On the Himalayas in Nepal it’s impossible to see enough, but we decided that it was time to change the surrounding picture a little and go to the plain. Perhaps the most famous and most visited plain in Nepal is chitwan National Park, which can be reached from Kathmandu in about 4 hours by shuttle bus.
National park Chitwan inhabited by various animals, and you just can't get there: permits and guides are needed. All this can be found in a village called Sauraha, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the park.
The minibus took us to the town, from which it was another 7 kilometers to the village of Suaraha. We were already going to look for a bus to go further, but then a swarm of owners of Suarahi guesthouses flew over us: each of them wanted to see us at their place.
Out of habit, we began to dismiss everyone, expecting a trick, but then one of the proposers was able to shout to us: “300 rupees per room! If you don’t like it, I’ll bring you back. ” It sounded suspicious! 300 rupees (less than $ 4) - the most low price for a room of those that we have met so far in Nepal. Also a free "transfer"! Very suspicious ... But we still got into the car and drove to Sauraha, on the way listening to the stories of the owner of the guesthouse about local attractions.
As it turned out upon arrival, the guesthouse consisted of several bungalow houses, each with a shower and toilet, a well-groomed area with green grass and a hammock, and even a Wi-Fi was present! In addition, the owner promised us a small walking tour around the neighborhood. And, oddly enough, during the trip the price did not increase, and they wanted the same 300 rupees from us.
Free guided tour
Why is the price so low in such tourist spot? Perhaps there are more guesthouses in the village of Sauraha than tourists, and this is the reason for the desperate struggle for us at the bus stop? Or is it just not quite “season” yet?
Chitwan National Park
In the village of Sauraha, there are many offices (most of them are at guesthouses) that sell permission to enter chitwan National Park and offer guide services. Intelligence has revealed that prices are the same everywhere, but can vary by a couple of hundred rupees.
That being said, there are several ways to look at the jungle:
- guided hike
- jeep safari
- elephant safari
It seemed to us wrong to drive through the jungle in a car, but we feel sorry for elephants, so we decided to go to chitwan Park on foot.
This time we did not look for detours to the jungle and honestly paid at the office for two about 4 thousand rupees. For this money, we were offered a walk in the jungle for several hours, accompanied by two guides armed with sticks. The sticks were fortunately not meant for us. But first things first.
The office where we arranged everything offered a choice of two times for walking in the jungle: early morning (according to them, unfavorable - nothing can be seen through the strong morning fog) or afternoon. Of course, we chose the second option and at the appointed time, dressed according to the rules (red, white - prohibited), arrived at the starting point of the route - the canoe pier.
One of the guides, whom we met the day before in a cheerful state, had already sobered up, and the journey could begin.
A boat led by a boatman took us and two of our guides along the muddy Chitvan river.
The boat looked extremely unstable, and even rocked dangerously.
And all would be fine, because we all know how to swim, but ...
Smiling ...
After the first surprise, we began to speculate: maybe the crocodile is still inflatable?
Local residents are in no hurry:
Why is this lady's face so suspiciously calm?
We were told that the government of Nepal once a year allows local residents to go to Chitwan Park and pick some plants there. We got to the national park during this period.
After a long boat trip, we finally docked, thanked the boatman, went ashore ... and suddenly there was a sharp noise and crackling of branches! A deer was sitting in the bushes, and at our approach it broke and ran away.
It's time for our guides to give instructions. The briefing was as follows:
- if you meet a rhino, climb a tree
- if you meet a tiger, look into its eyes - they attack only from behind
- if you meet a bear, everyone needs to stand in frightening positions and make a lot of noise
- if you meet a wild elephant ... nothing will help
On this inspiring note, we followed our guides into the deep jungle.
An important thing, which is repeated several times in the office when paying for the "tour" and only then the guides themselves: "We do not give a guarantee that you will see the animals." So here, how lucky you are: either you meet animals, or your money will fly into the pipe.
At first, we only met such animals:
And such:
But none of the above-mentioned dangerous animals was visible. In the glades of the park, we now and then came across local residents with the harvest, and our guides complained that it was they who scared all the rhinos.
