Bhaktapur Durbar Square - The City of Devotees

King Anand Dev established the town in the year 889 AD, and it is therefore steeped in tradition, culture and a rich history. The Mallas ruled Bhaktapur for many years. Most of the statues, temples and sanctuaries seen today were constructed during their rule. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is home to some of the most beautiful and breathtaking of these creations, complete with wooden carvings, gateways and idols.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is unique as it is one of the few sights in Nepal that hosts a great variety of attractions at the same location. One of these attractions is the Lion Gate. This spectacular gate was constructed in the 17th century, in approximately the year 1696, by King Bhupatendra Malla. The reason visitors are attracted to this gate, is the two massive and beautifully crafted statues of lions that guard the gate. Next to the lions are the images of goddess Ugrachandi and Lord Shiva carved from stone. As visitors start moving toward the center attraction of the Durbar Square in Bhaktapur, the Fifty-Five Window Palace, they will be greeted by the Golden Gate or Sun Dhoka. As the main entrance to the palace courtyard, King Ranjit Malla spared no expense with the gate's construction in the 7th century. It is known as the most exquisite of its kind in the world and is beautifully decorated. The doors of the Golden Gate are adorned with Garuda (mythical half-man half bird) and goddess Kali, both being cared for by heavenly creatures. The Palace of Fifty-Five Windows was constructed in the year 1427 by King Yakshay Malla and renovated in the 17th century by King Bhupatindra Malla. It is considered an architectural masterpiece, constructed from wood and brick. Its most significant feature is the balcony that is home to the famous Fifty-Five windows. This is a woodcarving feat that leaves visitors awestruck.

Ranking amongst the noteworthy sights in Nepal, the Durbar Square in Bhaktapur has much more to offer than just a palace and two gates. Visitors will also be able to visit the 17th century Vatsala Temple and the Pashupati Temple. The pagoda temple, the temple of Nyatapola, was constructed in the year 1702. Standing five-storeys in height, it is the tallest pagoda in Nepal. The figurines on each floor are spectacular and each storey is individually connected to the elements of sky, wind, water, fire and earth. The art gallery displays various religious art pieces and the looming statue of King Bhupatindra Malla pays tribute to a king that was not only a ruler, but a creative mind and artist. Visitors can also look forward to viewing the Stone Temple of Batsala Devi, the Bhairavnath Temple, Dattatraya Temple and the Changu Narayan Temple. Visiting the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a unique and rare opportunity to relive history and touch the past.

Fast Facts:

Location	Kathmandu Valley
Significance	UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO Category	Cultural
UNESCO Listed	1979
Major Attraction	The Golden Gate, Fifty Five Window Palace, Nyatapola, Datatri Square and Pottery Square

  

Places To Visit :

The Lion Gate

The massive gate that dates back to 1696 AD is guarded by two huge statues of lions at the either sides. The dreadful stone image of Lord Shiva and the fearful image of Ugrachandi attract the tourists from far off.

The Golden Gate (Sun Dhoka):

The Golden gate is said to be the most beautiful and richly moulded specimen of its kind in the entire world. The door is a embellished with monsters and mythical creatures of marvellous intricacy. The Golden Gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla and is the entrance to the main courtyard of the Palace of fifty-five windows.

The Palace of Fifty Five Windows:

Keshav Narayan Chowk is the Northern-most part of the Patan Darbar palace complex, with the dominating Degutale temple next to it. This magnificent palace was built during the reign of King Yakshay Malla in AD 1427 and was subsequently remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony with fifty-five Windows, considered a unique masterpiece of woodcarving.

The Art Gallery:

The Art Gallery contains ancient paintings belonging to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions of various periods and descriptions. The gallery is particularly famous among researchers on Hinduism and Buddhism.

The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla:

This statue depicts King Bhupendra Malla in the act of worship and is located on a column facing the palace. This is considered the most magnificent statue among the many statues in the squares.

Nyatapola:

This is the most famous pagoda of Nepal, which was built in 1702 A.D by Bhupatendra Mala. This temple was dedicated to Siddhilaxmi, the tantric mother goddess of supreme power. Nyatapola in Newari means a five tiered symbolizing five basic elements - water, earth, fire, wind and sky.

Pashupati Temple:

According to a folklore, a Bhaktapur native who was a great devotee of Lord Pashupati, had a dream in which lord Shiva told him to build a temple for him so that he could move into it. He obeyed this command and thus the temple came into existence.

