Chitwan National Park – A Treasure Of Natural Wonders
The Royal Chitwan National Park is located on a river valley basin in South-central Nepal. Situated at a height of between 150 and 815 meters above sea level, it spans 932 square kilometers. On the western side of the Park lie the Someshwar Hills, while it shares the boundary with Parsa Wildlife Reserve on the east. It derives its name from ‘Chituwa Ban’, which literally means ‘Leopard Forest. The National Park is a paradise of rich wildlife and was designated as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. This park is considered as the third biggest attraction Nepal and is praised globally for its strict preservation of the country’s stunning subtropical flora and fauna.
This National Park dwells right in the heart of Gangetic Plain layered with indigenous Sal Forests as well as the verdant swathe of vines, creepers and so much more. The park comprises of more than fifty kinds of grasses. Even the otherwise rare Elephant Grass is found in abundance in this part of the country. In addition, the National Park contains around 500 species of birds, 50 mammals and 55 amphibians/reptiles. Once you’ve entered the park, it is hard to resist the temptation of undertaking an Elephant safari, which brings you face to face with animals like the ferocious Bengal Tiger and the one-horned Rhino.
Royal Chitwan National Park is also a safe habitat for reptiles including Golden Monitor, Cobra, Viper, Green Pit, Gharial, Python and Crocodile. Bird lovers too, are sure to have a great time here by gazing at the various species of birds which migrate from Siberia during winters. Although the monsoon rains lead to lush green vegetation, most of the trees grow during late winter. The Palash tree, which is known as the “flame of the forest”, is sure to attract your attention even from a large distance owing to its size and majestic beauty.
Royal Chitwan National Park boasts of stunning topography and an amazingly diverse wildlife which attracts nature lovers from all parts of the globe. It provides them with a great opportunity to be in the company of some of the rarest species of endangered animals and birds. The capital city of Kathmandu enjoys the best connectivity to the National Park. If you plan to travel by road and do some sightseeing along the way, you catch a bus or taxi and head straight to the town of Bharatpur, located 10 kilometers away from the park.