But suddenly, both of our guides turned into forest ninjas. And for them only sounds began to exist. With gestures they ordered us to be quiet. Slowly we began to move after one of the guides, the second of them was walking behind. In the meantime, we were looking out for a tree that could be climbed if something happened ... And then in the bushes we saw ... Polish tourists! Polish tourists (or rather their guides) were also looking out for someone.
Suddenly, we noticed armor in the thicket! And then another one!
The rhinos seemed to be heading right towards us! So it seemed to the Polish tourist - he freaked out and began to retreat towards the tree. But nothing happened.
During the walk, we learned an interesting detail from the guides: the act of mating rhinos lasts about three hours! So that!
After the rhinos, the guides decided that now we had enough impressions, and our walk through the jungle soon ended.
And we were not against: even without tigers and mad elephants, we had time to get enough of it.
Chitwan National Park is definitely one of the best parks in the world.
It is located 166 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu city and 204 kilometers from Pokhara city. The national park covers a vast area of \u200b\u200blow wooded hills and borders India in the south.
It covers an area of \u200b\u200b400 square kilometers and is home to leopards, bears, monkeys, various species of deer, wild boars and about 400 species of birds. Also, about 60 Bengal tigers live on its territory. There are two seasons - a rainy monsoon period (June-September) and a dry winter monsoon. The best time to visit the park is from March to May and from September to December.
National park "Bardia"
National Park "Bardia" - the most large parklocated in the west of Nepal, in the heart of the Terai region. Its territory of 968 square kilometers stretches from the Churia hills covered with dry sandal forests to the slopes of the mountains with tall grasses of Bhabar.
More than 70% of the park's territory is covered with forest, shining in spring with the pink flowers of silk trees. The rest of the time, the impenetrable thickets of the jungle amaze with the riot of greenery of siris, khair, sisu, simala, karma, the foliage of which has various shades from gentle green to dark marsh. The remaining 30% of the terrain is a mixture of fields, savannas and shrubbery. More than 54 different species of mammals, 60 species of fish, 300 species of birds live here.
Due to its remoteness from civilization and mass hiking trails, Bardia National Park is less popular with tourists. But if you get here, you will find a truly wild forest in which you can see sika deer, barasing, fallow deer, barking and shaggy deer with thick sambhar horns and even a real Bengal tiger. And on the coast of the Geruva River, flowing through the park, there are freshwater dolphins, gavials and blunt-faced cresty crocodiles.
What sights of Chitwan did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate this or that place.
Lake Twenty Southend Lake
Lake Twenty Southend Lake is located in Nepal, 5 kilometers south of the city of Bharatpur. Despite its name, Twenty Southeast Lake is a single body of water. The lake got its name because of its complex shape, cut into many small bays.
The local area attracts many species of birds, so the lake and coastal areas are of great interest to bird watchers from all over the world. There are also a lot of crocodiles here, which is both a danger to travelers and an increased interest from lovers of these reptiles. The famous Chitwan National Park is located near the lake.
There are many termite mounds on the shores of the lake.
You can buy fresh fish from local residents, which they immediately catch in the lake.
The lake area is very popular as a cycling destination. You can come here with your bike, or rent it in Bharatpur. Narrow trails, combined with a unique forest scent and birdsong, is the perfect place for active rest Alone with nature.
The Parsa Nature Reserve is located in the southern part of the central region of Nepal, in the immediate vicinity of the Chitwan National Park and was established by the local authorities in 1984. Although in the past the park was not created for tourists who have chosen this place now, there are still no houses here, except for a small but very cozy guest house. If you came here on your own, here you can get advice and plan your stay in the reserve.
It should be noted that access to the Parsa reserve is open to absolutely everyone, so it is more than possible to visit this natural corner. Due to the natural properties of this place. namely the tropical climate, dense forests in the reserve are supported by the population of the wild elephant, tiger, leopard, sloth bear, gaur, blue bull and wild dog.
From time to time, adult tigers from Chitwan move here. Other common animals that have settled here are sambara and barking deer, wild pigs and monkeys, as well as striped hyenas, palm civets and jungle cats. Many species of snakes are found in the reserve, including king cobra, pythons, and rats, which are the main food of these cold-blooded ones. About 300 species of birds nest here. Common species include the giant hornbill, peacock, red birds, woodpeckers and flycatchers.
