Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park lies in the mid-mountainous Far-Western Region of Nepal stretching over the four districts of Bajhang, Bajura, Achham and Doti. The park is the only mid-mountainous national park in Western Nepal which was established in 1984 on the advice of the region’s remarkable holy man, Khaptad Baba, who moved to the area in 1940's to meditate and worship and spent about 50 years as a hermit and became a renowned spiritual saint.

The park covers a mystical and unique territory of the mid-mountain region of Western Nepal and is situated at around 3000 m elevation. The upland is a rolling plateau with grasslands intermixed with oak and coniferous forests. The park offers treks that range from short easy hikes to effortful ones, historical, cultural and religious sightseeing with its many divine sites, and rich cultural experience of Far western Nepal.

Area: 225 km2 (87 sq mi)
Buffer Zone: 216 km2 (83 sq mi)
Site code: 7953
Coordinates: 29°16′12″N 80°59′24″E
Altitude: 1400m - 3300m

The forest ecosystems and vegetation:

• The landscape consists of 22 ‘Patans’ (moorland), steep slopes, and streams.
• In the north-eastern part of the park is a lake called Khaptad Daha.
• Five hundred and sixty-seven species of flora have been recorded from the Park.
• The mammal species symbolic of the park are the common leopard (Panthera pardus), Himalayan black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), wild dog (Cuon alpinus), and musk. deer (Moschus chrysogaster).
• Bird species symbolic of the park include the Impeyan pheasant, Peregrine falcon, and White rumped vulture.

Religious Sites:

• The renowned Khaptad Baba Ashram, a religious site where Hindu pilgrims come to worship Shiva on the full moon of July-August each year, is located near the Park headquarters; many pilgrims also visit the Park during the Ganga Dashahara festival on Jestha Purnima (the full moon of mid-June or July).
• Sahashra Linga is another religious site situated at the highest point (3200m) of the Park.
• The Tribeni confluence of three rivers and a Shiva temple are near the Park.
• Other religious places in the Park include a Ganesh temple, ‘Nagdhunga’ (cobra-like stone), and Kedardhunga; these areas are revered for meditation and tranquility, and prohibit intrusions on nature, and sale or use of tobacco products, alcohol, and animal sacrifice.

The best time to visit Khaptad is during autumn and spring, October-November and March-May. During autumn several festival are held here. A fair is held at Tribeni near Khaptad, every Dashain which falls in October and another fair is also held at Khaptad Daha around the same time at the end of Summer. Snowfall takes place in late October and November.

The best way to reach the park area is to go to Dipayal on bus from Nepalgunj and the local buses are available for Silgadhi, Doti. From Silgadhi Bazzar one has to hike 6 hours to the park entrance and another 7-8 hours to the Park Headquarters. The Dipayal Airport was closed 6 years ago, so the option of air transportation is unavailable.

Reference:

• Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book: Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and World Heritage Sites, ISBN 978 92 9115 033 5