Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Forest

The Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila region of eastern Nepal harbors one of the most biologically-diverse areas in the world. This region also contains eastern Nepal's most extensive Lithocarpus forests and localized Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana). It has been recognized as an important area for global bio-diversity conservation by a number of leading international conservation organizations (WWF, BirdLife International, Conservation International) as well as nationally recognized by the Nepalese government. The creation of the Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Red Panda Protected Forest would connect the tri-national Kanchenjunga Conservation Area with India’s Barsey Rhododendron Garden and Singhalila National Park, creating an uninterrupted stretch of protected land extending for 11,500 km2.This area is critical not only to the red panda but also to other endangered species such as the clouded leopard and leopard cat, as well as an exceptionally rich avi-faunal diversity. However, this area is most important to red panda because:1. It contains approximately 25% of Nepal's red panda population with approximately 100 individuals found in 178 km2 of habitat.2. The Singhalila red panda population is protected in only half of its range (in India's Singhalila National Park).The proposed Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Red Panda Protected Forest will be the largest “protected forest” in Nepal and the first to be managed by a network of community forests. According to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal forest legislation, any community forest can declare a portion of their managed land as “protected”. Our goal is to create the Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Community Forest Conservation Union, a network of all community forests bordering the proposed Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Red Panda Protected Forest. The Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Community Forest Conservation Union will elect a 12 member board that will manage the 708 km2 of the Panchthar-Ilam-Singhalila Red Panda Protected Forest.

Rivers and Lakes

RIVERS:
Nepal's rivers can be broadly divided into three categories in accordance with their origins. The first category comprises the three main river systems of the country – the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river systems, all of them originating from glaciers and show-fed lakes. The Koshi river system consists of the Tamor, Arun, Dudhkoshi, Likhu, Tama-koshi, Sunkoshi and Indravati rivers. Of these, the Arun and Sunkoshi originate in Tibet. The confluence of these rivers is at Tribeni (near Dharan) in Sagarmatha zone. Flowing for almost 10 kilometres through a narrow gorge before entering the plains, the "Sapta Koshi" or "Koshi swollen with the waters of the seven rivers" finally merges into the Ganges. The Gandaki river system in central Nepal consists of the Kaligandaki, Buddhigandaki, Marsyandi, Trishuli, Seti, Madi and Daraundi rivers. The Kaligandaki is the longest river amoung them and the Trishuli, the main tributary of this system. The Kaligandaki originates in Mustang and converses with the Trishuli at Deoghat in Chitwan. The river is then called the Narayani and goes on to meet the Ganges. The Karnali river system in western Nepal consists of the Humla Karnali, Mugu Karnali, Seti and Bheri rivers and is the longest river system in the country. The Humla Karnali, which rises in Tibet, is the main tributary. After entering India, this river assumes the name Gogra. Rivers like the Mechi, Mahakali, Bagmati, Kamala, Rapti etc. most of which have their origin in the Mahabharat range, constitute the rivers of the second category. The Bagmati, which rises at Bagdwar and drains out through the Chobhar gorge, is the principal river of the Kathmandu Valley. Streams and rivulets originating mostly from the Chure hills make up the third category. These rivers rely on monsoon rains and are otherwise dry.

Lakes:
There are number of lakes and tanks of glacial and tectonic origin in Nepal. Mountain lakes like Rara, Shey-Phoksundo, Phewa etc. are majestic in extent and beauty. Rara in Mugu district of western Nepal is the largest lake. Phewa at Pokhara is another equally famous lake. Shey-Phoksundo in Dolpa district is the deepest lake as well as situated at heighest altitude but is less well - known than Phewa Lake due to its difficult approach. Rupatal and Begnastal (Pokhara) Gaduwaltal (Chitwan), Satyavatital (Palpa), Khaptadtal (Doti), Barhakunetal (Dang), Surma Sarobar (Bajhang ) and Tilichotal (Manang) are some of Nepal's other well - known lakes. Gosaikund and other lakes in the Langtang Himal region are of religious significance.

Beauty of Nepal

For the first time since 2002, Country Walkers, based in Waterbury, Vt., is returning to the Himalayan nation of Nepal with special tours in the fall, said to be the ideal time for trekking in the region.

