14-SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK

The prime object of attraction in the Sagarmatha national Park is Mt. Everest, the peak of the world. The park was added to the list of World Heritage Site in 1979. The park is in Sagarmatha district the northeastern part of the country. The park, a part of Himalayan ecological zone, has several other prominent peak most of which are above 6,000 meters. With most of the park above 3,000 meters, Sagarmatha is full of rugged terrain with deep gorges, glaciers and huge rocks.


With its Himalayan terrain and its unique culture, the park offers a blend of natural and cultural tourist products here the vegetation at lower elevation is dominated by pine and hemlock forests, while above 3,500 meters the forest is denominated with silver fir, birch, rhododendron, and juniper trees. During spring and monsoon the varieties of rhododendron flowers are seen. The common wildlife in the park are Himalayan Thar, ghoral, musk deer, pikka(mouse hare) weasel, jackal. Other rarely seen animals are Himalayan black bear, wolf, lynx, and snow leopard. Birds inhabiting the park are of over 118 species.


Common ones among them are the impeyan pheasant (Danphe), blood pheasant, red billed cough, yellow-billed cough, snow cock, snow pigeon, Himalayan griffon and lammergeyer. The national park also snowcases the culture trophies with the warm Sherpa hospitality and its many monasteries and cultural landmarks. The best time to visit the park is during autumn months October and November and for March to May is summer where the days are warm and clear. The best way to reach the Sagarmatha National Park is to fly to Lukla from where the national park is only tow days trek away. Another option is to go via jiri or Tumlingtar. From both these place the national park is a 10 to 12 days trek away. Except for a few helicopter landing strips, most part of the national park is inaccessible and can only be explored by walking.