Bis Hajari Tal

Bis Hajari Tal means "twenty thousand lakes". There aren't quite that many, but the name gives a fair picture: a maze of ponds, marshes and oxbow lakes hidden in the Barandabhar forest, the green belt that runs north–south through Chitwan district between Bharatpur and the national park.

The wetland covers about 32 km² and was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2003, under the name "Beeshazar and Associated Lakes". It is one of the largest natural wetlands in Nepal.

Why it matters

Barandabhar connects the lowland forests of Chitwan with the hills to the north. Animals use it to move between the two, and the lakes are a dry-season water source for many of them. Tiger, rhino, sloth bear and smooth-coated otter have all been recorded here, though on a walk you are far more likely to meet deer, monkeys and birds.

Birds

The lakes are best known for birds. Look for:

• Herons, egrets, storks and cormorants around the water.
• Ducks in winter, including ruddy shelduck.
• Kingfishers, including the large stork-billed kingfisher.
• Pallas's fish eagle and other raptors over the open water.
• Hornbills and woodpeckers in the forest.

When to go

• November to February: the most birds, including winter visitors. Mornings can be foggy until about 9:00.
• March to May: hot, with lower water and good views along the lake edges.
• June to September: lush and full, but leeches on the trails and some paths flooded.

Visiting

The lakes are in a protected forest. Go with a licensed local guide, keep to the trails and keep quiet. Mugger crocodiles live in the lakes, so stay back from the water's edge. Our Bis Hajari Tal morning walk starts from Bharatpur.