What is Chitwan Famous For?

If you are after rich culture, incredible wildlife, and breathtaking scenery, you won’t be disappointed with the Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour!

Among 20, Chitwan National Park is one of the famous national parks of Nepal. With an area of 952.63 sq. km, it is the first national park of Nepal. Like Sagarmatha National Park in the Khumbu area, Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour is one of the most popular wildlife adventures in Asia. Located in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern Nepal, Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its rich ecosystem, featuring dense Sal forests, grasslands, and major rivers like the Rapti. It is home to the endangered Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Gharial Crocodile, and hundreds of bird species.

It has been almost four decades since the establishment of Chitwan National Park in 1973 AD. The park has a long history of preserving wildlife and mitigating animal poaching. Also, with the cooperation of locals, the national park holds many corporate workshops empowering the community and advocating the importance of the conservation of natural vegetation. Besides being one of the successful national parks of Nepal for the preservation of natural resources, the national park is a top travel destination in Nepal for nature lovers.

Chitwan National Park allows nature and safari enthusiasts to see rare and beautiful animals and varieties of bird species in their natural habitat. Travelers can join in various activities that permit them to dive deep into the forest and witness animals. Moreover, the national park is not only about exceptional animals. It is also about learning and immersing in the fascinating cultures prevalent in the national park area. The surrounding of the national park is home to the Tharu community, an indigenous group of Nepal with their distinct culture, tradition, language, and customs.

Given its enchanting aura, amazement only escalates with each activity in Chitwan National Park. Here are the top engaging activities to do in Chitwan National Park.

What is Chitwan Famous For?

• Explore the Chitwan National Park in Sauraha and enjoy fun-filled activities.
• Take a jeep safari inside the park and discover the habitats of the one-horned rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, deer, sloth bear, etc. While elephant rides are available most tourists nowadays tend to avoid them due to the unethical treatment of elephants.
• Pay a visit to the Elephant Breeding Centre and interact with baby and mama elephants.
• Take a canoe ride on the Rapti River that flows inside the park. On the river bank, you can spy the gharials or marsh muggers basking in the sun. If you are lucky you can get a glimpse of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger resting among the tall elephant grass.
• A guided walking tour inside the park will bring you up close to some of the jungle's wild inhabitants. You can also take a bird-watching tour to learn more about the park's avian population.
• Head to the river and help the mahouts bathe their elephants. This is an enjoyable activity both for the elephants and tourists as the elephants play around spraying water on the humans while bathing.
• Stroll around a Tharu traditional village and interact with the villagers.
• Enjoy an entertaining cultural program at the Tharu Cultural Centre. Tharu boys and girls will present their traditional songs and dances.
• Visit the sacred Hindu sites in and around the national park.

Top things to while you are in Chitwan

The top things to do in Chitwan are going on a jungle safari, canoeing on the river, and experiencing local Tharu culture. This famous region in Nepal offers incredible wildlife and rich traditions.

Go on Nature Walk

Also known as a jungle walk, a nature walk is one of the favorite things to do in Chitwan National Park. It is a thrilling experience that creates an opportunity to encounter animals face to face. Nature walks are guided journeys with nature experts or park rangers. These people are familiar with every corner of the jungle and take you to the jungles’ principal point. They know when animals come out of their shed and the best places to observe them without disturbing their habitation. Nature Walk is a splendid thing one can do while in Chitwan to witness wild vegetation without disturbing them.

Unlike vehicle safaris, a nature walk allows you to move quietly through the dense sal forests, tropical grasslands, and riverbanks, maximizing your chances of tracking wildlife by sound and footprints. It is a mandatory conservation and safety regulation that every walking tour is accompanied by at least two licensed, government-certified nature guides who are highly trained in animal behavior and armed with bamboo sticks for defense.

