At the right time of year, around spring time, you’ll often see children by the side of the road or path holding out a cup or piece of paper full of wild raspberries for sale. Buy some – they’re delicious! See also this beautiful picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29123216@N05/4001805591/in/photostream/
Posted: September 6th, 2010 under Flora, Nature | Comments: none
This photo by Land Artist Richard Shilling Laligurans (Rhododendron arboreum) is the Nepali variation of the rhododendron flower and is the national flower of Nepal. While rhododendrons can be found all over the world, Nepali laligurans are unique for their immense size and distribution all across the Himalayan foothills. Laligurans can grow up to 30m tall and will often cover entire mountainsides with its flowers when it blooms from late February to April. Uses in medicine & intoxicating properties Rhododendrons have many different kinds of medicinal properties, some beneficial and other harmful. Nepali children will often eat laligurans flowers because [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Flora, Nature | Comments: 1
A tiny mushroom grows out of the head of a moth caterpillar. Thousands of people spend their summers crawling around remote hillsides searching for these elusive phenomenon. Chinese middlemen fly in by helicopter and offer thousands of dollars per kilo. Businessmen part with great amounts of money and consume the product for the apparently excellent aphrodisiac properties.
You couldn’t make it up, but its all true. Read more about Tibetan Viagra!
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Flora, Nature | Comments: none
The Himlayan Lynx is found across most of Central Asia, Russia, China, and Eastern Europe. While a large cat, the lynx is smaller than many of its relatives and will only grow up to 30kg. They are as secretive as snow leopards and seldom heard because of their large padded paws which allow them to move silently through the forests they live in. Diet, Ecology & Behaviour Lynxes prey on a wide range of animals; hoofed animals, rodents, hares, foxes, boars, deer, and birds. Because of the risk in taking down larger animals, the Lynx will often only attempt such [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: 2
The Himalayan tahr is a relative to the wild goat that roams across the breadth of the Himalayas. Adult male tahrs can weigh up to 120kg and are known for their large reddish brown coats with large manes in the winter. They roam between 2,500 and 5,200m and can often be found in sub-alpine forests where there are rhododendron shrubs. Diet, ecology & behaviour Tahrs survive mostly on grasses, leaves, herbs, and occasionally fruit. They are diurnal and often travel in small groups of about 15 but groups of up to 80 have been reported. During the day, they often [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
Snow leopards are medium sized mountain cats that range across central Asia and the Himalayas. Snow Leopards are one of Nepal’s most endangered animals and their existence is under threat. There were an estimated 300-500 snow leopards in Nepal in 2003 and their numbers continue to diminish due to poaching. Despite their small numbers trekkers and locals often come across their footprints at high altitudes. People have reported seeing these cats high up Langtang valley, in Dolpa, Mustang and Limi Valley in Humla. Ecology & behaviour Snow leopard’s live anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000m during the summer and will descend [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
The grey langur monkey is the most common monkey in all of South Asia, and while scientists once believed there to be only one species of langur, they have since identified seven unique types of langur in South Asia. The Nepali langurs are larger than their cousins to the south, and males can weigh up to 15kg. They are distinct in appearance with white-grey coats and have black faces and hands. Cultural depictions All langurs were once referred to as “Hanuman langurs” because of Hindu monkey god’s devotion to lord Ram. Hindus believe the monkey’s hand and face were made [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
Yaks are both domestic and wild animals found at the higher ranges of the Himalayan mountains. They have been domesticated for well over a millennia and are useful for a large number of reasons. While domestic yaks are found all over, wild yaks are endangered animals and now only found in remote regions of the Himalayas. Yaks are found anywhere from 3,200 to 5,400 meters and will not thrive at lower altitudes. Wild yaks Wild yaks are some of the world’s largest bovines. Wild males can stand 2 to 2.2 meters tall at their shoulder, be over 3 meters long [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
(Yeti, meh-teh, “man bear;” ban-manche, “forest-men;” rachyyas, “demons”) While the greater scientific community largely discounts claims of the Yeti or “abominable snowman’s” existence, the extent of the myth, legends, and accounts of the Yeti abound across the himalaya along the Tibetan border. Many believe that the Yeti is really the himalayan brown bear, which can stand upright and walk like a person. Others suggest that yeti’s are really the large langur monkeys that can be found at high altitudes. Some argue that Yetis are really holy men from Tibet or India living mendicant lives naked in the snow and are [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: 1
Red Pandas are small arboreal mammals that live across the Himalayan ranges; from India, Bhutan and Nepal to Tibet, Myanmar, and China. Red pandas are slightly larger than house cats and diverged from other species of bears over 40 million years ago. Despite only distant relations, the red panda shares a bamboo diet and an attitude of laziness with the Chinese Great Panda. There are anywhere from 11,000 to 20,000 red pandas left worldwide. Their cold mountain habitats make them intolerant of temperatures above 20C and they live between 2,200 meters and 4,800 meters in dense forests with old trees [...]
Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster) range across Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau, and lower Himalayan slopes. Scientifically they are not “true deer” and are instead part of a more primitive family of animals that probably descends from the common deer’s ancestors. Musk Deer are unique in their appearance and most noted for their two small tusks that protrude downward in a fang-like manner. These fangs constantly grow but are fragile and often break. They lack antlers and are smaller than other deer, but because of their valuable musk-gland secretion are highly sought after. Diet, Ecology & Behaviour Himalayan Musk Deer are [...]
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: 2
The Bharal (Pseudois nayaur), also known as the Blue Sheep, is a high mountain sheep that is the primary prey of Snow Leopards. They have short coats and legs with robust chests and shoulder, and can weigh up to 75kg. Despite their cold weather adaptations, they thrive in all extremes, from hot deserts to cold mountains. Diet, Ecology & Behaviour The Bharal feeds mostly on grasses and lichen. During the summer season they mostly spend their time in small groups but gather in valleys during winter seasons. They are usually found anywhere from 3,000 to 5,500m and will not enter [...]
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
While the common Seabuckthorn plant (Hippophae Salicifolia) can be found all over the world, the Himalayan variety is a uniquely adapted, high altitude berry-shrub that grows in dry valleys. The small bush produces acidic berries that are sour and astringent while being nutritious and edible. The wild variety of these plants differ in colour and size from other species of Seabuckthorn but are still rarely grow over a meter tall. Uses in Medicine & Juices The juice from Seabuckthorn berries contains about 15 times the amount of vitamin C of an orange, making it one of the best natural sources [...]
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Flora, Nature | Comments: none
Wolfberry plants or goji berries can be found growing wild in Nepal and have recently received much renown in the West for the nutritional and curative properties associated with them. Goji berry juice can now be found in many health food stores in the West and is an excellent source of antioxidants. The goji berry plant is woody-stemmed large bush that grows between 1-3m tall. Depending on altitude and climate, goji berries will bud with bright lavender and light purple flowers anywhere from June to September. Their berries are ellipsoid in shape and dark red in colour, growing up to [...]
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Flora, Nature | Comments: 8
The Asian Golden Cat is found across large parts of South, Central, and Southeast Asia. It is similar to a leopard in size and behaviour and only weighs up to 16kg. Because Asian Golden Cats prefer deciduous and tropical forests interspersed with rocky openings, they are only found up to 3,000m.
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Fauna, Nature | Comments: none
Lapsi is a popular fruit tree that is found in Nepal and many other Asian countries. This deciduous tree can grow up to 20 meters tall and has smaller purple-brown branches. Its wood is strong and can be used in construction and the large fruit seeds are often used as fire starters and in medicine. Use in foods, jams, and aachars Nepalis have a long tradition of using Lapsi in a variety of dishes and preservatives. The Lapsi fruit is about 3 centimeters long, has a green-yellow skin, and is incredibly sour if eaten plain. Inside the fruit is a [...]
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Flora, Nature | Comments: none
Nepal boasts over 350 unique species of orchids that are only found in the Himalayan ranges. Nepal’s moist atmosphere and cloudy forests are a paradise for orchids and every year several more species of orchids are discovered in Nepal. While walking along lower, wooded trails in Nepal, walk slowly and keep your eyes open for some of the world’s most beautiful flowers.
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Flora, HomeGallery, Nature | Comments: 2
Fauna of Nepal Himalaya Nepal’s remote peaks and valleys are home to some of the rarest and most endangered animals in the World. Geographically imposed isolation has over the centuries led to the ‘branching off’ of thousands of species, more of which are discovered every year. Below is a small sample of the animals that you may be able to discover on your trek in Nepal: Flora of Nepal Himalaya Being one of the world’s most unique ecosystems, the Himalayas possess a diverse range of flowers, herbs, fruits, and plants that are famous around the world for their various healing [...]
Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Nature | Comments: none
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