside the Himalayas. The Rapti River also runs through this park. The park has a large population of sal trees, taking up 90% of the total vegetation. There are also some chir pine trees, particularly in the Sivalik Hills, also called Churia Hills. Other trees in the park are sissoo and the lovely silk cotton trees.
5. Sagarmatha National Park
Since it is located in the Himalayas, this park is largely undiscovered by tourists who are usually more focused on visiting Mount Everest, even if they don’t scale the peak. Sagarmatha was established in 1976 and became the first national park in the country designated as a World Heritage Site in 1979. There are high mountains and gorges in this park. The gorgeous Gokyo Lakes are also found within the park, which comprises six freshwater lakes. These are the world’s highest freshwater lake system.
The park has a good recognition—aside from being a heritage site, Gokyo Lakes were also designated as a Ramsar Wetland, and the entire park is considered an Important Bird Area. The wetland and birding designation are closely related to Sagarmatha’s wetlands, which hosts a large population of birds. Among the more popular birds in the park are blood pheasant, Himalayan monal, and red-billed and yellow-billed chough. Among mammals, the following call the park home: Himalayan black bear, Himalayan Thar, Himalayan wolf, langur, marten, musk deer, snow leopard, and red panda.