The excursions are typically split into half-day walks lasting around three to four hours, or full-day treks that deep-dive further into the core zones of the park. Walks usually begin with a scenic dugout canoe ride across the Rapti River, which serves as the gateway into the park's main tracking grounds. As you trek, your naturalists will teach you how to read fresh wildlife tracks, identify rare bird species, and recognize indigenous medicinal plants. Because you are on foot, strict safety protocols must be followed: visitors are required to walk in a single-file line behind the lead guide, maintain absolute silence when approaching wildlife, and wear neutral camouflage colors like forest green, khaki, or brown to avoid startling the animals.

Explore the Beeshazari wetland of Chitwan National Park

There are more than 40 lakes in Chitwan National Park. Exploring all at once won’t be possible as it is challenging to map them as well. But Beeshazari Tal, a vast wetland in the central part of the national park, is a center of attraction. The wetland is a habitat for several animals, including the Bengal tiger, sloth bear, smooth-coated otter, wild boar, crocodiles, birds, one-horned rhinos, and many more. The lake is one of the most extensive wetlands in the central Terai region and offers visitors a quiet and enigmatic time. Make sure to go on a quaint and thrilling canoe ride on the waters of Beeshazari Lake.

Exploring the Beeshazari Wetland (also known as Bis Hazari or "Twenty Thousand Lakes") on a guided nature walk offers a tranquil alternative to the busier core zones of Chitwan National Park. Located inside the park's protective buffer zone within the vital Barandabhar Corridor Forest, this sprawling 3,200-hectare oxbow lake system has been recognized as a globally important Ramsar Site since 2003. Because the trails are technically outside the primary park boundary, a nature walk here does not require a standard national park entry permit, making it an exceptionally flexible and cost-effective option for independent travelers and eco-tourists alike.

A dedicated foot safari around the wetlands is a dream itinerary for birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. The calm, mirror-like waters provide a crucial habitat for over 540 species of resident and migratory birds, hundreds of butterfly varieties, and a thriving population of marsh crocodiles and mugger crocodiles often seen sunbathing along the grassy banks. As you quietly trace the forested shoreline paths with your guide, the dense tree canopies also serve as an active wildlife corridor where lucky trekkers frequently spot one-horned rhinoceroses cooling off in the shallow marshes, barking deer, wild boars, and occasionally even a Bengal tiger or sloth bear traveling down from the Mahabharat mountain range.

Exciting Jeep Safari while on the Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour

Chitwan Jungle Safari is not complete without a jeep safari. Drive through the well-marked road trails for jeep, and as you move along, observe animals hidden behind bushes or tall grasses. Jeep Safari is about a 1-2 hour tour that allows you to spot animals from a distance.

The park operates two distinct types of jeep safaris depending on the season and regulations.

• Core zone safaris take you deep inside the protected national park lines, crossing rivers to reach historic tracking spots like the Kasara Crocodile Breeding Center. However, to protect the terrain and wildlife during the breeding season, core zone vehicle safaris are typically suspended during the monsoon months (June to September).
• During this rainy period, the excitement doesn't stop; the park transitions operations to buffer zone safaris within thriving community forests like Kumroj and Barandabhar, which remain highly active with wildlife year-round. 

To get the most out of your bumpy ride, it is best to book a morning slot when animals are most active near water sources. Always wear neutral, earthy colors to avoid drawing unnecessary attention from territorial wildlife, bring a scarf or face mask to protect against dust on the dirt tracks, and hold on tight as the vehicles navigate rugged jungle terrain.

Bird Watching

Chitwan National Park is an Eden for bird lovers. The park lies close to the Himalayas; thus, migratory birds often make their way back to the jungles of Chitwan. Indigenous and migrant species like the Great Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, Ruddy Shelduck, and Red-headed trogon can also be found. The park’s alluvial grasslands are essential habitats for many critically endangered birds. Also, the park is a breeding site for globally threatened birds.

With more than 550 documented species, Chitwan National Park is widely recognized as a world-class birdwatching paradise. The park's immense biodiversity stems from its varied habitats, which merge dense sal forests, tropical broadleaf woodlands, marshy oxbow lakes, and sprawling alluvial grasslands. Because the park serves as a vital refuge along the Indo-Malayan flyway, a birdwatching tour here provides a spectacular blend of permanent resident species and seasonal migratory birds traveling south from Siberia and the Tibetan plateau.