Vatsala Temple:

This 17th century stone temple, dedicated to a mother goddess, is full of intricate works on stone.

Article : NEPAL.COM, SAARC TOURISM, Photos: Madan Prasain

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Kathmandu Durbar Square

Listed as one of the eight Cultural World Heritage site by UNESCO, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a cluster of ancient temples, palaces, courtyards and streets that date back to the 12th and 18th centuries. The square is known to be the social, religious and urban focal point of the Capital City.

Taleju Temple

The Palace Complex was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and is the site of important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels an. It houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum.

Fast Facts 

Location	Kathmandu
Significance	UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO Category	Cultural
Built In	16th and 17th centuries
Major Attractions	Taleju Temple and Hanuman Dhoka

Major Attractions
Taleju Temple
The temple is a famous Hindu and Jain religious site. The three-tiered temple is the first to be erected with more than two roofs and raised on a tall stepped platform. It is said that the mandir was built in the shape of a yantra on the advice of the Taleju Goddess herself and that she appeared to the King at the dedication ceremony disguised as a bee.

Mahendreshvara Temple
The simple yet beautiful temple was built by King Mahendra Malla and is dedicated to the Hindu Lord Shiva in the form of Pashupati. The temple was destroyed in a 1934 earthquake and rebuilt thereafter. The temple is a memorial to its founder.

Jagannath Temple
The Jagannath Temple is recognized as the finest of the group near Hanuman Dhoka. Exquisite wood-carvings embellish the doors, windows and roof struts, depicting a panoply of gods from the Hindu pantheon. Originally dedicated to Vishnu the shrine was later re-dedicated to Jagannath.

Dequtale Temple
The temple was built by Shivasimha Malla honoring the Mallas' family deity, Degutale. It resembles Taleju's shrine but with a tower-like base in place of the stepped platform. The worship of Degutale has its origins in a nature cult, the images being pieces of rock which the Newaris set up and worshipped.

Hanuman Dhoka
Palace facade turns at right angles between the Degutale Temple and the Taleju Mandir. This way is created Hanuman Dhoka (Hanuman is a monkey god). Hanuman idol placed in the dhoka has been anointed with mustard oil and vermilion through the centuries.

Nasal Chowk
Nasal Chowk takes its name from the little statue of the dancing Krishna in the shrine on the east side of the court. In Malla times the podium in the center of the court was used for dancing displays. The Shah kings chose to be crowned in Nasal Chowk, a tradition which continues today.

Mul Chowk
As the occasional abode of the goddess Taleju, the court is barred to visitors, though it is often possible to peep in through the gate and have a look at the exquisite beauty of the palace. The Chowk is opened to Hindus once a year when, on the ninth day of the Dasain Festival, hundreds of buffaloes and goats are sacrificed to the goddess.

Bhandarkal
Bhandarkal is a botanical garden created by King Pratap Mall in the mid 17th century. With its diverse flora, Bhandarkal is a treat for nature lovers and ecologists. The garden has been named after a seven-storied palace that possesses a statue of the Sleeping Vishnu, Jalashayana Narayan.

Vilar Temple
Between the Lalitpur and Basantpur Towers can be seen the magnificently carved façade of the three-storied Vilas Mandir, of a richness truly befitting a Temple of Luxury.

Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple
The three storied temple has the figure of Garuda placed in its front and incarnations of Lord Vishnu within the temple. It was built by Prithvi Bendra Malla in 1680.

Shiva Temple
The Shiva Temple in Darbar Square is a replica of the Jaisi Deval and was built by Riddhi Lakshmi in 1690.

Shiva Parvati Temple
The long low building on the northern side of Durbar Square contains the beautiful shrines of Shiva and Parvati. This somewhat unusual building is believed to date from the time of Bahadur Shah. It is probably a reconstruction, the stepped platform on which it stands being considerably older than the temple itself.

Manju Deval 
Dedicated to Shiva the large three-storied Manju Deval on its unusually high stepped base seems to dominate Durbar Square. It was built in 1692 by the mother of Bhupatindra Malla of Bhaktapur. Inside the temple there is a Shiva lingam. The small shikhara (temple tower in the North Indian style) at the foot of the steps honors Kam Dev, Shiva's shakti.

