5 - Top Birdwatching and Wildlife Destinations in Nepal for 250 Species in 14 Days

Home to Mt Everest, Nepal also boasts of stunning natural beauty, with enviable wildlife and cultural experiences making it a very attractive destination for tourists with varied interests. 

Starting the tour at Kathmandu, we visit the old area with its stone-paved lanes, ancient temples, and the colorful bazaars with curio shops and shops selling shawls, carpet, trekking equipment. Tourist attractions include Swayambhunath Stupa, which is a 2500 years old Buddhist Stupa located at a top of a green hillock with the eyes of Buddha painted on its pinnacle overlooking the righteous behavior of the valley inhabitants. 

Phulchowki is the highest hill among others surrounding the Kathmandu valley. 18 km southeast of the valley, it offers great views and is a popular hiking destination. The forests of Phulchowki are a popular birding destination. The Royal Botanical Garden at the Godavari, at the foot of the hill, is home to more than 100 species of birds, including Spiny Babbler, Tibetan Siskin, and more.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve comprises extensive mudflats, reed beds, and freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the Sapta Kosi River, in the eastern Terai. Together with the Koshi Barrage, it is designated as an Important Bird Area. The riverine habitat is home to a large variety of wetland birds.

Away from the hustle-bustle of the city, we drive to the Chitwan National Park next. A six-hour drive through mountain roads, tiny villages, hamlets, and naturally scenic vistas makes the drive very interesting. A larger number of bird species (over 480) has been recorded here than in any other part of Nepal due to Chitwan’s diverse habitats and tropical lowland situation. We can expect to see a third of these during our two-night stay. 

The park holds a similar wealth of mammals, including the endangered Indian Rhinoceros, Wild Boar, Sambar, Muntjac, Spotted and Hog Deer, and Rhesus and Common Langur Monkeys. Tigers, Leopards, Sloth Bears, and Gaur (the Asiatic bison) may also occasionally be seen, as well as the Marsh Mugger and fish-eating Gharial Crocodiles. We will explore the park on foot, on elephant back, in canoes, and by jeep. At Chitwan, we can also spend time indulging in various other activities including village walks, cultural programs, and the most popular visit to the elephant breeding center. We can arrange for you to visit Tharu villages and have a glimpse of Tharu culture too.

Covering an area of 968 sq km, Bardia National Park is the largest and most undisturbed national park in Nepal's Terai. The wide range of vegetation types, including forest, riverine, and grassland patches, provide excellent habitat for more than 50 types of mammal, and more than 400 species of birds.