Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, is the first of its kind in Nepal. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. This place is a sanctuary for many endangered species like the royal Bengal tiger, gharial crocodile, the one-horned rhino and over five hundred bird species! The entrance fee for the park is Rs. 2000 for foreigners, Rs. 1000 for visitors from SAARC countries, and Rs. 150 for locals. Chitwan is a 6 hour drive or a 30 minute flight from Kathmandu. From Pokhara it takes 20 minutes by flight or a 5.5 hour drive to reach Chitwan. Sauraha, a village in Chitwan, is the eastern gateway to the national park. The park spans an area of 952.6 square kilometres and covers portions of Makwanpur, Chitwan, Nawalpur and Parsa districts.
Chitwan offers you the experience of watching endangered species up close and even taking photos of these beautiful creatures. The best part, however, is that you can do this while safariing by jeep, on dugout canoe, taking an elephant ride or even by foot!
Dugout canoes are made out of hollowed trees. Canoe rides in the park can be either private or combined and short one hour trips or longer trips. These rides, which are along the Rapti River, offer you breathtaking safari experiences. You can watch the gharial crocodiles sunbathing, a variety of birds migrating, marsh mugger crocodiles, and other aquatic creatures. Jeep safari is also an option for a faster trip. The short trip starts at 1 p.m. while the long one starts early in the morning and both trips end at 5 p.m. The jeep tour takes you through a variety of forests and lush grasslands, and the headquarters at Kasara which is dedicated for breeding activities of these endangered species. The jeep rides usually range from US$25 to US$210 per person based on shared, private, short, or long tours.
Bish Hajari Lake is a famous bird watching destination in the park. The name Bish Hajari, meaning twenty thousand, was given because it comprises about 20,000 small and big lakes. Also, when we observe from the sky, the lake shapes like a 20,000. Balmiki Ashram, situated inside the park, is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site where the hindu epic Ramayana was written. This place is where Ram Nawami is celebrated with great devotion in the month of April.
The best time to visit Chitwan is from November to April. The temperature is moderate at around 25˚C and since it is grass cutting season you’ll be able to view the animals better. You’ll also be able to watch migrating birds during this time. In the winter be sure to carry warm clothes because the mornings are misty and cold. In the summer the temperature is above 40˚C and you can find wildlife gathering around water bodies or ponds. If you can stand the heat this is a great time to visit Chitwan. Remember to take your sunscreens, umbrellas, shades, and lots of water with you while you wander around.
Day 1: Journey to Chitwan
Day 2: Exploring Chitwan
Day 3: Return to Kathmandu
The flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur Airport takes 30 minutes. The drive from the airport to Sauraha is another 30 minutes. Tourist buses leaving Kathmandu take about six hours to reach Chitwan. The lodging facilities are just outside the park area. After a good lunch you can visit the Tharu Museum, watch sunset from the park, and talk to some local people. You’ll also be briefed about everything you’ll be doing the next day.
The next day you can choose from canoe rides, elephant rides, or jeep safaris all of whom are great options. You can also choose more than one kind of ride because canoes span the river but elephant and jeep rides focus more on watching terrestrial animals. The best sights include that of the rare Bengal tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros, Pangolin, wild elephant, and the golden monitor lizard.
There are amazing Tharu restaurants near the park. Their special dishes include ghongi (snails), dhikri (steamed rice cake), sidra, patushni and many more. You’ll find the Tharu community all around you as they are the native inhabitants of Chitwan. The Tharus often host cultural programs and dances to showcase their uniqueness.
You can go bird watching in the evening and wander around the Bish Hajari lake. Besides the national park there are other attractions in Chitwan like Devghat dham, Maulakalika temple, Siraichuli Hill, and Jalbire waterfall. Sauraha is an easily walkable town. Rickshaws are easily available and some hotels may also provide you with transport services around the town.
If you return to Kathmandu by bus or microbus you have the option of visiting Manakamana Temple on the way. Transport to the temple is via a cable car (gondola lift) and your trip starts from Kurintar all the way across the Trishuli River to Manakamana, Gorkha. The cable car ride spans a distance of about 3 kilometres in 10 minutes. From the hilltop you can view Annapurna, Lamjung, and Manaslu peaks.
Since Chitwan is rich in religious, natural, and cultural attractions you can choose to extend your stay without feeling bored of the place. This will give you a more wholesome and unhasty experience. For souvenirs, you can buy Tharu traditional dresses, elephant figurines, handcrafted gifts made up of bamboo and wood, and even unique local honey.
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