To get the most out of your birding trip, a dedicated foot safari (nature walk) is highly recommended over a vehicle tour, as it allows you to move silently through the brush without disturbing the birds. Many travelers choose to combine an early morning dugout canoe ride on the Rapti River; ideal for spotting riverine birds and kingfishers with a walk back through the community forest buffer zones. Hiring a specialized, certified birding naturalist is essential, as these experts can identify species purely by their calls and know exactly which thickets certain rare species frequent.

Canoe Ride

Canoe rides are a combination of therapeutic at the same exhilarating. The wooden boat slowly flows down with rippling sounds of water and birds chirping, making pleasant music. As you glide down the picturesque Rapti Rivers enjoying beautiful views of the jungles in your surround, do spot the innumerable rhinoceroses, gharials, and birdlife as well.

A tranquil dugout canoe ride along the Rapti or Narayani rivers is one of the most serene yet thrilling highlights of a Chitwan jungle safari. Moving silently with the river current, these traditional canoes are hand carved from a single tree trunk like the Silk Cotton or Sal tree. This design allows you to glide incredibly close to the riverbanks without disturbing the surrounding wildlife, serving as both a peaceful stand alone excursion and the scenic gateway for cross river jungle nature walks.

What to Expect on the Water

• Crocodile Sightings: The rivers are the primary hunting grounds for two distinct crocodile species. You will get clear, close up views of the critically endangered, fish eating Gharial crocodile with its distinct long, slender snout, as well as the larger, marsh dwelling Mugger crocodile basking in the sun along the muddy banks.
• Riverine Birdwatching: The quiet nature of the canoe ride makes it a premier activity for bird enthusiasts. It offers front row seats to spot vibrant Common and White throated Kingfishers, Ruddy Shelducks, Egrets, Herons, and storks wading through the shallows.
• Rhino Encounters: If you take a late afternoon canoe ride, you will frequently witness greater one horned rhinoceroses coming down to the river edge to drink, bathe, and cool off in the water.

Connect with Tharu people through the Tharu Village Tour

Tharu community is the indigenous people of Chitwan. Tharu communities are made up of many endogamous groups that are linguistically and culturally different. They primarily inhabit the lowland plains of Nepal, commonly known as the Terai region. The Tharu are often described as one people, but various subgroups reside all across the Terai region of Nepal. They are the natives of Chitwan but were forced to relocate before the establishment of Chitwan National Park in 1973.

The forced relocation disrupted the social and cultural institutions and ultimately declined their presence in Chitwan. Although most have relocated, few communities of the Tharu ethnic group are still sparsely scattered in the buffer zones of the national park. They lived a semi-nomadic life and practiced shifting cultivation. Tharu communities have strong interconnection with their environment and see the forest and the village as one entity. They depend on the forest for food, wood, medicines, and many more things but are restricted from using forest resources by the authorities.

Thary people possess a legendary, scientifically documented genetic resistance to malaria, which historically allowed them to thrive in the dense, mosquito-infested tropical jungles where outsiders could not survive. This unique biological advantage made them the undisputed guardians of the Chitwan forests for generations, allowing them to develop a highly self-sufficient society centered around fishing, farming, and gathering forest resources. 

Engage in interesting Tharu Cultures

Besides the worshiping nature of the Tharu community, their culture, traditions, and life skills are other exciting aspects of the ethnic community. With having a distinct language, the community also possesses traditional dances, attires, and customs. Tharu are known for their traditional fishing skills and many other survival skills. The Tharu cultural dances are also the highlight of the ethnic communities. Through their dances, they tell the tales of their cultures. Also, their traditional dress reflects the relationship between their people and the environment. Therefore, do make sure to participate in Tharu cultural shows while you are in Chitwan.

