National park · Nepal
Chitwan National Parkचितवन राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज
Give Chitwan two nights from Sauraha: one full-day jungle walk with canoe (about Rs 4,300–10,000 per person with permit), one jeep or canoe morning, and go in March–April for short grass or October–February for cool, clear mornings.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
932 km²360 sq mi
approximate
Established
1973
Best months
Oct–Apr
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
At a glance
- Country
- Nepal
- Area
- 932 km²360 sq mi
- Core park area; the buffer zone and the adjoining Parsa reserve add more (check).
- Established
- 1973
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
Chitwan is Nepal's first national park and its best wildlife stop: 932 km² of sal forest, tall grassland and river floodplain on the Rapti, Reu and Narayani rivers, plus the Churia hills rising in the south. Rhinos are the reliable big animal; tigers are rare and most visitors never see one. You cannot walk in alone — a permit and at least two guides are required, everyone leaves at sunset, and there is no accommodation inside the park. Almost everyone sleeps in Sauraha and enters by canoe across the river, since the bridges near town are gone.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1984Natural World Heritage site.
- Ramsar wetlandBeeshazar Tal and other Ramsar-listed wetlands in the buffer zone (check).
Size and age
932 km²360 sq mi · national park since 1973
Core park area; the buffer zone and the adjoining Parsa reserve add more (check).
Why go
- One of the few places in Asia where you can walk, not just drive, through rhino habitat with a guide.
- More than 540 bird species recorded, plus gharial and mugger crocodiles on the Rapti.
- A short, easy add-on to a Kathmandu–Pokhara route: bus connections from both.
- Tharu villages, the Gharial Breeding Centre and Bikram Baba sit at the edge of the park.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunAvoid
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, clear, dry; good walking
- FebDry; grass still tall
- MarHotter; grass cut, best sightings
- AprShort grass, best wildlife odds; 35°C+Short grass, best wildlife odds; 95°F+
- MayVery hot and humid before the rains
- JunMonsoon; trails flooded, leeches
- JulMonsoon peak; many activities suspended
- AugMonsoon; park roads cut
- SepRains ending; mud and mosquitoes
- OctClear, green, comfortable
- NovDry and mild; peak season
- DecCool mornings, fog at dawn
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater one-horned rhinoOct–May · The realistic big sighting; best in March–April when the grass is short. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Bengal tigerNov–Apr · Very rare; a guide may glimpse one once or twice a year. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Gharial and mugger crocodilesOct–May · Common on canoe trips. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds (540+ species)Nov–Mar · Winter is best; migrants join residents. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Leeches and mosquitoesJun–Sep · Monsoon months; long trousers and repellent. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Kathmandu
Tourist bus to Sauraha, then walk or take an e-rickshaw to the river crossing.
5–6 h
Open the page →
From Pokhara
Bus to Sauraha via the Prithvi Highway and Mugling.
4–5 h
Open the page →
From Bharatpur airport
Nearest airport, about 10 km from Sauraha; taxi onward.Nearest airport, about 6.2 mi from Sauraha; taxi onward.
20–30 min
From Western Tarai plan
How Chitwan fits with Bardiya, Lumbini and the Indian border at Sonauli.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Sauraha and the Rapti crossing | The main tourist village, agencies, hotels and the canoe point into the park. | Open; cross by dugout canoe, no bridge. |
| Core park (sal forest and grassland) | The wildlife area between the Rapti, Reu and Narayani rivers. | Permit and two guides; out by sunset. |
| Kasara and the Gharial Breeding Centre | Park headquarters sector, about 1 km from the breeding centre.Park headquarters sector, about 0.6 mi from the breeding centre. | Reached on full-day walks and jeep routes. |
| Churia and Someshwor hills | Higher, rougher ground in the south and west of the park. | Guided trips only; rarely visited. |
| Buffer zone and Community Forest | Villages, camps and viewing towers across the river. | Open; where overnight trips sleep. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry permit (per day) | NPR 2,000 | person | 2026 estimate; higher for the core zone in some seasons — check at the counter. |
| Guided jungle walk, half or full day | NPR 4,300–10,000 | person | 2018 prices; usually includes permit, varies with group size and meals. |
| Canoe on the Rapti | NPR 800–1,500 | person | 2018 prices; permit extra. Tip the boatman. |
| Jeep safari, half day | NPR 1,500 | person | 2018 price; permit extra. Full day usually needs a whole-jeep charter. |
| Elephant ride, one hour | NPR 2,500 | person | 2018 price. Many agencies refuse to book these; see the rules. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Guides permit or guide
Overnight in the buffer zone permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- A permit and at least two guides are required for anyone entering the park, even one visitor.