National Park "Makalu Barun"
Makalu Barun National Park - charming nature reserve in the eastern zone of the Himalayas, located in the vicinity of Nepal. They get to this pearl of pristine beauty by air from the capital of Nepal - Kathmandu to the city of Lukla. Hospitable aborigines warmly welcome foreign guests at any time of the year.
At an altitude of 1000 meters, the tropical forest zone begins, and even higher are the subtropics. The park is home to 40 types of bamboo, 15 different types of oaks, 48 \u200b\u200bvarieties of orchids and about 40 species of primroses bloom, and at an altitude of more than 2000 meters, there is a red rhododendron, which is the flower symbol of Nepal. One has only to inhale its aroma, as thoughts acquire mountain peace and purity.
A real treasure for ecotourism enthusiasts - virgin forests and a walk through the famous alpine meadows. This area is designated as a completely protected area, which has remained untouched since 1980. Here everyone will find an exciting and varied vacation to their liking. Rafting lovers will experience a real extreme, because the rivers flowing in the reserve are known for their rapids and steep descents. IN hiking or horseback riding in the park, tourists can enjoy the views of numerous lakes, rivers and waterfalls, see many Himalayan peaks, as well as wild animals: snow leopard, panda, leopard, and if you're lucky - and Asian golden cat.
The most popular attractions in Chitwan with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Chitwan on our website.
Area national park Chitwan is 932 km². Chitwan has a large number of picturesque rivers and small lakes. The climate is flat, milder and warmer than in other parts of Nepal.
The jungle-covered Chitwan Valley has always been famous for its abundance of wild animals. For many hundreds of years, malaria swamps have protected the animal world and minimized human encroachment on this territory. Between 1846 and 1951, the Rana dynasty of Nepal turned the area into a hunting ground. Royals and high-ranking dignitaries lived in comfortable cabins for several weeks, during which time they killed hundreds of tigers, rhinos, leopards and sloth bears. But hunting for animals was carried out occasionally, and the fines for poaching were quite serious (death for killing a rhino).
Until the late 1950s, the only inhabitants of the Chitwana Valley were the Tharu (a small ethnic group of Nepal) due to their natural immunity to malaria. In the 1950s, Nepal successfully implemented a malaria eradication program (carriers of the disease, malaria mosquitoes were destroyed with DDT). When the deadly disease ceased to threaten human life, landless peasants from the mountainous regions of the country rushed to the Chitwan Valley. After some time, huge tracts of forest were cut down for farming. With the disappearance of the habitual habitat, the inhabitants themselves disappeared. By the mid-1960s, there were fewer than 100 rhinos and 20 tigers in the area.
To prevent the complete extinction of animals, King Mahendra in 1973 declared Chitwan a royal reserve, and then turned it into the first Nepalese national park. 22,000 peasants were relocated from the park, and soldiers from the Nepalese army were brought in to combat poaching, after which the animal population gradually began to recover.
In 1984, the park was included in the list of UNESCO sites.
Sights of Chitwan National Park
The most famous landmark of the national park is the Indian rhino, which has survived only in Nepal and India. Chitwan is an ideal habitat for these critically endangered animals. Fewer than 3,000 Indian rhinos remain in the wild, most of which live in the Indian state of Assam. This is the largest animal in Asia after the elephant, the weight of some individuals reaches 2.5 tons, and their thick skin is difficult to pierce even with a bullet. Despite the protection of these animals by soldiers of the Nepalese army and severe punishment for harming them, the problem of poaching is still acute due to the high cost of various organs of this animal on the black market. By killing a rhinoceros and avoiding persecution, a poor Nepalese peasant immediately becomes a wealthy man. A kilogram of horn is valued at approximately $ 10,000 and is believed to have miraculous powers. It is believed that the horns of this animal help to enhance sexual feelings, droppings serve as a laxative, urine treats tuberculosis and asthma, blood helps to get rid of problems with the menstrual cycle, the animal's skin scares away evil spirits, and so on. Several decades ago, their number was reduced to less than 100, but since the establishment of the national park, the population of these rare animals has been increased to 400 units. The park is one of the few places in the world where they roam in relative safety.
