The area of Chitwan National Park is 932 km². Chitwan has a large number of picturesque rivers and small lakes. The climate is flat, milder and warmer than in other parts of Nepal.
The jungle-covered Chitwan Valley has always been famous for its abundance of wild animals. For many hundreds of years, malaria swamps protected the animal world and minimized human encroachment on this territory. Between 1846 and 1951, the Rana dynasty in Nepal turned the area into a hunting ground. Members of the royal family and high-ranking dignitaries lived in comfortable houses for several weeks and during this time they killed hundreds of tigers, rhinos, leopards and sloth bears. But the hunting of animals was carried out occasionally, and the penalties for poaching were quite serious (death for killing a rhinoceros).
Until the late 1950s, the only inhabitants of the Chitwan Valley were the Tharus (a small ethnic group in Nepal) due to their natural immunity to malaria. In the 1950s, Nepal successfully implemented a malaria eradication program (disease vectors, malarial mosquitoes, were destroyed with DDT). When the deadly disease ceased to threaten human life, landless peasants from the mountainous regions of the country rushed to the Chitwan valley. After some time, huge tracts of forest were cut down for agriculture. With the disappearance of their usual habitat, the inhabitants themselves disappeared. By the mid-1960s, there were fewer than 100 rhinos and 20 tigers in the area.
In order to prevent the complete extinction of animals, King Mahendra in 1973 declared Chitwan a royal reserve, and then turned it into the first Nepalese national park. 22,000 peasants were resettled from the park, and Nepalese army soldiers were recruited to fight poaching, after which the animal population gradually began to recover.
In 1984, the park was included in the list of UNESCO sites.
Attractions of Chitwan National Park
The most famous attraction of the national park is the Indian rhinoceros, preserved today only in Nepal and India. Chitwan is an ideal habitat for these critically endangered animals. There are fewer than 3,000 Indian rhinos left in the wild, most of which live in the Indian state of Assam. This is the largest animal in Asia after the elephant, the weight of some individuals reaches 2.5 tons, and their thick skin is difficult to pierce even with a bullet. Despite the protection of these animals by Nepalese army soldiers and severe punishment for harming them, the problem of poaching still remains acute due to the high cost of various organs of this animal on the black market. By killing a rhinoceros and escaping persecution, a poor Nepalese peasant immediately becomes a wealthy man. A kilogram of horn is valued at approximately US$10,000 and is believed to have miraculous powers. It is believed that the horns of this animal help to enhance sexual feelings, the droppings serve as a laxative, the urine treats tuberculosis and asthma, the blood helps get rid of problems with the menstrual cycle, the animal’s skin repels evil spirits, and so on. Several decades ago, their number decreased to less than 100, but since the organization of the national park, the population of these rare animals has been increased to 400 units. The park is one of the few places in the world where they roam in relative safety.
Most visitors hope to see tigers, but few are lucky. Like most large predators, tigers sleep almost 18 hours a day. Their night walks are hidden from humans, so seeing these animals is considered great luck. Today, approximately 100 Bengal tigers roam the national park.
British King George V and his son Edward VIII visited Chitwan in 1911 and killed 39 tigers and 18 rhinoceroses while hunting. In 1939, Governor General of India Victor Hope visited the then Prime Minister of Nepal Bahadur Rana. The noble dignitaries went hunting in the royal reserve of Chitwan, and during 20 days of hunting they killed 120 tigers, 38 rhinoceroses, 25 leopards and 15 bears. As recently as the early 20th century, an estimated 100,000 tigers lived in the wild across much of Asia. Excessive hunting, driven by the demand for pelts, had disastrous consequences. Today, several thousand tigers remain, living in 7 percent of their original range. Hunting tigers is banned all over the world, but they are not in danger of extinction, since about 20,000 of these animals live in zoos around the world.
