Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is the most visited protected area in Nepal. A World Natural Site declared by UNESCO. The park has more than 500 Asian one-horned rhinoceros roaming the sprawling grass and wetland in the park and its surrounding areas. Some 100 nocturnal Royal Bengal Tigers hunt in the dense jungle. The two protected species – tigers and rhinoceros – speak volumes about the rich ecosystem of the park with an area of 932 square kilometers. The diverse ecology is home to around 600 plant species, 50 mammals, 526 birds and 49 amphibians and reptiles. Some of these flora and fauna are endangered.

Far from the madding crowd, the seclusion in the park is evident thanks primarily to the two bog bordering rivers – Narayani and Rapti, that mark the entry points to the park. Local and migratory birds around the rivers and the aquatic animals are the first attractions for visitors. The chirping and preening winter birds including water fowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, bar-headed geese, cormorants are what can be seen as visitors cross the river to reach the park land. This is also the place where migratory birds arrive from as far as Siberia during winter. Sharing the arboreal home with these birds are other animals like rhesus monkey, grey langur, python, different kinds of snakes, among others. On the ground there are four species of deer, including the hog deer, sloth deer, barking deer and chittals.

Preying on these herbivorous animals are the tigers and leopards. These predators also have other choices like white stockinged gaur, wild boar, among others. Small animals like wild dogs and wild cats also inhabit the jungle.

It’s not just the flora and fauna that makes the Chitwan National Park a unique tourism product. Local culture, tradition and the way of life adds color and liveliness to tourists’ experiences here. Perhaps no one knows the Chitwan Park as closely as Tharu community does. These were the local tribals that lived the park jungles even before it was declared a National Park in 1972.

Around the Chitwan National Park, there are many historic and religious sites. Topping the list is the Devghat Dham – a popular pilgrimage spot situated at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli Rivers just north of the Chitwan Park.

Sitting on an elephant back and exploring the jungle is a memorable experience and while doing that one comes across different wild animals including rhinos, different kinds of deers, wild boars and in rare cases, tigers. Another way of watching the flora and fauna in the park is jeep drive – with open hoods that allows the visitors to have a 360 degree look around as the vehicle passes the jungle way. Another activity in the park is the boat/canoe riding on, mainly, the Rapti and the Narayani Rivers.