Kumari Bahal
The house of the Living Goddess, the Kumari Bahal looks like the monastery that was constructed in 1757 by Jaya Prakash Malla. Inside it lives the young girl who is selected to be the town's living goddess, until she reaches her first puberty and reverts to being a normal mortal.

Kasthamandapa
Kasthamandap or house of wood is the building which gave Kathmandu its name. Legend narrates that the whole building is constructed from a Single Sal tree. At first it was a community hall where local people gathered for important ceremonies but later it was converted to a Temple of Gorakhnath. The image of Gorakhnath glitters at the center of the building.

Ashok Binayak Shrine
The Ashok Binayak Shrine is the principle shrine of Lord Ganesha in the Kathmandu Valley. The stone image of Lord Ganesha stands beneath a golden replica of the Ashok tree which once shaded the shrine and eventually gave it its name.

Simha Sattal
Simla Sattal is located at the southern end of the Kathmandu Durbar Square. The residential style temple contains the Garuda Narayan figure, strange looking effigies and a little shrine of Harikrishna.


Article from: SAARC TOURISM

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The Great Himalayan Trail

Have you got six months off? Do you fancy a long walk? If so, World Expeditions may have just the holiday for you. They have become the only trekking outfit to offer a guided trip along the first completed section of the Great Himalayan Trail (GHT).

Stretching for 1,700km along the length of Nepal, the GHT will take you a mere 157 days to complete. You'll see eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000m, including Everest, and cross passes reaching up to 6,000m, climbing a total of 150,000m. That's a Snowdon every day for half a year. Oh, and it will set you back £20,500.

The GHT isn't the world's longest long-distance footpath. The Continental Divide Trail in the US is 5,000km and the Trans Canada will be three times that. But this steroidal version of the Pennine Way looks like being the most coveted of all. Eventually, the trail's originators hope it will stretch from the mighty 8,000m peak Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, considered the westernmost outlier of the Himalaya, to Namche Barwa in Tibet. It will connect five Asian countries - Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

That version will stretch for 4,500km, but there is no completion date confirmed for such a huge undertaking. For now, the focus is on Nepal - with the first guided treks starting next year. As well as being an enormous challenge, the GHT could also prove to be a welcome money-spinner for a country still recovering from 10 years of civil war. Some parts of Nepal have benefited hugely from tourism, like the Everest and Annapurna regions. Those areas without such famous mountains, particularly in remote western Nepal, haven't fared nearly so well.

Last year, I trekked along a section of the GHT through the Mugu district of western Nepal, a remote region peopled by Tibetan traders and animist tribes. Thousands of people were relying on aid from the World Food Programme, flown in by helicopter with the nearest roads a week's walk away. Many young men leave to find work abroad. Tourism, for all its faults, could really make a difference here.

Several adventurous souls have travelled the arc of the Himalaya before, while Richard and Adrian Crane, cousins of television presenter Nicholas Crane, actually ran it in 1983. But the idea of a defined and designated route for trekkers is more recent. In 2006, the Dutch development agency SNV and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development based in Kathmandu committed to developing the idea, and have brought together government agencies and local people.

But it's the hard work of one man, Australian trekker Robin Boustead, that has moved the project along most. After years of research (read his account here), he completed the trek in two sections, and has drawn anexcellent free map of the trail's route as well as writing a guidebook. Every water source, camping ground and elevation has been meticulously logged with GPS, but he says that the route will undoubtedly develop as more people do it and discover better alternatives.

For those without the time – or the knees – to do the whole thing in one go, Boustead has broken the GHT down into nine sections, which you can pick off at your leisure. And if you think 20 grand is a lot of chapatties to spend on an adventure holiday, it's still a lot less than the current price of a trip up Everest – and a lot more exclusive. There have been four thousand ascents of the world's highest mountain, but only one man has done the GHT.

• The Nepal stretch of the Great Himalayan Trail guided with World Expeditions opens in February 2011. It costs £20,500, not including interntaional flights. It takes 157 days to complete, although it can be broken down to seven smaller stages up to 34 days.

