For a country known for its beautiful mountains, the
Gangetic flat lands of the Terai that stretches through out the southern part
of Nepalprovide a wholly different experience. (See the separate section on the Terai
for more details.) A visit to Nepalremains incomplete without seeing the beauty of the Terai.
And Chitwan is the best place to do so. The RoyalChitwanNational Park,
established in 1973, provides a great wildlife experience with its rich flora and
fauna –read further for more details. The wildlife and the landscape are not as
breathtaking as those found in Africa but still, the
experience will stand out.
Chitwan is only 150m above the sea level. The place gets
steamy from March-June, with peak temperatures reaching 43°C in the shade.
Short grass makes Feb-May the best game-viewing season, but the autumn months
are gorgeous, with Himalayan views, and in winter (December-January), Chitwan
is pleasantly warmed compared to Kathmandu. The monsoon
season (July-August) is intense, with pounding rain, swollen rivers, and
luxuriant vegetation. While the rain isn't constant, the humidity is all
pervasive.
Of Interest
Though one can visit neighboring Tharu villages in Chitwan,
the major interesting focus of Chitwan is still the exploration of the ChitwanNational Park.
Flora and Fauna
The flora and fauna of Chitwan makes it a great place for
nature lovers. Chitwan has over 50 different species of mammals, 400 different
species of birds, and 65 different types of butterflies in its hardwood Sal
forests, riverine vegetation, and "elephant grass" savannah. More
than 70 different species of grass grow here.
The most famous wildlife in Chitwan is perhaps the
single-horned Asian rhinoceros. A few decades ago, their number had fallen to
less than 100, but recent count puts them at 400. These animals have thick
armor like hide that is hard to penetrate even with a bullet.
A fully grown animal can be as tall as 180cm. In spite of
army protection for these animals and severe punishment for harming them, rhino
poaching is still a problem as every organ of the animal carries some (probably
superstitious) value. The horn fetches about US$10,000 per kilo and is believed
to be an aphrodisiac. The dung can be a laxative, the urine cures tuberculosis
and asthma. The blood can help cure menstrual problems. The hide keeps away
evil spirits. And so on.
Chitwan has about 150 Bengal tigers
left of the one time 3000 or so. Though poaching is a serious threat, the real
threat for these majestic animals is the gradual loss of its habitat. A male
tiger requires almost 60km space, and a female one requires a third of it.
Chitwan is simply not big enough to handle many tigers. It is rare for one to
actually see a tiger, though looking for one is an interesting part of the
trip.
Other wild mammals one may see are leopards, various types
of deer, monkeys, sloth bear, and antelope.
Exploring Chitwan
There are several ways to do this; and if you stay there two
to three days, as most tourists do, you can try them all out.
An elephant ride is the most popular way of exploring the
Chitwan jungle. For about US$15, the government elephants take you around the
jungle for an hour and half. There are two trips a day, one in the morning at
eight and another at four in the afternoon. During peak seasons, there are long
lines for tickets. Your lodge will normally get you one for a dollar or two
extra. If you are staying at the luxury lodges inside the Park itself, they
have their own elephants too. Note that, other than the elephants owned by
these lodges, only the government runs elephant services inside the Park.
Privately owned elephant rides (which go for cheaper rates) take you around the
outside of the Park, where the chances of game spotting are far less.
Jeep safaris are also very popular. For US$15, they take you
around for four hours. A great way to spot wildlife in areas further inside the
Park which are less trodden.
Canoeing along the Rapti river is another option. With some
luck you will get to see Gharial crocodiles, marsh muggers, and variety of
fish. With a lot of luck you may be able to see a Gangetic dolphin. The trip is
a paradise for birdwatchers with possible spotting of kingfishers, ospreys, and
egrets. Chitwan is known to have 400 species of birds. For less than US$3-US$5,
you can canoe downriver for about an hour, and take a three hour guided walk
back.
Jungle walks through the jungle is a good way to spot game.
Monkeys, birds and deer are assured; rhinos are less common (but not uncommon).
