Tharu culture and wildlife-rich jungles
Chitwan National Park
- Region
- Bagmati Province
- Best time
- October – March
- Altitude
- 100 m – 815 m
The place
What makes Chitwan National Park worth the journey
Nepal's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Chitwan protects sal forest and elephant grass along the Rapti and Narayani rivers. It holds one of the world's healthiest populations of greater one-horned rhinoceros, alongside Bengal tigers, sloth bears, gharial crocodiles, and more than 500 recorded bird species.
Highlights
- Jeep safari through grassland and sal forest tracking rhino and tiger
- Dugout canoe drift past gharial and mugger crocodiles
- Tharu stick dance and village life in the buffer zone
- Some of the best birdwatching in South Asia
Travel tips
- Wear muted colours and lightweight long sleeves inside the park
- Bring insect repellent — evenings are humid year-round
- Choose community-run lodges to keep tourism money local
- Elephant-back safaris are no longer offered; jeep and foot safaris have replaced them
Ways to spend your days
Signature experiences
01
Guided birdwatching walks at first light
02
Jungle bushwalks with armed park naturalists
03
The Gharial Breeding Centre and elephant conservation projects
04
Sunset from a machan viewing tower above a waterhole
In pictures
Gallery
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