Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies on the flood plain of the Sapta-Koshi in Saptri and Sunsari Districts of eastern Nepal. The area is defined by the eastern and western embankments of the river. Koshi Tappu Reserve, gazetted in 1976, was established mainly to preserve habitat for the remaining population of wild buffalo in Nepal.

Details About the Reserve:

• Koshi Tappu is a rectangular shaped reserve, approximately 10 km wide and 10 km long, stretching northward from the Nepal/India border along the Sapta Koshi River. The Sapta Koshi is one of the three main tributaries of the Ganges.
• Because of its destructiveness during monsoon floods and attempt has been made to control the waters by constructing 7-10 m high embankments parallel to the river. These prevent lateral spread of the enormous monsoon flow. Control gates at the Koshi Barrage on the border with India act as a dam and also contain the river.
• Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to depths ranging from 10 to 300 cm occurs during the monsoon. The river also changes its main course from one season to another.
• The vegetation is mainly tall khar-pater grassland with a few pater grassland with a few patches of khair-sissoo (Acacia catechu-Dalbergia sissoo) scrub forest and deciduous mixed riverine forest.
• The reserve offers important habitat for a variety of wildlife. The last surviving population (about 100 individuals) of wild buffalo or arna (Bubalus arnee arnee) are found here. They are distinguished from domestic animals by their much bigger horns. Other mammals occurring here are hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer and blue bull.
• The reserve also assists the local economy by providing fishing permits and allowing the collection of edible fruits and ferns in season.
• A total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. These include twenty species of ducks, two species of ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican. The Koshi Barrage is extremely important as a resting place for migratory birds and many species recorded there are not seen elsewhere in Nepal.
• The endangered Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi river.
• Local villagers are permitted to collect grasses from within the reserve in January each year. These are used for thatching roofs and building house walls. Because of intensive agriculture the grasses can no longer be found outside the reserve. An estimated us $250.00 worth thatch grass was removed during January 1987.

Tourist Attraction:

• The best time to visit Koshi Tappu is between October and March when many migratory and resident birds can be seen at the barrage and on the main river channel. Several Himalayan peaks including Makalu (8475 m) the worlds fifth highest mountain, can be seen during this period of cooler clear weather.
• The trail along the eastern embankment of the reserve provides places to observe birds and at dusk and dawn some of the resident animals.
• The government Hattisar (elephant stable) at Koshi Tappu has the distinction of biding one of the few facilities in Asia where elephants breed regularly. His Majesty's Government maintains eight female elephants. A semi-wild male, named Ganesh Maharaj by locals, frequently visit and mates with the females, producing a total of nine youngsters so far. Ganesh Maharaj, named after the Hindu God, is considered sacred by local people. Visitors can arrange elephant rides into the reserve from the Reserve Headquarters.
• Baraha Chhetra, located 5 km north of Chatara, is the site of an annual religious festival and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Seasons:

• The region of Nepal experiences three distinct seasons. Summer lasting from February through May is intensely hot with minimal precipitation. Shade temperatures can reach 40 C. The monsoon commences late May or early June with frequent and violent thunderstorms. Rainfall is greatest during July but high humidity and temperatures are experienced throughout the season. Winter lasts from October through January with unclouded skies and moderate temperatures.

How to Get There:

• Buses leave daily from Kathmandu for Kaakar-Bhitta and Biratnagar. Visitors need to get off just before Laukhi and walk 3 km to the Reserve Headquarters at Kusaha. The road to Kusaha is marked by a signboard on the main road.
• Royal Nepal Airline Corporation also operates a daily air service between Kathmandu and Biratnagar. Visitors flying to Biratnagar will need to travel by bus to the reserve entrance shortly after Lauki.

Entry fee into Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve:

The Reserve Headquarters and entrance building are at Kusaha. All visitors must stop here to pay an entrance fee.

