Nepal’s Great One-horned Rhinoceros

The Great One-horned Rhinoceros, also known as the Asian One-Horned Rhinoceros, or Indian Rhinoceros, is found only in the forests and tall grasslands of the Himalayan foothills in Nepal, Bhutan and Assam. This huge prehistoric-looking animal is an excellent swimmer, can reach a speed of up to 40 km/h over a short distance and, although having relatively poor eyesight, has excellent senses of smell and hearing. Sadly, a number of factors have contributed to the Great One-horned Rhinoceros being declared endangered and included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Ilam – Queen of Hills

Situated around 600 kilometers from Kathmandu in the east of Nepal, the hilly district of Ilam, sometimes referred to as “Queen of Hills”, is renowned for its awe-inspiring scenery and for the high quality of the tea grown there, which is exported to many destinations in the world. As home to the Red Panda, Ilam attracts researchers who are interested in the conservation of this beautiful endangered animal as well as the many rare birds in the area. With its Devi temples, Ilam also has great religious significance with many pilgrims visiting the area each year.

Discover the Holy Khumbeshwar Temple

To the North of Durbar Square in Patan, you will find a strikingly old structure that towers above surrounding buildings. The walls are intricately carved and there are large patches of red on each corner of the building that make it unmistakable. This is the Khumbeshwar Temple – a religious attraction that you should make every effort to see during your stay in Patan.