Chitwan National Park

Chitwan — 'heart of the jungle' — lies in the inner Tarai, a valley between the low Chure hills and the higher Mahabharat range. Its forests, grasslands and oxbow lakes along the Rapti and Narayani rivers form one of the finest wildlife habitats in Asia.

From hunting ground to national park

For centuries malaria kept Chitwan thinly settled, home mainly to Tharu, Bote, Musahar, Darai and Kumal communities. Rana rulers and visiting royalty used it for great hunts. After malaria was brought under control in the 1950s, settlers arrived, forests were cleared and the rhino population collapsed. In 1973 Chitwan became Nepal's first national park, and in 1984 a World Heritage Site. With army protection and community buffer zones, rhinos and tigers have made a remarkable recovery.

Wildlife

The greater one-horned rhinoceros is the star: Chitwan holds most of Nepal's rhinos, and sightings from a jeep or canoe are common. Bengal tigers are present but elusive. Look also for gaur, sloth bear, leopard, four kinds of deer, wild elephants, the rare gharial (a slender-snouted crocodile) and the mugger crocodile. Birders can see hornbills, kingfishers, peafowl and many migrants in winter.

How to explore

Jeep safaris cover the most ground; dugout canoe trips on the Rapti are quiet and good for birds and crocodiles; guided jungle walks are thrilling but must be done only with licensed guides. Visit the gharial breeding centre at Kasara and the elephant breeding centre near Sauraha. Elephant-back rides are still offered by some operators but are increasingly questioned on animal-welfare grounds.

Where to stay

Sauraha, on the park's north-eastern edge, has the widest range of lodges and Tharu cultural shows. Meghauli and the Amaltari community homestay on the western side are quieter. Bishazari Tal, a Ramsar-listed lake system, lies in the buffer zone south of Bharatpur.

Safety

Rhinos, elephants and sloth bears injure people every year. Keep to paths, follow your guide, and never approach wildlife on foot.