Khapad
National Park (225 sq km)
Khaptad National Park in West Nepal
is the home of Khaptad Swami, the renowned scholar and a hermit. The park with
rolling hills of grasslands and forests of subtropical, temperate and sub alpine
vegetation is also a rich natural habitat. The park boasts of 224 species of
medicinal herbs and offers excellent bird watching opportunities, with 270
species of birds, the common ones being different varieties of Impheyan
Pheasant, partridges, plycatchers, bulbuls, cuckoos and eagles. Animals in the
park are barking deer, wild boar, ghoral, Himalayan black bear, yellow-throated
marten, rhesus monkey and langur monkey.
The Park also offers religious
sightseeing at Tribeni on the way to its headquarters. There are several
historical temples surrounding this area and an annual celebration of Ganga
Dashhara is held here every Jestha Purnima. Another religious site is Sahara
Linga at 3,200 meters, the highest point of the park. Other religious areas in
the park include Ganesh Temple, Nagdhunga, and Kedardhunga. These areas are
ideal places for meditation. Towards the northeast of the park is Khaptad Lake
where a festival is held every august and September.
- Activities: Trekking
- Accommodation: Camping
- Access: Fly to Dipayal from Nepalgung and then a three-day walk.
- Best Season: Mar-May & Oct-Nov (10-20 degrees Celsius); Jun-Sep (rainy), Dec-Feb (snow)
- Park Headquarter: Khaptad
