Sagarmatha is the highest peak in the world, and it lies in the Khumbu district of Nepal. Sagarmatha is Nepal's pride and identity. UNESCO included it as a world heritage site in 1979. The local people of this district worship Sagarmatha as a god. Sagarmatha has enhanced Nepal's beauty beautifully.
Sagarmatha National Park covers an area of 1,148 sq km and was established on July 19, 1976. This park is the main attraction for tourists. It is dominated by snow-capped mountains, including Mt. Everest, and encompasses glaciers, valleys, and tails.
Many tourists have been drawn to the local communities' unique cultures, traditions, music, food, and dance. The harmony, love, bond, care, and respect they share have influenced the visitors.
Among Nepal's 12 National parks, Sagarmatha National Park is the major tourist destination. The park has so much history, adventure, and thrills that tourists are fascinated.
More than 20,000 tourists are welcomed every year to visit the Summit and Sagarmatha National Park. The livelihood of the local people who live here depends on tourism.
Highlights of Sagarmatha National Park:
The holy land of mountain ranges.
The world's highest altitude national park.
Famous tourist destination.
Pride of Nepal.
Get a chance to learn about the history of Sagarmatha National Park.
Chance to explore and witness the natural beauty of nature closely.
World Heritage Site.
History of Sagarmatha National Park:
The Nepali name of Mt. Everest, Sagarmatha, has its own meaning. Sagarmatha means "sky," and "Matha" means head, so the meaning of Sagarmatha is "the head in a great blue sky."
The great historian and literary scholar Baburam Acharya was named Sagarmatha. Mt. Everest's old name was Chomolungma, which meant "Goddess Mother of the World."
Sagarmatha, or Mt. Everest, is located at a height of 8,848 m above sea level. Many people have created history and made records on the world's highest mountain, Everest. Some have set records in fastest climbing, some in first climbing for women and men, the youngest to climb, climbing without an oxygen mask, and many more.
Sir Edman Hillary and his Tibetan guide, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, first climbed Mt. Everest. Later, Edman Hillary also built the airport in Lukla, which is now known as Tenzing-Hillary Airport or Lukla Airport.
This airport is considered the most dangerous in the world. It is located at a high elevation of 2,846 m. Lukla Airport has made travel for visitors easy, comfortable, and fulfilled people's wish to trek to Everest Base Camp.
Sagarmatha National Park, also known as Everest National Park, was established on July 19, 1976, by the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Office, Ministry of Forest, National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department, Government of Nepal.
The purpose of establishing Everest National Park is to conserve the cultural heritage of local Sherpa communities, the natural biodiversity of that region, and ecological balance. Around 50,882 foreigners visit Sagarmatha National Park annually.
Stupa View in Sagarmatha National Park
BIODIVERSITY OF SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK
Sagarmatha National Park is located at a high elevation. 275-square-kilometer area is the buffer zone of Sagarmatha National Park. Various flora and fauna are found in Sagarmatha National Park.
Various endangered animals and birds are protected in this national park, which is located in cold areas. The world's most ecologically characteristic flora and fauna are also found in Sagarmatha National Park.
FLORA:
The forest of Sagarmatha National Park is in the subalpine belt. More than 1,000 species of flora are found in Everest National Park. Fir, Himalayan Birch, Rhododendron, and Juniper are found at 4000 to 5000 m elevation, and mosses and lichens are found at 500 m.
FAUNA:
Around 208 species of birds are found in Sagarmatha National Park, including the Impeyan pheasant, snowcock, bearded vulture, alpine cough, and others.
This national park is home to some animals, such as the Red Panda, Wild Yak, Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Tibetan Wolf, Snow Leopard, and Himalayan Black Bear.
How do I get there?
BY AIR:
Take a short flight of 25 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla; after the flight, there is a two-day Sagarmatha National Park for two parks.
BY BUS:
There needs to be a proper facility for road routes in Sagarmatha National Park. But there are two routes to reach Sagarmatha National Park by bus. They are:
Route 1 travels from Kathmandu to Jiri (100 km away from Kathmandu). A 10-day trek from Jiri to Sagarmatha National Park.
