Sagarmatha
National Park
 Unique
among natural heritage sites world-wide is the
Sagarmatha National Park, which includes Mt. Everest
(8,848 m) and other high peaks such as Lhotse
Shar, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Kangtega, Gyachung
Kang, Thamserku and Kwangde. Located North-east
of Kathmandu, Sagarmatha National Park is 1,148
sq km. in area and consists of the upper catchment
areas of the Dudh Koshi, Bhote Koshi and the Imja
Khola rivers. Much of the park lies above 3,000m.
Sagarmatha is rugged, with deep gorges, glaciers
and unnegotiable ice and rock faces. Locally known
as the 'Khumbu', it is the home of the famous
Sherpa people. The Sherpas make a living by farming
barley and potatoes and graze their yaks in high
altitude pastures. Young Sherpas have also made
their name in mountaineering and the trekking
industry has of late become the community's economic
mainstay. In 1979 the park was declared a World
Heritage Site.
Trees such as rhododendron,
birch, blue pine, juniper and silver fir are found
up to an altitude of 4,000 meters above which
they give way to scrub and alpine plants. In late
spring and summer, the hillsides around the villages
of Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Thyangboche and Thame
are a riot of colours with several species of
rhododendon in bloom. Wildlife most likely to
be seen in Sagarmatha are the Himalaya tahr, ghoral,
musk deer, pikka (mouse hare) weasel and occasionally
jackal. Other rarely seen animals are Himalayan
black bear, wolf, lynx and snow leopard. Birds
commonly seen are Impeyan pheasant, blood pheasant,
snow cock, snow pigeon, red billed and yellow
billed chough, Himalayan griffin vulture and lammergeier.
FLORA AND
FAUNA
The vegetation found at the lower altitude of
the park includes pine and hemlock forests, while
fir, juniper, birch and rhododendron, scrub and
alpine plant communities are common at the higher
altitude.
The Park is home
to the red panda, snow leopard, musk deer, Himalayan
tahr, marten, Himalayan mouse hare (pika) and
over 118 species of bird including the Impeyan
pheasant, snow cock, blood pheasant, red billed
cough etc.
BUFFER ZONE
His Majesty's Government of Nepal, in 2002 declared
the Buffer Zone in and around the Park with the
objective of reducing the biotic pressure in the
fragile ecosystem. The government has also made
a provision of ploughing back 30 - 50 percent
of the revenue earned by the Park to community
development activities in the Buffer Zone.
POPULAR
TREKKING ROUTE
The trek from Namche to Kala Pathar is very popular.
The Gokyo Lake and Chukung valleys also provide
spectacular views. The Thame Valley is popular
for Sherpa culture while Phortse is famous for
wildlife viewing. There are some high passes worth
crossing over. However, the trekkers must have
a guide and proper equipment for the trek.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
High altitude sickness can affect if elevation
is gained too rapidly and without proper acclimatization.
The symptoms are - headache, difficulty in sleeping,
breathlessness, loss of appetite and general fatigue.
If someone develops the symptoms, stop ascending
immediately; if symptoms persist, the only proven
cure is to descend to lower elevations.
Medical advice could
be sought from Kunde Hospital or Pheriche Health
Post. Telephones services are available at local
Namche Bazar. In case of emergency, helicopters
services can also be availed upon request.
HOW TO GET
THERE
The most common
ways to reach the Park from Kathmandu are :
- Flight to Lukla and two day's
walk
- Bus to Jiri and 10 day's walk
- Flight to Tumlingtar and 10
day's walk
- Flight to Phaplu and 5 day's
walk
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