Things To See In Nepal For Nature Lovers

1. The diverse altitude of the Everest Region

The Sagarmatha or Mt. Everest National Park is found in the Everest Region. It is considered the highest national park in the world. The entire park is perched above at an altitude of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) but its highest peak is at around 8,000 meters (26,246 feet) including Mount Everest. The most interesting implication of the diverse altitude inside the park, is that it is also home to four different climatic zones in a single area. There are parts that are rich and fertile with forests and vegetation including rhododendrons, junipers, and firs; then there’s the Arctic zone, where plant life is impossible because of the constant presence of snow in the Himalayas. It also follows that the animals are quite diverse because of the different climates. Many adjust to the thin supply of oxygen because of the high altitude. Most of the physicalities such as thick fur (to keep heat) and short limbs (to prevent loss of body heat) are due to their physical environment.

You’ll most likely have a sighting of the Himalayan black bear, the musk deer, and the wild yak. If you’re lucky, you might see a Himalayan Wolf or a Red Panda, which only have a population of around 10,000 in the entire world. If you’re extremely lucky, you’ll be able to spot a snow leopard. These leopards are incredibly rare in the wild, and there are only 6,000 of them left. When it’s winter, some of these animals survive the harsh elements because they go into hibernation.

Sagarmatha National Park Tour

Address: Namche VDC 56000, Nepal

Website:

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2. The sanctity and beauty of Muktinath

Muktinath, as a destination, packs a two-in-one punch. It happens to have some of the most beautiful sights in Nepal, and it is also one of the most sacred pilgrimage sights of Hinduism and Buddhism, one of the rare sights where both religions co-exist. Muktinath is both the village and the temple shrine found in the village. The Hindus call it Mukti Chhetri, which means the ‘place of salvation’ where Lord Vishnu manifested in Nepal. There’s also a spring near the temple, which symbolizes convergences of fire, earth, and water. To reach it is not an easy feat. Muktinath is found 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) above sea level and trekking it from Pokhara takes about 7 to 8 days. The shortcut would be to take a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, and then trek another 7 or 8 hours via Kegbeni, or take a jeep. If you have the time though, Jomsom is best seen while on two feet. You can catch a dramatic landscape with barren, black mountains as foreground and golden sunrise or sunset as background. You’ll also find in this area the Kali Gandaki River, also known as the Black River because of the black stones and black soil found in its riverbed.

Muktinath Temple and Shrine

Address: Annapurna Conservation Area, Ranipauwa 33100, Nepal

Website: Muktinath Temple and Shrine

3. The accessibility of Langtang

Langtang is one of the most accessible national parks in Nepal, located just north of Kathmandu. It also covers two of the largest rivers in Nepal, the Trishuli and Koshi. The whole area is quite thickly forested and is home to a diverse set of flora and fauna, including in the more touristy spots of Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda Lake, and the village of Helambu. Parts of it is thickly covered in colorful plants like the rhododendron, rare conifers like the larch, and big trees like the alder and maple. Langtang National Park is home to leopards, red pandas, and the gray langur monkey. The whole area, like any other national park, is best seen on foot. You can also venture into the more inaccessible parts of the park, like the Langshisha Glacier or the Five Lakes.

Langtang National Park

Address: Helambu, 45007, Nepal

Website: Langtang National Park

4. The colorful landscape of Shey Phoksundo

Found in Western Nepal, the Shey Phoksundo National Park is the largest and the only trans-Himalayan national park in Nepal. It is a beautiful, colorful, picture-worthy landscape that houses the Shey Monastery, Phoksundu Lake and Langu Gorge. Parts of it is grassy meadows and the other parts are dense tree ecosystems, which includes the willow, poplar, cypress, walnut, blue pine, juniper, and spruce. Of course, dense forestry like this will attract forest animals like wolves, weasels, mouse hares, leopards, ghorals, and musk deer. It also attracts the quite mountainous Himalayan thar, and the rare snow leopard and Himalayan black bear. To access this park, you’d need a group trekking permit.

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Address: 21400, Nepal

Website: Shey Phoksundo National Park

The beauty of Mother Nature

Whether you are trekking through Sagarmatha, Muktinath, Langtang, or Shey Phoksundo, each of these Nepali sites offer something unique to the rest of the world. But if your body isn’t used to the high altitude, always be sure that you acclimatize by trekking slowly, and take multiple stops throughout the day, in order to prevent high altitude sickness. You need a sound mind and body to trek the natural wonders of Nepal, but if you push on, it rewards you with something truly enigmatic and rare; nature at its rawest.