Chitwan
Rhinos, tigers and the jungle magic of Nepal's premier wildlife park
Chitwan is home to Chitwan National Park, Nepal's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protecting one of the last strongholds of the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
Established in 1973 and inscribed by UNESCO in 1984, the park's sal forest and riverine grassland along the Rapti and Narayani rivers also shelter Bengal tigers and gharial crocodiles.
Sauraha, the district's main tourism town, serves as the primary base for jeep safaris, canoe trips and guided jungle walks into the park.
Curated Experiences
Our journeys in Nepal.
Categories
Points of Interest
4 places
Natural Wonder
Chitwan National Park
UNESCO World Heritage subtropical jungle, home to rhinos and Bengal tigers
Activity / Adventure
Rapti River
Canoe rides for crocodile-spotting and birdwatching along Chitwan's park boundary
Attraction
Elephant Breeding Center
Government-run centre breeding and caring for domesticated elephants near Sauraha
Museum
Tharu Cultural Museum
Museum on the indigenous Tharu people's traditions, tools and way of life
Culture
People & Culture
Chitwan is the historic homeland of the Tharu people, an indigenous Terai community known for stick dances, mud-and-thatch longhouses and forest-based traditions predating the park's creation. Tharu cultural shows and homestays around Sauraha offer a living counterpoint to the park's wildlife focus, and many Tharu families continue to work as guides and lodge staff within the tourism economy the park has built around itself.
Activities
Things to Do
Take a jeep safari or guided jungle walk through Chitwan National Park, Nepal's UNESCO-listed home to one-horned rhinos and Bengal tigers
Paddle a dugout canoe on the Rapti River to spot gharial crocodiles and waterbirds
Visit the Elephant Breeding Center near Sauraha to see how the park's domesticated elephants are raised
Learn about the indigenous Tharu people at the Tharu Cultural Museum, and catch an evening Tharu cultural dance show in Sauraha
Travel Information
Best Time to Visit
October, November, February, March
Other Districts in Bagmati Province
Stories from Chitwan
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