What Nepal’s flatland offers to the tourists?

• Sushant Lama

Nepal is a small country with tremendous topographical diversity. From the lowlands in Terai to the highest peak of the world, Nepal’s elevation ranges from as low as 67 meters above the sea level to 8848 meters above the sea level which makes it the roof of the world. Nepal is divided into three regions, the Himalayan region, the Hill region, and the Terai region.

Terai region, also known as the grain house of Nepal, is a lowland region in southern Nepal. It is characterized by sal forests, scrub savannah, tall grasslands and clay-rich swamps. The Terai region is located at an altitude of 67-300m and covers 17% of the total area of Nepal.

Tourism is one of the mainstays of the Nepalese economy and also a major source of foreign exchange and revenue. Tourism is rapidly increasing in the terai region and there are lots of things to do. Some of the adventure attracting tourists in the Terai region are as follows.

Cycling

Nepal is one of the world’s best adventure playground for mountain bikers. Cycling in Nepal is an extraordinary experience and due to the presence of the flatlands, the Terai region provides the experience of a lifetime. Cycling tour in Terai will take you to some of the most beautiful and unexplored places of Nepal. You will see various rural villages and get to know their cultures.

Bird Watching

Nepal is a paradise for bird watchers’ with over 850 species of birds to observe due to the presence of national parks and conservation areas. Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve, Chitwan National parks, and Bardiya National Park are the main bird watching areas. Bird watchers cannot miss these reserves which are homes to all kinds of birds and these are the places to be if you wanna click photographs of various resident and migratory birds that come from as far as Siberia.

You can watch birds like Pheasant, Red jungle fowl, Indian Peafowl, Woodpecker, oriented pied hornbill, kingfisher, Cuckoo, Dove, Pigeon, etc.

Jungle Safari

Jungle Safari in Chitwan parkNational Parks located in Terai regions in Nepal attracts visitors from all around the globe. Due to richness in wildlife and birds, national parks and wildlife reserves such as Chitwan National park, Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve, Bardiya National Parks, etc are the world’s best spots for jungle safari.

A visit to these parks is done by foot, vehicle or riding on the elephant’s back. One can see one-horned rhino, Asiatic elephants, wild boars, spotted deer, samburs, sloth bear, four-horned antelope, etc. If you are lucky you can see the royal Bengal tiger too.

Religious sightseeing.

If you are religious minded, then terai has many religious sacred places to visit. Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, lies here. Janaki Temple (birthplace of Sita), Baraha Kschhetra, Dantakali Devi in Dharan, Bageshwori in Nepaljung, Devghat a sacred place in Chitwan, Chhinmasta in Saptari, etc

Sightseeing

There are lots of places for sightseeing in the terai region. Dang, Biratnagar, Dharan, Lumbini, Birgunj, Koshi-Barrack, Rajbiraj, Lahan- Phoolbari are some of the places which provide spectacular views for sightseeing lovers.