- Sunset curfew
- Everyone must leave the park at sunset; there is no accommodation inside.
- Elephant rides
- Several agencies refuse to book them on animal-welfare grounds; if you ride, expect around Rs 2,500 an hour (2018).
- Dress and kit
- Dull, earthy colours; long sleeves and trousers; 2 L of water per person per day; DEET repellent for ticks and mosquitoes.
- Litter and noise
- Carry out everything; no drinking establishments exist inside the park.
Where to stay
Near the park
Sauraha
Where almost everyone sleeps: hotels and guesthouses of every level, agencies and restaurants.
Near the park
Buffer-zone camps and viewing towers
Across the river from the park; used on two-day walks and overnight excursions.
Near the park
Meghauli and the western edge
Quieter riverside lodges and retreats near the Narayani, further from the Sauraha crowds.
Safety
Wildlife at close range medium
Heat and humidity medium
Monsoon flooding high
Ticks and mosquitoes medium
Overpromised tours low
Accessibility
- Sauraha's main street, hotels and the canoe point are reachable by vehicle with short walks.
- Jungle walks and jeep safaris involve rough ground, steps into canoes and long periods standing or sitting in a vehicle; not suitable for limited mobility.
- Ask hotels in Sauraha about ground-floor rooms and vehicle access before booking.
Visiting lightly
- Skip elephant rides; choose the ethical alternatives that let elephants range freely.
- Hire local Tharu guides and stay in Sauraha or buffer-zone villages so the park's neighbours earn from it.
- Take all rubbish out, keep to guided routes, and do not buy wildlife products.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Chitwan National Park?
The park entry permit is about Rs 2,000 per person per day (2026 estimate; check the current rate at the counter). It is usually bundled into guided packages: a half or full-day jungle walk ran about Rs 4,300–10,000 per person including the permit in 2018, a half-day jeep safari about Rs 1,500 plus permit, and a Rapti canoe about Rs 800–1,500 plus permit.
What are the best hikes in Chitwan National Park?
There are no marked public trails — every walk is guided. The standard routes are the half-day walk (4 hours, 7:00 or 13:00 from Sauraha), the full-day walk with a canoe stage (7:00–17:00, 10–15 km on jeep tracks and riverbank), and the two-day walk that sleeps in a buffer-zone village and returns by bus or jeep. A permit and at least two guides are required.
When is the best time to visit Chitwan National Park?
October to February for cool, dry, clear conditions, and March to April for the best wildlife odds because the elephant grass is short — though April is already 35°C and humid. Avoid June to September: monsoon floods cut trails and park roads and many activities stop.
Can I stay inside Chitwan National Park?
No. There has been no accommodation inside the park since 2018 and visitors must leave at sunset. Overnight trips sleep in the buffer zone or Community Forest across the river; most people stay in Sauraha.
Will I see a tiger?
Probably not. Rhinos are the realistic big sighting; tigers are rare and a guide may only glimpse one once or twice a year. Guides are blunt that this is not a zoo — plan several excursions over two or three days to improve your odds.
How do I get to Chitwan from Kathmandu or Pokhara?
Tourist buses run to Sauraha from Kathmandu in about 5–6 hours and from Pokhara in about 4–5 hours. Bharatpur airport is the nearest, about 10 km away. From Sauraha you cross the Rapti by dugout canoe to enter the park, as the bridges near town are gone.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go