10 Best Places to Visit in Chitwan
10 Best Places to Visit in Chitwan, allow visitors to catch a glimpse of the local impressive cultures. As well as various activities to enjoy and immerse in amidst the traditional heritages of the Tharu tribe.
The indigenous ethnic tribes of Chitwan and Terai belt, extend from east to far west Nepal. Chitwan is also known as the bread basket of Nepal, due to its fertile land for its best agriculture harvest.
Chitwan is also a district, in Narayani Zone around mid-south and the flatland of Nepal, the Terai belt. Chitwan is in the lowland with a sub-tropical warm climate, where the famous Chitwan National Park is located.
Chitwan is famous for wildlife safaris in the deep jungles of Chitwan National Park. Regarded as Asia’s best park, for jungle and nature activities, in the comfort of a nice hotel, lodges, and resorts.
Things to do in Chitwan, various options for all types of people and age groups. The best places to visit Chitwan and exciting things to do in Sauraha, for the Jungle or wildlife activities. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers with more than 500 different types of species, including domestic and migratory birds.
Chitwan is famous for its wildlife of more than 43 species and for the endangered, wildlife like Royal Bengal Tiger. The Chitwan National Park is home to one-horned Indian Rhinoceros and freshwater Gharial crocodile. Include many other common species such as Gaur (Asian bison) wild elephants, four-horned antelopes, and striped hyenas. As well as pangolins, and Gangetic Dolphin with monitor lizards and pythons.
‘the fertile country of Nepal’s mid-south Terai and dense green jungles’
Sauraha and Chitwan Activities:
Sauraha is the major hub for all nature and wildlife activities and is close to the national park entrance. Where, all the best lodges and hotels are located for a pleasant stay in Sauraha, at Chitwan for the exciting thrills of jungle safari.
Visitors can enjoy various activities within Chitwan National Park and around its buffer zone.
Jungle Activities:
All jungle and nature programs are set by the hotels, and lodges in coordination with the Park wardens and authorities. The jungle safari is guided by expert naturalists and jungle guides for the following activities.
Morning Bird Watch Tour, Machan (Watch Tower) Tour, Jungle or nature walks, elephant and jeep safari. Includes interesting elephant briefing and bathing where visitors can join in. Evening relax and observe the local cultural Folk dance is related to the jungle and the agricultural lives of the indigenous Tharu. The main ethnic tribes of Chitwan and the Terai belt of Nepal are adorned with colorful traditional cultures.
Best Season to Visit in Chitwan:
Nepal has four seasons spring (March to May), summer with monsoon (June to August). Includes autumn or fall (September to November), and winter
(December to February).
Chitwan can be visited during these best times except for the summer, monsoon, or wet monsoon season. Although the jungles will be moist and much green, the rivers will be flooded, and very hot and humid. It is not recommended for normal visitors, except for naturalists and botanists, when wild exotic plants exist. The best seasons to visit Chitwan are spring and autumn, the high and peak times with a mass flow of foreign and domestic travelers visiting.
Spring is warm with clear fine days, mornings and nights are cooler, and the late afternoon can get overcast sometimes. Spring with longer hours of sunlight, from early mornings 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Chances of light rains sometimes during the spring of March to May.
The next best time is autumn/fall from September to November, most days are crystal clear with blue sky. Get dark soon due to limited sunlight hours, the sunrises at late 6 a.m. and sunsets by 5:30 p.m. Cold mornings, late afternoons, and nights, but it is the right season for wildlife safari and other activities.
Visitors can visit Chitwan during the winter of December to February, despite the cold mornings, evenings, and night times. Most days are fine and crystal clear for views of distant Himalayan peaks, and pleasant walks and safari. The tall grasses disappear in winter with more chances to catch glimpses of rare, endangered wild animals and bird life.
Chitwan is Famous for Wildlife Safari and Local Cultures:
Of all the national parks in Nepal, Chitwan is famous for the wildlife and the local cultures of the Tharu people. Most travelers visit Chitwan for jungle safari on the lookout for some wild mammals and exotic birdlife. As well as for serene nature walks, Chitwan offers various exciting and interesting places to explore besides its jungle safari.
10 Best Places ot Visit in Chitwan:
1. Jungle Safari on an Elephant Ride
✓ Elephant ride for jungle safari on the lookout for wild animals and exotic birds of various species.
