Owing to its rich adornment of nature, Chitwan National Park was declared UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1979. The park that includes in its area a part of the Shivalik hills, is covered with deciduous forests overlooking the floodplains of Narayani, Rapti and Reu rivers and offering a wilderness of rich ecosystem that includes mammals, birds, reptiles and water animals of several kinds. There are around 600 plat species, 50 mammals, 526 birds and 49 amphibians reptiles found in the park. The highlights, of course, are the 500 Asian one-horned rhinoceros and some 100 nocturnal Royal Bengal tigers that live in the dense forests of the park. Sharing home with these are other animals like rhesus monkey, grey langur, deer, leopards, white stockinged gaur, wild boar, wild dogs and wild cats. Among reptiles are different kinds of snakes including the python, while the river areas breed amphibians like the endangered snouted gharial popularly known as Gangetic Crocodile and marsh crocodiles. The forest is alive during summer with the arrival of migrant birds paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta and parakeets, while winter birds include waterfowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, bar-headed geese, cormorants and migratory birds from Siberia. Other bird varieties are woodpeckers, hornbills, peacocks, peahens, floricans and redheaded trogons. A rare attraction of the park is the world’s fresh water dolphin variety sometimes seen in River Narayani. Another factor adding a distinct touch to the Chitwan experience is the colorful Tharu culture. There are also sites of religious and historical importance at Devghat, Pandavnagar, Balmiki Ashram and Kabilaspur.

Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, boat ride, jeep drive
Accommodation: Resort hotels and lodges
Access: The park headquarters at Kasara is a 21 km drive Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu
Best Season: Oct-Feb (average temperature 25 degrees Celsius); Mar-Jun (hot, up to 43 degrees Celsius), Jul-Sep (rainy)
Park Headquarter: Kasara