Kanchenjunga Conservation Area

Located in the north eastern most district of Taplejung of Nepal, the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area covers 2,035 sq km and is bordered by Tibet in the north and India in the east. Established in the year 1997, the area is made up of alpine grass lands, rocky outcrops, dense temperate and sub-tropical forests, and low river valleys with the Kanchanjunga as its crown. It gets its name from the Kanchanjunga the world's third highest mountain.

The Kangchenjunga Conservation Area lies in the Taplejung district, bordered by Sikkim(India) in the east and Tibet (China) in the north. The area represents high mountain physiographic regions with 65% of its area covered by rocks and ice. The remaining 35% is covered by forests (14.1%). shrubland (10.1%), Grassland (9.2%) and Agricultural land(1.6). The area is well know for its three river valley: the Simbua Khola, the Ghunsa and the Tamur valleys

All 30 varieties of rhododendron species found in Nepal and 69 varieties of orchids can be seen here. Wildlife includes the endangered Snow Leopard and the Red Panda along with other more common species like the Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer Red Panda, Blue Sheep and Rhesus Macaw. Around 202 species of birds including Impheyan Pheasant, Red-billed Blue Magpie, and the Drongo are found in the area.

Kanchanjung is a relatively virgin territory and there are very basic tea houses along the trail. The trail starts from Taplejung which can be reached by air from Kathmandu. The best seasons to go to Kanchanjunga are between March to May and September to November.


Conservation History:
 Recognizing its rich natural and cultural resources, the government of Nepal in support of WWF's Living Planet Campaign declared KCA a 'Gift to the Earth' on 29April 1997. This was followed by the KCA being conferred a conservation Area status on 21 July 1997 fulfilling criteria that it contains sites of significant religious, cultural, archaeological or historic value; contains unique landform or geomorphic features; contains site of unique genetic diversity; and contains habitat essential for preservation and enhancement of rare or endangered species. KCA, on 22 September 2006 was handed over to the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area management Council making it the first ever protected area ever to be handed to the community for their management. His Majesty's Government of Nepal declared a core area of 1,650 sq.km. In the Kanchenjunga areg=ion of Nepal a “Gift to the Earth" on April 29, 1997. Thsi action was in support of WWF's Living Planet Campaign and was a commitment from His Majesty's Government to conserve the area's natural and cultural heritage. This core area was conferred area status on July 21, 1997 and declared the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Subsequently, the Conservation Area boundary was extended to 2,305 sq.km. on September 14,1998 to cover the four Village Development Committees of Lelep, Tapeyhok, Walangchung Gola and Yamphudin in order to promote community-based conservation.


Vegetation: Represented by subtropical vegetation in the lower mid-hills to alpine grasslands in the high hills and mountains Forest types include Rhododendron forests upto treeline; Larix griffithiana- Juniperus forest - a characteristic east Himalayan vegetation type - found in the two main river valleys of this area between 3000-3700 m; Coniferous forest of Abies sepectabilis and Tsuda dumosa between 2800-3500 m; Mixed broadleaved forest of Quercus sp., Castanopsis sp., Magnolia campbellii, Acer campbellii and Osmanthus suavia between 1200-2800 m; Sal-Schima mixed forest at 1200 m. 2500 species of flowering plants. 810 sp of flowering plants (Shrestha and Ghimire 1996). Largest families are Compositae (56 sp), Leguminosae (51 sp), Orchidaceae (48 sp), Rosaceae (45 sp), Ericaceae (42 sp) and Gramineae (40 sp). Largest genera are Rhododendron (23 sp), Rubus (14 sp), Pedicularis (10 sp) and Primula (10 sp). Important flora consitute Taxus baccata, Tetracentron sinense and Rhododendron sp.


Socioeconomic Features:

  • Community Structure: It includes four village development committees of Lelep, Tapeyhok, Walangchung Gola and Yamphudin. The conservation area has a lot of ethnic diversity and culture; approximately 5000 people of about 11 ethnic community live in the area. As the original settlers of the Upper Tamur Valley, the Limbu are the dominant ethnic group in the lower regions. The Sherpa/Lama people are in the higher altitude where they arrived from Tibet more than four hundred years ago. These Sherpas have a distinct culture and tradition from those in the Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Region. Also Rais, Chhetris, Brahmins and others live in Kanchenjunga.

