Sagarmatha National Park, Tourism, Its History and site to visit

Sagarmatha national park is the most beautiful park that lies in the middle of the Himalayas. This national park was established in 1976 in the Solu Khumbu district in the northern part of Nepal. This region consists of the great Himalayan range from the international border with Tibet. Whereas the southern part consists of the Dudh Koshi River.  Sagarmatha national park is surrounded by mountains from all sides. You can get a spectacular view of the mountain peak over 8000m from this national park.  You can also see various other small peaks and the great Mount Everest.  Most of the part in Sagarmatha national park includes the barren land. Research says that 69% of this national park is barren land, 28% of grazing land, and lastly 3% of the forest.

Sagarmatha National Park Tourism

Sagarmatha national park is a well-known wildlife reserve in Nepal. This national park is famous among the trekkers for the view of the high mountains of eastern Nepal and Mount Everest. Solu Khumbu district is the famous touristic spot of Nepal; this place was open for outsiders for trekking since 1960. People stunning scenery and the local lifestyle. The trail to Sagarmatha national park is very adventurous going through coniferous forest. Hiking and trekking in the Khumbu region are very famous among trekkers.

Sagarmatha national park has been included in the world heritage site by UNESCO. You can get the view of Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachyung Kang. Sagarmatha national park has been the preservation site for rare animals and birds for a very long time. The Red panda and Snow leopard are the rare animals found in Sagarmatha national park. Sagarmatha national park is compromises of 1100 square kilometres.  The birdlife of Sagarmatha national park has been a major tourist attraction.  Visitors enjoy bird watching while enjoying the mountains.

History

Sagarmatha national park is the first national park of Nepal, which was included in the world heritage site by UNESCO. This national park was founded in 1976 and enlisted in UNSECO in 1979 BS.  According to the buffer zone management guidelines, a Buffer Zone of 106 sq.mil was added for the conservation of forest, wildlife, and cultural energy. The alternative source of energy was also developed for a very long time. Sagarmatha national park is the protection centre for the birds and animals in the Khumbu region.

According to the survey, about 19000-tourist visit Sagarmatha national park every year. Mostly Sherpa people live in that village.

Cultural and Heritage

Mostly Sherpa and Gurung people live in the Himalayan region of Nepal. Gurung and Sherpa people are unique in culture.  Originally, people of Sherpa culture live in the Salmo Gang in the eastern part of the Tibetan region.  They left Tibet in the 1400s and 1500s ad arrive in the Himalayas in Nepal.  While entering Nepal they separate themselves into two groups, Khumbu and Solu.  People of the Solukhumbu region are used to the altitude of the region. Almost all the people in the Khumbu region follow Buddhism that is why you will find many small ad big monasteries on the trail.

Locals have decorated the trail with the Buddhists flag. The flag is in script with the Buddhists prayer that addresses “OM Mani Padme HUM” which is the famous Buddhists sentence, which means, “Hail to the Jewel of the Lotus”. The local life of the people is influenced by the mountains and trekking experience. Thayangbche monastery is the oldest monastery, which was built in 1989.  Trekkers like to observe the culture and tradition of people.  Festivals like Tiji, Dashain, and Buddha Purnima are celebrated with grand celebrations in the Khumbu region. Moreover, the people of the Khumbu region believe in hospitality and welcoming nature.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Fee and Timings

Generally, Sagarmatha national park is open for 24 hours for convenience to all people. However, we suggest you not visit the park after the sunset, as it will be dark all around and is a bit risky as many wildlife are inhabitant there. Also do not walk alone anywhere in the park.

For entering Sagarmatha national park, firstly you should buy the access pass. You can buy the pass from the visitor center, which lies at Monzo and Namche Bazar. The cost for entering a pass depends on which country you belong to if you belong to of any the SAARC country then you will have to pay RS 2400 per person whereas foreigners have to pay RS 4800 per person. You must have your password to get the pass.

Safety

You should be aware of the safety precautions that you will have to follow. Situated in a higher Himalayan range, trekkers trekking to Sagarmatha national park can have altitude sickness.  Although you will have a trekking guide with you still you should take the necessary precaution. For instance, you should not trek the elevation of 300 meters in a day. You should manage your itinerary according to this. If you should trekker higher than 300 meters in a day then you will have to take extra rest so that your body gets time to relax.  That is why should take some days in between the treks.

While visiting the national park you should be careful as the route through the parks is a bit narrow.

You should not disturb or harm any animals or birds there. There are certain rules that you should follow while going inside the park, you can read the rules on the board.

VISITOR FACILITIES

Visitors have been continuously been increasing since the last couple of years. The summer and monsoon seasons are the toughest seasons as the weather becomes extremely cold. Therefore, people visiting Sagarmatha national park during this season are relatively lesser.

