Shuklaphanta National Park draws 590 visitors in 13 days after reopening

Shuklaphanta National Park in Kanchanpur had 590 visitors in the 13 days from Wednesday, October 14, to Monday, October 26, park ranger Bikram Chaudhary said, according to the national news agency RSS.

Reopened for the festivals

The park was closed to visitors during the monsoon and reopened only in the last week of Asoj (mid-October), Chaudhary said. Visitors have come from Kanchanpur, the rest of Sudurpaschim and other parts of the country during the festival season, among them Kanchanpur people who live elsewhere for work or study and are home for the holidays.

Of the 590 visitors, 560 were Nepali, 23 came from SAARC countries and seven from elsewhere. Entry costs Rs 100 for Nepali visitors, Rs 750 for SAARC nationals and Rs 1,500 for other foreigners, according to the park office. Chaudhary said work to promote the park is under way.

The park covers about 305 square kilometres. According to the park office it has more than 2,300 swamp deer (barasingha), 50 Bengal tigers, more than 20 rhinoceroses and more than 450 species of birds; the park is known for the world's largest herd of swamp deer and for having more tigers in a small area than anywhere else in Nepal.

Elsewhere in Kanchanpur

Dinesh Malla, president of the Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said domestic tourists are crowding the district's sights: the four-lane bridge over the Mahakali, suspension bridges, and Bedkot and Jhilmila lakes. More Nepalis are also crossing at Gaddachauki to visit Nainital and Kainchi Dham in India, he said. Malla called on the authorities to attend to visitors' transport, accommodation and security.