Most visitors hope to see tigers, but few are lucky. Like most large predators, tigers sleep nearly 18 hours a day. Their night walks are hidden from humans, so seeing these animals is considered a great success. Today, approximately 100 Bengal tigers roam the territory of the national park.
British King George V together with his son Edward VIII visited Chitwan in 1911 and killed 39 tigers and 18 rhinos while hunting. In 1939, India's Governor-General Victor Hope visited the then Prime Minister of Nepal, Bahadur Rana. Noble dignitaries went hunting in the royal Chitwan Sanctuary, and during 20 days of hunting they killed 120 tigers, 38 rhinos, 25 leopards and 15 bears. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, approximately 100,000 tigers lived in the wild throughout most of Asia. Excessive hunting, driven by the demand for skins, has had disastrous consequences. Today, several thousand tigers remain, living in 7 percent of their original range. Hunting for tigers is banned all over the world, but they are not threatened with extinction, since about 20,000 of these animals live in zoos around the world.
Most popular tours in Chitwan
Elephant ride
Of the 14 national parks and reserves in Nepal, Chitwan is the most popular wildlife travel destination. Approximately $ 15, and the elephants in the park's care will take an hour and a half into the jungle. Elephant trekking tours are held twice a day - in the morning and at four in the afternoon. At peak tourist season there are long lines. The owners of expensive cottages in the park have their own elephants and offer their clients tours. Private elephant owners offer cheap excursions outside the national park, but the chances of seeing wildlife are slim.
Jeep safari
Jeep safari tours are very popular. They last approximately four hours and explore the outlying areas of the national park.
Canoe on Rapti River
Tourists are offered to take a canoe tour on the Rapti River, with the opportunity to see swamp crocodiles and gavial - rare view crocodiles. Chitwan has over 400 bird species and the canoe ride is especially attractive for bird lovers. For an hour, tourists canoe down the river, and then, together with a guide, walk back.
Brief information about the national park
- Chitwan National Park included in the list of sites World heritage UNESCO because of the importance of its biodiversity.
- Indian rhinos and Bengal tigers are the most famous animals in the park. Seeing a Bengal tiger on a safari tour is considered a great success.
- The park is home to about 50 species of mammals (wild boars, bears, deer, monkeys, antelopes) and more than 400 species of birds - one of the best places in the world for bird watching.
- The most expensive cottages in Chitwan are located in the national park. They have a swimming pool, cocktail bars, their own elephants, wildlife tours, and everything else, without electricity or hot water. Cheap hotels are located next to the national park in a village called Sauraha.
- It is recommended to visit the elephant breeding village, crocodile farm in the park.
When to go
The best time to visit the park is from October to March. The heat starts from April to early June, and during the monsoon season (June to mid-September) it rains for two to three hours a day. Most of the cottages are closed during the rainy season. In case of cloudless weather, a beautiful panorama of the Himalayas surrounding the valley opens (pictured).
There is also an elephant festival at the end of each year. The most interesting events of the festival are the elephant races and the elephant football teams match.
How to get there
Chitwan National Park can be reached in three ways:
- Daily scheduled flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur (the city of Bharatpur is located about 25 km from the park). The flight takes about half an hour.
- By buses from Kathmandu or Pokhara. The trip takes about seven hours from Kathmandu, six from Pokhara.
- Travel agencies on Thamel Street in Kathmandu can arrange rafting trips to the park. The Trisuli River cruise usually starts from Mugling town, 110 km from Kathmandu, and lasts two to three days.
Royal Chitwan National Park (Chitwan) - a national park in Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site number 284. Located 200 km from the capital Kathmandu.
Until 1973, the park was a favorite hunting ground for Nepalese kings. In 1973, it was declared a protected area, the first of the national parks of Nepal. The park is one of the few places in the world where wild animals can be observed in their natural habitat.
In 1984, the park was listed as a UNESCO site.
The park area is 932 sq. km., mostly covered with jungle. The park has a large number of picturesque rivers and small lakes.
The climate is flat, milder and warmer.