Article @ Guardian.co.uk 

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Hotel industry gearing up for NTY 2011

Red Rose Apartment Hotel

The hotel industry in Nepal, which had suffered much during the decade-long insurgency, is back in full shape. The industry started recovering with the start of the peace process in the country in 2006. More international airlines began flying to the country bringing in more visitors from across the world and also spurred domestic tourism. The increasing movement of tourists encouraged hotelier to invest more. But they cautiously waited for the initial few years and waited for the ripe moment. The declaration of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) opened the floodgates and entrepreneurs are investing on hotels not only in the capital but all over the country.
The decade-long insurgency was harsh for the Nepal tourism industry and it was even cruel for the hotel industry. Nepali tourism industry passed through one of the worst recessions in its history of five decades. The deteriorating security situation in the country during the period not only led to the decline in tourist arrival but also triggered curtailing of price rates, displacement of trained hands, and closure of travel trade enterprises. Hotels, having big investments and often on bank loans, were the first ones to resort to price undercutting. Even five star hotels started selling their rooms at a very low rate. Such was the scale of price undercutting that some tour operators even say that five star hotels even robbed Thamel-based lodge owners of their business.
According to Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), the apex body of hotels in Nepal, there were 11 four star hotels in the country in 2003 AD. These four star hotels were providing 987 rooms per night. But with the closure of four four-star hotels and upgrading of two four-star hotels into five-star category, the number of rooms available in the four-star category has reduced to just 430 rooms per night. Because of the recession, the tourism industry lost more than 500 rooms per night in four-star category. 

But the end of conflict and declaration of the year-long tourism promotional campaign has encouraged investors and more and more people are investing in hotel business. According to Tourism Industry Division under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA), 38 new hotels were registered in the capital in fiscal year 2009/10. According to the Tourism Industry Division, a total of 736 hotels have been registered across the country, including 422 in the capital alone. Of them 10 are five-star hotel -- eight in the capital and two -- in Pokhara and two with four-star rating. Similarly, there are 17 three-star hotels, 31 two-star hotels, 37 one-star hotels and 639 tourist standard hotels. These hotels produce 14,272 rooms per night. Private sector has invested about Rs 150 billion in the hotel industry, according to HAN. 

Two new four-star hotels in the capital:
Two new four-star hotels are beginning operation in the Valley right on the eve of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. Implementing Expert Group (IEG) – the investment group of businessmen and professionals involved in international trade – is preparing for the grand opening Red Rose Apartment Hotel at Pulchowk and Airport Hotel near Tribhuvan International Airport in December. The group is spending more than Rs 1 billion in the two projects. This is the biggest investment in Nepali hotel industry after the Hotel Hyatt Regency more than a decade ago.
Airport Hotel, which is located just in front the Golden Gate of Tribhuvan International Airport, will have 55 rooms in five floors. The hotel plans to cater people traveling to and from Tribhuvan International Airport. Similarly, Red Rose Apartment Hotel at Pulchowk will have 11 apartments and 30 rooms upon completion. The hotel aims to cater travelers needing accommodation for more than a week. The group is also planning to establish exotic restaurants and shopping areas in both the hotels.

Article @ http://imagenepal.com.np/TNDcovst.html

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Nepal Visa Information

Visa Information:

Planning a trip to Nepal is not as easy as planning a vacation in Hawaii or Europe. Nepal is one of the most distant destinations on Earth if you are starting your trip from North America, and it takes almost 2 days just to get there. A trip to this Himalayan kingdom requires a great deal of advance planning. You should set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible.

When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see? 

The single-most-important thing to know about flying to Nepal is that with relatively few flights into the country, seats book up months in advance during the peak trekking seasons. Try to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, especially if you want to fly on Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. By July or August, you'll find that nearly every flight into the country during this period is wait-listed. Royal Nepal Airlines, which is infamously unreliable, is usually the last airline to fill up.

There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.

If you are traveling through Delhi, it's a good idea to have an Indian visa, even if you aren't planning to leave the airport. We've had reports of people being refused onward passage because they didn't have a visa, even though they were only transiting through the airport.

Entry: Tourist entry visa can be obtained for the following duration from Nepal Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad, or at the following immigration offices in Nepal:

• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu

• Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)

• Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)

• Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)

• Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)

• Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)

• Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)

• Gaddachauki, Mahendranagarv(Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)

Visa Facility	Duration	Fees
Multiple Entry	15 Days	US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple Entry	30 Days	US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple Entry	90 Days	US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

Tourist Visa Extension: 

Visa extension fee for 15 days or less is US $ 30 or equivalent convertible currency and visa extension fee for more than 15 days is US$ 2 per day.

