Sagarmatha national park

Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park is home of the highest peak in the world – Mt Everest (8,848m). The area was declared national park in 1976. The park which also has several peaks all above 6,000m such as Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Thamserku, Kongde Ri, Lhotse, Nuptse etc. was established as a World Heritage Site in 1979 becoming the country’s first national park as a World heritage Site.

It encompasses an area of 1,148 km2 (443 sq mi) in the Solukhumbu District. In the north, it shares the international border with the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve of Tibet and extends to the Dudh Koshi River in the south. Adjacent to the east is the Makalu Barun National Park.

With most of the park above 3,000m, Sagarmatha is full of rugged terrain with deep gorges, glaciers and huge rocks. The park boasts of a variety of wildlife and over 118 species of bird. While the forest is dominated by silver, fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees, animals such as musk deer, Himalayan thar, ghoral, langur monkeys,  wolves and the Himalayan black bear may be spotted by trekkers in this region. Endangered species seen by a lucky few include snow leopard, red panda, and two varieties of dazzling pheasants: the crimson-horned and the impeyan, Nepal’s national bird. Smaller animals like marmots, pikas, and martens are also found here. The best time to visit the park is during the autumn months of October-November and from March-May in summer.  

At Monjo, a stopping point for trekkers is the park’s entrance and checkpoint where trekkers need to pay the required entrance fee: for SAARC nationals – Rs 1,500 while for foreigners – Rs 3,000.