Route 2: travel by bus from Kathmandu to the village of Salleri. A five-day trek from Salleri to the Sagarmatha National Park.
CLIMATE:
Sagarmatha National Park is located at a high elevation. The weather in this region is cold throughout the year. But temperatures become mild during the autumn and spring seasons.
December to February:
Everest National Park's climate is freezing cold with a gentle breeze. The temperature ranges from -3 degrees to -17 degrees C, sometimes decreasing to -2 degrees C.
March to May:
Nepal begins its spring season in March and lasts through May. These months are the best for vacationing in Sagarmatha National Park.
You can trek and hike with beautiful, clear skies and breathtaking views of the Himalayas.
During the day, the temperature is 7 degrees C; at night, it falls at -12 degrees C.
June to August:
The monsoon season starts in July and ends in early August in Nepal. These are the hottest days in Everest National Park.
The temperature can reach 16 degrees C during the day and -1 or 2 degrees C at night.
September to November:
Autumn (September to November) is the best season to plan a trek to Sagarmatha National Park.
The weather became pleasant, calm, and mesmerizing during these months. Temperatures increased up to 10 degrees C and decreased down to 0 degrees C.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
There are two beautiful seasons for trekking, hiking, and visiting Sagarmatha National Park.
The best time to visit is the spring season (from March to May). The weather is pleasant and moderate during this season, and visitors can see clear blue skies and breathtaking surroundings.
Another good season is the autumn, which starts from September to November. During this season, the temperature reaches up to 10 degrees. This season is suitable for planning a vacation in Sagarmatha National Park with your loved ones.
THINGS TO DO:
Sagarmatha National Park is an adventurous and famous national park for trekking and hiking. Many visitors travel from all around the world just to experience the adventures that Sagarmatha National Park offers.
Activities that you can do in Sagarmatha National Park are:
Hiking and Trekking to Everest Base Camp
Gyko Lake: Camping
Dudh Koshi River for Chilling
Trek up to the highest point of the Monastery (Mt. Taboche)
Hike to Kalapathar
Helicopter tour
LANDMARKS:
Sagarmatha National Park has different beautiful and heavenly places. Enjoying the surroundings and traveling have different experiences and enjoyments.
Some of the places that you can visit in Sagarmatha National Park and create memories are:
Permits are essential for your trip. With a license, you can enjoy your trip and travel. Obtaining a permit is mandatory.
The permit will be required at the Sagarmatha National Park entry gate, located in Monjo, or it can be needed for the Nepal Tourism Board Office in Kathmandu. Permit to Sagarmatha National Park:
For foreigners, it's 3000 Rupees.
For SAARC Countries, it's 1500 Rupees.
For Nepalese People, it is 25 Rupees.
Children below ten years old are free.
View around the Everest Base Camp
CULTURE:
Sagarmatha National Park is the habitat of the Sherpa people. The people of Sagarmatha practice Tibetan Buddhism. They have a strong spiritual connection with mountains and nature.
According to the Sherpa people, mountains are the vagrants of gods and goddesses. They praise the mountains as their deity. The Sherpa people are rich in culture, skilled in climbing, and have super endurance at high altitudes.
The Sherpa people celebrate unique and beautiful festivals, including Gyalpo Loshar, New Year, Mani Rimdu, and Dumje.
Gyalpo loshar falls at the end of February, also marked as the New Year in the Tibetan Calendar. The New Year is celebrated according to the Nepali calendar, and good wishes are shared.
Mani Rimdu is celebrated on the first day of the tenth month of the Tibetan lunar Calendar, which falls between October and November under the English calendar.
During this festival, for the world's welfare, the Sherpa people meet at the monastery and enjoy masked dances, prayers, and feasts.
The Sherpa people celebrate Dumje on the occasion of Guru Rinpoche's birth on a lotus flower. The Sherpa Communities of Helambu and Khumbu celebrate this festival with masked dances by monks.
