Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park (19 July 1976) covers 1148 sq km in Solukhumbu District (124400 hectares), which ranges from 2845 m (Monjo) to 8848.86 m altitudes (Mt. Everest). The park is a natural world heritage site of UNESCO, listed in 1979 AD. National park check post, Jorsalle, lies 14 km northwest of Tenzing-Hillary Airport. The buffer zone covers 275 sq km of land fixed on 1 January 2002. Nepal army check post (Shamsher Gulma) set up in Namche Bazaar (3441 m, Gulma headquarters), Monjo (2845 m), Lukla (2860 m), Thame (3750 m), Phungi Thenga (3250 m), and Dole (4200 m). The park preserves the world's three highest summits, Mt. Everest (8848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8501 m), Mt. Cho Oyu (8201 m) and several other peaks. The park recorded 3808 glaciers, 1466 glacial lakes, 882 lakes, 865 species plants, 62 globally significant, Imja Khola (fed by Imja Glacier), Lobuje Khola (Khumbu Glacier), Dudh Koshi (Ngozumpa Glacier), and Bhote Koshi river (Nangpa Glacier). Gokyo Lakes listed the Ramsar site in 2007. The park contains 69% barren land above 5000 m, 28% grazing land and 3% forest. 

The park buffer zone is dominated by Sherpa, Rai and Tamang. Tengboche, Thame, Pangboche, Namche Bazaar, and Khumjung village have a monastery. The Sherpa celebrates the mountain festivals of Dumji, Mani Rimdu and Losar. The profession of locals is trekking, mountaineering, tea shop, agriculture and animal husbandry. The park's 30-50 % entrances are spent on buffer zone community conservation, development and education.

Solukhumbu district is famous for adventure tourism, such as trekking, mountain flights, Helicopter tours, peak climbing, expeditions and skydiving. Travellers' attractions are Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Cho La, Khumbu Glacier, Island Peak, Namche Bazaar, Thame, Gokyo Valley, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorakshep. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality forms Five Ward, Kharikhola (Ward 1), Lukla (Ward 2), Nachipang (Ward 3) and Khumjung (Ward no. 4) and Namche (Ward no. 5). Locals run a resort, hotel, tea shop (total of 397) and campsites for the park visitors. The Syangboche Airport 3720 height is the highest airport in the park. The small peaks are Pumori (7145 m), Ama Dablam (6856 m), Thamserku (6608 m), Kusum Kanguru (6367 m), Island Peak (6187 m), Gyachung Kang (7922 m), Nuptse (7879 m). 

Sagarmatha National Park preserves various flora and fauna, 18 types of reptiles, and 37 species of mammals such as goral, the red panda (100), marten, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr (222), serow, musk deer (185), Himalayan black bear, weasels, jackals, pika (mouse hare). The park grows pine, hemlock, juniper, birch, and rhododendron blooms in April and May. There are various herbs, such as Gentiana prolata, G. stellata, Leontopodium strachey, Codonopsis thalictrifolia, Thalictrum chelidonii, the lilies Lilium nepalense and Notholirion macrophyllum, Fritillaria cirrhosa and primroses, Primula denticulata, P. atrodentata, P. wollastonii and P. sikkimensis.

The park recorded 219 species of birds, such as lammergeyer, Himalayan Griffon, Impeyan Pheasant (Danphe), snow cock, snow pigeon, blood pheasant, red or yellow-billed cough, Bar-headed geese, ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca, yellow-billed chough Pyrrhocorax graculus. The temperate to Arctic climate zone constructed four Major Glacier Khumbu, Imja, Ngozumpa and Nangpa. 

Summer is cool with wet temperatures, and winter remains cold and dry with snowfalls. Mount Everest is a thin air zone with 33% oxygen. The Himalayan Trust (founded by Sir Edmund Hillary) is active with tree plantation, health care and educational support. Glacial lakes Dig Cho, Chola Cho, Minbo, Gokyo and Imja at 5010 m are potential outburst threats 27 km northeast of Namche Bazaar. The visitors must follow park and buffer zone rules to conserve the forest, stop pollution, and respect Sherpa culture. Annual foreign visitors are 65000, including the USA, Australia, UK, Germany, Japan, France, India, Canada, Korea and Spain. The national park has collected a tax of 17,26,29032 in 2074-2075 BS. 

How to Reach the Park

1. The national park reaches after the two-day walk after the 30-minute Kathmandu-Lukla flight. 

2. After the Kathmandu-Jiri bus (8 hours), walk for eight days to reach the park. 

3. Fly from Kathmandu to the Phaplu flight (25 minutes) and walk for five days to reach the park. 

Park Entrance Fees - 3000 Rupees for Foreigners, 1500 Rupees for SAARC Nationals, and free for children below ten years. Local tax and national park fees are required to visit the Sagarmatha National Park. 

Park Office Contacts

Phone: +97738540114, 38540395, 9801500125