The park is open to tourists. Visitors usually live here in small bungalow huts or houses. Tours in the park are carried out by elephants or jeeps. Main tourist centre in the vicinity of the park - the village of Sauraha. The main attraction of the park is its wildlife. Rampage of the jungle and its inhabitants.
Tourists are invited to the park with the opportunity to see tigers in the wild, but as a rule few people see tigers, but deer, rhinos, and many birds are guaranteed! 
We left early in the morning
We bought a "ready-made tour" to the park in Pokhara. mk the cost of the tour was, in principle, equal in value independent trip there, but freed from all sorts of problems.
We chose a tour base, Tiger Camp and did not lose because this base has best location in the village of Sauraha. The road to Chitwan took us about 8 hours by bus from Pokhara. 
Upon arrival, we settled in and went to inspect the village. not far from our guest house there was a park museum, which is certainly interesting to visit for general information. 
Everything in Chitwan is conducive to relaxation!
In the evening we visited a local elephant breeding center.
From our guest house to the center we had to go by car and cross the river in a wobbly canoe.
On the way, we watched the leisurely life of local Nepalese 
Locals cross the river into a ford 
Locals 
On the way, we watched an elephant polo.
In the center, elephants are fed and monitored. As we were assured, these elephants do not participate in the work, and, in principle, are free, but of their own free will remain in the center because here they receive food and do not risk being offended wild elephantswho sort of drove them out of the pack.
Recently, two baby elephants were born in the center, which is very rare. 
In general, when you visit the center, you get the feeling of a dull tourist attraction, which it really is.
But this does not in any way diminish the beauty of these beautiful animals and the entire park as a whole!
They say there are many such centers in Thailand, although I have never visited any of them in 3 times. 
These are the trees that grow in Chitwan 
Crossing. Canoe very long made of solid wood 
Evening procession of elephants with tourists on the streets of Sourahi
We spent the rest of the evening in our hotel enjoying a delicious dinner right on the river bank
In the morning we had a fascinating tour of the park.
It consisted of several parts.
First a canoe trip on the river. Then trekking through the jungle, and at the end of everything we had to spend the night in the park itself in a specially designed hut!
Since I myself selected the tour in Pokhara, I tried to make it as non-standard as possible. We moved everywhere only as a widow + our guides, this is much better than with a huge group of tourists as it usually happens in the park!
We were supposed to leave at 7 am, but delayed for several hours due to heavy fog, other groups set off, I think they could not see anything! 
Soul Carrier 
Birds of Chitwan. Siberian ducks. They arrive in Nepal for the winter from the northeastern regions of Russia.
They know a lot about where to rest))) 
It was very interesting to see crocodiles in the wild. 
We were very lucky and we saw another crocodile. This is Gavial. It feeds on fish, has long, thin jaws with brittle teeth.
Locals call him vegetarian crocodile) 
We swam very close to him!
After a two-hour canoe trip, a walk in the jungle awaited us.
We moved in a group of 4 people Julia, me and 2 guides. We walked along a well-trodden path, sometimes turning into small paths in the jungle. We expected to see wild animals, but we were not lucky. As our guide said, sometimes they are sometimes not. In fact, it may be for the best, you don't always want to see an angry rhino on your way. We did manage to see some of them. We even saw rhinos, but they were feeding in the tall grass on the opposite bank of the river and we could only see their backs. It was a female with a calf, our guide said that if they saw us they wouldn’t attack us, the female always protects the calf. We also saw many wild monkeys and several deer. 
Forward into the jungle 
Wild monkeys 
We cross the river 
Nepalese jungle. it was not without processing! 
It was a little creepy to walk in this place, something was constantly moving in the grass,
we just expected to see a rhino on our way 
Bear footprints on a tree trunk. 
Wild bees 
In fact, we were not in the park at the very best season, our guide said that best time to visit it is the end of February and early March, when the locals mow the grass in the park, visibility becomes excellent and you can see all the animals grazing on the plains. They also said that they saw tigers in the immediate vicinity of our hotel during the rainy season. I really want to come to the park again and precisely during the rainy season. At this time, there are no tourists at all and the wild nature comes to life!
