Shey Phoksundo National Parkशे फोक्सुन्डो राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज
Shey Phoksundo National Park is a national park in Karnali, Nepal, covering 3,555 km² from 2,130 to 6,885 m. Established in 1984, it is known for Snow leopard, Blue sheep (bharal), Grey wolf.
Nepal's largest and only trans-Himalayan park, around the turquoise Phoksundo Lake
Area
3,555 km²
Established
1984
Ramsar site 2007
Elevation
2,130–6,885 m
Karnali
Managed by
DNPWC
Districts
Dolpa, Mugu
Establishment
Established 1984. Area discrepancy: most DNPWC/Wikipedia references give 3,555 km² (largest national park), while one protected-area listing gives 2,712 km².
Key species
- Snow leopard
- Blue sheep (bharal)
- Grey wolf
- Musk deer
- Himalayan black bear
Holds a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (listed 2007).
About the area
Shey Phoksundo is Nepal's largest national park and its only trans-Himalayan one, reaching beyond the main range into the arid Tibetan-plateau country of Dolpo. It was established in 1984 and is usually cited at 3,555 km², though one protected-area listing gives a smaller 2,712 km² — a discrepancy worth noting. Elevations run from 2,130 m to 6,885 m in the Kanjiroba Himal.
Its centrepiece is Phoksundo Lake, a brilliant turquoise sheet of glacier-fed water at 3,612 m (surface about 494 ha), also a Ramsar site since 2007. The park is a premier snow-leopard landscape — around 90 individuals were documented within it between 2019 and 2022 — alongside blue sheep (bharal), grey wolf, musk deer and Himalayan black bear in a near-treeless high desert.
Culturally it is one of Nepal's deepest places: ancient Bön and Buddhist gompas, including the 11th-century Shey Gompa, dot the valleys, and the region's caravans and landscape were immortalised in the Oscar-nominated film Caravan (Himalaya). Upper Dolpo trekking here is deliberately low-volume, high-culture travel into one of the least-visited corners of the Himalaya.
Where it sits
The highlighted pin is this protected area; the others show Nepal's full network of 20.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Shey Phoksundo National Park?+
Shey Phoksundo National Park covers 3,555 km². It lies in Dolpa, Mugu (Karnali province).
When was Shey Phoksundo National Park established?+
Shey Phoksundo National Park was established in 1984 as a national park. Established 1984. Area discrepancy: most DNPWC/Wikipedia references give 3,555 km² (largest national park), while one protected-area listing gives 2,712 km².
What type of protected area is Shey Phoksundo National Park?+
Shey Phoksundo National Park is a national park, managed by DNPWC. It also holds a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance (listed 2007).
What animals live in Shey Phoksundo National Park?+
Shey Phoksundo National Park is known for Snow leopard, Blue sheep (bharal), Grey wolf, Musk deer, Himalayan black bear. Nepal's largest and only trans-Himalayan park, around the turquoise Phoksundo Lake.
What is the elevation of Shey Phoksundo National Park?+
Shey Phoksundo National Park ranges from 2,130 m to 6,885 m above sea level.
Sources & data note
Figures for Shey Phoksundo National Park as documented by the listed sources. Where reputable sources disagree the discrepancy is stated in the establishment note. Map coordinates are an approximate centre point, not a surveyed centroid.