The cuisine of the Sherpa people is as unique as their culture. Their food culture is different from that of other religions in Nepal. The Sherpa people brought their food culture from Tibet.
Some of the popular foods that you should try while traveling to Sagarmatha National Park are Salty butter tea, Potato pancakes, Syakpa, Tsampa, Khapse, Momo, Tingmo, Tibetan bread, and many more.
Men of the Sherpa community wear long-sleeved robes called kitycow, which end just below the knee. They wear a chuba with a cloth sash called a kara that they tie around the waist.
Women wear Bakhu. Both married and unmarried women wear this dress, but the married women tie a multi-colored striped apron of woolen clothing called pandan around their waist.
ACCOMMODATION:
For your trip to Sagarmatha National Park, you can find various hotels, inns, lodges, and tea houses. Some accommodation also provides free Wi-Fi, hot water baths, and proper food services.
Some popular accommodations in Sagarmatha National Park are Hotel Khangari, Lama Hotel—Café De Himalayan, Lukla Airport Restro Lukla, Panorama Lodge and Restaurant, etc.
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR TRIP MORE COMFORTABLE:
Before planning a trip to Sagarmatha National Park, you must mentally and physically prepare yourself.
Show your friendly and good gesture to the local people.
If you have a porter with you, give them healthy tips because they will carry your bags throughout the trip.
Always listen to your guide and follow their guidance.
If you are experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness, inform your guide immediately.
Carry warm clothes and a good pair of shoes, suitable and comfortable for hiking.
Remember to carry your medication if you are taking any medication.
Stay hydrated throughout the hike, and drink an excess amount of water.
FAQs:
Where is Sagarmatha National Park located?
Sagarmatha National Park is located between the ranges of the Himalayas in the Khumbu district of Nepal.
Why is Sagarmatha National Park famous?
Sagarmatha National Park is famous because it is located at a high altitude and has unique biodiversity, culture, and tradition.
What is the main attraction of Sagarmatha National Park?
Everest, Deep Valley, High Altitude Lake, Kalapathar, and various mountains, such as Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, etc., are the main attractions of Sagarmatha National Park.
When is the best time to visit Sagarmatha National Park?
The best times to visit Sagarmatha National Park are the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons.
Is it safe to travel to Sagarmatha National Park?
Yes, it is safe to travel to Sagarmatha National Park. But if you are traveling alone, you should know the park properly. Otherwise, you can hire a local guide to make your travel safe.
CONCLUSION:
Sagarmatha National Park has provided livelihood to the local people and promotes the culture and traditions of the Sherpa community to the people who travel here every year.
Gathering the memories and knowledge of the cultures and traditions of local people, traveling through the path of the Himalayas and the jungle, and watching the flow of deep and clyster clear water from rivers will make your trip to National Park more fascinating.
Sagarmatha National Park will teach you what real natural beauty is. It will help you understand the real meaning of peace and success that you achieve after the struggles. For further information, contact us.
Barsha Thapa is our competent team member, currently pursuing her studies at Public Youth Campus. Since 2022, she has been a dedicated part of Himalayan Recreation, where she contributes her skills and enthusiasm to promoting the wonders of Nepal.
Inspired by her colleague Jyoti, a travel enthusiast and expert content creator, Barsha has developed a deep passion for sharing the beauty and culture of the majestic Himalayas. Her role at Himalayan Recreation allows her to combine her academic pursuits with her love for travel and nature.
Committed to showcasing Nepal's unique experiences, Barsha assists in content creation and planning unforgettable journeys, ensuring that every traveler experiences the true essence of Nepal.
When she is not immersed in her studies or work, Barsha enjoys exploring new trails, discovering hidden gems, and immersing herself in the serene landscapes of Nepal. The mountains have become a significant part of her life, fueling her passion and drive to connect with nature and inspire others to do the same.
As a part of the Himalayan Recreation family, Barsha is always eager to share her knowledge and help fellow travelers create lasting memories. Feel free to contact her via WhatsApp or email; she is available online 24/7 for any inquiries or travel plans.
