Over time, photography has developed as a sub-genre in travel. It has grown from just instilling the moment onto film or paper and evolved into a multi-faceted experience. People today travel to photograph and through this process indulge in the beauty and elements of the destinations.
I remember stumbling upon images of Nepal taken before we instituted an open door policy(1950AD). These travellers, some inconspicuously took great photographs to preserve the tranquil beauty of Nepal in film. Revisiting them in the 21st century, much has changed. Taking a time composite shows the gravity of how Nepal has deeply absorbed the facets of modernization. In this urban chaos, still lies the old world preserved in a unique amalgam.
Nepal has much to offer in photography which can lure many to this beautiful country. Photography has also grown in both technological and cultural aspects: it has also evolved into a glorious art form.
If one reviews most of my articles, I never fail to mention how Nepal has good diversity. It offers something for every genre of travellers and all age groups. When it comes to pictorial adventures as well, we have a diverse range for all photographers.
Exploring Nepal, little by little, it always dawns on me how beautiful it truly is. I haven’t travelled much of this nation: but in my adventures, I find peculiarities, beauty and tranquillity. The never-ending savanna of the terai, the layered hills and jagged north is an adventure beyond imagination for a curious mind. The terraces of the eastern region, urban chaos of central and the untainted beauty of the far-west is far too alluring as well.
Venturing these lands with the intent of photography is an experience like no other; chasing the Bengal Tiger in the savanna to stumbling upon the Red Panda in the eastern hills, watching a flock of blue sheep attempt an impossible climb and daring the arctic to photograph the snow leopard.
The cultural discovery is also paramount, landscapes straight out of heaven and architecture of a bygone era. All of this and much more awaits a photographer in Nepal. We explore below in segments the dimensions of possibilities.
Wildlife Photography
Nepal’s geographical vastness needs no introduction. It has over time helped develop the biological diversity of Nepal. The variance in climatic conditions beginning from tropical in the south to reaching arctic in the north has made Nepal, “ Truly Natural”.
Nepal’s biodiversity is comprised into two main regions:
1. Mountainous ecoregion
2. Savanna and Grasslands ecoregion
Nepal is proudly called home by 208 mammal species and different reptiles, some of which are native. As of data collected in 2012 AD, we have more than 900 species of birds with the spiny babbler which is endemic (native) to Nepal. Underwater, we have a great diversity of catfishes spread out all over the country and also the Nepalese snowtrout.
Amongst this diverse selection the elusive snow leopard (Found North), Bengal Tiger (Found South), Red Panda (North Eastern), Blue Sheep (North West), One-horned Rhinoceros (South) are the creatures that have ringed many bells and marked ample expeditions to Nepal. Avifauna photography has also been a call to the wild for many adventures.
These faunas are protected under, National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 BS. The 4 “classes” of protection are as follows:
1. National Parks (9)
2. Wildlife Reserves (3)
3. Conservation Areas (3)
4. Hunting Reserve (1)
Along with which we proudly hosts multiples Ramsar sites (Wetlands). The enlistment of Sagarmatha National Park and Chitwan National Park as world heritage was a notable achievement.
Flora Photography
As per the documented data of the 1970s and early 1980s, Nepal is home to 5067 species of flora. Amongst which 5041 were angiosperms and the remaining 26 species were gymnosperms. The ICOMOS checklist (as of 2006) presents 2,532 species of vascular plants under 1034 genera and 199 families in the protected sites.
Out of these species, 400 vascular plants are endemic (native) to Nepal. We have two endemic orchids Pleione coronaria, Oreocrchis porphyranthes and the most popular endemic plant is the rhododendron (arboreum).
A pictorial adventure through the lush foothills and the mountainous eco-system discovering Nepal’s flora, wouldn’t just be an experience but will also contribute to Nepal and the world. It is a segment unexplored in Nepal and lack interest in multiple dimensions (Research, Documentation and Photography) as left a gap in understanding flora and its potential.
