Six Best National Parks in Nepal

One sure has heard of the aspiring tales of mountaineering and climbing expeditions in the Himalayans. But, little does one know about rest of Nepal’s natural beauty that is often overshadowed by the tall peaks. In addition to the Himalayans, Nepal also boasts of equally majestic green hills, dense forests, dwindling white rivers, serene alpine lakes, and so much more. Thus, these suitable atmospheres play a perfect host to diverse, endangered species of floras and faunas. So, don’t be surprised to know that, despite its tiny size, Nepal is home to twelve national parks, located in tropical jungles of Terai to gigantic mountain belts. Here, we have listed six of the best national parks in Nepal, however, not in an order.

Rara National Park

Declared a national in 1976, it is situated in far-flung and isolated Mid-West Nepal. Guarded by dense alpine coniferous vegetation, Rara NP offers a representative sample of the region’s rich flora and fauna. It boasts of over 500 diverse varieties of flowers, 214 birds and 20 mammal kinds. However, the cherry on the top is the Rara Lake at 2,990m, that on a clear day offers awesome reflections of mountains.

Chitwan National Park

Undoubtedly the most popular national park in country, it is located on Southern Nepal and was declared a national park in 1973. Witnessing the Royal Bengal Tigers, One-horned Rhinos, and Asiatic Elephants in all their glory in their habitats, exploring the jungles on an elephant’s back, and canoeing in calm Rapti river are just a few perks of visiting Chitwan NP.

 Sagarmatha National Park

Home to Mt. Everest in North-Eastern Nepal, the region was declared a national park in 1976. In addition to the matchless Himalayans, the park also boasts of an array of wildlife and over 118 bird species. The beautiful silver fir, rhododendron, birch and juniper forests also house exotic animals like Himalayan black bear, ghoral, serow, Himalayan Thar, and musk deer.

Khaptad National Park

Tucked in Far-Western Nepal, Khaptad NP is very less frequented comparatively, but one of the finest NPs in the country, declared in 1984. The region houses dense forests of fir, hemlock, oak, Chir Pine, and rhododendron, which boast of 224 species of medicinal herbs. It is also a perfect place for bird-watching with 270 bird species, as well as a common playground for animals like yellow-throated marten, Himalayan black bear, barking deer, and rhesus monkey.

Bardiya National Park

Declared a national park in 1988, it is the largest in whole Nepal. Be it a silent jungle safari on elephant’s back, a nature walk with expert naturalists, or white-water rafting in Karnali, Bardiya National Park guarantees the best jungle experiences. Just an hour’s flight from Kathmandu, it is home to Royal Bengal tiger, endangered one-horned rhinos, 250 varieties of birds, 30 mammal species and a great variety of butterflies, making it perfect for butterfly-watching.

Langtang National Park

Just a few hours’ drive away from Kathmandu, Langtang region was declared a national park in 1976. Also known as Nepal’s Lake District, it is perfect for short day hikes or week-long ventures. With over 70 glaciers and dozens of alpine lakes, Langtang NP offers true Himalayan experience. In addition to the stunning landscape and diverse flora and fauna the region offers, it also is a great place for showcase of the ancient and rich Tamang culture and heritage