Chitwan Park is very large, but tourists are taken only along a small part of it in the vicinity of Sauraha, to see the real jungle you need to go on a hike for a few days or even weeks deep into the park! In the park itself there are tourist loggias, which at the time of our visit were closed, but as far as I know, the owners were able to negotiate with the government and they were allowed to work again, so tourists had the opportunity to spend time in the very depths of the park, although such a vacation is not cheap. our guide told us that a few days in such a place would cost $ 700 versus $ 70 in Saurah.
So, after walking in the jungle, we returned to our lodge, where we had a snack and met the sunset on the river bank!
We were to spend the night in the jungle in a special hut! 
The hut is located behind the village, in the so-called buffer zone of the park.
They explained to us that there are actually much more animals like rhinos and deer here than in the wild because they are fed here.
Indeed, from the hut, we saw a lot of deer, which unfortunately I could not photograph because of the poor lighting and the speed of their movement! 
The hut is built on stilts
We spent the evening in the company of our guide, who was talking about his life and local customs!
In the morning at dawn, an elephant drove behind us and we went for a walk in the dawn jungle! 
Photos very poorly convey the atmosphere 
A huge number of tourists are brought here, but early in the morning there is practically no one 
We were still lucky to see a rhinoceros, he was resting in the cool morning.
Rhinos are not afraid of elephants, and do not distinguish people on their backs, so you can get close to them relatively safely! 
It looks something like this 
When we arrived at the point of departure, it was already full of drivers and tourists.
Chitwan National Park is one of the most interesting places after the valley and the Himalayan. The park is located in the southern part of Nepal. Chitwan Nature Reserve is relatively young. The nature of the park is diverse and colorful, the same is its landscape. There is a tropical forest and shrubs, meadows and fields, tall grass savannas. There are many reservoirs around: mountain rivers, deep ponds and backwaters, and swamps.
Creature
Until 1950, Chitwan National Park was the hunting ground of the kings. For many years, the monarchs of Nepal have hunted big game - rhinos, elephants and tigers. In 1973, there were only 100 rhinos and 20 tigers in Chitwan. Hunting was prohibited, and then the first National Park in Nepal, Royal Chitwan, was founded. Today, Kings Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its biodiversity.
What to see?
This mysterious Nepalese region is fraught with a huge variety of fauna:
- 40 species of mammals;
- 45 species of reptiles and amphibians;
- 450 species of birds.
The best way to get to know the inhabitants of the jungle is from the back of an elephant. It is an indescribable feeling to look at everything from the height of a huge animal, slowly and measuredly swaying in time with its steps. The elephant smell interrupts the human one, so predators and herbivores continue to behave as if nothing had happened.
In Chitwan, you will see families of rhinoceroses taking mud baths or peacefully munching grass, buffalo while swimming. If you're lucky, you might even come across a royal Bengal tiger. You can also see a more bloodthirsty sight - a crocodile attacking a deer, which has lost its vigilance. Many birds live around - peacocks and kingfishers.
Things to do?
Most interesting entertainment in Chitwan Park:
Useful information
Travel costs in Chitwan are as follows:
- Rhino Lodge is located in the center of the village - $ 20 per room.
- Entry to - 1,500 rupees (just under $ 15).
- by river by canoe (40 minutes) and walking tour for 3 hours - 800 rupees (or $ 8), the same for the whole day - 2 times more expensive.
- Jeep safari (4 hours) - 1200 rupees ($ 12); all day with lunch on the way for two - 16,000 rupees ($ 155).
- Elephant trekking (2 hours) - 1300 rupees ($ 13).
- Excursion to the "kindergarten" elephants - 400 rupees ($ 4).
How to get there?
It is better to come to Chitwan National Park during the periods of March-May or September-December. A park not far from the capital of the country. You can get to Chitwan both independently, using the public one, and with an excursion from the capital or. The road from Kathmandu to Chitwan is asphalted, it takes 6-8 hours to reach tourist buses... The distance is about 150-200 km. Although it is small, part of the road runs along a mountain serpentine, so traffic jams are not uncommon here.
There are two types of buses in Nepal - Local Bus and Tourist Bus. The first one stops at every request and wave of the hand, so most tourists choose the Tourist Bus, the fare is 500 rupees ($ 5).