The Tharu culture is deeply intertwined with the natural world, reflecting a history of peaceful coexistence with the wilderness of Chitwan. Their vibrant cultural identity is preserved through oral storytelling, distinct tribal wear, and intricate jewelry crafted from silver and coins. Community life centers around seasonal festivals, where traditional music and energetic dances take center stage. The most celebrated of these is the Tharu Stick Dance, a captivating performance where dancers rhythmically strike bamboo sticks to a drumbeat, a practice that historically served to scare away wild animals from their villages.

Visit the Elephant Breeding Center

Located across the Rapti River in Khorsor, the Elephant Breeding Center was established in 1985 to protect and boost the population of endangered Asian elephants. A short walk or quick vehicle transfer from Sauraha brings you to this facility, where you can learn about the complex care, diet, and biology of these intelligent mammals.

Along with one-horned rhino and royal Bengal tiger, crocodiles and elephants are few other well-looked-after animals of Chitwan national park. The breeding center is suitable for educational tours as the animals are conserved in a makeshift environment. Gharial Breeding Center of Kasara of Chitwan National Park protects the natural egg-laying sites of gharials to hatch eggs in artificial conditions. They rear the young until they are ready to get back into the natural habitat to re-establish a viable population in the wild.

On the other hand, Elephant breeding centers look after elephants and prepare them for the protection of the jungles. Wild elephants have long-range dispersing behavior, frequently coming into contact with human beings during their movement. And because of this recurring problem, especially in areas outside protected areas and forest habitats, wild elephants pose a significant threat to the local communities because of their crop-raiding tendency. Although their poaching is not a threat in Nepal, elephant conservation is challenged by habitat fragmentation, obstruction of migratory routes, and human-elephant conflict. Therefore, elephants raised in the breeding are prepared for the protection of the jungle from wild elephants.

Note

At Nepal Hiking Team, we are deeply committed to ethical and responsible tourism. We strictly do not promote, organize, or support elephant riding, elephant baths, or any form of captive wildlife entertainment.

We acknowledge the existence of the Elephant Breeding Center in Chitwan as a government-led conservation and management facility. Its primary functions are to mitigate intense human-elephant conflict, protect forest boundaries, and provide essential medical care for elderly, injured, or newborn elephants. While we understand its role in regional safety and wildlife management, our company policy remains firmly against utilizing these intelligent animals for tourism or recreational activities.

Crocodile Breeding Center

Tucked away deep inside the park near the park headquarters in Kasara, the Gharial Crocodile Breeding Center is a dedicated conservation facility founded in 1978. It was built specifically to rescue the critically endangered, fish-eating Gharial crocodile from the brink of extinction. Because of human disruption and river pollution, their natural survival rate in the wild is extremely low, making this facility vital to the river ecosystem.

A walk through this quiet facility allows you to view hundreds of crocodiles separated into distinct, well-maintained pools based on their exact growth stages. You can observe the reptiles all the way from tiny, freshly hatched babies to massive, full-grown adults featuring their signature long, narrow snouts. The center also runs a dedicated breeding program for vulnerable Marsh Mugger crocodiles and acts as a sanctuary for endangered freshwater turtles. Once the crocodiles reach a self-sufficient age and size, the conservation team releases them back into the Rapti and Narayani rivers to replenish the wild populations.

Hire a bike and ride around the Tharu village

Chitwan has flatlands, so cycling here is a different delight. You may hire a bike and ride around the town, observing people and occasionally say hi as well. In Chitwan, a bicycle is the most common means of transportation, and you wouldn’t be the only one on the two-wheelers. Men, women, kids, everybody rides cycle around here, so it is the most local thing to do on your own.

Hiring a bicycle to ride around the Tharu villages is one of the most immersive and flexible ways to explore the rural landscape surrounding Chitwan National Park. Unlike a structured walking tour, renting a bike allows you to set your own pace, venture off the beaten path, and cover greater distances into the quiet countryside. It offers a wonderful blend of cultural discovery and peaceful outdoor exercise.

Catch the magical sunrise and sunset over the calmly flowing Rapti Rivers

Sunrise and sunset over the Rapti River are beguiling to watch. One may start or end their day by watching the golden rays of the sun glistening the calm waters of the Rapti river and making its perfect mirror image on its surface. It is calming and relaxing to watch the sun dispersing its color and making the horizon vibrant in orange shade.

