Ghodaghodi Lake Area

Listed in 2003 as Ramsar site, Ghodaghodi Lake Area of Kailali District engulfs 2,563 hectares of area. There are around 13 associated lakes and ponds, and some streams separated by hillocks situated on the site's periphery.
It is surrounded by tropical deciduous forest on the lower slpoes of Siwalik. They support critically endangered Tiger, Three-striped Roof Turtle, vulnerable Smooth-coated Otter, Common Otter, Swamp deer, Lesser Adjutant Stork and Marsh Crocodile, endangered Orchid, religiously important and threatened Lotus, and rare wild rice.

The lake is animportant religious place with a shrine dedicated to Ghodaghodi deity where indigenous Tharu people celebrate Agan Panchami, in December and take a holy bath in the lake. Due to dense population within the site it is intensively used for traditional fishing and agriculture. They support six threatened bird species. They included Critical: White-rumped vulture and Slender-billed vulture; Vulnerable: Lesser adjudant and Indian-spotted eagle and Near-threatened: Oriental darter and Ferrufinous pochard. The resident population of Nettapus coromandelianus makes up nearly one percent of the total Asian population.

Koshi Tappu Wetland

The first declared Ramsar site of Nepal in 1987. It spreads over 17500 hecaters. It lies within the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. It is a section of the Sapta Koshi River and Its floodplain.

It offers an important habitat for a large variety of wildlife. The threatened crocodile Gavialis gangeticus, birds Eupodotis bengalensis and Pelecanus philippensis, and leopard Panthera pardus occur in the site. Koshi Tappu forms an ideal habitat for resident as well as migratory waterbirds and substantial numbers of waders.

Ramsar Sites of Nepal

The Ramsar Convention(The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. It is named after the town of Ramsar in Iran. The convention was developed at a meeting in Ramsar on February2, 1971 and came into force on December 21, 1975. Its headquaters is located in Gland, Switzerland shared with the IUCN.

The Ramsar sites of International Importance now includes 1,847 sites. The nation with the highest number of sites is the United Kingdom at 166; the nation with the greatest area of listed wetlands is Canada, with over 130,000 km2, including the queen Maud Gulf site at 62,800km2.

Home StayFor Traditional Nepalese Cultural Experience

Although hotels And guest houses are available in Panauti, visitors aaaaaare encouraged to take adventage of home staay programs and live in local people's homes . Meals are also provied. A home stay programs is offered by the Panauti Tourism Development Communittee to enrich your culture experience. Such programs helps to rise much needed revenue for low-income households of these areas to not only support their families but also to keep age-old handicraft businesses runing. Many local households have been given suitable training to improve the quality standards requerd to host guests. Visitors wishing to avail of these home stay programs are reqested to contact members of Panauti Parners.

Places To Visit Around Panauti

Triveni Ghat: Onceof the holiest sites for Hindus, the month long Makar Mela is held here once every 12years. There are more than tow dozen temples at the site.

Indreshowr Sqaure: It has many ancient temples. the three Indreshowr Mahadev Temple is an excellent exmple of Newari craftmanship. Unmata Bhairav Temple, Krishna Temple and Ahilya Temple aaare located in the coutryard as well. On the northeastern side, across the Punyamati Rivers, is the 17th century Brahmayani temple while the Krishna Narayan Temple ia near the confluence of the rivers. Other temples are scattered around the square making the whole place akun to an open museum.

Gorkhnath Hill(15 min walk): Gorkhnath Hill (2000ft) is a 15 min walk uphill to the north east of the fron where one can get a wonderful viweof the town the Himalayan peaks and the mountain of the Mahabharat range.

Interesting Facts About Panauti

1. A traditional Newari confection called 'Ya mari' made from a mixture of treacle and sesame seed wrapped in the shape of a Stupa with rich dough originated here.

2. It is the birth place of Mahasatwo a prince who sacrificed his body to feed a starving tigress and her cubs when he went to Namobuddha jungle.

3. The town is believed to be located on a single rock which has been taken as the reason for the town not being too sevsrsly affected by earthquakes in the past.

4. All of old Panauti has been propoed to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Major Ethnic Groups in Panauti

Newar: The oldest ethnic group of Nepal, they have their own language and script. Trade and farming are their main occupations and they are renowned for their artistic and architectural abilities.
Brahmin and Chhetri: Hindus with sharp indo-Aryan features and olive complexion, they are mainly farmers. brahmins may act as family priests and officiate at shrines and temples and at rituals.