A guide is recommended, and you can hire one for $3 per day (or pro-rated for
shorter time). They can help you stay safe as well as point out interesting
things.
For those who want a more extended experience, and are there
for more than a couple of days, overnight jungle hike deeper into the jungle
can be rewarding. Most do a two night hike. Designated camping spots inside the
park cost US$5 per night. Guides cost US$6-US$8 for the trip. You may have to
rent your camping gear in Kathmandu, because there
aren't really any such facility in Sauraha itself.
Transportation
Air
There are regular daily flights to Bharatpur, about 25km
from the Park area, and to Meghauli (US$75). The flights take about half an
hour. One can easily get rides from the airports to the Park area. If you plan
to stay in one of the expensive resorts inside the Park, your flights to and
from Kathmandu will probably be included in your
package.
Land
Public buses go to Tadi from Kathmanduand Pokhara for about US$2 (twice the cost for more comfortable "tourist
buses"). The ride takes about seven hours from Kathmandu,
six from Pokhara. From Tadi, you will either have to cover the six kilometer
distance to Sauraha on an ox cart (takes two hours to cover the distance!) or
in a rented jeep for US$0.50. You can also rent a bike for about US$1 a day, or
walk. On the way you need to cross a river which can be waded across during
offseason, but during seasons with high water, local fishermen will ferry you
across in their dugout boats for a couple of cents.
There are some who take a car from Kathmandufor the trip for an outrageous roundtrip price of US$100 (plus or minus US$50,
depending upon your bargaining skills!). These are generally arranged by the
lodges themselves. You can ask around in Thamel in Kathmandu.
Another option is to rent a taxi in Kathmandu or Pokhara
for about US$75 or less for a two day roundtrip travel. Split among two or
three travellers, this can be reasonable.
River
Package organizers in Thamel will also arrange rafting trips
to Chitwan. The trip normally starts at Mugling, 110km out of Kathmanduon the Kathmandu-Pokhara-Chitwan road. The trip itself is an easy river cruise
that takes two or three days. The price ranges from US$30-US$75 per day. Before
you pay up, shop around, bargain, and ask a lot of questions about the details
of the arrangement.
Accommodation
The choices are of a wide range but, as usual, they fall in
two general categories: luxury and budget. The luxury hotels in Chitwan are
inside the Park itself. They cost about US$150-US$250 per person per night, and
provide you quite an exquisite experience. Swimming pool, cocktail bars, safari
ambience, organized game spotting trips, orientation by trained naturalists,
and all. You will love it if you have the money. These luxury hotels generally
package the whole tour for their price, including transportation to and from Kathmandu,
meals, park entry fees, daily activities, etc. You need to make your
reservations well in advance; if you are going to be there between November and
February, the busiest season, a 6-12 month advance booking will be necessary.
The budget hotels in Chitwan are all located just outside
the northern border of ChitwanNational
Park, in a village called Sauraha. Sauraha, in
the past few years, is quickly turning into another Thamel or Lakeside.
They range between US$3-US$15 per night; reservations are not necessary.
Competition is so intense among the dozens of hotels that bargaining is very
common. If you take the public bus to Tadi, touts who serve as agents to one of
these budget hotels will pounce on you, don't give in. Check the hotel out
yourself, and play one tout against another to get the best rate.
Some of the more upscale budget hotels in Sauraha also
organize three day packaged tours of the area for about US$75-US$150 from Kathmandu.
The price includes all basic expenses including transportation, accomodation,
meals, tours of the area, etc. You can obviously do the same for much less, but
if you want to go on these tours, the main tourist areas in Kathmanduand Pokahara have booking agents. Shop around, and bargain.
Dining
If you are staying in one of the luxury hotels inside the
park itself, they provide you with excellent western meals. Except for the
drinks and tips, the meals are normally included in your price.
Outside the Park, for those who stay in Sauraha, there are a
few decent dining places in the main market place. As Chitwan becomes more and
more popular among foreign visitors, more and more establishments are opening.
The restaurants here don't meet the standards of Kathmandu,
or even those of Pokhara, but they are manageable for a couple of days.
