Countryside and nature
In the west the chain is represented by series of peaks Dhaulagiri, the highest peak is 8,172 m , the highest peak of Annapurna is 8,092 m , Manaslu 8,163 m, and the largest group Sagamartha with the highest peak of the world - Everest 8,850 m. It is called Džomo Lungmo (the mother goddess of the Earth) or Džome Juri (the goddess of the turquoise peak) in Tibet.The Nepalese call it Sagamartha.The chain is closed by Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) in the east above Darjeeling.
There is a mountain chain in the central height. It takes 60% of the area and it is comprised of two large range mountains-Mahabharat Lek and Curija. We can also include there Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys. The altitude of the chain ranges from 610 m to 480 m. This is the most inhabited region of Nepal with mild climate.
Elephant grass
In the south a belt of fertile lowlands lies. It is called the terai. The belt is 30 km wide and a jungle is a part of it. The highest altitude is 305 m and the lowest point is Kanchan Kalan (70 m). The terai originally used to be swampy areas and Nepalese sovereigns let it in this state because it formed a natural border. It is the most fertile part of Nepal and it is very rich in fauna and flora. The Himalayan kingdom is influenced by monsoon (in the Nepali language-barkha) that brings up to 80% of annual rainfall. The inhabitants welcome the rain. Even a feast of calling the rain is held in Kathmandu valley. Monsoon begins in the east in the middle of June and then it moves west. It brings moisture and grass becomes green. Most rainfall drops in the east. This is the reason why the east is humider than the west which lies in the rainfall shadow. Monsoon wind and rainfall end at the beginning of September. The sky is already clear in October. The temperature depends on the altitude.
The climate is tropical and temperature is above 40°C in lowlands in summer (lying in the southern part of the country). The temperature does not drop below 10°C even in winter. There is cold in the high altitude and temperature is always below zero there. There is almost always nothing but snowfall. It is true that a stay is more pleasant in mountains in summer and it is better to stay in lowlands in winter. The whole country is drained by three main river systems that flow into the massive Ganga in India. They are fed with glaciers or mountain springs of Mahabharatu. The Karnali is the longest river in Nepal. It is rich in water all of the year. It is also the main river draining the west. The river Bagmati flows through the capitol. Nepalese flora is dependent on the altitude too. Teak forest can be found in lowlands. These trees grow up to 50 m and their wood is very valuable. Mainly diverse kinds of grass and remains of jungle occur in marsch. Almost 50 varieties of grass can be found there and some of t
hem reach up to several metres. They are called "elephant grass", because a man can move there only on the back of an elephant.
Hindu food
Mainly rice, maize, suger cane, jute, and tabacco are grown in lowlands in terraced fields. The harvest is gathered in twice or three times per year. Varieties of pulse, oil plants and potatoes are spread out in mountain regions. Bananas, mango, apples, and varieties of citrus fruits grow in warmer areas. The inhabitants breed buffalos, sheep, goats and pigs. Yaks are very famous in the Himalaya. They mainlz serve as a transport of goods. They are useful because they also give milk, meat, and wool. Nepalese goverment has proclaimed 13 000 sq km of protected area to keep unique ecosystem. Some of these places are written in the list of culture heritage of UNESCO. The nearest national park from the capitol is called Langtang. It is 32 km distant from Kathmandu. It is one of the oldest parks in the country. There are beautiful panoramic views of the Himalaya in the park.
Maple, chestnut tree, and himalayan cedar grow in the range mountains Mahabharat. Pine and fir grow in higher heights and some varieties of oak, ash- three, and poplar occur in the west. Low reed undergrowth, rhododendron, and juniper grow at the altitude of 3,000 m. This wood changes in green bushy growth in higher heights and then it turns into Alpin meadows. There are about 300 varieties of fern there.
Rice, maize, suger cane, jute, and tabacco are mainly grown in lowlands in terraced fields. The harvest is gathered twice or three times a year. Varieties of pulse, oil plants, and potatoes are spread out in mountain regions. Bananas, mangos, apples, and many varieties of citrus fruits grow in warmer areas. The inhabitants breed buffalos, sheep, goats, and pigs. Yaks are very famous in the Himalayas. They mainly serve as a transport of goods. They are useful because they also give milk, meat, and wool.
Sagamartha, Langtang
We can find there a belt of sacred lakes that command Nepalese Hindu’s respect. Thousands of pilgrims come here during the August feasts. There exists a legend about the lakes: Shiva saved the world when he drank a poison beverage and than he hit to local mountain and with the help of a trident. He created a lake to have a drink. An adventurer, who has a strong desire for seeing the highest mountains, he must visit National Park Sagamartha (Everest). This park includes the highest peak in the world – Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest 8848 m) and other well-known peaks such as the Lhotse, the Cho Oyu, the Pumori, the Ama Dablam, the Thamserku, and so on. Splendid view is Kalla Patthar. Cold climate prevails all the year. Summer is chilly and winter is dry. About 3000 m people known as Sherpas live in the park. Visitor must be careful because altitude ranges from 3000 m to 8000 m and one must become acclimatized. You can find there also the biggest glaciers in the Himalaya – Khumbu.
