The Ghodaghodi Lake is a wetland gem in the flatland of the Far Western Terai. It is the fundamental pool of a wetland complex that comprises of 13 enormous and shallow lakes and lakes, including Nakhrodi Lake and different bogs and glades. Together, they structure a wetland hall associating Bardia National Park with the Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. The Ghodaghodi Lake Area has been ensured under the Ramsar Convention since 2003.

Ghodaghodi Lake Area is a significant territory for winged animals in Nepal. It goes about as an arranging post for relocating wetland flying creatures and is home to both local and overwintering species. An aggregate sum of 140 flying creature species have been recorded in the lake territory, including the all around threatend (helpless) “Lesser aide” and the close threatend “Darter”. The region is additionally a territory for other imperiled and powerless well evolved creatures and reptiles, including the Bengal tiger, the smooth-covered otter and the mugger crocodile.

The lake’s name is gotten from the Nepali word for “horse”. As indicated by the legend, God Shiva and Goddess Parvati used to transform into ponies and hover around the lake. Today, Ghodaghodi Lake is as yet a significant spot of love for the nearby Tharu individuals. A little sanctuary is situated on the banks of the lake. Numerous Tharus accumulate during the Agahan Panchami and Maghi Festivals. Here, they offer ponies, elephants, and tigers made out of mud to the Goddess Gauri Mata all together for their desires to work out. Since this is as yet a custom today, a ton of earth ponies can be found in the sanctuary.

Outline:

Ghodaghodi is a characteristic freshwater oxbow lake on the lower inclines of Siwalik. It is an enormous and shallow lake, having finger-like projections, with related bogs and knolls encompassed by tropical deciduous timberland on the lower slants of Siwalik run. There are thirteen related lakes and lakes, and a few streams isolated by hillocks arranged on the outskirts of Ghodaghodi. The woods and wetlands are natural life passage between the swamp (Terai) and the Siwaliks.

HYDROLOGICAL VALUE:

The lake is taken care of by direct precipitation during the storm season and by surface streams from the watershed region, ground water springs and little streams. Water profundity differs from 1-4 m. Secchi profundity straightforwardness and high phoshor level demonstrates the lake as hypertrophic, the nitrogen level as eutrophic, and low Chlorophyll “A” level (because of rich development of macrophytes) as oligo to mesotrophic. Broken up oxygen is low with at least 3-5 mg/l.

BIODIVERSITY VALUE:

Verdure: More than 450 plant species have been recorded. Amphibian plants with special physiological adjustment are Water Primrose (Ludwigia alscendens) and Bladderwort (Utricularia australis). Biogeographically significant as delegates of the Indo Malayan domain are Sal (Shorea robusta) and Myrobalan (Terminalia alata). Compromised plant species incorporate the imperiled Orchid (Aerides odorata), strictly significant and undermined Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), and uncommon wild rice (Hygrohiza aristata).

Fauna:

The fauna includes lower chance species on the IUCN Red List like Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), Gray-headed fish falcon (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus), and Asiatic Rock (Python molurus). Further uncommon species incorporate the reptile (Varanus flavescens). In all out 29 fish species have been recorded including the

Compromised Puntius chola and the endemics notopterus and Oxygaster bacaila. Around 140 somewhat moving fledgling species possess the region speaking to over 16% of the national avifauna. Almost 1% of the South Asian Cotton Teal (Nettapus coromandelianus) populace is available. The drifting vegetation gives a magnificent natural surroundings to waterhen and jacanas; the encompassing backwoods for feathered creatures of prey (for example the uncommon osprey Pandion haliaetus) and kingfishers. The zone underpins numerous all around undermined species (IUCN, 2002, for example, the basically jeopardized Red-delegated Roofed Turtle (kachuga), the imperiled Tiger (Panthera tigris), Leopard (Panthera pardus), and Three-striped Roof Turtle (Kachuga dhongka), and the defenseless Smooth-covered Otter (Lutra perpiscillata), Common Otter (lutra), Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptotilos javanicus) and Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).

SOCIOCULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS VALUES:

The weight of illicit migrants from abutting slope territories bring about escalated utilization of the lake for conventional angling, and horticultural administrations. The lake is of an incredible strict worth. There is an altar to the Ghodaghodi divinity where indigenous Tharu (an indigenous ethnic gathering) commend a conventional celebration (Agan Panchami) by loving and offering creatures during the period of December. Individuals clean up in the lake. There are a few legends identified with the inception of Ghodaghodi Lake.The timberland is utilized for brushing, fuel wood and to gather sal wood for lumber. The lake has high potential incentive for the travel industry.

Dangers:

High reliance on woodland and wetland assets

Overgrazing by residential animals

Loss of ensured species by poaching

Eutrophication

Improvement/extension of settlements and formative undertakings

Sedimentation/siltation and disintegration

Presentation/intrusion of intriguing plant species

Waste/recovery for horticulture

Vegetational progression

Protection Measures:

Branch of backwoods is the administration authority of the region and Kailali District Forest Office deals with the zone. Neighborhood people group and NGOs are engaged with the preservation procedure by framing client gatherings. A participatory network focused administration plan has been set up for the preservation of the Ghodaghodi lake region. Network based enemy of poaching activities help diminish poaching in the lake region.