As the only Hindu Kingdom country in the world, Nepal is a unique cultural and spiritual land. Yet it is this country's untamed landscapes that define its character more than anything else. The terrain found here compromises a landscape like no other: fertile and lush plains, sinking and rolling valleys, and high and rising mountains. Nepal embraces eight of the world's ten highest peaks, which is even more impressive when compared to its gargantuan neighbors, China and India.

You don't have to come to the mountains of Nepal, however, to relish its natural beauty. With almost 14,000 square kilometers (~30,000 square miles) of protected national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, Nepal provides several off-the-beaten- track locales easily accessible from Katmandu.

Ever since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay planted their respective national flags at the top of Mt. Everest in 1953, Nepal's allure has never faded. Soon after, Mt. Everest and the surrounding mountains-three of them higher than 8,000 meters (~23-25,000 feet)- were designated national parks.

You don't have to surmount Mt. Everest to enjoy Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park. Because of the park's intrinsic altitude, the climatic zones incorporate a forested lower zone of pine, cedar, fir, juniper, birch, hemlock and rhododendron, where you might stumble upon hares, gorals, weasels, musk deer and many species of birds and pheasants. The other three zones include a lower alpine scrub, upper alpine zone and arctic zone, where visitors have reported sightings of tahr, serow, black bears, Himalayan mice, langur monkeys and jackals.

One of the most illustrious parks is Royal Chitwan National Park National Park, located southwest of Katmandu. In 1973, Nepal acted to preserve this gem by designated over 2,000 square miles in the Terai region as a national sanctuary. In 1984 it was designateda UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park, enclosed by the natural borders the Rapti and Reu rivers and the undulating Someshwor hills, was once a renowned big game hunting reserve.

The park offers some of the most unique flora and fauna in Nepal. With tropical and subtropical forests, the vegetation includes vast grasslands and wetlands full of animals and birds, The park protects engendered crocodiles, Bengal tigers, rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, monkeys, deer, and many indigenous wild birds.

Lying north of Katmandu and west of Sagarmatha National Park is the distinguished Langtang National Park. A day trip to Langtang offers a wide range of topography, from low-elevation forests to higher-elevation foliage such as rhododendron, spruce, maples, pines and firs. The trees help protect the animal habitats, including those of the red panda, muntjack (type of deer), black bear, and wild dogs. The park is smaller than the neighboring Sagarmatha National Park, but still offers the likelihood of glimpsing some of Nepal's most distinct wildlife.

Author's Note:

Visit Itreknepal to learn more about the wildlife safari options, to arrange an Everest Base Camp Trek or any other Nepal adventure, check with Itrkenepal.com