Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park in Nepal

The park is especially renowned for its protection of the endangered one- horned rhinoceros, tiger, and gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animal. The park also secures populations of endangered species such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, and python. LOCATION: The Park covering an area of 932 sq. km. is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of South-Central Nepal. This is the oldest national park in Nepal. The park was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers a pristine area with a unique eco-system of significant value to the world. It contains the Churiya hills, ox-bow lakes and flood plains of Rapti, Reu, and Narayani Rivers. Approximately 70% of the park vegetation is sal forest. The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%), riverine forest (7%), and sal with chirpine (3%), the latter occurring at the top of the Churiya range. The riverine forests consist mainly of khair, sissoo and simal. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The Saccharum species, often called elephant grass, can reach 8 m. in height. The shorter grasses such as Imperata are useful for thatch roofs. There are more than 43 species of mammals, over 450 species of birds, and more than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles in the park.  Formerly, the Chitwan Valley was well known for big game hunting and until 1950 was exclusively managed as a hunting reserve for the Rana Prime Ministers and their guests. In 1963, the area south of the Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. In 1970, His late Majesty King Mahendra approved, in principle, the creation of Royal Chitwan National Park.  SEASONS The park is influenced by a tropical monsoon climate with relatively high humidity. Winter, spring and monsoon are the three main seasons. The cool winter season occurs from October to February. Spring begins in March and is soon followed by summer that ends in early June. Summer days are typically hot with up to an average of 30C daytime temperature. The monsoon usually begins at the end of June and continues until September. The mean annual rainfall is about 21-50 mm. and during this time of the year rivers are flooded and most of the roads are virtually impassable.  VEGETATION The Chitwan Valley is characterized by tropical to sub-tropical forest. Roughly 70% of park vegetative cover is sal (shorea robusta) forest, a moist deciduous vegetation type of the Terai region. The remaining vegetation types include: grassland (20%), riverine forest (70%), and sal with chirpine (pinus roxburghii) (3%) forest, the latter occurring at the tops of the Churia range. The riverine forests consist mainly of khair, sissoo, and simal. The simal has a spiny bark when young and develops buttresses at the bottom in older stages. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species.  ANIMALS There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park is especially renowned for its protection of the endangered one- horned rhinoceros, tiger, and gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animal. The estimated population of rhinos is 400. The park also secures populations of endangered species such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, and python. Some of the other animals found in the park are sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth deer, common leopard, ratel, palm civet, wild dog, langur and rhesus monkeys. There are over 450 species of birds in the park. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. A few of the common birds seen are peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. The best times for bird watching are in March and December. More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles are found in the park, some of which are the marsh mugger crocodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises. The park is actively engaged in the scientific study of several species of wild flora and fauna.  PLACES OF INTEREST Gharial Breeding Center, Lamital, Devital Bikram Baba (religious site),  Chitwan Hatisar, Sauraha Elephant Breeding Center      How to Get There The park is accessible by car or bus on the Kathmandu-Mugling Highway or  via the Mahendra Rajmarg Highway from Hetauda. It is about a six hour drive from Kathmandu to Narayanghat. Local buses are available to Tandi Bazar, which is about an hour’s drive from Narayanghat. A 6km. walk or bullock-cart ride brings visitors to Sauraha, the park entrance. Air-services from Kathmandu to Meghauli and Bharatpur air field is also available. Local buses are available from Narayanghat to Park HQ. at  Kasara.  PARK FACILITIES * Display center, Kasara  * Library at Kasara and Sauraha * Visitor center, Sauraha  * Machans (view towers) ACTIVITIES * Elephant rides  * Canoeing   * Guided jungle walks Chitwan Jungle safari which is the best known jungle safari in Nepal. Nepal Jungle safari is well known as wilderness safari, Nepal safai, chitwan safari, canoeing in nepal, village tours in tharu village and tharu cultural tours too. For tours and more info please Contact US