National Parks

Nepal is home of many National Park, wildlife reserve and conservation areas. The protected areas of Nepal cover mainly forested land and are located at various altitudes in the Terai, in the foothills of the Himalayas and in the mountains. Nepal covers 147,181 sq.km(56,827 sq.mi) in the central part of the Himalayas.

Encompassing nine terrestrial eco-regions with 36 vegetation types. Nepal recorded 1,120 species of non-flowering plants and 5,160 species of flowering plants. Nepal ranks 10th in terms of richest flowering plant diversity in Asia. Nepal has been shelter for 181 mammal species, 844 bird species, 100 reptile species, 43 amphibian species, 185 freshwater fish species, and 635 butterfly species . The government of Nepal has listed 10protected National parks in Nepal but in 2017 Shuklaphanta and Parsa Wildlife reserve were upgraded and listed in national parks. So now Nepal has total 12 national parks .

1. Chitwan National Park – 932 sq.km(360 sq mi)

Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal. It was established in 1973 and granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers an area of 952.63 sq.km (367.81 sq.mi) and is located in the subtropical Inner Terai low lands of south-central Nepal in the districts of Nawalpur, Parsa, Chitwan and Makwanpur. In altitude it ranges from about 100 m (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 m (2,674 ft) in the Churia Hills. In the north and west of the protected area the Narayani-Rapti river system forms a natural boundary to human settlements. 

2. Sagarmatha National Park – 1,148 sq km(443 sq mi) 

Sagarmatha National Park is a national park in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal that is dominated by Mount Everest. It encompasses an area of 1,148 sq km(443 sq mi) in the Solukhumbu District and ranges in elevation from 2,845 to 8,848 m (9,334 to 29,029 ft) at the summit of Mount Everest. In the north, it shares the international border with the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve of Tibet. 
In the east it is adjacent to Makalu Barun National Park, and in the south it extends to Dudh Kosi river. It is part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape. It is also been listed in UNESCO WORLD HERITAGES SITE of Nepal.

3. Langtang National Park – 1,710 sq km (660 sq mi)

Langtang National Park was established in 1976 as Nepal's first Himalayan national park and the country's fourth protected area. It exceeds an altitudinal range of 6,450 m (21,160 ft) and covers an area of 1,710 sq.km(660 sq mi) in the Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Sindhulpalchok Districts of the central Himalayan region encompassing 26 village communities. In the north and east it is linked with Qomolangma National Nature Preserveing Tibet. 
The western boundary follows the Bhote Kosi and Trishuli Rivers. The southern border lies 32 km (20 mi) north of the Kathmandu Valley. The high altitude sacred Gosainkunda lake is located at an altitude of 4,300 m (14,100 ft) inside the park. 

4. Rara National Park – 106 sq km (41 sq mi) 

Rara National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of Nepal and was established in 1976. Covering an area of 106 sq km (41 sq mi) in the Mugu and Jumla districts, it is the country's smallest national park. Its main feature is Rara Lake at an altitude of 2,990 m (9,810 ft). The park was established to protect the unique flora and fauna of the Humla–Jumla Region of Nepal. 

Rara National Park is managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and protected with the assistance of the Nepal Army.

5. Khaptad National Park – 225 sq km (87 sq mi)

Khaptad National Park is a protected area in the Far-Western Region, Nepal that was established in 1984. Stretching over the four districts of Bajhang, Bajura, Achham and Dotiit covers an area of 225 sq km (87 sq mi) and ranges in elevation from 1,400 m (4,600 ft) to 3,300 m (10,800 ft).

6. Bardiya National Park – 968 sq km (374 sq mi) 

Bardiya National Park is a protected area in Nepal that was established in 1988 as Royal Bardia National Park. Covering an area of 968 sq km (374 sq mi) it is the largest and most undisturbed national park in Nepal's Terai, adjoining the eastern bank of the Karnali River and bisected by the Babai River in the Bardiya District.

7. Shey Phoksundo National Park – 3,555 sq km(1,373 sq mi) 

Shey Phoksundo National Park is the largest and only trans-Himalayan national park in Nepal. It was established in 1984 and covers an area of 3,555 sq km (1,373 sq mi) in the districts of Dolpa and Mugu in the Mid-Western Region, Nepal. The protected area ranges in elevation from 2,130 to 6,885 m (6,988 to 22,589 ft).Phoksundo Lake is the park's prominent feature, located at an elevation of 3,612 m (11,850 ft).

8. Makalu Barun National Park – 1,500 sq km (580 sq mi)

Makalu Barun National Park is a national park in the Himalayas of Nepal that was established in 1992 as eastern extension of Sagarmatha National Park. It is the world's only protected area with an elevation gain of more than 8,000 m (26,000 ft) enclosing tropical forest as well as snow-capped peaks. It covers an area of 1,500 sq km (580 sq mi) in the Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha Districts, and is surrounded by a buffer zone to the south and southeast with an area of 830 sq km (320 sq mi). The national park shares the international border with the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the north.

9. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park – 159 sq km (61 sq mi)

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the ninth national park in Nepal and was established in 2002. It is located in the country's mid-hills on the northern fringe of the Kathmandu Valleyand named after Shivapuri Peak of 2,732 m (8,963 ft) altitude. It covers an area of 159 sq km (61 sq mi) in the districts of Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk, adjoining 23 Village Development Committees. In the west, the protected area extends to the Dhading District.

10. Banke National Park – 550 sq km (210 sq mi)

Banke National Park is located in the Mid-Western Region, Nepal and was established in 2010 as Nepal’s tenth national park after its recognition as a "Gift to the Earth". The protected area covers an area of 550 sq km (210 sq mi) with most parts falling on the Churia range. The park is surrounded by a buffer zone of 344 sq km (133 sq mi) in the districts of Banke, Salyan and Dang. The protected area of 1,518 sq km (586 sq mi) represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Bardia-Banke.

11. Shuklaphanta National Park – 305 sq km (118 sq mi)

Shuklaphanta National Park is a protected area in the Terai of the Far-Western Region, Nepal, covering 305 sq km (118 sq mi) of open grassland, forests, riverbeds and tropical wetlands at an altitude of 174 to 1,386 m (571 to 4,547 ft). It was gazetted in 1976 as Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. A small part of the reserve extends north of the East-West Highway to create a corridor for seasonal migration of wildlife into the Sivalik Hills.Since 2017, it has the status of a National Park.

12. Parsa National Park – 637 sq km (246 sq mi)

Parsa National Park is a protected area in the Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. It covers an area of 627.39 sq km (242.24 sq mi) in the Parsa, Makwanpur and Bara districts and ranges in altitude from 435 m (1,427 ft) to 950 m (3,120 ft) in the Siwalik Hills. It was established as a wildlife reserve in 1984. A buffer zone declared in 2005 comprises 285.3 sq km (110.2 sq mi). In 2015, the protected area has been extended by 128 sq km (49 sq mi). Since 2017, it has the status of a National Park. Before being converted to a protected area, the region used to be a hunting ground of the ruling class.