Sometimes the crowd on the trail gets higher but the entire trail will provide you with a spectacular view of the mountains.  During the trek, you will go through Kala Pattar, which is the famous viewpoint for the thrilling view of Mt.Everest.  Sagarmatha national park trek will take you to the world-famous Everest View Hotel and Syangboche. Namche Bazar is another well-known spot for tourists to observe the local life and culture of the people. There are different hotels and lodges which provide food and accommodation facilities.

There is an information center and interpretative serve in Namche Bazar for easement of the treks. At Sagarmatha national park, they will prove you the handbook, which has required information about the park.  For transportation, you can either take a roadway starting from Kathmandu or an airstrip from Kathmandu airport to Lukla.

What is the best time to visit Sagarmatha National Park?

Although Sagarmatha national park is open throughout the year but weather, the condition might be worst sometimes. Therefore, the perfect time to trek to Sagarmatha national park is from mid-September to the end of November. As the weather during this time is cold so, you can witness the animals and birds in their natural habitat. If you are lucky, enough then you can see the snow leopard roaming around in actual snow. Another best time to visit Sagarmatha national park is from March to May, which include suitable weather condition. Prescription during these months is very low so, there is no chance of delay. During the peak seasons so, trails normally remain crowded. If you want to avoid unnecessary crowds then you can visit from April to June or March to April.

Local transport in Sagarmatha National Park

You can take airways or road trips to reach the Khumbu region. However, from Phakding you will have to trek so, the only option to go on Sagarmatha national park trek is by foot. Alternative for this is asking helicopter trek to Sagarmatha national park. A helicopter tour is quite expensive and can be finished within a day. However, if you plan to trek to Sagarmatha national park then plan you’re itinerary and stick to that. It is better to stop your trek before sunset as walking after the sunset might be dangerous. Moreover, you should carry travel lights, edibles and water always. You can hire a porter to carry your luggage, as there is no facility for public transportation. Locals employ Yaks to carry heavy loads. Continuously trekking might not be difficult for you should take a day off to acclimate.

Places to visit during Sagarmatha national park trek

• Everest base camp

This is is a world-famous trekking destination. Everest base camp is the dream place for most of the adventure geeks. This trek will give you the experience of seeing the world’s highest mountain from Kala Patthar. From Kala Patthar, you can get a view of the entire northern face of Mount Everest. Sagarmatha national park and Everest base camp both are near each other.  If y is visiting Sagarmatha national park then you must visit Everest base camp.

 

• Witnessing High Mountain

Along with Mount Everest, you can get a view of other mountains like Mount Taboche, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and various other small peaks. These mountains are the major attraction of Sagarmatha national park. You can get a magnificent view of these mountains throughout the trek. This mountain adds beauty to the Sagarmatha national park.

• Khumjung village

Khumjung village is an underrated village, which is an elevation of 4000 meters. This village is nearer to mount Khumbila. Scott Fisher Memorial and School lie in this village. This village is the most beautiful place with innocent and welcoming people. The local culture and mountains all around are the specialty of this village.

• Gokyo Lake

This is the place that you must visit during Sagarmatha national park visit.  Gokyo Lake is the world’s highest lake containing six lakes. There are mountains on all sides of this lake. You can get breathtaking views of the mountains including Everest. Trekkers prefer to go to Gokyo Lake early in the morning to camp there and spend the rest of the day.

• Monasteries

As most of the people in the Khumbu region are Buddhists, there are more than 50 monasteries throughout the trail.  The main monasteries are Tengboche, Thame, Khumjung, and Pangboche. Tengboche monastery is the oldest monastery. People decorate the monastery on Mane Rimdu and Dumie festival.

Where to stay in the Khumbu region?

There are different places for accommodation within the national park. You can either stay in a basic hotel, lodges, teahouse, or camping. There are hotels and teahouses on the trail to offer the food. Main hotels are at Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Thayangbche, Pheriche, and Lobuche. According to the report, there are 380 lodges on the trail to the Khumbu area. Earlier there was no resort on the trek but now several resorts have been established. You may have to book the hotel early during peak seasons. You might not get proper rooms due to the higher crowd. For food Dal Bhat and Tarkari is the most common food in the Khumbu region. Apart from this, you can get luxurious food at the resort and lodges.

 

Village life in Khumbu region, Himalaya, Nepal?

Khumbu area trek goes through the various village. This national park has an area of 124,400 hectares including Mount Everest.

The trail of the Khumbu region goes through dramatic mountains, glaciers, deep valleys, and seven peaks. Namche Bazaar and Khumjung village are the centers to observe the village life in the Khumbu region.  Villages in the mountains region are untouched by urbanization. Most of the villagers earn their livelihood by involving in touristic activities like running hotels, lodges, Guide and porters. Since transportation is not possible in the upper region, they use Yaks and other animals for transportation.

Mostly Sherpa and Gurung people from Tibet live in the Khumbu region. The villagers stay in the low temperature and altitude. Villagers are very hospitable and even allow homestay.  Local people decorate the houses in the villages with the handcraft arts and Buddhist flags all-overs. They have unique cultures and traditions. They stay at a higher altitude and temperature in the Khumbu region.