Tourist visa can be extended for a maximum period of 150 days in a single visa year (January - December).

Gratis (Free) Visa: Gratis visa for 30 days available only for tourists of SAARC countries.

Indian nationals do not require visa to enter into Nepal

Transit Visa: Transit visa for one day can be obtained from Nepal's immigration offices at the entry points upon the production of departure flight ticket via Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal, by paying US $ 5 or equivalent convertible currency.

Download Your Visa Form Here

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Travel Guide to Nepal

Planning a trip to Nepal is not as easy as planning a vacation in Hawaii or Europe. Nepal is one of the most distant destinations on Earth if you are starting your trip from North America, and it takes almost 2 days just to get there. A trip to this Himalayan kingdom requires a great deal of advance planning. You should set aside plenty of time to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible.

When should I go? How do I get there? What do I need to pack? Where should I stay? What kind of restaurants are there? What should I see? These are some of the questions that this section will answer.

The single-most-important thing to know about flying to Nepal is that with relatively few flights into the country, seats book up months in advance during the peak trekking seasons. Try to make reservations at least 6 months in advance, especially if you want to fly on Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines. By July or August, you'll find that nearly every flight into the country during this period is wait-listed. Royal Nepal Airlines, which is infamously unreliable, is usually the last airline to fill up.

There are no direct flights from the United States to Nepal, so unless you fly Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, or Pakistan International Airlines, you're going to have to change airlines somewhere en route, usually in London or Delhi if you are eastbound or in Bangkok or Singapore if you are westbound. You'll also have to spend a night somewhere en route-Bangkok, Singapore, Karachi, and Delhi are the usual overnight stops.

If you are traveling through Delhi, it's a good idea to have an Indian visa, even if you aren't planning to leave the airport. We've had reports of people being refused onward passage because they didn't have a visa, even though they were only transiting through the airport.

Security.

Nepal is generally very safe with one of the lowest crime rates of all countries. Travel with children in Nepal, yet with a bit of planning it is remarkably hassle free

 

Shopping.

 Despite Nepal's lack of raw materials, shopping here is quite advanced. Curio arts, Garment and Carpets are head the export list. Nepal's carpet industries are world renowned.

 

Currency.

The unit of the Nepalese Currency is the Rupee. Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 denominations.

 

Banks.

Banks are open between 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P M. from Sunday to Friday. They are closed on Saturdays and other holidays.

 

Credit Cards.

Major credit cards are widely accepted in Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels, restaurants and shops.

 

Currency Exchange.

There are plenty of Currency Exchange Counters in Kathmandu and Pokhara

 

ATM’s.

Visitors can withdraw money through Visa /Master Card from the different ATM machines at several locations in Kathmandu and Pohkara.

 

Electricity

 220 Volts, 50 Hz

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Nepal Tourism Year 2011 " Together for Tourism"

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today officially launched the national campaign, ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ during a huge gala at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. Lets come “Together  for tourism” the PM said, urging all to join hands for the most anticipated national campaign NTY 2011 that could “trigger the economic revolution”.

The PM inaugurated the campaign by lighting the peace torch at 3:00 pm at Nepal Army Pavilion. The centrally located peace torch that measures eight feet was first lighted at Eternal Peace Flame in Lumbini Sacred Garden by Olympian Bimala Rana Magar on February 21 and was brought to Kathmandu on February 24.

Representatives from political parties, tourism, economic sector, private sector, sports, entertainment and ethnic communities participated in the rally and the inaugural ceremony. Along with the PM, 18 political parties, including Nepali Congress, CPN UML, UCPN-Maoist, RPP and representatives from FNCCI, NCC, HAN, NATTA, FCAN, NRNA, BAN showed their commitment by pledging to make the campaign a big success and avoid any kind of bandh or strike in 2011 to maintain peace and security.

To show their commitment towards the national campaign’s official launch, up to 40,000 people from different walks of life participated in rallies from City Hall, Lainchour Scout, Academy Hall, Stadium and Basantpur Durbar square to converge at Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the PM said tourism was the only sector that could increase employment opportunities and earn more foreign currency.

“NTY 2011 can revive the nation and help rebrand its image in the international arena,” he said. Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sarat Singh Bhandari lauded the overwhelming response of the private sector to promote NTY 2011 and insisted on maintaining peace and stability while the national campaign was on.

