7 Best Things To Do In Chitwan

If you are a travel enthusiast, you must have heard about Chitwan even if you haven’t been there. Chitwan is one of the 13 districts in province 3 of the central development region, Nepal. It is probably one of the most visited tourist destinations inside Nepal. Due to its religious and touristic importance, Chitwan attracts thousands of tourists from both overseas and from around Nepal. 

Furthermore, it is also a busy industrial area as it connects hilly and terai districts of Nepal as well as the border of India. Regarding the location of Chitwan, it is surrounded by Makawanpur and Parsa districts in the east and Nawalparasi and Tanahun districts in the west. Likewise, in the north of Chitwan lie Gorkha and Dhading districts while in the south are Vihar and Uttar Pradesh of India.

What is Chitwan famous for?

There are so many things that attract both domestic and international tourists to Chitwan. In fact, it would be an injustice to name just one. First and foremost, the district of Chitwan is famous for Chitwan National Park. In addition, there are numerous religious sites, historical places, tourist destinations, rivers, and business hubs.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park, which was established in 1973 as Royal Chitwan National Park, is the first national park of Nepal. Following the people’s revolution in 2006, it became Chitwan National Park. A year after its establishment, the national park gained the status of world heritage site in 1984. The area of Chitwan national park is 952 km2. It touches other districts of Makawanpur, Parsa, and Nawalparasi. On the basis of geography, it belongs to inner terai, and the altitude of this national park ranges from 110 m. to 850 m.

Distance of Chitwan District

The nearest border of Chitwan from Kathmandu is 97.7 kilometers. Moreover, the distance from Kathmandu to Chitwan national park is 158.6 kilometers whereas it is 149.7 kilometers from Pokhara. Likewise, Bharatpur is 148.7 kilometers from Kathmandu and 128.9 km. from Pokhara.

7 Best Things to Do in Chitwan

1. Jungle Safari

Jungle safari is one of the best things that you must not miss in Chitwan. Inside the Chitwan National Park, ride an elephant and go through the jungle passing by one-horned rhinos. If you prefer a vehicle instead of an animal for the ride, take a jeep ride and hit the road in the vast jungle. You will encounter rhinoceroses, deer, monkeys, a variety of birds - you name it. You can also walk inside the jungle but you need proper safety knowledge.

2. Elephant Bathing

Elephant bathing is an interesting activity that you can do in Chitwan National Park. Get splashed from trunks of the giant animal and have fun. Moreover, you can also wash the elephant in return. If you don't experience this inexpensive and joyous activity, you will surely regret your decision.

3. Boating

If you go on a jungle safari, it mostly involves riding a canoe for a short time. But if boating is your main purpose, you can do that both in Rapti river and Narayani river. You can also stop by for short jungle walks and observation of the wildlife from a close distance.

4. Tharu Culture Observation

In Tharu Culture House of Sauraha, you can watch a different variety of Tharu dance forms. They will astonish you with their peacock dance, stick dance, and many more. Watch the heart-touching performance by Tharu men and women. The melodious blend of Madal (a typical cylindrical Nepali drum) and stick will move you emotionally and take your breath away.

5. Elephant Breeding & Training Center Visit

We can easily guess that you wouldn't want to miss seeing one of the largest animals on the planet from a close distance. If that's true, visit Elephant Breeding & Training Center on the edge of Chitwan National Park. It is just 3 km, 10 minutes drive. You can see the arrival of wild elephants and their sexual intercourse with the tamed ones. During the summer, the center opens from 7 am to 10 am and from 3 pm to 4 pm. Likewise, it remains open from 8 am to 11 am and from 2 pm to 4 pm in the winter.

6. Ox Cart or Pony Ride

Ox cart or pony ride is yet another amazing activity that you wouldn't wanna miss out. It is a good way to explore the Tharu village in and around Sauraha. It is advisable to hire a local guide who can explain about Tharu culture and their history. Due to their environment-friendly nature, ox cart and pony ride are highly preferred in touristic areas of Chitwan.

7. 20 Thousand Lake Tour

20 Thousand Lake which is known as Bish Hajari Tal in Nepali is a renowned place for bird-watching. The lake which lies in the southern corner of Bharatpur also boasts a huge number of crocodiles. For that reason, Bish Hajari Tal is a must-visit place for reptile lovers as well.

Top Religious Sites for Visit While in Chitwan

1. Sashwat Dham

Sashwat Dham is one of the most talked about and visited religious sites in the entire Nepal. Located in Devachuli of Nawalparasi district, Sashwat Dham is a destination for all nature lovers, spiritual seekers and explorers to explore the ancient knowledge and experience mental peace and inner joy in a peaceful environment. Devotees visit this temple to get blessings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sri Kanchee Shankaracharya Jagadguru Jayendra Saraswati.

2. Maula Kalika

Maula Kalika temple is a popular Hindu temple of Goddess Kalika in Gaindakot of former Nawalparasi district. It is situated at an altitude of 561 meters above sea level in the north of Narayani river. You can see a crowd of devotees here in early morning to worship the goddess Kalika. It is believed that the goddess fulfills the wishes of people who visit Maula Kalika temple in Maula hill and worship out of pure devotion.

3. Bikram Baba Temple

Bikram Baba Temple, which was worshiped only by Tharu community in the beginning, has become a top destination for people with faith in different other religions. The holy temple of Bikram Baba is located under a tree across Rapti river in south of Jagatpur. This temple is believed to grant the wishes of childless parents if they worship with true devotion. Lately, the sacred place become a popular picnic destination among the youngsters as well.

4. Devghat Dham

Devghat in Chitwan is a place that most people wish their death to take place in. It is because those who breath their last in Devghat Dham supposedly go straight to heaven. Not just one but there are various temples in Devghat which are dedicated to different gods and goddesses. The major gathering in Devghat takes place on Makar Sankranti. This holy place is located at the confluence of big rivers: Trishuli and Kaligandaki.

Chitwan Altitude and Weather

In terms of elevation, the altitude of Chitwan district ranges from 144 meters to 1947 meters. Likewise, the lowest altitude of Chitwan national park is 110 meters while the highest altitude is 850 meters above sea level. In terms of weather, the climate of Chitwan district is subtropical. It receives an annual rainfall of 2,400 mm. The summer monsoon starts around mid-May and ends in late September during which 90% of the yearly rain falls. So, what is the temperature of Chitwan district? The highest recorded temperature of Chitwan is 37.9°C and the lowest is 6.70°C.