Wildlife in West Nepal

This park is located in the mid-mountain region far –western Nepal. The core area 225 sq, km. is situated at the cross point of Bajhang, Bajura, Doti, and Achham district of Seti zone.

The park covers the unique mid-mountain ecosystem of western Nepal with plateau of grassland and forest cover at an elevation of about 3000 meters. The vegetation ranges from sub-tropical forest at lower altitudes to grasslands and oak and coniferous forests on the uplands. The most common type of tree species are chirpine, sprume, fir, maple, birch, older, rhododendron, etc. Dense bamboo (nigalo) stands and wide varieties of medicinal herbs occur in the park. The fauna includes leopard, black bear, musk deer, Himalayan yellow throated marten, Ghoral, Himalayan Thar, and others. Some of the birds in the area like, Impeyan pheasant, Partridge, red and yellow billed magpie, Kalij pheasant, Kokals and Himalayan Griffon. A wide variety of colourful butterflies, moths and insects is also an important feature of the Khaptad ecosystem.

The core area of the Khaptad is much religious importance. It includes the Ashram of Khaptad Swami, a renowned spiritual saint, which is situated inside the park.The late Khaptad Swami moved to the area in 1940’s to meditate and worship. He spent about 50 years as a hermit and became a renowned spiritual saint. A small serene lake and swampy area called Khaptad Daha is religious site where Hindu pilgrims come to worship Shiva on the full moon of July-August each year. Therefore, all the vices of modern society such as alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco, violence and killing are prohibited. Except these on clear days it is possible to see the awesome Himalayas ( SAIPAL HIMALAYA, 7000m) in the back ground and on the foot trek to national park, see village life that is not mentioned in the guide books, stay with local families that work and provide Nepal’s real face to you as you continue to the park’s headquarter.

There is a small museum and a view tower at the park headquarters. To the north one can see the Saipal Himalayan Ranges- In the other direction the vast green mid-hills of Nepal can be seen clearly. There are 22 open patches of Patans (pastureland) mix together with the forests inside park. The local people graze their livestock in the Patans during the summer season. In the north-eastern part of the park, there is a lake called Khaptad Daha. During the full moon of August - September a festival is called Purnima celebrated here.

Climate

The seasons of spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are the best times to visit the park. The temperature ranges from 10°c to 20°c offering pleasant trekking weather. The monsoon begins in June and last until September during this time paths become muddy and slippery. From December to February winter brings snow and chilling winds.

Himal in Khaptad

KHAPTAD Trek:

Day 01: by bus from Thakurdwara to Ambassa, Ambasa to Silgudi. (Approx. 12 hours) then continuing by foot to Jhingrana.

Day 02: Silgudi to Jhingrana (Approx 7 hours).

Day 03: jhingrana to Bichpani (Approx 5 hours).

Day 04: Bichpani to Park headquarter (Approx 7 hours).

Days’05/06: Spend Surroundings Park.

Days’ 07/08: Heading back all the way to Silgudi.

Day 09: By bus from Silgudi to Thakurdwara.

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Bardia Jungle Cottage

The Karnali river is a perennial, torrential, turbulent and undisturbed river of the Himalayas, which is one of the three major rivers of Nepal, the other two being Gandaki or Narayani River and Sapta koshi River. It originates from Mansarover and Rakes lake and receives many snow fed rivers such as Mugu Karnali and Humla Karnali at Himalayan belt. The Karnali basin lies between the mountain ranges of Dhaulagiri and Nanda Devi, in the western part of Nepal. In the north, it lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. The Karnali river has its origin in the perpetually snow covered Himalayan mountains.

The Karnali river is the longest river in Nepal, 507 Km in length, forms several gorges with its swift currents. A 202 Km long, Seti River, its feeder stream, drains the western part of the catchment, and joins the Karnali River in Doti north of Dundras hill. Another feeder stream, 264 Km long Bheri river, drains the eastern part of the Catchment and meets the Karnali River near Kuineghat in Surkhet.

Gorgeous Karnali, photo: Anderson, USA

It makes a spectacular gorge near Chisapani which contains diverse kinds of trans -Himalayan and sub-Himalayan fish species.

The bottom of the Karnali River is mostly boulder-strewn at its upper reaches and sandy at its lower reaches and the river water is clean except in rainy season. Its depth ranges from 3-10 m but in deep gorges varies from 50 m-100m. Karnali fans divides into two main channels, first Geruwa on the left and Kauralia on the right near downstream Chisapani.

View of Karnlai, Photo : Anderson, USA