2. Jungle Walks and Wildlife Exploration
✓ Enjoy the jungle walks that lead you through the dense vegetation and hideout of the wild animals. If lucky catch a glimpse of the Royal Tiger, the charm and highlights of the wildlife safari in Chitwan.
3. Jungle Drives for a Scenic Wildlife Tour
✓ The program is set by the hotels and lodges, and includes Jungle drives, a pleasant way to observe the wildlife. As well as the tranquil and wild surroundings of the Chitwan National Park drive with an open hood. So that visitors can view the wild animals like the common deer, jungle fowls, and peacock. By chance catch a glimpse of the rare Royal Bengal Tiger, One-horned Rhinoceros, sloth bear, and other animals.
4. Machan Visit – Wildlife Observation from a Tower
✓ Machan visit, normally this program is set early mornings before breakfast and in the late afternoon. Chances of catching a glimpse of wild mammals, Machan is an observation tower amid the jungle. Built on the locations where animals often come to graze the grassland. The park warden also places a heap of salt mixed with foliage, as the animals need salt. The animals come to lick or consume the salty foliage, once in a while around their favorite grassland.
5. Dugout Canoe Ride on the Rapti River
✓ Dugout Canoe ride, is one of the highlights of the jungle program, a short walk to nearby Rapti River. It is a long dugout canoe made from the wood of a Kapok or Silk-Cotton Tree. As well as from Sal (Sorea Robusta), the tree is burned and dug into the shape of a canoe. Visitors are seated on a small tool; the boatman then maneuvers the canoe downstream.
On canoe rides watching water birds, like storks, kingfishers, sand-piper, egrets, and fishing eagles. Includes various species of ducks with March Mugger and Freshwater Gangetic Gharial Crocodiles.
6. Bird Watching Tour in Chitwan
✓ Bird Watch Tour, normally the program starts early in the morning, and the guide takes you to the famous spots. Where visitors and interested birdwatchers can enjoy observing the different species of birdlife. The long-tailed paradise flycatcher, peacock, jungle fowls, and hornbill, include Blue Indian Roller: stork-billed kingfishers, Bengal Florican, Bee-eaters, Cormorants, and much more.
7. Nature Walks in the Buffer Zone
✓ Nature walks for a few short hours, before breakfast or in the late afternoon a pleasant hike. Take you around the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park to catch some wildlife and birds. As well as observing the local activities of farming and herding livestock. It is a great way to experience Chitwan villagers’ daily farm life routines.
8. Tharu Village and Museum Visit
✓ Tharu Village and the museum visit, is another best way to experience the local immense and impressive cultures. Tharu the indigenous tribes, in the early days a nomad, over the decades settled in place. Then start farming with a vast field to harvest agricultural products, and as well as raise livestock. Visiting the Tharu Village is interesting to learn about their past and present lives, Tharu with their age-old heritage cultures. Make the visit worthwhile and then tour the local Tharu Village to observe the primitive tools used for farming. As well as for hunting which was the traditional way of survival for the Tharu people. Before Tharu started farming, they were the first tribes immune to malaria and sub-tropical hot temperatures.
9. Tharu Traditional Folk Dance and Music
✓ Tharu traditional folk songs and dances, are a must to experience while visiting Chitwan. Tharu are hardworking people engaged in farming and herding livestock, they are keen on enjoying dance and music. Only the big hotels in Sauraha in Chitwan host Tharu folk dance and music as entertainment for their guests. One can also watch the Tharu traditional folk songs and dances in public places and festivals. The traditional Tharu dance is based on their occupations of farming and hunting, as well as defending from wild animals.
The folk dances to the strong beats of traditional drums, cymbals, flutes, tambourines, and percussion. A lively dance full of merriment, guests can also take part in the dance. It is another great way to enjoy and experience while visiting Chitwan for a few days or more.
10. Market Stroll and Souvenir Shopping
✓ After enjoying and experiencing most of the highlights of Chitwan, visitors can stroll on the market square. Browsing for souvenirs of Chitwan to take home for personal use and decorations or as a gift to friends and families.
At Chitwan especially around the main street town of Sauraha, souvenirs to purchase colorful traditional Tharu dresses. As well as wooden handicrafts, or other domestic products, like handmade tools or cooking stuff.
Various Routes to Chitwan:
Chitwan can be reached from Kathmandu, Pokhara, or Lumbini on a surface by overland journey. From Kathmandu options, are taking a short flight or a longer drive of 4-5 hours.
