Knancanjunga Conservation Area
belt lies below Mt. Kanchanjunga. The region
with its alpine grasslands, rocky outcrops,
low river valley, temperate and sub-tropical
forest is situated in Taplejung district that
borders with the Tibetan Autonomous Region of
China. The KCA has been selected as one of the
200 Global eco regions recognized by World Wildlife
Fund.
Ten species among Nepal's 20 indigenous gymnosperms
and 15 among Nepal's 28 endemic flowering plants
are found in this region. In additional, almost
30 varieties of rhododendron species and 69
varieties of orchids are found here. The area
is splashes with colors every spring with wild
displays of rhododendrons, orchids, lilies,
primula and other flowers.
Wildlife includes endangered snow leopard, Himalayan
black bear, musk deer, red panda, blue sheep
and rhesus macaw. About 202 species of different
birds including Impheyan pheasant, red-billed
blue magpie, shy drongo are found in the area.
The region can be reached via Basantapur in
Dhankuta district or Birtamod in Jhapa district.
The area can also be reached through Dharan,
which is 40 kilometers north from Biratnagar.
Yet another option is to fly to Biratnagar and
then to Sukhetar in Taplejung district form
where the region can be trekked. Tourist facilities
are availanle in Dharan, Dhankuta and Biratnagar.