Chitwan National Park
The last home of the Asian one-horned rhinoceros, where jungle elephant rides and canoe trips bring you face to face with wild nature.
Overview
Chitwan National Park was Nepal's first national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the most important habitat of the Asian one-horned rhinoceros, with about 600 animals, and also home to Bengal tigers, wild elephants, crocodiles and more than 400 species of birds. Elephant rides through the grassland and jungle, canoe trips on the Narayani River to watch rhinos and crocodiles, and jungle walks with overnight stays in eco-camps are the most popular wildlife experiences here.
History
The area was protected as a wildlife reserve in 1973 and became Nepal's first national park in 1984, then a World Heritage Site in 1984. The rhinoceros population was once down to fewer than 100 animals because of poaching, and sustained anti-poaching work has since brought numbers back to around 600. The park also pioneered community-based conservation in Nepal, sharing tourism revenue with buffer-zone villages.
Highlights
- •Close views of one-horned rhinoceroses
- •Elephant rides through the jungle
- •Canoeing on the river
Practical tips
- •Choose an ethical operator for elephant activities
- •Morning and late afternoon are best for wildlife
Practical information
- Best time
- October to March
- Tickets
- About USD 25 per day
- Opening hours
- Open all day
- Local food
- Dal bhat, grilled fish and milk tea
- Getting around
- Inside the national park, travel is by jeep or canoe with an organised group
- Visa
- A visa on arrival is available with a passport valid for at least six months. Trekking routes require a separate TIMS card and conservation area permit.
Traveller reviews
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