Chitwan National Park: Stands today as a successful testimony of nature conservation in south Asia. This is the first national park of Nepal established in 1973 to preserve a unique ecosystem significantly valuable to the whole world. The park covering a pristine area of 932 sq km. is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of southern central part of Nepal. The park has gained much wider recognition in the world when UNESCO included this area in the list of world Heritages Site in 1984.

Features:

Formally, the Chitwan valley was well known for big game and was exclusively managed as a hunting reserve for the Rana Prime Minister and their guests until 1950. In 1963, the area south of Rapti was demarcated as a rhinoceros Sanctury. In 1970, HIS LATE Majesty King Mahendra had approved in principle the creation of Royal Chitwan National Park.

The Park consists of Churia hills, Ox-bow lakes, flood plains of Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rrivers. The Churia Hill raises gradually towards the east from 150 m to over 800 meters. The lower but most ruged Someshwor hill occupy most of the Western protion of the park. The flood plains of Chitwan are rich alluvial. The park boundaries have been delineated by the Narayani and Rapti rivers in the north and west, and the Reu river and Someshwir hills in the south and south –west. It shares its eastern border with Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

The Chitwan valley is characterized by tropical to subtropical forest. 70 % of park vegetation is predominantly sal (Shorea robusta) forest, a moist deciduous climax vegetation type of the Tarai  region. The remaining vegetations types include grassland 20 %, Riverine forest (7 %), and Sal with chirpine (Pinus roxburghii 3 %), the latter occurring at the top of the Churia range. The riverine forest mainly consists of Khair , sissoo and Simal. The Simal is with spiny bark when young and develops buttress at the bottom in older stage. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The sacchrum species, often called elephant – grass can reach 8 m in height. The shorter grasses such as; imperata is useful for thatch roofs.

  
There are more than 43 species of mammals in the park. The park is specially renowned for the protection of the endangered one –horned rhinoceroses, tiger, gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animals. The estimate population of endangered species of animals such as gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, gangentic dolphin, monitor lizard and python, etc.



Some of the other animals found in the park are Samber, chital, hog deer, barking dear, sloth bear, common leopard, rates, palm, civet, wild dog, longer, rhesus monkey, and etc.

There are over 450 species of birds in the park. Among the endangered birds found in the park are Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser, kingfishers, fly-catcher, and wood pickers. The best time for bird watching is March and December.
More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles occur in the park and some of which are marsh mugger crocodile, cobra, green pit viper, and various species of frogs and tortoises.

The park is actively engaged in the scientific studies of several species of wild flora and fauna. The park is under the tropical monsoon climate with relatively humidity in summer. Autumn, Winter, Spring, Monsoon are the main seasons. The cool winter season occurs from 15 Dec – 15 Feb, the spring begins in March, the summer begins in May, and Monsoon begins in July,

Park facilities:

• Display center Kasara.
• Library at Kasara, Sauraha.
• Visitor Center, Sauraha.
• Machan (view tower).

Jungle activities:

• Elephant ride.
• Canoeing rip
• Guided jungle walk and village visit.
• Ethnic culture show
• Elephant Breeding Center
• Jeep drive except in Monsoon.

Guideline:

• Flora and fauna are fully protected and must not be disturbed.
• Camping inside the park except in designated areas is strictly prohibited.
• Movement inside the park before sunrise and after sunset is prohibited