Other outfitters, like Mountain Travel Sobek of Emeryville, Calif., and Wilderness Travel of Berkeley, Calif. — which had halted all trips but those to the Khumba or Everest regions in the northeast — are now offering trips to the Annapurna region in central Nepal. Mountain Travel Sobek is also starting treks to the remote Dolpo and Humla regions in the northwest, which they deemed off limits because of the political unrest…

…There are some added benefits to being among the first tourists to return to Nepal. “For the moment,” said Mr. Steigerwald, “it’s really a treat to be there without crowds.”
Many hotels have slashed their rates to lure back trekkers. And most travel companies that have only just decided to go back to Nepal were not able to advertise the trips in their 2007 brochures. Instead they are offering their excursions online and through newsletters to clients who have traveled with them before.

Despite their quieter introduction, the new Nepal trips are already quickly filling up. Wilderness Travel’s two new departures for its 15-day trip into the Annapurna Sanctuary in October and November are more than half full; prices start at $3,495 a person for a group of six people. Country Walkers said it was planning a second departure this fall because its November trek was booked up with a waiting list

Ten Highest Mountains

Home to eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, Nepal's mountainous and hilly regions offer some of the most spectacular trekking sites in the world. The immense contrasts in altitude and climate found in the different parts of the country support an equally spectacular mix of life styles, vegetation types and wildlife. Landlocked between India and Tibet, Nepal contains some of the world’s most diverse and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes ranging from the impressive peaks of the Himalayan chain in the north, high-altitude plains and remote mountain passes, subtropical forests and national parks, terraced farmland hills and rice paddies, to the fertile plains of the Terai in the country’s south.

For many of our treks, you can choose between staying in tea-houses or camping. A tea-house is a locally run guest house, but standards vary enormously. In popular areas such as Annapurna, tea houses are more like small hotels, with hot water, Western food and private rooms, whereas in more remote areas, they are far simpler and more authentically Nepali. Tea-house trekking is less expensive than camping, and is suitable for small groups. With large groups, irrespective of the area, it is more practical to camp. A team of guides, porters and cooks mean you trek in comfort and provides international-style food of a high standard.

We provide organized treks that are the best value for money while preserving and respecting the environment. We are committed to keeping Nepal green by focusing on ecotourism and low-impact trekking, and preserving the local culture. With camping groups, we always provide our own fuel so that no local wood is used for our cooking purposes. We have a team of experienced and dedicated staff including the director and office managers who arrange your trip, expert guides and porters, and cooks to prepare your food. Our guides are accredited by the Hotel Management Technical Training Centre and are fluent in English.

We offer you a wide variety of different treks to suit both novices and experienced trekkers. Whether you have two days or two months to spend in the mountains, an interest in mountaineering, trekking, or nature study, we can arrange an itinerary to suit you. We have outlined a broad range of trekking possibilities in Nepal as well as other sightseeing activities and expeditions, such as rafting

Nepal

. Introduce the location of Nepal on the map of the world. Point out that Nepal is located in the southern portion of the continent of Asia. Review the hemispheres of the earth pointing out that Asia is located in the Eastern Hemisphere, and the United States is in the Western Hemisphere

Nepal is a small country located in South Asia, and measures 563 miles from east to west and 160 miles north to south, a total of 56,139 square miles (by comparison, the state of New Mexico is 121,598 square miles). It is a landlocked country sandwiched in between India to the east, south, and west, and China to the north. The Himalayan mountain range forms the northern border of Nepal, separating it from China. Eight of the ten highest mountains in the world are found here, including the tallest, Mount Everest (29,035 feet).Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal with a population of 500,000. However, the population of the Kathmandu valley has over 1,000,000 people. There are no other major cities in Nepal other than Kathmandu. The majority of the people living in Nepal reside in villages or small market centers.

Regardless of Nepal's small size, it contains a tremendously diverse terrain. The southern border with India is host to a subtropical climate while the northern border with China ranges from an alpine to an uninhabited climate. This wide variety of weather makes Nepal a fascinating country to study.