Chitwan National Park
Chitwan is a rich natural area in the Terai, the subtropical southern part of Nepal. Until the 1950s it served as a hunting ground for the wealthy. Only small Tharu villages existed.
The park is inhabited by the rare Asiatic rhinoceros and Bengal Tiger. Besides these, there are many elephants, birds and butterflies.
Visit March 2001
It certainly is not Africa: the big 5 is not to be seen here, but it is possible to go on a safari in Chitwan. In the early morning, I did a junglewalk. My two guides and I encountered a rhino, and climbed up a tree to observe the magnificent animal.
Later that day I did a jeepsafari, probably the best thing to do. Among others, we saw several sloth bears, recognizable for their white noses. No tigers, though ...
Reviews
Rajanesh Kumar Singh (Nepal):
Nepal is my country, My birth place and live in Kathmandu. My village home is in Chitwan near Sauraha. When I was young we (with friends) used to go to Sauraha, nearby jungle and watch Rhino, Gharial, Jackle, Peacock and other birds. Couple of times I went deep inside the jungle with Tharu villagers to collect KHAR, KHADAI and BABIYO. Exciting moment and photograph gained by that time. Since long time I work in UAE, but when I go holiday I must go Chitwan for atleast 3-4 days. Last month I was in Nepal, I visit my village home and went to Sauraha too. Next year I will continue my routine. |
| Date posted: January 2010 |
Patrick Mcconnell (U.S.A.):
I enjoyed three very wet days in chitwan national park this past summer. The wildlife was most fascinating. While riding on an elephant through the 5 meter tall grass in search of the local rhino with an expert mahout, I offered my palm to a beautiful little butterfly that had followed us for some little way. To my delight it landed in my palm and remained there, quite calmly, for at least a minute. We saw kingfishers and gharials as well, but as it was monsoon season not much else was apparent. I shall never forget the blessing bestowed upon me by a small blue butterfly...Enjoy! |
| Date posted: December 2009 |
Mary Lavigne (USA):
The Royal Chitwan National Park is one of the national parks of Nepal. It lies at the southern part of Nepal,Terai.
Really, Royal Chitwan National Park is so beautiful! I saw many tigers, elephants, cheetahs and different kinds of birds as well as big bird,Ostrich. I had gone there since 2 years ago,at that time i saw many natural places of Nepal, and evergreen forests. Right Now, I am in Newyork, but our family is planning to go there, and celeberate our holidays..
Mary Lavigne.
Newyork, USA. |
| Date posted: June 2008 |
Stephen Brooker (UK):
I thoroughly enjoyed Chitwan, and I guess like the vast marority of visitors I too did not see a Tiger.
The highlight for me was a canoe safari, during which we found ouselves with a couple of metres of a Gahrial, a very rare fish eating crocodile with a peculiar long and slender snout/mouth full of evil looking teeth!
But what really made this trip for me was the half dozen Nepalese ten year olds in the canoe with us - their enthusiasm, sharp eyes and knowledge adding incredibly to the experience.
When I talked to our guide about this later, he told me it was part of their education, aimed at making sure the next generation both apreciated and understood the park, because one day they would be responsible for its care. How many other WHSs have this much forsight? |
| Date posted: April 2008 |
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Royal Chitwan National Park is reslly fantastic park in the Nepal.I'm one of traniner guide....I'm really happy to learn about Jungle. Now, it's known as Chitwan National Park. |
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I went to Royal Chitwan National Park in October 2006 and stayed in Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge,it was fantastic! I did not see a tiger but my love of elephants was increased with rides every morning and washing with them in the afternoon was a brilliant experience. I was with a party of 26 other people but am returning on my own this year. The staff and guides are superb and the hazy mornings give a real feel for the ,jungle'. I have left my heart in Chitwan with the elephants! |
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Marie Turke (Wales (UK)):
I was in Chitwan National Safari Park in March 2006 and had a great time, stayed at the Island Jungle Resort, the accomodation was great (the food was basic but edible), they could easily improve the food but the friendliness of staff was excellent. Tourism has been hit dramatically we were between 6 and 14 people only on the island. The guide we had first did not give a briefing about jungle safety!!! (I think his enlish was poor) and it was by chance that an ex guide visiting with good english was able to give us an excellent briefing on day 2. All in all we had a fantastic time, the early morning elephant rides were fantastic and the elephant bathing was awesome, being in the water with these great creatures is just something else. We saw plenty of rhino, both on Jeep safari and on elephant (and my friend from Sweden had to dash up a tree on a walk to ensure safety from a mother and baby rhino..... can't get a closer shave than that!!!), but no sloth bears or tigers seen, although we did see some reasonably fresh tiger prints which were unnervingly close to our accommodation. We went to see the elephants sleeping at night which was great. We did a boat ride, saw 1 croc. We saw some monkeys and lots of birds, too many to remember them all but kingfisher, parakeet, woodpecker, heron (oh and many more). Quite a few butterflies too and some interesting bugs. The grass had been burned and I was told that March/April is a good time to visit as the grass has been cut and burnt (which scares the animals) but once it settles down it is easier to see animals as the grass gets very long. Monsoon (July/August apparently there are lots of ticks and leeches.....yuck) but again in October is a nice time to visit. All in all I had a wonderful experience and would definately return, however I have never been on Safari anywhere else so maybe I'm easily impressed!!! |
| Date posted: April 2006 |
Paul Tanner (UK):
 The Royal Chitwan Park is situated in the “Terai” - the lowlands south of the Himalaya shared between India, Nepal and Bhutan. Its main up-market hotel/lodge sports the name “Tiger Tops” and one may be tempted to go to Chitwan in order to see Tiger.
When I visited in 1977 I did not stay at Tiger Tops but instead at the rather more down-market Gaida tented camp site a few miles away!! I cannot say whether the additional wild life expertise which might be available from Tiger Tops makes it a good place to see tiger or not but I did not see one and indeed had to try several Indian wildlife parks before eventually being successful at Kanha.
From what I know however I would suggest that you should not go to Chitwan with the prime objective of seeing tiger. What makes this park a special place to visit is the far greater likelihood of seeing the Greater One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros – and in excellent viewing circumstance too.
I was able to take several elephant rides. The park was only created in 1974 and, possibly for that reason, the elephants did not come equipped with the “tourist friendly” sitting platforms with safety rails which I have come across elsewhere – rather a simple platform with a rope which one had to hang onto like grim death! The grass in Chitwan really is “as high as an elephant’s eye” and it was a wonderful experience to be transported through the grasses in the morning mist looking for rhino. We had some great views - though you might not guess so from one of the photos I was able to take with 1 hand whilst hoping not to slither off into the charging rhino! Such charges didn’t seem to worry the elephant 1 iota and the rhino too seemed to recognise which of the 2 animals was really “boss”!
PS 6 June 2005. I have just read of the deaths of at least 38 bus passengers at Chitwan in a bomb blast perpetrated by the Maoist rebels. Nepal unfortunately appears to be sinking into chaos - hopefully its incompetent and corrupt rulers and its ordinary citizens can escape but the future looks bleak. Not the least of the worries will be another drop in tourism revenues. |
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