Royal Chitwan National Park
Nepal's first and most famous national park
is situated in the Chitwan Doon or the lowlands
of the Inner Terai. Covering an area of 932
sq km. the park includes hilly areas of the
Siwalik Range covered by deciduous sal forest.
A fifth of the park is made up of the floodplains
of the Narayani, Rapti, and the Reu Rivers and
is covered by dense tall elephant grass interspersed
with riverine forests of silk cotton (kapok),
acacia and sisam trees. This ecologically diverse
area is the last remaining home in Nepal for
more than 300 of the endangered Asian one-horned
rhinoceros and harbours one of the largest populations
of the elusive and rare Royal Bengal tiger.
Besides rhino and tiger, Chitwan also supports
a great variety of flora and fauna. There are
four species of deer, including the spotted
chittal, leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, rhesus
monkey, grey langur monkey, wild dog, small
wild cats, the white stockinged gaur (the world's
largest wild cattle) and many other smaller
animals. The swampy areas and numerous oxbow
lakes of Chitwan provide a home for marsh crocodiles.
In a stretch of the Narayani river is found
one of the few remaining populations of the
rare and endangered fish?only eating gharial,
or Gangetic crocodile. Here also is found one
of the world's four species of freshwater dolphins.
For the ornithologist and the amateur bird
watcher the park offers excellent possibilities
with more than 450 species recorded. Some
of the resident specialities are several species
of woodpeckers, hornbills, Bengal florican,
and redheaded trogons. Winter birds such as
waterfowl, Brahminy duck, pintails and bareheaded
geese, amongst many other cold weather visitors
are drawn by the sanctuary of the park's rivers.
In the summer the forest is alive with nesting
migrants such as the fabulous paradise flycatcher,
the Indian pitta and parakeets.
Access : Chitwan is easily accessible from
Kathmandu, being well connected by a national
highway to Bharatpur and to Sauraha. There
are daily fights from October through May
to Meghauli airstrip just outside the park
boundary. Another exciting alternative is
a two to three day raft trip down the Trishuli
river to Narayanghat or directly into the
western edge of the park.
Visitors can stay in one of the several lodges
and camps inside or outside the park. Visitors
can actively participate in exciting stalks
through the forest looking for animals signs.
One unique Chitwan experience is elephant
back safaris in search of the one-horned rhinoceros,
leopard, deer, bear, monkey and crocodile.
Few visitors can ever forget the excitement
of crashing through 20 feet high elephant
grass and sightseeing wildlife. Apart from
elephant safaris, the traveller will be happily
occupied for several days with nature walks,
canoe rides down the park rivers, and land-over
drives through the forest.
