In Nepal, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and breathtaking landscapes go hand in hand. Home to eight of the world’s 10 tallest mountains (including Mount Everest, the highest point on earth), the country is famous among hikers and adventure seekers. The Gokyo Lakes comprise the world’s highest freshwater lake system, where vibrant, glacier-fed waters are surrounded by snowy peaks. Chitwan National Park is home to rare populations of rhinoceros and Bengal tigers, while Sagarmatha National Park is the place to see snow leopards and red pandas. Nepal itself is a heaven and a living museum.
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Mount Everest
The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. Its peak rises to 8,848 m (29,028 ft 9 in) – the highest point in the world. It is situated in Nepal.
Mount Everest is one of the most profound natural wonders of the world and trekking to Everest Base Camp presents a sense of accomplishment that isn’t provided by anything else. Mount Everest definitely takes the cake for one of the best natural wonders on the planet.
Lying in the Khumbu region of Nepal, the trail leading up to the Everest Base Camp is one of the most beautiful trekking trails on the planet. Ornamented with the beautiful encompassment of the Khumbu Glacier and Icefall, Mount Everest has a quintessence that demands to be respected. The Sherpa people call it “The Chongmolungma” and its Nepali translation is “The goddess mother of the sky”- Sagarmatha. Because of its massive trekking and hiking appeal, it attracts thousands and thousands of tourists every year. A part of the Mahalangur Range, Mount Everest’s massif includes peaks like Lhotse (8,516m), Nuptse (7,855m) and Changtse (7,580m).
Goddess of the sky – Everest fact file:
Name English: Mount Everest; Tibetan: Chomolungma (“Goddess Mother of Mountains”); Nepalese: Sagarmatha (“Goddess of the Sky”).
Elevation: 8,848 m (29,029 ft) above sea level.
Location: Himalayas, Nepal.
Coordinates: 27°58’60N, 86°55’60E.
Summit temperature: -20°C to -35°C (-4°F to -31°F).
Summit wind speed: Up to 280 km/h (174 mi/h); an average of one hurricane every four days.
Also read: Mt. Everest Day
Gokyo Lakes
Gokyo Lakes are a series of six spectacular glacial lakes. The lakes are at altitudes of between 4,700m and 5,000m, making them some of the world’s highest freshwater lakes of which Thonak Lake is the largest. The lakes are situated in the beautiful Sagarmatha National Park, which is also home to Mount Everest. Trekkers often visit Gokyo Lakes as a side trip on the popular Mount Everest Base Camp trek.
Gokyo Lakes are located in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality in the Khumbu region. Gokyo Cho, also called Dudh Pokhari, is the main lake with an area of 42.9 ha (106 acres), and the village of Gokyo lies on its eastern shore. Thonak Cho is the largest lake with an area of 65.07 ha (160.8 acres). Gyazumpa Cho is 29 ha (72 acres) in size, followed by Tanjung Cho with an area of 16.95 ha (41.9 acres), and Ngojumba Cho with an area of 14.39 ha (35.6 acres).
As sources of permanent freshwater, they have high hydrological value. They feed on waters from various sources, such as seepage from the Ngozumpa glacier, a stream coming from the Renjo La pass from the north-west and another stream originating from the Ngozumpa glacier in the east. These are glacier-fed freshwater wetlands and discharge water to the Dudh Kosi headway via the Taujon Lake and the Longabanga Lake. These lakes are deeper than previously assumed by the researchers. Fourth Lake (Thonak Cho) is the deepest lake (62.4 m) followed by the Gokyo Lake which is 43 m.
Machhapuchhre
Machhapuchhre is a mountain in the Annapurna Himalayas in the north-central part of Nepal. Sacred to the Hindu God Shiva, it is off-limits for climbing. Located at the end of a long spur ridge south of the main backbone of the Annapurna Himalayas, Machhapuchhre forms the eastern boundary of the Annapurna sanctuary. 25 km north of Pokhara, the mountain is 6,993 meters in altitude. The name Machhapuchhre translates to “Fishtail” in Nepali. One of the most winsome natural wonders, Machhapuchhre tends to change its tincture from ivory to a cascade of molten gold and burning amber as the Sun’s rays travel down its length during various times of the day, especially during dawn and dusk.
Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmatha National Park is home to the highest peak in the world Mt. Everest (8,848 m). The area was declared a national park in 1976. The park also has several other peaks. They are above 6,000 m. It was established as a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Most of the area of the park is above 3,000 meters. 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. The Himalayan tahr, the Ghoral, the serow, the wolf, and the Himalayan black bear may be spotted by trekkers in this region.
