12 Top National Parks In Nepal To Visit In 2025
A beautiful Himalayan country will indeed boast various flora and fauna. With increase in population and the effects of global warming, necessary steps need to be taken to ensure that plants and animals have their life going on. A national park is a protected area for the region’s unique species of flora and fauna. There are numerous national parks in Nepal that conserve and protect wildlife and their natural habitat. To seek tranquility amidst nature, then national parks are the perfect place.
Best 12 National Parks In (Updated 2025)
Explore these 12 national parks in Nepal to witness the raw beauty of nature, present in its absolute form and to a great extent, untouched by human intervention. Here is a list of national park in Nepal you must explore on your trip in 2025.
- Shey Phoksundo National Park
- Khaptad National Park
- Bardia National Park
- Langtang National Park
- Sagarmatha National Park
- Parsa Wildlife Reserve
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
- Chitwan National Park
- Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
- Makalu Barun National Park
- Annapurna National Park
- Rara National Park
1. Shey Phoksundo National Park
Image Credit: Sergey Pashko for Wikimedia Commons
This is probably Nepal’s oldest national park. It was established in 1984 to preserve the natural surroundings and animals. It is located in the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal, which lies in the northwest. The mountains surrounding the water body give you scenic beauty to view and experience the magic of nature at Shey Phoksundo National Park. Witness the 286 flora species of botanical importance and 200 species of birds and animals. Reaching there is possible by air route and sometimes by walking.
- Location: Palam, Dolpa District
- Entry fee: INR 2338/-
- Best time to visit: summers, from March to May
Also Read: Things To Do In Nepal
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2. Khaptad National Park
Image Credit: Ranjanmaharajan for Wikimedia Commons
This one is also established in the year 1984, located in the mid-mountain region of Nepal. It sports a variety of animals and plants like leopard, Kalij pheasant, butterflies, moth, etc. The park contains the 224 species of medicinal herbs and offers excellent bird watching opportunities, with 270 species of birds along with animals like barking deer, wild boar, ghoral, Himalayan black bear, yellowthroated marten, etc It was named after the late Khaptad swami, who came to this region to meditate and worship. The highlight of this one is the presence of many medicinal plants making it one of the biggest national parks in Nepal.
- Location: Doti district
- Entry fee: INR 343/- per person
- Best time to visit: spring, i.e. from March to May, and autumn from October to November
3. Bardia National Park
Image Credit: Rajivkilanashrestha for Wikimedia Commons
The national park was established in 1988 and is located in the Terai region of Nepal. The Karnali River flows nearby, i.e. one of its eastern sides flows nearby it. The park boasts 50 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, and up to 125 species of fish. There are numerous adventurous activities to explore while spotting your favourite animal. You could go for a jeep safari, have a guided jungle walk, go river rafting, or simply experience camping at one of the beautiful sites of Nepal.
- Location: Thakurdwara, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 937 per person
- Best time to visit: October to April
Related Post: Bardia National Park
4. Langtang National Park
Image Credit: Q-lieb-in for Wikipedia
It is the first national park established in 1976. It is located north of Kathmandu. The highlights of the Langtang National Park in Nepal are the Langtang valley, the holy lakes at Gosainkunda, etc. There are deep gorges with thick forests. It is famous for bird watching of more than 250 species, 12 species of threatened birds and 46 species of mammals. The animals spotted here are wild dogs, ghoral, Himalayan tahr, impeyans, pheasants, etc. Another interesting feature is the Janai Purnima festival which attracts a lot of travellers. It is celebrated every year in August.
- Location: Helambu, 45007, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 2118 per person
- Best time to visit: March to November
5. Sagarmatha National Park
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The location of this national park is towards the north-east of Kathmandu in the Kumbu region. This park has snow leopards, one of the most sought-after species to view once you are in a national park. The ones which come naturally in your way while visiting this park is tahr, serow, weasel, maren, langur monkey, etc. This park also hosts a living for the Sherpas who live here. One of the most striking features of this park is that it is situated at the highest height, i.e. 9700 feet above sea level.
- Location: Province no. 1, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 937 per person
- Best time to visit: the autumn months of October to November or in the summer from March to May
Related Post: Sagarmatha National Park
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6. Parsa Nationak Park
This national park is centrally located in the country’s perspective. There is a wide variety of plant and animal species available, such as sloth bears, leopards, and snakes like king cobras. It is located nearer to the Chitwan National Park. The park is the home of 20 Bengal tigers and 370 species of birds, including peafowl, red jungle fowl, flycatchers, and woodpeckers. The reserve is considered a good habitat for animals and birds. It has an area of 499 sq. ft. with fantastic Sal trees.
