Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park (Nepali: चितवन राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज; formerly Royal 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 932 km² (360 sq mi) and is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal in the districts of Nawalparasi,Parsa, Chitwan andMakwanpur. 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. Adjacent to the east of Chitwan National Park is Parsa Wildlife Reserve, contiguous in the south is the Indian Tiger ReserveValmiki National Park. The coherent protected area of 2,075 km² (801 sq mi) represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki, which covers a 3,549 km² (1,370 sq mi) huge block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous fore

History[edit]

Since the end of the 19th century Chitwan – Heart of the Jungle – used to be a favorite hunting ground for Nepal’s ruling class during the cool winter seasons. Until the 1950s, the journey from to Nepal’s south was arduous as the area could only be reached by foot and took several weeks. Comfortable camps were set up for the  and their entourage, where they stayed for a couple of months shooting hundreds of tIn 1950, Chitwan’s forest and grasslands extended over more than 2,600 km² (1,000 sq mi) and was home to about 800 rhinos. When poor farmers from the mid-hills moved to the  in search of arable land, the area was subsequently opened for settlement, and poaching of became rampant. In 1957, the country's first conservation law inured to the protection of rhinos and their In 1959,  undertook a survey of the area, recommended creation of a protected area north of the  and of a wildlife sanctuary south of the river for a trial period of ten years.After his subsequent survey of Chitwan in 1963, this time for both the  and , he recommended extension of the sanctuary to the south.

By the end of the 1960s, 70% of Chitwan’s jungles were cleared using thousands of people had settled there, and only 95 rhinos remained. The dramatic decline of the rhino population and the extent of poaching prompted the government to institute the Gaida Gasti – a rhino reconnaissance patrol of 130 armed men and a network of guard posts all over Chitwan. To prevent the extinction of rhinos the Chitwan National Park was gazetted in December 1970, with borders delineated the following year and established in 1973, initially encompassing an area of 544 km² (210 sq mi).

In 1977, the park was enlarged to its present area of 932 km² (360 sq mi). In 1997, a bufferzone of 766.1 km² (295.8 sq mi) was added to the north and west of the Narayani-Rapti river system, and between the south-eastern boundary of the park and the international border to India.

The park’s headquarters is in Kasara. Close-by the gharial and turtle conservation breeding centres have been established. In 2008, a vulture breeding centre was inaugurated aiming at holding up to 25 pairs of each of the two  vultures species now  in Nepal - the and the 

Pokhara Valley

 is the second-largest valley in the hilly region of Nepal. It lies in the western part of the NepaThe cities ofPokhara and Lekhnath are in the valley. It is located in the Gandaki zone, 203 kilometres (126 mi) west of Kathmandu Valley.^[1]The city of Pokhara is one of the major cities of Nepal, and like Kathmandu Valley, is extremely vulnerable to earthquakes due to its clay soil and liquefaction potential.

Tourism

Pokhara is a standout amongst the most prevalent visitor destinations in Nepal. Numerous visitors visit Pokhara Valley to see the Himalayan extent and lakes. Pokhara is additionally renowned for sailing, trekking, rafting and great games like rafting ,canoying and bungee hopping. As per the Nepal Tourism Board, the quantity of universal travelers to Pokhara in 2009 was 203,527, and that year 509,956 worldwide sightseers went by Nepal and the number is expanding each year

Lakes

Among the numerous lakes in Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake is the biggest. Phewa Lake is additionally the second biggest pool of Nepal and it incorporates the parts of Pokhara Valley, Sarangkot, and Kaskikot. The impression of Mount Macchapucchre (Fishtail) can be seen on this lake. Numerous visitors come to appreciate drifting and angling on Phewa lake. Another principle fascination of Phewa Lake is the two-storied sanctuary of Barahi Bhagwati Temple, arranged on the center of the lake, similar to an island.[3] notwithstanding Phewa Lake, Begnas lake is another acclaimed lake in Pokhara Valley, being the second biggest lake in the Valley. Begnas Lake is arranged at a rise of 650 m and it covers 3 km2.[4]

