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Best Attractions of Karnali region in Nepal
Do you want to enjoy a lush natural environment without many obstructing modern facilities? Do you want to enjoy a peaceful environment and be with nature?
Then, Karnali Province is the best place for you.
Karnali province is the largest province in Nepal covering 27,984 square kilometers (10,805 sq mi) covering 18.97% of Nepal. Sadly, it is also a remote region in Nepal.Though, Karnali Region is untouched with many modern facilities, it is rich in natural diversity.
Introduction of the best attractions of Karnali Region:
Most of the best Attractions of Karnali Region are either nature’s gift or related to religion, history and archeology. For example, The Shey Phoksundo National Park with Phoksundo lake (one of the largest national parks of Nepal) and Rara lake (one of the largest freshwater lakes of Nepal) which are located in Karnali Province.
The other best attractions in Karnali Region include many others like Sinja Valley (added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List), Limi Valley (‘Shangri La’ or ‘beyul’) etc.
Also, the species of animals like Musk deer, Himalayan black bear, Leopard, Jackal, Red Panda, blue sheep, Tibetan fox, Tibetan gazelle, snow leopard, danphe (the national bird of nepal) makes best Attractions of the Karnali Region most suitable for nature/animal lovers and more.
The ethnic population of Magars, Tamangs and Gurungs along with Khas Arya, Chhetri, Kami, Thakuri and Bahun make you enjoy a full ethnic diversity in Nepal from the Karnali Region. Their unique cuisine, cultures and traditions also makes the best attraction of Karnali Region.
Also archaeological sites found in Jumla, Surkhet and Dailekh which have the recorded age of the 11th century also make the best attractions of the Karnali Region in Nepal.
The best attractions of Karnali Region are:
Rara Lake-Karnali Region
Rara Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Nepal. It lies at an elevation of 2,990 m (9,810 ft) and a max depth of 167 m (548 ft). Its size/width and length are 5.1 km (3.2 mi) long and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) wide.
Rara Lake is also famous due to its picturesque natural beauty. Also, it is famous because the lake changes its colour 5 times a day, in accordance with its climate.
This lake is surrounded by Chuchemara Danda and Murma forest at 4,087 and 3630meters. Beyond the forest, you can see the scenery of the snowcapped Mt Saipal/Saipal Mountain range.
Shey-Phoksundo Lake–Karnali Region
The Phoksundo Lake is an alpine freshwater lake lying on 3,611.5 m (11,849 ft) in the Upper Dolpo Region. According to a survey done by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in 2019, the depth of Phoksundo Lake is 136.20 m (446.9 ft). The size of Phoksundo Lake is 494 ha (1.91 sq mi).
Along with the lake, the other reason that Phoksundo Lake is a famous tourist attraction is the village of Ringmo, which lies on the 30,000- to 40,000-year-old landslide dam that formed the Lake.
Sinja Valley–Karnali Region
Sinja Valley is also one of the famous tourist destinations in the Karnali Region. Sinja Valley is the location of Khasa’s that this area from the 12th to the 14th Century.
The expedition conducted by Cambridge University has excavated the ancient remains of a settlement, palaces and temples. According to famous historians and archaeologists, some of the earliest written examples of the Nepali language were found on the Valley’s edge.
Sinja was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on January 30, 2008.
Karnali River
Karnali River was formed near Lake Manasarovar and cuts through the Himalayas in Nepal and Sharda River in India. It is one of the major tributaries of the Gangas River. The Karnali river basin lies between Dhaulagiri in Nepal and Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand. The 7,751 metres (25,430 ft), of Dhaulagiri II, is the highest point in the entire basin.
Karnali River is one of the most unexplored Rivers in Nepal. But, among the explored routes, it is famous for water sports like Rafting, Kayaking, Hiking, Fishing etc.
Upper Humla –Karnali Region
Humla Region in Nepal is the 2nd largest district with an area of 5655 sq. kilometres and with an altitude ranging from 1500 to 7300 meters. The reason Upper Humla Region is famous due to the panoramic views of the Holy Mountain, Mt. Kailash (6714 meters), Mt. Saipal (7030 meters), and Mount Mendon; the natural waterfall at Chachera 2350 meters, Tshom Lake (at 4220 meters), and Selima Lake (at 4570 meters) and trekking along the gorges of Karnali and Limi rivers.
It also has a large number of medicinal and aromatic plants. Famous animals in Upper Humla Region are danphe, musk deer, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, and snow leopard.
Limi Valley–Karnali Region
Limi Valley is also a famous destination in Karnali Region. It has only three settlements, the Dzang, Halji, and Til villages. The most famous wildlife in Limi Valley is the snow leopard, Himalayan wolf, Tibetan fox, Tibetan gazelle, kiang, argali, Himalayan brown bear, and Himalayan blue sheep. You can see extinct Wild yak in Limi Valley.
Limi Valley is also known as ‘Shangri La’ or ‘beyul
Upper Dolpo Region
Upper Dolpo Region is one of the most remote areas in the Dolpo regions in Nepal. Even if you may not find tourism infrastructure and amenities in Dolpo, you can see many oldest monasteries in the country, Phoksundo Lake, nomad and medival tibetan villages and many more.
Mt Saipal
Mt Saipal is the second-highest mountain in western Nepal, standing at an elevation of 7,031 m from sea level. The Saipal Base Camp provides views of Saipal, Api Himal (7,132m), Mt. Thado Dhunga Tuppa (5368m), Mt. Nandadevi (7817m), Rajamba (6537m) and many more.
Sadly, it has still been unconquered.
Rara National Park–Karnali Region
Rara National Park gazetted in 1976 was formed to protect Lake Rara and the representative flora and fauna of the Humla-Jumla region.
This Rara National Park includes plants and trees like fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, oak, juniper and spruce. They also include animals like Musk deer, Himalayan black bear, Leopard, Jackal, Himalayan tahr, Yellow-throated marten, Otter, Wild dog, Common langur, Rhesus macaque and Red panda. They also include birds like different species of pheasants, grebes, mallard, common teal, red-crested pochard and gulls.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation’s list of possible best tourist attractions in Nepal and ‘Karnali Visit Year 2075’:
Shey Phoksundo National Park, Dolpa
Sinja Sabhyata, Jumla
Rara lake, Mugu
Panchakoshi Jwala Area
Kupinde lake, Salyan
Dudul Chaitya, Jumla
Khalanga Durbar, Jajarkot
Chitripatan, Rukum
Jaguar lake, Surkhet
Panchal fall, Kalikot
Deutibajai of Surkhet
Madan Ashrit Park of Surkhet
Rara- Shey Phoksundo Trail
Kotgadhi-Panchal-Belaspur-Mahabu Tourism Development Area of Dailekh
Guptilal
Bhadale cave
Shiva cave
Gidde danda
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