Yogendra Shakya, programme implementation committee national coordinator, hoped that the national campaign would be helpful enough to rebrand Nepal as a peaceful country. Billed as the most ambitious national project, NTY 2011 targets to attract one million tourists.

Article By: Eliza Manandhar

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Makalu Barun National Park

High in the heart of the eastern Himalayan, seven valleys radiate from Mt. Makalu, the world's fifth highest peak. These valleys, particularly the Barun valley, treasure some of the last remaining pristine forest and alpine meadows of Nepal.

From the bottom of the Arun valley, at just 435 m above sea level, the Himalayas rise to the snow-capped tip of Makalu 8463 m within a 40 km distance. Within this wide range of altitudes and climates, the Makalu-Barun area contains some of the richest and most diverse pockets of plants and animals in Nepal, elsewhere lost to spreading human habitation.

Click the link to find about Trekking in Makalu Base Camp Trek

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Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park

Sagarmatha National Park covers an area of 1148 square kilometers in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The Park includes the highest peak in the world. Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest 8848 m.) and several other well known peaks such as Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamerku, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachyung Kang.

As Mt. Sagarmatha(Everest) and the surrounding area is of major significance not only to Nepal but to the rest of the world, its status as a national park since 1976 is intended to safeguard its unique cultural, physical and scientific values through positive management based on sound conservation principles.The Himalaya were uplifted at the end of the Mesozoic Era, some 60 millions years ago. The resulting young mountains of this region are still rising and the net growth is a few centimeters per century.

Vegetation in the park varies from pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes, fir, juniper, birch and rhododendron woods at mid-elevations, scrub and alpine plant communities higher up and bare rock and snow above tree line. The famed bloom of rhododendrons occurs during the spring (April and May) although much of the. flora is most colorful during the monsoon season (June to August).

The wild animals most likely to be seen in the park are the Himalayan tahr, goral, serow, musk deer and Himalayan black bear. Other mammals are weasels, martens. Himalayan mouse hare (Pika), jackals and langur.

The park provides a habit for at least 118 species of birds. The most common birds to be seen are the Impeyen pheasant (the national bird of Nepal), blood pheasant, cheer pheasant, jungle crow, red billed and yellow billed coughs and snow pigeon. Fairly common birds are the Himalayan griffon, lammergier, snow partridge, skylark and many others.

Thinking of Traveling to Everest Region ?? Follow the Link for More detail:
Everest Region Trekking

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Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park stands today as a successful testimony of nature conservation in South Asia. This is the first national park of Nepal established in 1973 to preserve a unique ecosystem significantly valuable to the whole world. The park covering a pristine area of 932 sq. km is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern central part of Nepal.

The park has gained much wider recognition in the world when UNESCO included this area on the list of World Heritage Site in 1984. The park consists of churia hills, ox-bow lakes, flood plains of Rapti, Reu and Narayani rivers. The Churia hill rises gradually towards the east from 150 m to over 800 m. The lower but most rugged Someshwor hills occupy most of the western portion of the park. The flood plains of Chitwan are rich alluvial. The park boundaries have been delineated by the Narayani and Rapti rivers in the north and west, and the Reu river and Someshwor hills in the south and south-west. It shares its eastern border with Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

The Chitwan valley is characterized by tropical to subtropical forest. 70% of park vegetation is predominantly Sal ( Shorea robusta ) forest, a moist deciduous climax vegetation type of the Terai region. The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%), riverine forest (7%) and Sal with Chirpine ( Pinus roxburghii ) (3%), the latter occurring at the top of the Churia range. The riverine forests mainly consists of khair, sissoo and simal. The simal is with spiny bark when young and develops buttress at the bottom in older stage. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The Sacchrum species, often called elephant-grass can reach 8 m in height. The shorter grasses such as Imperata is useful for thatch roofs.

There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park is especially renowned for its protection of the endangered one- horned rhinoceros, tiger, and gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animal.

The estimated population of rhinos is 400. The park also secures populations of endangered species such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, and python. Some of the other animals found in the park are sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth deer, common leopard, ratel, palm civet, wild dog, langur and rhesus monkeys. There are over 450 species of birds in the park. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. A few of the common birds seen are peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers.

The best times for bird watching are in March and December. More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles are found in the park, some of which are the marsh mugger crocodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises. The park is actively engaged in the scientific study of several species of wild flora and fauna.

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