Extreme sports

Amazing games additionally assume a part in tourism. As of late, in Pokhara, the longest and speediest zip line on the planet was fabricated, which is 1850 m (6070 ft) long and it starts at the highest point of the Sarangkot slope and it closes close Yamdi waterway. The zip line can achieve a most extreme rate of 140 km/h (100 mph) and it has a vertical drop of right around 2000 feet. Riders can see perspectives of 23000-foot Machapuchare mountain, Annapurna extent and Seti river.[5] Paragliding, which is likewise done from Sarangkot, is another amazing game accessible in Pokhara Valley.[6] 

View from Annapurna Base Camp 

Annapurna Base Camp trekking, otherwise called ABC trekking, is another principle fascination of Pokhara Valley. Trekking begins from Pokhara taking after Nayapul, Ghorepani, Tadapani, Sinuwa, Deurali lastly to Annapurna Base Camp which is at the stature of 4090 m (13,418 ft). Numerous inns and hotels are accessible all through the adventure. Guests can appreciate the delightful scenes of woodlands, slopes, rhododendron (national bloom), and numerous towns along the way. One study demonstrates that ABC draws in around 25,000 guests on the short trekking season, which is very nearly five times more prominent than Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park, which is the second most famous trekking destination of Nepal. ABC trekking has assumed an indispensable part in the monetary status of individuals around this territory, and in addition, it is a point of reference for the advancement of tourism industry in Nepa

Caves

Mahendra Cave is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Pokhara Valley. This cave is located in a small town called Batulechaur which is a ten-minute drive from the main city. The name Mahendra Cave is given after the Late King of Nepal Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The cave is a natural tunnel where one can walk inside and see different kinds of rocks around the wall, such as limestone, which sparkles when light strikes it.^[8] As one of the darker sights in Nepal, Mahendra Cave gives visitors the opportunity to explore the darker territory inside the tunnel. Bat Cave, which is also known as the natural habitat of bats, is also worth of visiting, and it is located a ten-minute walk away from Mahendra Cave.^[9] Bat cave is 150 m long and 25 ft. high. The main entrance of this cave is quite narrow but the inner part is wide enough. The main specialty of this cave is that there are more than 15 thousand bats of different species. Images of elephant tusks, gods, and goddesses can be observed in the inner walls of the cave.^[10]

International Mountain Museum

Main entrance of International Mountain Museum

artificial mountain at International Mountain Museum

More than seventy thousand domestic and international tourists visit International Mountain Museum (IMM) every year. IMM records, documents and exhibits the past and present developments related to mountain and mountaineering around the world.^[11] The museum contains three main exhibition halls: Hall of Great Himalayas, Hall of Fame and Hall of World Mountains. Inside the museum, there are exhibits on famous peaks, descriptions of famous mountaineers, the culture and lifestyle of mountain people, flora and fauna including geology, in an attempt to represent the traditional culture and values of the Nepalese people.^[12]

References[edit]

1. Jump up^ "Google Maps." Google Maps. Google, n.d. Web. 28 October 2013
2. Jump up^ Sharma, LaL Prasad. "Tourist Arrivals in Pokhara Swell 20pc." Ekantipur.com. The Kathmandu Post, 30 Oct. 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2013.
3. Jump up^ "Phewa Lake." Saarctourism.org. SAARC Tourism Nepal, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.
4. Jump up^ "Pokharacity." Pokharacity.com, 20 November 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
5. Jump up^ Rob, Preece. "Hold on tight!....100 miles per hour", Mail Online, 11 June 2012. Web. 07 Oct. 2103.
6. Jump up^ "Pokhara Paragliding from Sarangkot." Sarangkot.com.np. n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
7. Jump up^ Pamela J.,Putenney. "Defining Solutions: The Annapurna Experience | Cultural Survival." Cultural Survival Inc.,2 Mar. 2010. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.
8. Jump up^ "Mahendra Cave." Xplorenepal.blogspot.com. Nepal Tourism Board, 04 Jan. 2011. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
9. Jump up^ "Catbird in South Asia." Cartbirdindia.wordpress.com.13 Jan. 2103. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
10. Jump up^ "Caves", Lake View Resort.12 Dec 2013.
11. Jump up^ "International Mountain Museum in Pokhara.". Holiday Nepal, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
12. Jump up^ "International Mountain Museum, Pokhara." Explorehimalaya.com, Explore Himalaya Tourism News, Trip Reports, Travel Guide & Photos. 13 Dec. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.