Elephant briefing program

The elephant briefing is an informative program to share information and understanding regarding elephants. The naturalists will teach you about the gentle giant and their existence in the wild, their domestication, the distinctions between African and Asian elephants, and much more. The program also includes interacting with mahouts, the elephant’s keepers, and learning how they train and communicate with the elephants.

Special Tours

If anyone would like to dive more into the jungle and see the uncommon and elusive species, go on a day-long trek to the Churia Hills or other sections of the park.

Given all the exciting options, there is no shortage of fun things to do in Chitwan. The list extends beyond the options mentioned here. However, it is also equally important to visit the park at the right time.

An overview of Chitwan National Park during Four Seasons

The best time for Chitwan national park is anywhere between October to April. This timeframe experience autumn, winter and spring season in Nepal. Also, during this time range, the average temperature is 25°C. However, the best time to see the animal is from January to March. It is the winter season, so the weather is also bearable.

Similarly, animals often come out of the den to soak up warmth from the sun. Villagers also cut down the tall grasses during these months, so the possibility of animal sightings is high. The grasslands of Chitwan national park grow as tall as eight meters at other times, making it difficult to spot the animals. The monsoon, which is from June to August, is heavy in the Terai region, and Chitwan is no exception to its pouring rain. Due to rain, jeep trails get affected by the flood, making it difficult for jeep safari activities. Also, the weather becomes unbearably hot with the temperature rising to over 40°C.

How to get there? Kathmandu to Chitwan

There are direct buses from Kathmandu and Pokhara to Chitwan. Most tourist buses leave at 7 am. There are also local buses that depart every hour or two from the local bus park.

You can also hire a private taxi if you want a more comfortable ride. It takes around 6-7 hours to reach Chitwan via road. If you want to ditch the road journey, you can always opt for an air transfer. The flight to Bharatpur (the nearest airport to the wildlife park) from Kathmandu takes around 25 minutes.

Accommodation and Food

Chitwan offers a vast range of luxury, mid-range, and budget accommodations. Most of the hotels are located near the national park. Some of the old jungle resorts operate from inside the park. You can choose a good hotel as per your budget.

There are restaurants, cafes, and bars lining the streets of the Hatti Chowk, the bustling commercial area around the park. Since this is a tourist area you can find a variety of food on the menu – Nepalese, Indian, Italian, Continental, etc.

Other Attractions of Chitwan

Chitwan is also renowned for its Hindu pilgrimage sites.

Valmiki Ashram – Valmiki Asham is said to be the place where Sage Valmiki, the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana, resided. It's also regarded as the place where Sita, Lord Rama's wife, gave birth to the twins Luv and Kush after she was banished from Ayodhya,

Located inside the Chitwan National Park, the ashram lies in a tranquil area on the banks of the Tamasa River. Surrounded by forests, this is a peaceful place to visit. There are temples, ponds, and sites mentioned in the Ramayana inside the ashram. Valmiki Ashram is one of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage sites in Chitwan.

Devghat – Another religious site close to Chitwan is Devghat, Located at the confluence of Seti Gandaki and Krishna Gandaki rivers, this sacred site has been mentioned in the holy texts of Skanda Purana and Baraha Purana. According to these sacred texts, Devghat is the place where gods come occasionally to bathe. People believe that if one dies a natural death at Devghat he or she will directly reach heaven.

There are old age homes, temples, and sacred shrines around the ghat. People come here to meditate and take a ritual dip in the river. Some old people following Hinduism choose to spend the last days of their lives at this place.

Conclusion

On the whole, Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour is an accumulation of everything. From engaging with the locals to seeing wild animals so close, the activities include experiencing incredibly exciting and awesome feels. All the activities listed here are animal cruelty-free, so you may join in without feeling any guilt. Do add the Chitwan jungle safari tour to your things to-do list while visiting the tropical region of Nepal.