• Wildlife Reserve entry fee per person per day:
• For Nepali Nationals Rs 20
• For SAARC Nationals Rs 200
• For Foreign Nationals Rs 500
• Children under 10 years Free
• Elephant ride per hour - Rs 1000 - (Nepali's Rs 100)
• Fishing permit - Rs 300 - (Nepali's Rs 20)
• Camping per night per person - Rs 300 - (Nepali's Rs 20)
• Motor vehicle drive - Rs 100
• Children under 10 years Free
• Entry permits should be kept in case they need to be checked by the Reserve Guards.
• A small lodge at Kusaha is available for use by tourists and there is a small canteen where snacks and cold drinks can be purchased.

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Kanchanjunga Conservation Area

Just below the looming Mountain Kanchanjunga (8586 m), lies the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area. Spread in an area of 2035 sq. km, the area is made up of alpine grass lands, rocky outcrops, dense temperate and sub-tropical forests, and low river valleys with the Kanchanjunga as its crown.

Situated in north eastern Nepal in Taplejung District, the conservation area is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region-China in the north, Sikkim-India in the east and Sankhuwasabha District in the west.

In 1998, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and WWF Program together launched the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area Project to implement biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Details about the Conservation Area:

• The Kanchanjunga Conservation Area can be synonymized as a repository of flora and fauna.
• During the spring season, the area has an excellent display of flowering rhododendrons, orchids, lilies, primula and many other flowers.
• The lowlands are full of tropical hardwoods. These get replaced by oaks and pine as the elevation increases. Further higher is the vegetation including larch, fir and juniper up to the tree line.
• The conservation area is where you will see 15 of Nepal's 28 endemic flowering plants. Almost all the 30 kinds of rhododendron species are found here. This is also the area where you get to see 69 of the 250 orchids found in Nepal.
• Kanchanjunga Conservation Area harbors rich diversity of wildlife including the endangered snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, and red panda. Other animals in the area include the blue sheep, and many others.
• Impheyan pheasant, red-billed blue magpie, shy drongo are some of the many birds found in the area                                                                          .
• The conservation area has a lot of ethnic diversity and culture. As the original settlers of the Upper Tamur Valley, the Limbu are the dominant ethnic group in the lower regions. The Sherpa/Lama people are in the higher altitude where they arrived from Tibet more than four hundred years ago.
• These Sherpas have a distinct culture and tradition from those in the Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Region. Also Rais, chhetris, Brahmins and others live in Kanchanjunga.
• Monasteries, chhortens, temples, prayer-walls are the icons of the conservation area's cultural heritage.

Tourist Attraction:

• For an excellent view of the Mountain Kanchanjunga, you should reach the North base camp where a place called Bangpema is the excellent point for observation of the mountain.
• To make a circular trek you will have to pass through the Celele Pass at an altitude of about 4000 m to drop to Tseram from where you head toward the South base camp, another excellent observation point of Mt. Kanchanjunga. On the way back, you will have to pas through Yamphudiun village to reach Sukheter from where you can fly to Biretnagar.

How to Get There:

• You can reach the conservation area by bus through Dharan. From here you will have to walk to Kunsa inside the conservation area.
• Royal Nepal Airlines has its morning flights everyday between Birantnagar and Sukhetar. And there are everyday flights between Kathmandu and Birantnagar. Some private airlines operate from Kathmandu to Sukhetar.
• Another way to get to Kanchangunga Conservation Area is Birtamod in eastern Jhapa District. From Birtamod and travel by local bus to Taplejung Bazaar, this road is seasonable though.

Important Points:

• To get a permit to this conservation area you need to be pert of an organized trekking group.
• Visitors should be equipped with camping gear and fuel supply.
• Carry out non-biodegradable items and dispose in a designated area.
• Flora and fauna in the park is fully protected, do not disturb them.
• Do not buy anything made from wildlife products.

Entry fees into Kanchanjunga Conservation Area:

• Conservation Area entry fee per person per entry:
• For Nepali Nationals Free
• For SAARC Nationals Rs 200
• For Foreign Nationals Rs 2000
• Children under 10 years Free

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