- Location: Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 62 per person
- Best time to visit: May to September
7. Koshitappu Wildlife Reserve
Image Credit: Bijay Chaurasia for Wikimedia Commons
The wildlife reserve is located in the eastern side of Nepal in the Saptari and Sunsari districts. A river named Sapta-Koshi flows nearby and floods this region during the monsoon. Wild buffalo are important animals that can be spotted here with certainty. Other animals, birds, and fishes also exist in this national park. The national ark is home to the rare species of birds with 479 species found exclusively in this region. Tourists can see the vegetation of grassland with patches of scrub and deciduous riverine forests.
- Location: Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 468 per person
- Best time to visit: October to May
Related Post: Safari In Nepal
8. Chitwan National Park
Image Credit: Yogwis for Wikimedia Commons
One of the most famous national parks is in Kathmandu’s south-west region. It is home to the One-horned rhinoceros and the royal Bengal tiger. The park is covered with decedious forest overlooking the flood plains like Narayani, Rapti and Reu rivers and offers rich wilderness eco system Various 600 plant species, 56 mammals, 539 birds and 49 amphibians also exist like bison, wild boar, birds, etc. The best feature about the Chitwan National Park is the possibility of elephant back excursions, canoe trips, river rafting, nature walks, etc.
- Location: Subarnapur 44200, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 2000 for a foreigner, INR 1000 for Indians
- Best time to visit: May to September
9. Shuklaphanta National Park
Image Credit: MITESHSTHA for Wikimedia Commons
The location of Shuklaphanta national parkis towards the southern portion of Kanchanpupr district of Nepal making it the second largest wildlife reserve in Terai. The highlight of this area is the vast population of swamp deer and also the rare Bengal Florican. This shelter serves the 2,000 swamp deer, around 50 wild elephants and 30 tigers. Other species of animals and plants are also spotted like kraits, Indian python, rat snakes, etc. another interesting thing is the availability of jungle safari to explore the park.
- Location: Mahakali, 10400, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 470 per person
- Best time to visit: February to May or from mid-September to mid-December
Related Post: Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
10. Makalu Barun National Park
Image Credit: Sergey Pashko for Wikimedia Commons
This national park covers an area of around 2300 sq. kms and above. The park has excellent landmarks as its boundaries from four sides. In the eastern side, the Arun river passes by, in the west is the Sagarmatha national park, from the north, Nepal-China border makes the boundary while Saune Danda hill marks the southern boundary. The humungous species of birds and their chirping is a treat to the ears. Tourist can experience the unique Himalayan bio diversity which is one of the prime attraction of this place. Also, there are animals present like langur monkey, serow, Himalayan weasel, etc.
- Location: Mahakali, 10400, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 937 per person
- Best time to visit: October to November or from March to April
11. Annapurna National Park
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Views of lush, fertile farmland and undisturbed natural forest, snow-covered mountains, and encounters with a mixture of many ethnic communities all add up to a diverse range of experiences that make the Annapurna trek one of the most satisfying treks among all destinations in Nepal. You will have the time of your life here. The park contains the 102 different kinds of mammals, 474 species of birds, 39 species of reptiles and 22 species of amphibians. Make sure to wear sturdy, comfortable shoes while trekking.
- Location: Jomsom 33100, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 937 per person
- Best time to visit: March to May and September to November
Related Post: Annapurna Base Camp Trek
12. Rara National Park
Rara National Park is surrounded by alpine coniferous vegetation and offers a representative sample of the region’s flora and fauna. More than 500 different kinds of flowers, 20 different species of mammals, and 214 species of birds can be observed in the Park including blue pine, rhododendron, black juniper, birch, oak, Himalayan cypress, Horse chestnut, walnut, and Himalayan Poplar. As for life in the lake, the snow trout is one of the fish varieties recorded.
- Location: Rara 21106, Nepal
- Entry fee: INR 2118 per person
- Best time to visit: April to May and September to October
You May Also Like To Read: Rara Lake Trek
There are a number of national parks in Nepal. So visiting a national park of another country altogether could be so much fun. You could spot some species from your nation too. Why not book a trip to Nepal and enjoy these! You will have the time of your life, that you won’t be able to forget.
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Frequently Asked Questions About National Parks In Nepal
How many national parks are there in nepal
There are 12 national parks in Nepal that was established by Government of Nepal with a network of 20 protected areas since 1973.
Which is the most visited National Park in Nepal?
Chitwan National Park which is located in the heart of southern Nepal is the most-visited national park in Nepal. It covers the area of 932 square kilometers and is home to a diverse range of wildlife such as rhinos, tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and more.
Which is the biggest wildlife reserve of Nepal?
Shey-Phoksundo National Park is the biggest wildlife reserve of Nepal. It is situated in the mountain region of western Nepal, covering parts of Dolpa and Mugu Districts.
Which national park has most tigers in Nepal?
Chitwan National Park has the highest number of tigers in Nepal and attracts large number of tourist from various parts of the world.
Which is the youngest national park of Nepal?
Banke National Park is the youngest national park of Nepal. It was established in 2010. It lies near Nepalgunj.
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