- Published 3 months ago on
- By: Admin
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is Nepal’s third protected area lying in the Himalayas in the eastern region. Part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape it is named after Mt. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), the third-highest mountain in the world.
The protected area lies within Taplejung district and is known for housing eleven mountain peaks whose elevation range above 7,000 m. Annapurna Region is also known as a Gift to the Earth, a title given by the Government of Nepal.
The conservation area is located in the eastern region of Nepal and lies within the Taplejung district. In the north, the protected area shares its international borders with Tibet’s Qomolangma National Nature Preserve and in the east with Sikkim’s Khangchendzonga National Park.
In the west, it is bordered by the Sankhuwasabha district. The geographical coordinates of the conservation area are 27.7155°N 87.9282°E. The Kanchenjunga region covers an area of 2.035 sq km (786 sq mi) and ranges in altitude between 1,200 – 8,586 m.
The protected area is known for three major river valleys; Tamur River Valley, Ghunsa River Valley, and Simbuwa Khola Valley.
You can catch a direct flight from Kathmandu to Suketar. Tourists who wish to travel by road must catch a bus from Kathmandu to Birtamode. From Birtamode you have to pass Ilam and Phidim along the way to reach Taplejung Bazaar finally.
The protected area can also be reached via bus from Dharan.
Tourists from SAARC nations are required to pay a fee of NPR 200 while personnel from other foreign countries must pay NPR 2,000.
The best suitable time to enjoy the Kanchenjunga Region is from February to May and between August and November.
The Kanchenjunga region was designated as Nepal’s third conservation area in the March of 1997. The Government of Nepal named the Kanchenjunga Region as a Gift to the Earth in April 1997.
With the association of WWF Nepal, the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council was formed in April of 2003.
The council comprised of forty-four User Groups, thirty-two Mother Groups, and seven Conservation Area User Committees. The main objective of these committees was to see the proper implementation of the planned activities.
The Government of Nepal officially handed over the conservation and management of Kanchenjunga Conservation Area to the Management Council in August of 2006.
The Kanchenchunga Conservation area is covered with thick forests, pastures, river, glaciers, high altitude lakes, and cultivated lands.
The vegetation of the area is classified into five major zones:
The rich forest of the Kanchenjunga serves as essential habitat for over 250 species of birds and several other species of endangered wildlife.
The mammals found in the area are the rare Asian black bear, snow leopard, and Red panda. A leopard
a camera trap spotted cat in April 2012 at an elevation of 4,474 m.
In May 2012 a melanistic leopard was seen wandering at an altitude of 4,300 m. The region has also recorded the presence of yellow-throated marten in the alpine meadow at the height of 4,510 m (14,800 ft).