Nepal's twelve national parks run from the tiger forests of the Terai to the summit of Everest.
Quick answer: Chitwan (1973) was the first; Sagarmatha and Chitwan are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For wildlife safaris choose Chitwan or Bardia; for mountains, Sagarmatha, Langtang or Makalu Barun.
| Park | Established | Region | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitwan | 1973 | Terai | Rhinos, tigers; UNESCO site |
| Sagarmatha | 1976 | Everest region | Everest; UNESCO site |
| Langtang | 1976 | North of Kathmandu | Red pandas, Gosainkunda |
| Rara | 1976 | Karnali | Nepal's largest lake |
| Shey Phoksundo | 1984 | Dolpo | Phoksundo Lake, snow leopards |
| Khaptad | 1984 | Far west | Meadows, Khaptad Baba |
| Bardia | 1988 (as national park) | Western Terai | Tigers |
| Makalu Barun | 1992 | East | Makalu, wilderness |
| Shivapuri Nagarjun | 2002 | Kathmandu Valley | Hikes, Bagmati source |
| Banke | 2010 | Mid-western Terai | Tiger corridor with Bardia |
| Shuklaphanta | 2017 (as national park) | Far-western Terai | Swamp deer |
| Parsa | 2017 (as national park) | Central Terai | Forests next to Chitwan |
See national parks of Nepal for detailed guides.