 

  • Ethnic Group: The conservation area has a lot of ethnic diversity and culture; approximately 5000 people of about 11 ethnic community live in the area. As the original settlers of the Upper Tamur Valley, the Limbu are the dominant ethnic group in the lower regions. The Sherpa/Lama people are in the higher altitude where they arrived from Tibet more than four hundred years ago. These Sherpas have a distinct culture and tradition from those in the Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Region. Also Rais, Chhetris, Brahmins and others live in the area.

 

  • Natural Heritage: The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) in the eastern Himalaya comprises some of the most stunning scenery in all of Nepal. Not only does this region host the third highest peak in the world (Mt. Kanchenjunga), but it is also a global hotspot for plant biodiversity. Botanist have identified twenty-three species of rhododendrons growing in the area. In this eastern Himalayan setting, glacial streams cut through high ridges creating remote and steep valleys where traditional farming practices are a way of life. Tucked within these hidden valleys, one can encounter rich forests that support more than 250 species of birds and endangered wildlife. A few days of walking will lead you to high-elevation pastures where yaks graze languidly and colorful alpine flowers bloom. Throughout the KCA, you will encounter a medley of ethnicities that continue to practice traditional subsistence lifestyles, their cultural and religious practices adding to the area's rich cultural heritage.

 

  • Cultural Significance: The region has a mosaic of ethnic groups. The religious sites (temples and monasteries) in the area attest to Kanchenjunga’s rich cultural heritage. Local people combine agriculture, pastoralism and trade to subsist. Monasteries, chhortens, temples, prayer-walls are the icons of the conservation area's cultural heritage.



Tourist Attraction:

For an excellent view of the Mountain Kanchenjunga, you should reach the North base camp where a place called Pangpema is the excellent point for observation of the mountain. To make a circular trek you will have to pass through the Celele Pass at an altitude of about 4000 m to drop to Tseram from where you head toward the South base camp, another excellent observation point of Mt. Kanchenjunga. On the way back, you will have to pass through Yamphudiun village to reach Suketer from where you can fly to Biratnagar.


Trekking:
Largely unexplored and still restricted to the individual visitors, the Kanchenjunga trek provides visitors an unusual adventure experience than rest of the other trekking destinations. Walking on a virgin route towards the Tamur River the Kanchenjunga Base camp trek exposes spectacular views of the Jannu Himal, Mt. Makalu (27,825ft) and Chamlang (24,000ft). After trekking through ancient villages and pristine landscapes dotted with rhododendron forest, the Kanchenjunga range dramatically reveals itself. The route continuous up the Tamur River through Limbu villages and leads towards the terraced mountainside village of Amjilassa and the legendary Sherpa village of Ghunsa; situated at 11,000 ft. The trail finally goes on to reach the edge of the Kanchenjunga glacier and after crossing the lateral moraine we will come to the junction of Lhonak glacier (15,000ft) and the valley beyond it. The campsite at Lhonak can be reached by crossing this junction, an undisturbed landscape of unbelievable beauty.



How to Get There
There are various ways to reach the conservation area. You can reach the conservation area by bus through Dharan. From here you will have to walk to Kunsa inside the conservation area.

Nepal Airlines has its morning flights everyday between Birantnagar and Sukhetar. And there are everyday flights between Kathmandu and Birantnagar. Some private airlines operate from Kathmandu to Sukhetar.

Another way to get to Kanchangunga Conservation Area is Birtamod in eastern Jhapa District. From Birtamod and travel by local bus to Taplejung Bazaar, this road is seasonable though.


Important Points
To get a permit to this conservation area you need to be part of an organized trekking group. Visitors should be equipped with camping gear and fuel supply. Carry out non-biodegradable items and dispose in a designated area. Flora and fauna in the park is fully protected, do not disturb them. Do not buy anything made from wildlife products.

Conservation Area entry fee per person per entry:

  • For Nepali Nationals Free
  • For SAARC Nationals Rs 200
  • For Foreign Nationals Rs 2000
  • Children under 10 years Free



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