Nepal’s diverse terrain and climate pattern gives rise to ecosystems that range from subtropical jungles in the low land Terai to arctic Himalayan highlands. There are nine national parks, three wildlife reserves, three conservation areas, one hunting reserve including 11 buffer zone areas in an around protected area, covering a total of 28,998.67 sq km. The total protected areas make approximately 20 per cent of the total land area of the country.
The protected areas in the lowland Terai preserve such endangered species like the tiger, one horned rhino, leopard, and sloth bear. The tall wild grasses make a perfect habitat for the elephants. Chitwan National Park is located in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern central part of Nepal. Chitwan is one of the few undisturbed areas of the Terai region with its very rich flora and fauna which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. For those wishing to take a long and vast wilderness experience, Bardiya and the Babai Valley in it offers an incomparable alternative. Other protected areas in the Terai are Koshi Tappu and Parsa in the east, Sukla Phanta and Dhorpatan for hunting in the west.
The protected areas on the mid hills and near the snowline are inhabited by the snow leopard, blue sheep and the Himalayan tahr including some rare species of wolf, black bears and lynx. While the Shivapuri near the capital Kathmandu is the national park in the mid hills, Langtang, Sagarmatha (Everest), Shey-Phoksundo and Rara National Parks are the protected high altitude areas of Nepal.
The permits for the national parks and conservation areas can be obtained by paying entry fee at the Ticket Counter in Thamel, Kathmandu, Which is located in the basement of the Sanchaya Kosh Bhawan shopping centre on Tridevi Marg. The counter is open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday.
• Chitwan National Park.
• Bardia National Park
• Rara National Park
• Sagarmatha National Park
• Makalu Barun National Park
• Langtang National Park
• Shivapuri National Park
• Khaptad National Park
• Shey-Phoksundo National Park
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