Endangered species may be seen by a lucky few visitors. It includes snow leopard, red panda, and two varieties of dazzling pheasants – the crimson-horned and The Himalayan monal (Lophophorus Impejanus) also known as the Impeyan, Nepal’s national bird. Smaller animals like marmots, pikas and martens are also found here.
The region ranges in altitude from less than 2,000 m above sea level at Jiri to the high peaks of the Himalayas at over 8,000 m. Hence the flora and fauna are diverse with a dense forest of pine, oak and flowering rhododendrons up to 4,000 m.
Mount Kanchenjunga
The Kangchenjunga is a mountain of the Himalayas range, at the far East of Nepal in Taplejung District. It is one of the 14 mountains on Earth that are more than 8,000 meters (26,247 ft) high above sea level. With an elevation of 8,586 m, Kangchenjunga is the third highest, after Mount Everest (8,850 m) and K2 (8,611 m).
The Kangchenjunga contains five peaks, four of them are above 8,400 meters: main summit (8,586 m), West summit (8,505 m), central summit (8,482 m), South summit (8,494 M) and Kangbachen (7,903 m).
Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest mountain in the world, but calculations based on various readings and measurements made by the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India in 1849 came to the conclusion that Mount Everest, known as Peak XV at the time, was the highest. Allowing for further verification of all calculations, it was officially announced in 1856 that Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world.
Rara Lake
Rara Lake (Nepali: रारा ताल) is the biggest and deepest freshwater lake in the Nepal Himalayas. It is the main feature of Rara National Park, located in Jumla and Mugu Districts. In September 2007, it was declared a Ramsar site, covering 1,583 ha (6.11 sq mi) including the surrounding wetland. Rara Lake is at a height of 2,990m. It is surrounded by green hills on all sides, covered in juniper trees. One can camp by the sparkling waters of the lake. Go boating in the clear waters, hike to nearby hills for a closer view of the mountains and lake, get acquainted with the charming local people, or just walk around the large lake watching out for wildflowers or a rare bird along the way.
Gosainkunda lake
One of the most famous pilgrimage destinations of Nepal is Gosainkunda Lake which is situated at an altitude of about 4,360m. The best approach to Gosainkunda is through Dhunche, 132km to the northeast of Kathmandu. Dhunche is linked with Kathmandu by a motorable road. Surrounded by high mountains on the north and the south, the lake is grand and picturesque. There are other nice nine famous Lakes such as Saraswati, Bhairav, Sourya, Ganesh Kunda, etc.
Langtang Valley
Trek to Langtang if you want a relatively short itinerary with all the excitement of the Himalayas. Here, the trail is less crowded and the trek more rewarding.
This is one of the most accessible trekking regions near the Kathmandu Valley with short day hikes or week-long ventures into the lake district. An ideal region if you are short on time but still want to trek the Himalayas and experience the wonderful cultures of the native Tamangs.
The region was affected by the earthquake in April 2015. With reconstruction and renovation efforts underway, the area has reopened for trekking, and the local people have also welcomed tourists. For more detail about Langtang Valley Click Here.
Tilicho lake
Tilicho lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Nepal. It is the highest lake in the world situated at the height of 4919m above sea level. The lake lies on one of the world’s classic trekking trails; Annapurna Circuit Trek. The scenery of Tilicho Lake is so mesmerizing and seems as if the lakes blend with bluish skies to meet with each other.
The high-altitude location of this lake with its vegetation has enhanced the magnificence of the lake. This lake is also featured in the holiest text of Hindus named “The Ramayan”. Travelers visiting this spiritual lake can also witness the unrivaled views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Annapurna IV, Manasalu, Pisang Peak, Gangapurna and West Chulu Peak.
Fewa Lake or Phewa Tal
Fewa Lake or Phewa Tal is a freshwater lake in Nepal located in the south of the Pokhara Valley that includes Pokhara city; parts of Sarangkot and Kaskikot. The lake is stream-fed but a dam regulates the water reserve. It is the second-largest lake in Nepal the largest in Gandaki Zone followed by Begnas Lake called Barahi Mandir. Phewa lake is located at an altitude of 742 m (2,434 ft) and covers an area of about 4.43 km2 (1.7 sq mi). It has an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) and a maximum depth of 24 m (79 ft). The maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 43,000,000 cubic meters (35,000-acre-ft). The Annapurna range on the north is only about 28 km (linear distance) away from the lake.
Phewa Lake
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