Bishazari Tal

Bishazari Tal
Bishazari Tal
	Bishazari Tal in 2019
	Bishazari Tal
Location	Chitwan, Nepal
Coordinates	27°37′05″N 84°26′11″E / 27.61806°N 84.43639°E
Lake type	oxbow lake
Basin countries	Nepal
Surface area	3,200 ha (7,900 acres)
Surface elevation	286 m (938 ft)
Settlements	Salyantar
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Beeshazar and Associated Lakes
Designated	13 August 2003
Reference no.	1313

Bishazari Tal, also spelled Beeshazar Tal, is an extensive oxbow lake system in the buffer zone of the Chitwan National Park, a protected area in the Inner Terai of central Nepal. This wetland covers an area of 3,200 ha (7,900 acres) at an altitude of 286 m (938 ft). The Mahabharat mountain range (Lower Himalayan Range) is located north of the lake, which is itself north of the Siwalik Hills. In August 2003, it has been designated as a Ramsar site.^[1]

The Nepali words 'bis' बिस् (twenty), 'hajār' हजार् (thousand) and 'tāl' ताल् (lake) mean '20,000 lakes'.^[3]

Fauna

A panoramic view of Bishazari Tal

A view of Bishazari Tal during the month of October

The forested wetland provides habitat as a waterhole and wildlife corridor for several wildlife species that includes mammals, birds and reptiles. The forested wetland provides habitat to several mammals that includes Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Sloth bear, Smooth-coated otter, one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Wild boar (Sus scrofa) and Indian porcupine (Hystrix indicus). Along with mammals the wetland hosts Indian peafowl (Pavo Cristatus), white-rumped vulture, Pallas's fish-eagle, lesser adjutant, and ferruginous duck. The reptiles that are found here includes Indian rock python (Python molurus), King cobra (Ophiohagus hannah) and Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).^[1]

^ ^a ^b ^c Bhuju, U. R.; Shakya, P. R.; Basnet, T. B.; Shrestha, S. (2007). Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book. Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and World Heritage Sites (PDF). Kathmandu: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. ISBN 978-92-9115-033-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
^ "Beeshazar and Associated Lakes". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^ Turner, R. L. (1931.) बिस् bis^{[permanent dead link]}, हजार् hajār^{[permanent dead link]}, ताल् tāl^{[permanent dead link]}. In: A comparative and etymological dictionary of the Nepali language. London: K. Paul, Trench, Trubner.