Shivapuri National Park is a peaceful natural reserve known for its rich biodiversity and scenic landscapes, located just north of Kathmandu Valley. Established in 2002, the park covers 159 square kilometers and is home to various wildlife, including Himalayan black bears, leopards, and over 300 bird species. Its sense forest, primarily consisting of pine, oak, and rhododendron trees, provides an ideal habitat for these species. The park also features the Shivapuri Peak, a popular hiking destination, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills and mountains.
In addition attraction
The National Park is a natural beauty, Shivapuri National Park holds religious and cultural importance. It is home to the source of the holy Bagmati River and several ancient monasteries and temples. Domestic and international many visitors come for spiritual retreats, meditation, and trekking along the park’s peaceful trail. The Baghdwar area, a revered Hindu site, adds to the Park’s cultural allure. Shivapuri National Park offers a perfect blend of nature, adventure, and spirituality, attracting both tourists and locals alike.
Flora and Fauna
The flora and fauna are another main ornament of Shivapuri National Park which lies in a transition zone between subtropical and temperate climates. The vegetation consists of a variety of natural forest types including pine, oak, and rhododendron depending on altitude and aspect. Recorded wildlife in the park included mammalian species such as Himalayan Black bears, leopards, jungle cats, and rhesus monkeys. The park is also home to 177 species of rare and endangered species, and 129 species of mushrooms.
Places of Interest
The National Park is easily accessible from Kathmandu. Visitors are attracted to the park for trekking and hiking. Trekking routes to Nagarkot, Dhulikhel Gosaikunda, Helambu, and Langtang National Park also pass through the park. Several religious sites for the Hindus and the Buddhists lie inside the park. On Nepalese New Year’s Day, which falls in mid-April, pilgrims from Kathmandu Valley and neighboring areas flock to Baghdwar and Bishnudwar of the park from where the sacred rivers Bagmati and Bishnumati originate. Hikers, Trekkers, and visitors can have breathtaking views of the high Himalayas from the northern aspects of the park. Likewise, the panoramic views of Kathmandu Valley could be seen from the southern slopes of the park.
Biodiversity
The park represents an area of high biological diversity. There are 1273 different plant species in total found in the park. There are 65 mammalian species recorded in the park, and six of them are assessed as nationally threatened. Chinese pangolin, Leopard cat, Clouded leopard, and Assamese monkey found in the park are listed in the protected animal list under the NPWC Act, 2029 (Paudyal et al,2023). Other common mammals found in the park are the Common leopard, Himalayan black bear, Yellow-throated marten, Barking deer Sambar, etc. Similarly, the region is home to 320 species of birds (SNNP,2017). Likewise, 11 amphibian species and 20 reptile species (Shah,2016), 124 species of butterflies and 122 species of insects are found (Khanal, 2013) in SNNP (see Annex 1-9).