Most popular tours in Chitwan
Elephant ride
Of Nepal's 14 national parks and sanctuaries, Chitwan is the most popular destination for wildlife travel. For about $15, the park's elephants will take you on an hour and a half journey into the jungle. Elephant tours are conducted twice a day - in the morning and at four o'clock in the afternoon. During peak tourist season there are long queues. Owners of expensive cottages in the park have their own elephants and offer tours to their clients. Private elephant owners offer cheap excursions outside the national park, but chances of seeing wild animals are slim.
Jeep safari
Jeep safari tours are very popular. They last approximately four hours and explore remote areas of the national park.
Canoeing on the Rapti River
Tourists are offered a canoe tour on the Rapti River, with the opportunity to see swamp crocodiles and gharial - a rare species of crocodiles. Chitwan has over 400 species of birds and a canoe trip is especially attractive for bird lovers. For an hour, tourists canoe down the river, and then return on foot with a guide.
Brief information about the national park
- Chitwan National Park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the importance of its biodiversity.
- Indian rhinoceroses and Bengal tigers are the most famous animals in the park. Seeing a Bengal tiger during a safari excursion is considered great luck.
- The park is home to about 50 species of mammals (wild boar, bears, deer, monkeys, antelope) and over 400 species of birds - one of the best places in the world for bird watching.
- The most expensive cottages in Chitwan are located in the national park. They have a swimming pool, cocktail bars, their own elephants, organize wildlife tours, and everything else, without electricity or hot water. Cheap hotels are located next to the national park in a village called Sauraha.
- It is recommended to visit the elephant breeding village and crocodile farm in the park.
When to go
The best time to visit the park is from October to March. From April to early June the heat begins, and during the monsoon season (June to mid-September) it rains two to three hours a day. Most of the cottages are closed during the rainy season. Provided the weather is cloudless, a beautiful panorama of the Himalayas surrounding the valley opens up (pictured).
There is also an elephant festival at the end of every year. The most interesting events of the festival are the elephant races and the match of elephant football teams.
How to get there
There are three ways to get to Chitwan National Park:
- There are daily scheduled flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur (the city of Bharatpur is located about 25 km from the park). The flight lasts about half an hour.
- By bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara. The trip takes about seven hours from Kathmandu, six from Pokhara.
- The travel agencies on Thamel Road in Kathmandu can arrange rafting trips to the park. The Trisuli River cruise usually starts from the town of Mugling, 110 km from Kathmandu, and lasts two to three days.
I visited the national park and decided to write a review, a mini guide to Chitwan for independent travelers. My favorite genre in which I have become proficient lately. The review will contain useful information, tips and an example of visiting the park.
But first, a little introduction to the park.
The park was founded in 1973 and was taken under the care of UNESCO in 1984. The park covers an area of 932 sq.m. And is located in the southern part of Nepal, closer to the border with India. About 43 species of mammals live here. Bengal tiger, king among tigers. Leopards, Rhinoceroses, Bears, Hyenas, Boars...
With around 543 species of birds, Chaitavan is a great destination for bird watchers.
As well as reptiles, insects and river inhabitants. Among them are king cobras and crocodiles and many many other living organisms, of which there are about 700 species in total. There is someone to look at.
Many guidebooks initially warn you that visiting a national park poses real dangers. And the guides can tell you a couple of interesting stories about meeting a tiger or a wild rhinoceros. The guide with whom I walked through the jungle said that he considers the angry elephant to be the most dangerous among animals. Since this animal cannot be scared or stopped.
And as a fan of exaggerating, I’ll also add that when visiting Chitwan you should get mosquito spray, as Malaria is also common here.
When to visit?
Is it worth visiting Chitwan then if everything looks so dangerous? Of course it’s worth putting your life in danger and getting real pleasure from being in a really wild place, and not in a zoo! And it's better to do it in March! The most pleasant weather. The wind is blowing from the mountains, the temperature is about +30. The grass is not so tall and the animals are clearly visible.
I visited in July. It’s very stuffy, outside + 45, the grass is tall and you can’t see anything, the animals are hiding. And in the off-season, according to our guide, not only people go wild from the heat, but also animals. Therefore, the summer months are not the best time to visit. Unless you're looking for real adventure.
