About Chitwan National Park

How can you get to Sauraha?
Chitwan National Park is approximately 160 Km from Kathmandu.  You can either drive from Kathmandu to Sauraha, which takes approximately 4 hours.  The quickest way to get to Sauraha is to take a short 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur airstrip, and then drive for another 25 minutes with buffer zone views all along the way.  The distance from Lumbini (the birthplace of Lord Gautam Budhha and a World Heritage Site) to Sauraha is just 155 Km and from Pokhara to Sauraha is 145 Km.

Sauraha is easily accessible by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara, a scenic five hour drive.  Visiting Sauraha on your return from Pokhara will save you a day’s travel between Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Another exciting option is to travel to the national park via a leisurely two-day rafting trip on Trishuli River.  The first day is thrilling introduction to whitewater followed by a day of scenic floating through gorges and the middle hills before dropping on to the Terai plains.

When is the best time to visit Chitwan?
Spring-February until end of April and Fall-Mid September till mid December.

Accommodation:
Chitwan National Park offers a wide variety of accommodation, not only in size, facilities and visual appearance, but also in price range.  If you are looking for exclusive comfort with superior personalized service right in the heart of the park-then visit Sauraha for a preview of private luxury and budget accommodation.

Recommended Activities:
Bird Watching:
An early morning walk through the bush and along the Rapti River is necessary going to view many of the exotic birds, including the Giant Hornbill, Lesser Florican and Paradise Flycatcher.  This part, enjoy the movement of the migratory birds in the Beeshazari Tal.  Our experienced naturalists will accompany you to this wonderful birder’s paradise.
Elephant Safari:
Seated high on the back of a trained elephant exploring the grasslands and core area of the park, you become an integral part of the life of the national park.  The elephant safaris, though not the most comfortable rides, is an amazing experience.  In addition, it does not take long to spot at least a rhino in these forests.
Elephant Bathing:
Just chill out beside the tranquility of the Budhi Rapti River and watch the appealing elephants taking a bath or if it is too tempting, join them while taking a dip down the river.

Jungle Drive:
Drive into the heart of the park for a good chance to spot the rare species.  The drive takes you along timeworn trails with great opportunities of viewing big animals.  Do not forget tomove on to Kasara-the park headquarters wherein you will get the chance to visit the Kasara Durbar and the Crocodile Breeding Centre.  The Centre is housed with a number of breeding and hatchling ponds to produce and rear the animals until they are ready to release in the wild.

Canoeing:
A journey down the Rapti River in a traditional ‘dug out canoe’ offers you the chance to quietly observe the exotic species of birds and animals that come for a sip at the water’s edge.
Observation Tower:
Be calm and quiet on the 22-feet high wooden tower built in the prime location of the park, which offers unique chances to see the movement of the animals in the wilderness.
Nature Walk:
Walk out and stretch your legs deep into the forest accompanied by professional naturalists as they share their extensive knowledge with you on your way to prime spots in quest of rare and endemic species.  Be on the look out for the great one-horned rhinoceros, wild boar, sloth bear, bison, gangetic dolphins, gharial crocodile and the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Elephant Breeding Centre:
Of all the animals, elephants are probably the most graceful.  Our naturalists will take you to the Hattisar to demonstrate how elephants’ meals are prepared and how they eat in the Elephant Breeding Centre.  They will explain the nature and habits of elephants.  The unique Centre was established in 1985 for the captive breeding of domesticated elephants to avoid the pressure of wild elephants trapping for domestication.

Tharu Stick Dance:
Savour the magnificent cultural dance of the Tharu communities watching by the bon fire in the evening in any of the hotels of Saurha.
Buffer Zone Village Tours:
Experience the uniquely placed culture of the Tharu people.  Relish what their culture is like in the Tharu Village Museum in the heart of Sauraha in Bachhyauli.  For centuries, the Tharus have lived very close to this protected area and hence their tradition reflects their intimate relationship with the natural world.  Visit the Tharu village and share their world with them as you reach out to touch another culture.
Specialized Tours:
Enjoy the specialized tours which are packed with information about the Chitwan National Park, its majestic wildlife, its successful buffer zone programmes, the holy places around especially the Dev Ghat, and the naturalists are here to share their knowledge of the park with you to enrich your stay in Sauraha.

For anyone who visits Chitwan National Park, it eventually becomes an addiction.  If you sit back and think about it, sometimes you wonder, why! Chitwan National Park has a long history behind it and has the unique honour of being Nepal’s first national park. Established in 1973 to protect the wildlife of the lowland Terai, this national park of 932 sq.km. is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a leader in advanced biodiversity conservation techniques and policies.  Since then, there has been no looking back for Chitwan National Park-Nepal’s first and riches national park.

As a primary destination crowned as the World Heritage Site in natural category, the Chitwan National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Asia.  Truly, the flagship of Nepal’s national parks, Chitwan is home to an impressive number of species.  Man interacts with the environment over many centuries-is very evident in the Chitwan National Park.  These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the making of the park and are conserved along with the park’s natural assets.  The most easily accessible amongst Nepal’s national parks, Chitwan is considered by many naturalists to be simply the best-managed park in Asia.