Area :
255 sq. km
Established : 1984
Location :
Khaptad National Park is located in the
mid-mountain region of Far-Western Nepal
at an air distance of 446 km. from Kathmandu.
The core area is situated at the cross point
of the Bijhang, Bajura, Doti and Accam Districts
of Seti Zone.
Feature :
The park covers the unique mid-mountain ecosystem
of Western Nepal, and is situated at about
300 m. elevation. The upland is a rolling plateau
of grasslands intermixed with oak and coniferous
forests.
There is a great variety of vegetation types
ranging from sub-tropical forest in the lower
altitudes (Jhingrana and Chaikot of Doti) to
temperate forest on the Khaptad plateau.
The most common tree species are chirpine, spruce,
fir, maple, birch, alder and rhododendron. Dense
bamboo stands (nigalo) and wide varieties of
medicinal herbs occur in the park.
The most common fauna in the park are leopard,
Himalayan yellow-throated marten, Himalayan
tahr and others. The common bird species
include Impeyan pheasant, chkor partridge, kalij
pheasant, monal, red and yellow-billed blue
magpie, and Himalayan griffin. A wide variety
of colorful butterflies, moths and insects are
also an important feature of the Khaptad ecosystem.
The core area of Khaptad is of much religious
importance. It includes the Ashram of Khaptad
Swami, a renowned spiritual saint. Therefore,
all the vices of modern society such as alcohol,
cigarettes and tobacco, violence and killing
are prohibited.