Makalu
- Barun park lies in the Solukhumbu and Sankhuwasabha districts of
Eastern Nepal. Makalu - Barun is adjacent with Sagarmatha National Park
in the West and to the North, with Qomolongma Nature Reserve in Tibet.
This region has one of the richest bio-diversity which comprise of
several largely uninhabited watersheds most of which are drained by the
Arun river. The world's fifth highest mountain, Mt. Makalu, one of the
world's deepest river gorges, Arun River and the serene valley is
unique combination that Nepal can boast about. The main attraction is
the supreme display of rhododendrons, the national flower of Nepal on
the “Milke Danda” ridge which is an unique experience of a lifetime.
A series of distinct vegetation zones can be distinguished
ranging from tropical Sal forest through subtropical forest. This Park
is home of over 3000 species of flowering plants, 25 varieties of
rhododendron, 48 primrose species, 47 orchid species, 19 bamboo
species, 15 oak species, 86 species of fodder tree and 67 species of
economical valuable medicinal and aromatic plants. It also homes the
endangered species such as Red Panda, Snow leopard, Himalayan Thar,
Himalayan Black Bear, etc. Beyond the above this valley is most
important for birds which are the home of 400 species recorded from the
park till the date and out of them more than 300 species are breeding
species. Birds such as Broad-billed warbler, Spotted wren-babbler,
Coral-billed scimitar Babbler, Slaty-bellied Tesia and dark-side thrush
among them.