Where to stay?
Travel agencies in Pokhara and Kathmandu offer tours to Chitwan - 3 days two nights. Tours include food, transportation to the national park, and activities in the park itself. Most often these tours include elephant riding, river rafting, elephant bathing and jungle walking.
All this costs about $100 for three days. And if you take such a tour, then the problem of finding accommodation and transport immediately disappears. Not a bad option for relaxing after a good trekking.
I decided to go on my own. If you like it, stay longer; if not, leave early. Having booked one night in advance on booking.com, which had never failed before. But it turned out that it is better to look for housing locally, especially during the low season - the summer months.
I bought a bus ticket at the nearest agency; the journey from Pokhara and Kathmandu takes about 6 hours, and the ticket costs around 600 rupees.
What happened:
Upon arrival in Chitwan, surprisingly, there were no taxis at the bus station, and I arrived at lunchtime, not that I was upset about the upcoming walk to the hotel, I just didn’t know where to go.
And those who took a tour package at this time were met by hotel representatives. Okay, I thought and got to my place in half an hour. Along the way, like a prayer, repeating the phrase at the sight of everyone you meet: ‘Where is this hotel, where is this hotel, where is this hotel? '
…
When I got to the hotel, its quality was depressing. And subsequent reconnaissance showed that you can find hotels cheaper than the cost on booking sites and of better quality.
In general, if you eat on your own and in low season, then book a hotel upon arrival on your own. It will be cheaper and more reliable. As I understand it, hotel booking systems have not yet reached such remote places as Chitwan.
What to do and how much will it cost?
The Tourist Menu in Chitwan is as follows:
– Elephant riding, about 1300 rupees;
– Jeep Safari, about 2000 rupees;
– Half-day walk through the jungle with a guide, about 900 rupees;
– Multi-day walk through the jungle, I don’t know the cost;
– Bird watching, I don’t know the cost;
– Visiting 20,000 lakes by bike with a guide, about 700 rupees;
– Canoe trip along the river, about 400 rupees;
– Elephant bathing is free, you just need to come to the right place at the right time. Locals will tell you where and when, it’s not far.
But that's not all in terms of expenses, to visit the park you need to get a permit, it costs 1500 rupees per day.
What and how did I visit?
Since it was damn hot, I decided to stay in Chitwan for only one full day.
The result was: Half a day (on the day of arrival), two nights, one full day and departure the next morning.
On the very first day upon arrival, I did some reconnaissance, found out what and where it costs, going through several tour bureaus. I planned my next day and went to enjoy the delights of Nepalese cuisine. Fortunately, it is not so expensive in Chitwan.
As it turned out, the prices are almost the same everywhere, except for hotels, where the cost of the same programs is much higher than everywhere else.
One day I decided to do a jungle walk, a boat ride on the river and a jeep safari in the national park. In terms of time, everything easily fit into a day. And taking into account the cost of permission to visit the national park, the cost came out to 4,200 rupees for a very busy day with the menu listed above. All the photos are from there.
The schedule turned out like this:
6:30 a.m. boat ride on the river – 1 hour;
8:00 walking tour through the jungle – 3 hours;
11:00 – 12:30 lunch at the hotel;
12:30 jeep safari – 5 hours;
Oddly enough, we saw the most animals while walking in a jeep. Why do I say we, because I was traveling in a jeep with a group of 7 people. We saw a lot of rhinoceroses, wild boar, and deer. But I won’t show you photographs of deer and wild boar; they quickly disappeared into the jungle. Many different birds, among which were peacocks. We saw crocodiles, monkeys, elephants. Either unfortunately or fortunately, we did not meet tigers, although we wanted to see them. The most dangerous of all those listed were rhinoceroses with cubs. When a female rhinoceros with a calf, she behaves very aggressively in order to protect the offspring.
Thank you for attention. Ask your questions, if you have any, I’m always happy to answer.
Royal chitwan national park(Chitwan) is a national park in Nepal, UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 284.
The park is located 200 km from the capital Kathmandu.
