In the southern region of Nepal, the jungles of Chitwan National Park await you with wildlife experiences like no other. Go in search of the majestic Royal Bengal tiger and watch the Greater one-horned rhinoceros roam free, while the great Asiatic elephants move about the jungles in herds. Chitwan National Park is the closest and the ideal place to go for wildlife safari.
Witness real wilderness in the jungles of Chitwan: go for a jeep safari in the depths of the forest or ride a silent canoe and catch wildlife by surprise. Go for a jungle walk accompanied by an experienced guide who knows the jungle like the back of his hand.
Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s first wildlife reserve and was established in 1973, and was eventually declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. It is located in the Terai region of Nepal and is spread over an area of over 930 sq. metres covering the districts of Makwanpur, Parsa, Chitwan and Nawalpur.
Chitwan is associated with an ancient history; in the early 19th century, it was a popular hunting ground for Nepal’s ruling class. By the 1950s, it had been opened up to human settlement, which saw the influx of indigenous communities in the area that can still be seen today. With increasing human interference though, the native animal populations were drastically affected, especially the rhinos. The official area for the Chitwan National Park as we know today was eventually delineated in 1973 and then further increased to almost double its size in 1977. Today, Chitwan National Park is one of the top regions contributing to tourism in Nepal. It mainly focuses on the preservation of the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal Tiger, making it a favourite among nature enthusiasts.
Chitwan National Park is the premier spot for all your jungle safari whims, and can be explored through numerous ways, via jeeps or on foot. The Bengal Tiger is the chief attraction in the park, but remains a rare sight; even the guides will probably come across an encounter once every couple months. Nonetheless, there is still a whole lot to experience in these forest greens in the form of majestic elephants, the occasional rhino, sloth bears, and marshlands with intimidating sights of crocodiles.
Elephants are one of the most common sights you will encounter in Chitwan. Elephant safaris are gradually being discontinued due to animal-rights concerns, but you can still take a walk along the jungle with these mighty creatures by your sides and get a one-on-one experience of what life in the jungle is like for these animals. Chitwan also offers a number of elephant-related activities like Sundowners where you get a chance to watch elephants bathe themselves; and the elephant breeding program where you can observe baby elephants at play and take a look at how adult elephants live, breed and eat.
The 20 Hajar Tal, or the 20 Thousand Lake, is renowned for being a bird watching sanctuary with over 800 identified species of birds spread across the region. With the help of an expert guide, you will get the chance to explore the different habitats occupied by these birds that vary from forests, grasslands, and even aquatics, and even try your hand at recognizing their whistles and calls.
Chitwan also features tourist sightseeing spots in the district that are definitely worth visiting once you’ve had your fill of wildlife and nature. There are a number of histo-religious sites within proximity of the park like Bikram Baba and Devghatdham, the stunning waterfall at Lamo Jharana, and a number of lakes like Lake Lamital, Lake Devital and the most famous among them, the Bish Hajar Tal.
The food served in most of resort and hotels of Chitwan, geared toward the Chitwan wildlife viewers, is mix of local and western food. You would get Nepalese, Continental, Indian, Thai, himalayan Chinese etc cuisine. You probably won’t believe that the chefs are able to satisfy your taste, since it is a rural area. But it is incredible to learn that the chefs are 100% ready to experience with every dishes listed. Momo, Sukuti Khaja Set and other Newa Cuisine also available here. Indian and traditional dishes are super tasty.
Located in the central climatic zone of the Himalaya ranges, Chitwan enjoys a tropical monsoon climate with high humidity all the year around. The monsoon starts in mid-June and lasts for about 3 months. During this period, there will be pouring with rain. Winter lasts from October to late February. January is the coldest month, with temperature declining to freezing-point. Then, the temperature rises gradually. The warm seasons begin from March to early June, and temperature rises progressively to a peak in May.
The best time for Chitwan National Park includes February ~ April and October ~ December. In the spring, the national park offers a good view of wildlife for the villages cut thatch grasses in the late January usually. During October to December, you can admire the beauty of the Himalayan Ranges clearly. There might be cold in the morning and evening, bring some thick coat to keep you warm.
The closest airport to Chitwan is located in Bharatpur, Nepal, which connects to all major domestic terminals in the country with a number of airlines operating back and forth. The most common route taken to reach Bharatpur is via Kathmandu, which involves flight duration of just under 30 minutes. Once in Bharatpur, you can take a taxi to Sauraha directly, the closest town on the borders of Chitwan.
Bus services run regularly from both Pokhara and Kathmandu to Bachhauli, a village located right on the outskirts of Chitwan National Park. The journey takes about 5-7 hours from either city. Visitors coming in from India are required to first reach the city of either Varanasi or Gorakhpur, and proceed towards to the Sunauli border crossing, from where they can catch a bus or taxi to Narayanghat, followed by another taxi from Narayanghat to Sauraha.
Book with Us and Get Best Deals in
*Terms and Conditions applied