Nepal National Parks
The Nepalese goverment has proclaimed 13,000 sq km as a protected area to keep unique ecosystem. Some of these places are written in the list of culture heritage of UNESCO. The nearest national park from the capitol is called Langtang. It is 32 km distant from Kathmandu. It is one of the oldest parks in the country. There are beautiful panoramic views of the Himalayas in the park. We can find there a belt of sacred lakes that command Nepalese Hindu's respect. Thousands of pilgrims come here during August feasts. There exists a legend about the lakes:
Shiva saved the world when he drank a poison beverage and than he hit at the local mountain with the help of a trident. He created a lake to have a drink. An adventurer who has a strong desire for seeing the highest mountains must visit Sagamartha (Everest) National Park. This park includes the highest peak in the world - Mt. Sagarmatha (Everest 8,848 m) and other well-known peaks such as Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, etc. A splendid view is from Kalla Patthar. The cold climate prevails all the year. Summer is chilly and winter is dry. About 3,000 people known as Sherpas live in the park. Visitors must be careful, because the altitude ranges from 3,000 m to 8,000 m and one must be acclimatized.You can also find there the biggest glaciers in the Himalayas - Khumbu.
The Kingdom of the Lo
The only reservation for hunting-Dhorpatan lies in the western Nepal. The reservation serves as a place for native and foreign hunters' longing. Especially blue sheep are hunted. The altitude ranges from 3,000 m to 7,000 m. Mustang Conservation Area is probably the most exceptional place in Nepal. The area was not open to public until May 1992. Nowadays you need a special permission for entry. The area is called The Kingdom of the Lo Land and it lies along the northern frontier in Nepal. Local people are called Bhotia and they speak diverse dialects. The climate is the same as in the western Tibet. The king reigns in Mustang. He resides in the town Lo Monthang which is the capital at the same time. Royal Chitwan National Park was the first national park and it was written in the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO in 1984. The park is situated in the subtropical climate and it offers a shelter for rhinoceroses, tigers, crocodiles, bears, deer, and other animals. The park belongs to famous tourist destinati
ons. Koshi Tappu Natural Reservation keeps and guards last wild buffalos. Also 280 varieties of birds live here too. Shey - Phoksundo National Park is the largest one in the country and it protects unique ecosystem of typical Tibetan fauna and flora.
Royal Bardia National Park
It is located in the west and there are mountain peaks where people have never been. There are lonely monasteries there. Peter Matthiessen talks about this place in his story The Snow Leopard. Parsa Natural Reservation offers to see wild elephants, tigers, Himalayan black bears, snow leopards, and about three hundred varieties of birds. Rara National Park is the smallest park in Nepal. There is a picturesque lake in the park. The maximum depth of the lake is 167 m. It is 3 m wide and 5 m long. It is the largest lake in the country. Pine, rhododenron, juniper, and oak grow along the lake. Black bears, chamoises, leopards, and jackals live here. Royal Bardia National Park is less visited park and its purpose is to keep the ecosystem in lowlands. It is a home for wild elephants, rhinoceroses, tigers, deer, antilopes, crocodiles, and more than thirty varieties of mamals live in the park, such as monkeys, leopards, cats, hyenas, wild dogs, jackals, bears, otters, and porcupines. Also more than 250 varieties of
birds live there.
Makalu - Barum National Park
lies in the heart of the eastern Himalayan. There is the fifth highest point of the country in the park. This park abounds in fauna and flora most of all parks. It has 400 varieties of birds, red pandas, leopards, and bears. Annapurna Conservation Area belongs to the most visited parks. The area is rich in fauna and flora too. 40 varieties of orchids, 9 varieties of rhododendrons, 100 varieties of mammals, and 470 varieties of birds can be found here. There is a beautiful view of Annapurna chain from peak Poon Hill. The eighth highest peak of our blue planet lies in Manasala Historic Reservation. It is a project of Asian Developing Bank and the king Mahendra. Visitors can see rich fauna and flora and also the ethnic group Gurungu and its cultural customs. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area lies in the north-east and it touches Tibetan boundary. In spring rhododendrons, orchids, lilies, and many other kinds of flowers bloom here.
Wrote by: Martin Uhlir
Translated by: Jana Uhlirova
Photos: Martin Uhlir