Until 1973, the park was a favorite hunting ground for Nepalese kings. It was declared a protected area in 1973, the first of Nepal's national parks. The park is one of the few places in the world where wild animals can be observed in their natural habitat.
In 1984, the park was included in the list of UNESCO sites.
The area of the park is 932 square meters. km., mostly covered with jungle. The park has a large number of picturesque rivers and small lakes.
The climate is flat, milder and warmer.
The park is open to tourists. Visitors usually live here in small bungalow-huts or houses. Tours of the park are carried out on elephants or jeeps. The main tourist center in the vicinity of the park is the village of Saurakha. The main attraction of the park is its wildlife. The riot of the jungle and its inhabitants.
Tourists are attracted to the park by the opportunity to see tigers in the wild, but as a rule, few people see tigers, but you are guaranteed to see deer, rhinoceroses, and many birds!
We left early in the morning
We bought a “ready-made tour” to the park in Pokhara. Because the cost of the tour was, in principle, equal to the cost of an independent trip there, but freed us from all sorts of hassles.
We chose a tour base, Tiger Camp, and we were right because this base has the best location in the village of Saurakha. The journey to Chitwan took us about 8 hours by bus from Pokhara.
Upon arrival, we checked in and went to explore the village. Not far from our guest house there was a park museum which is certainly interesting to visit for general acquaintance.
Chitwan is all about relaxation!
In the evening we visited the local elephant breeding center.
From our guesthouse to the center we had to drive a car and cross the river in a rickety canoe.
Along the way we observed the leisurely life of local Nepalese
Local residents ford the river
locals
On the way we watched elephant polo.
In the center, elephants are fed and their offspring are looked after. As we were assured, these elephants do not participate in the work, and in principle are free, but of their own free will they remain in the center because here they receive food and do not risk being offended by wild elephants, who seem to have expelled them from the pack.
Recently, two elephant calves were born in the center, which is very rare.
In general, when visiting the center, you get the feeling of a tourist attraction, which it actually is.
But this in no way diminishes the beauty of these beautiful animals and the entire park as a whole!
These are the trees that grow in Chitwan
Crossing. Very long canoes made of solid wood
Evening procession of elephants with tourists on the streets of Sourakhi
We spent the rest of the evening at our hotel enjoying a delicious dinner right on the river bank
In the morning we had a fascinating tour of the park.
It consisted of several parts.
First, a canoe trip along the river. Then trekking through the jungle, and to top it all off we had to stay overnight in the park itself in a hut specially designed for this!
Since I myself selected the tour in Pokhara, I tried to make it as non-standard as possible. We moved everywhere only as a widow + our guides, it was much better than with a huge group of tourists as is usually the case in the park!
We were supposed to leave at 7 am, but were delayed for several hours due to heavy fog, other groups were leaving, I think they were not able to see anything!
Carrier of souls
Birds of Chitwan.
Siberian ducks. They fly to Nepal for the winter from the northeastern regions of Russia.
They know a lot about where to relax)))
It was very interesting to see crocodiles in the wild habitat
We were very lucky and saw another crocodile. This is Gavial.
It feeds on fish and has long, thin jaws with fragile teeth.
Locals call him the vegetarian crocodile)
We swam very close to it!
After a two-hour canoe ride, we had a walk through the jungle.
We moved in a group of 4 people, Julia, me and 2 guides. We walked along a well-trodden path, sometimes turning into small paths in the jungle. We expected to see wild animals, but luck did not smile on us. As our guide said, sometimes they are there, sometimes they are not. In fact, it may be for the best, you don’t always want to see an angry rhinoceros in your path. We still managed to see some people. We did see rhinos, but they were feeding in the tall grass on the opposite bank of the river and we could only see their backs. It was a female with a cub, our guide said that if they saw us, they would invariably attack, the female always protects the cub. We also saw many wild monkeys and several deer.
Forward to the jungle
Wild monkeys
Crossing the river
Nepalese jungle. It couldn't have been done without some processing!
