Chitwan National Park is the first national park of Nepal . Formerly called Royal Chitwan National Park it was established in 1973 and granted the status of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984. It covers an area of 932 km2 (360 sq mi) and is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal in the Chitwan District. In altitude it ranges from about 100 m (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 m.Since the end of the 19th century Chitwan - Heart of the Jungle – used to be a favorite hunting ground for Nepal’s ruling class during the winter seasons.
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Hotels and lodges operating inside Chitwan National Park had to close in July 2012 as the government did not renew licenses and land rental agreements.There are around 350–400 hotels outside the national park, which conduct around 800 elephant rides for the tourists. All of the lodges offer almost the same programs with elephant and jeep safari, rafting tours and guided jungle walks.
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In 1950, Chitwan’s forest and grasslands extended over more than 2,600 km2 (1,000 sq mi) and was home to about 800 rhinos.
By the end of the 1960, 70% of Chitwan jungles were cleared using DDT thousands of people had settled there, and only 95 rhinos remained. The dramatic decline of the rhino population and the extent of poaching prompted the government to institute the Gaida Gasti – a rhino reconnaissance patrol of 130 armed men and a network of guard posts all over Chitwan. To prevent the extinction of rhinos the Chitwan National Park was gazetted in December 1970, with borders delineated the following year and established in 1973, initially encompassing an area of 544 km2 (210 sq mi).
In 1977, the park was enlarged to its present area of 932 km2 (360 sq mi). In 1997, a buffer zone of 766.1 km2 (295.8 sq mi) was added to the north and west of the Narayani-Rapti river system, and between the south-eastern boundary of the park and the international border to India.
Chitwan National Park is one of Nepal’s most popular tourist destinations after Kathmandu valley and Pokhara. In 1989 more than 31,000 people visited the park, and ten years later already more than 77,000 have visited.
Hotels and lodges operating inside Chitwan National Park had to close in July 2012 as the government did not renew licenses and land rental agreements.There are around 350–400 hotels outside the national park, which conduct around 800 elephant rides for the tourists. All of the lodges offer almost the same programs with elephant and jeep safari, rafting tours and guided jungle walks.
On the edge of the national park Sauraha is a well-known spot for tourists. Accessible from the nearby Bharatpur Airport after 25 minutes of flight from Kathmandu, Sauraha offers a choice of hotels, lodges, restaurants into the protected area. Chitwan National Park very rich in Flora and Fauna. Chitwan National Park is a home of around 400 One horned Rhinoceros, 100 Royal Bengal Tigers, Sloth Beer, Leopard, Chitta, Wild Buffalo (Bisen) Monkeys, Fox, Jackles, four different kinds of deer as Hog Deer, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer and the biggest Sambhar Deer and many more mammals. There are two kinds of crocodiles as Marsh Magar & Gharial. About 500 species of birds are found in this park with some exotic butterflies. The park is full from 70% Sal tree, 20 % grassland and 10% riverine of mixed forest. Most of the tourists come in this park with the 2nights/ 3 days packages to 4 nights/ 5 days packages from Kathmandu by Bus or flight to Bharatpur.