Chitwan Distance by Road and Flight:
Chitwan is located mid-south of the country, the driving distance is about 182 km or 113 miles from Kathmandu to Chitwan. About 4 to 5 hours’ drive to the hotel in Sauraha, Chitwan. The other option is taking a short scenic flight of less than 25 minutes from Kathmandu to Bharatpur airport.
From Bharatpur airport drive for less than an hour covering a distance of 18 km/12 miles.
Chitwan Distance from Lumbini:
Those who are in Lumbini the birthplace of Lord Buddha, on tour can visit Chitwan. A drive of 170 km/106 miles of more than 4 hours heading north through the cities of Butwal and Narayanghat.
Chitwan Distance from Pokhara:
From the scenic Pokhara city, a renowned tourist destination in Nepal can reach Chitwan by road. Covering a distance of 150 km/93 miles of more than 4 hours of exciting driving.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions or Queries):
1) What is the standard of hotel accommodation in Chitwan?
✓ Especially around Sauraha and other tourist areas in Chitwan, hotel accommodations, according to one’s budget. The Sauraha and other tourist areas in Chitwan offer tourist-standard lodges and inns or hotels.
Visitors can upgrade the standard of accommodation to deluxe luxury hotels and resorts. Normally, Family Adventure Treks uses moderate tourist standard hotels, to make the cost affordable in Chitwan tour packages. All hotels with attached baths and toilets running cold and hot water for 24 hours. Includes internet and Wi-Fi facilities to recharge your electronic gadgets.
2) How are the food and accommodation on tour?
✓ Visitors will be surprised to find excellent food served according to the choices from the comprehensive food menu. From Tibetan, Nepali, Indian, and Chinese to Continental, with a long list of snacks and drinks for customer delight. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be buffet served in the high seasons. When hotels have large numbers of visitors in Chitwan.
3) Are there money-changing facilities and use of ATMs?
✓ In Chitwan, available money-changing counters, are approved by the state government central banks. ATMs are all over the towns and cities in Chitwan.
4) What are the main religions in Chitwan and Nepal?
✓ The main religion of Nepal, as per the population is Hinduism, followed by Buddhism. Hinduism covers nearly 75 % and Buddhism of 20 % of the res 05 % minority of Christianity, Islam, Jain, and Sikh religions in Nepal.
In Chitwan, the Tharu follows the Hindu religion with few Buddhist tribes. Those who migrated in the early 1970s from the high hills of Nepal Himalayas. Include a few Christian communities in Chitwan, amidst the large numbers of Hindu followers.
5) When is the best season for the Chitwan tour?
✓ As mentioned above, the best time is spring from March to May. Include the autumn/fall, which starts in September and ends in November.
Spring season days are much longer with sunny days, it can get cool in the morning and nighttime. Depending upon the temperatures, autumn/fall is one of the best times, days are mild with sunshine, but shorter days due to limited day lights and sunshine. But cooler morning and nighttime.
Interested people can visit on this tour in winter times of December to February, most days are full of sunshine and pleasant for the tour. But cold morning and night time especially around the Terai low-land.
6) What are the chances of capturing the Royal Bengal Tiger with our camera?
✓ It entirely depends on the right seasons, one should be lucky to see the tiger in its natural habitat. As well as when the tiger is hunting for its easy prey.
Some fortunate visitors can catch a glimpse of the tiger on their first arrival, for some it takes nearly a week. Chances to see a tiger, one’s got to be lucky, but visitors can catch a glimpse of other mammals like Rhinoceros. Includes deer, wild hog, and sometimes sloth bears and leopards. Monkeys are common sights on nature or jungle walks during all seasons of the year.
7) Are all wildlife activities safe?
✓ Nearly all jungle activities and wildlife are safe, either elephant rides, nature, or jungle walks. For elderly people and young children, jungle walks are not good, as the walk leads through dense vegetation and jungles. Sometimes encountering wild mammals like sloth beer or Rhinoceros at close quarters, one has to hide behind the trees or in a safe distance. All jungle safari, are led by an expert guide and naturalist, so it is safe and secure. Overall, the jungle guide will brief you on safety measures and the existing flora and fauna. The guide is well-trained in how to deal with some emergencies.
8) When was Chitwan National Park declared?
✓ Chitwan and its dense jungles enriched with exotic flora and fauna were declared a national park in 1973. In the earlier days, it was a royal hunting ground for royalty and its noble guests. The park was also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. To preserve its existing rare and endangered wildlife and exotic flora, which is nearly extinct on this planet.
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