Walking in this place was a little creepy, something was constantly moving in the grass,
we just expected to see a rhinoceros on our way
Bear tracks on a tree trunk.
wild bees
In fact, we were in the park not in the best season, our guide said that the best time to visit is the end of February and the beginning of March, when the locals mow the grass in the park, the visibility becomes excellent and you can see all the animals grazing on the plains. They also said that they saw tigers in the immediate vicinity of our hotel during the rainy season. I really want to come to the park again and especially during the rainy season. At this time there are no tourists at all and the wild nature comes to life!
Chitwan Park is very large, but tourists are driven only in a small part of it in the vicinity of Saurahi, to see the real jungle you have to go on a walk for several days or even weeks deep into the park! There are tourist loggias in the park itself, which were closed at the time of our visit, but as far as I know, the owners were able to negotiate with the government and they were allowed to work again, so tourists had the opportunity to spend time in the very depths of the park, although such a vacation is not cheap, our guide told us that a few days in such a place would cost $700 versus $70 in Saurakh.
So, after walking through the jungle, we returned to our lodge, where we had a bite to eat and met the sunset on the river bank!
We had to spend the night in the jungle in a hut specially equipped for this!
The hut is located outside the village, in the so-called buffer zone of the park.
They explained to us that here there are actually much more animals such as rhinoceros and deer than in the wild, as they are fed here.
And indeed, from the hut we saw a lot of deer, which unfortunately I was not able to photograph due to poor lighting and the speed of their movement!
The hut is built on stilts
We spent the evening in the company of our guide, who talked about his life and local customs!
In the morning at dawn, an elephant came for us and we went for a walk through the dawn jungle!
Photos do not convey the atmosphere very well
A huge number of tourists are brought here, but early in the morning there is practically no one
We were still lucky to see a rhinoceros, he was resting in the morning cool.
Rhinoceroses are not afraid of elephants, and do not recognize people on their backs, so you can get close to them relatively safely!
It looks something like this
When we arrived at the departure point, it was already full of drivers and tourists.
Chitwan Park provides an opportunity for more serious research, but it will take a lot more time and money, of course, no one will let you just wander among the tigers in the depths of the park, you will have to equip a small expedition, and this requires financial investments!
I really liked Chitwan and I will definitely return here during the rainy season, if possible for more than 2 days...
Chitwan is Nepal's first national park. More than 40 years ago, its territories were declared protected areas and hunting rhinoceroses and tigers is strictly prohibited. But first things first.
The park is located in the province of the same name, Chitwan, with the central city of Bharatpur, the fifth largest in the country. The park occupies about half the area of the region, and the sale of tickets to enter the national park and to various shows is the main source of income, so be prepared for special attention to yourself as a tourist.
The distance of the reserve from Kathmandu and Pokhara is almost identical - 150 and 130 km, respectively, so there is practically no difference in which city to choose as your departure point. You can get to Chitwan Nepal by land by buses and minibuses from all major cities. From Kathmandu and Pokhara, the travel time to Bharatpur will be 4.5 – 6 hours, depending on the quality of the car, traffic and the driver’s skill in driving along crazy serpentines.
Bharatpur Airport, the fourth largest in the country, is connected by regular flights to the main cities - Kathmandu and Pokhara, so if you want to reduce travel time, then purchase an air ticket. From Pokhara, only Tara Air flies here, tickets for which can be purchased at the offices on Lakeside, while there are many more flights from Kathmandu - Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, Gorkha Airlines and Tara Air. There are regular buses and taxis from Bharatpur to the village of Sauraha, the main location of hotels and guesthouses for visitors to Chitwan National Park.
In the village, which is already overgrown with many hotels, internet cafes and restaurants, there is a wide choice of accommodation, from 20 to 2000 dollars per night. Here are a few hotels that we ourselves liked and recommended themselves among travelers: Green Park Chitwan ($30-50), Sapana Village lodge ($60-80), Rhino lodge&hotel ($20-50). We stayed in Reno - a very nice place, near the main entrance to the park and free Wi-Fi.
The park itself receives hundreds of visitors every day, so try to start your tour of the park early in the morning. Usually, tourists buy a package tour with elephant riding, jungle walking, jeep safari or kayaking. Tours and time can vary, the price will depend on this, a standard tour will cost $ 30-50 per person.
If you do not want to pay for entrance tickets and tourist excursions in the park, you can try walking through one of the buffer zones, there are three in total - admission is free, and wild animals, just like in the national park, move freely through the jungle. There are few marked trails here, so an experienced guide will be needed, which can be found in Saurah or Ratnanagara.
The province also has a famous place Bish Hazari (Twenty Thousand Lakes). Here, in the swampy area, there are a large number of small lakes and ponds, where hundreds of species of birds live. It is located 5 km southeast of Bharatpur. The lake will appeal to ornithologists, bird lovers and photographers. Hire a taxi for the whole day, take a telephoto and go - you are provided with wonderful photos.
Not to say that Chitwan is the main attraction of Nepal and everyone should visit it, but if you love animals, nature and beautiful landscapes, be sure to visit here!
Have questions about Chitwan?
Chitwan National Park in Nepal can probably be considered the third most popular among tourists after mountain trekking routes in Nepal and the Kathmandu Valley.
Animals and plants in Chitwan
Chitwan is located on a plain bordering India and is considered one of the best national parks in Asia. It remains one of the rare places where there is still the opportunity to see the Indian rhinoceros and Bengal tiger in the wild. In addition to these animals, Chitwan is unique in its biodiversity - it is home to more than 50 species of mammals, including wild boars, antelopes, deer, bears, monkeys and over 400 species of birds. Chitwan is a unique destination for ornithologists and bird watchers. Seeing a Bengal tiger with your own eyes is a rare and great treat for visitors to Chitwan.
In addition to the rich flora and fauna of the park, it is also interesting to get acquainted with the culture of the local Tharu tribe.
The entrance ticket to the park is 1695 rupees ($14) - 2016 price.
Where to stay in Chitwan
Budget hotels are located next to the national park, in the village of Saurakha. A night in a budget hotel will cost 1200 rupees ($10) for a double room, but such places are quite dirty, we recommend staying in higher class hotels. In the village itself you can enjoy an excellent spectacle - elephants bathing in the river. You can pay to sit on a bathing elephant. Be prepared for dousing and the fact that you may end up in the water yourself ;). Very often, rhinoceroses and crocodiles can be seen directly from the village embankment. They come out of the forest to cool off in the river and are not at all afraid of people.
Expensive cottages are located directly on the territory of Chitwan Park
Popular tours in Chitwan
Elephant ride— 1400 rupees ($12), one and a half hours
Elephant ride into the jungle. Elephant tours are held twice a day - in the morning and at four o'clock in the afternoon. During the height of the tourist season, it is natural to have long queues. There are cheaper excursions outside the national park, but you are unlikely to see wild animals there.
Jeep safari
The journey takes approximately four hours and covers remote areas of Chitwan. We strongly do not recommend going into the forest in a jeep. Wild animals rarely come close to the road and the likelihood of seeing the most interesting inhabitants of the park is quite small.
Canoeing on the Rapti River
A unique opportunity to observe marsh crocodiles and gharials. If you are a bird lover, this excursion is not to be missed. Tourists travel by canoe for about an hour down the river and return on foot with a guide.
When is the best time to visit Chitwan?
The best time is from October to March. From April to early June there is sizzling heat exceeding +40C. Monsoon season is from June to mid-September.
How to get to Chitwan
There are daily regular flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur (25 km from the park). The flight takes about half an hour.
By bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara. The trip lasts approximately 7 hours from Kathmandu, 6 hours from Pokhara.
You can book a raft cruise to the park from travel agencies in Kathmandu (on Thamel Street). This trip along the Trisuli River usually begins in the city of Mugling, located 110 km from Kathmandu, and lasts two to three days.
Trek the Annapurna Circuit and visit Chitwan with our group.
