Bagmati Province · Nepal

Chitwan travel guide

Nepal's first national park, on the plains near the Indian border: one-horned rhinos, gharials, more than 500 bird species and, with luck, a tiger.

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Photo: Kedar Bhusal / Unsplash

Best time: October to March
How long: 2–3 days
Daily budget: ₹2,500–4,000 backpacking
Getting in: Bharatpur (BHR), or 5–7 hours by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara

Costs are typical per-person ranges in Indian rupees, reviewed September 2026. Nepal prices are in Nepali rupees, fixed at NPR 1.60 to ₹1. Check current prices and conditions before you book.

Chitwan's grasslands and sal forest are home to one of the largest populations of greater one-horned rhinos in the world. Most visitors stay in Sauraha, a small town on the Rapti River at the park's edge.

It's an easy stop between Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Indian border, and two nights is enough for a canoe trip, a jeep safari and a walk.

When to go

Best time to visit Chitwan

Oct–NovGood
Pleasant after the monsoon, but the elephant grass is tall and hides animals.
Dec–MarBest
Grass is cut from late January, so sightings improve. Mornings are foggy and cold; bring a warm layer for dawn safaris.
Apr–MayMixed
Very hot, often above 35°C, but animals gather at the water.
Jun–SepAvoid
Monsoon: flooding, leeches and limited access to the park.

Getting there

How to reach Chitwan

By air

Flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur take about 25 minutes; Sauraha is a 30-minute drive.

By road

Tourist buses from Kathmandu and Pokhara reach Sauraha in 5–7 hours. From the Indian border it's about 3–4 hours from Birgunj and 4–5 hours from Bhairahawa.

Budget

Chitwan trip cost per day

Typical daily cost per person in INR
Per day	Backpacker	Mid-range
Stay (Sauraha lodge)	₹700–1,500	₹3,000–6,000
Food	₹400–800	₹1,000–1,800
Park entry (per day, SAARC rate)	about ₹625	about ₹625
Safari, canoe or guided walk	₹1,500–3,000	₹3,500–7,000

Park entry is about NPR 1,000 a day for SAARC nationals, on top of activity costs. Lodges sell packages with meals, a canoe trip, a jeep safari and a Tharu dance show; booking activities yourself in Sauraha can be cheaper.

Itinerary

3-day Chitwan plan

1
Day 1: Sauraha and the Rapti
Arrive, watch the sunset over the Rapti River and visit a Tharu village, with a cultural dance in the evening.
2
Day 2: Canoe and jeep safari
A dawn dugout canoe on the Rapti for gharials, mugger crocodiles and birds, then a jeep safari into the park for rhinos, deer and, with luck, a tiger.
3
Day 3: Walk or birding, then onward
A guided jungle walk or birding around Bis Hajar Tal wetland, then continue to Pokhara, Kathmandu or the border.

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Don't miss

Top things to do in Chitwan

One-horned rhinos

Seen on most jeep safaris, and sometimes wandering into Sauraha.

Rapti River canoe

A quiet dawn float past gharials, crocodiles and kingfishers.

Tharu villages

Mud-walled homes, a small museum and stick-dance performances.

Birdlife

More than 500 species, best in winter and spring.

Kids and pets

Visiting Chitwan with kids or pets

With kids

Good with planning

Jeep safaris are long, hot and bumpy. A half-day trip suits younger children better than a full day.
Guides set minimum ages for jungle walks and canoe trips. Ask before you book, and expect younger children to be turned away from walks.
Use repellent and long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and plan indoor rest in the midday heat.

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With pets

Not recommended

Pets aren't allowed in the national park, and rhinos sometimes walk through Sauraha at night.
Heat, ticks and cross-border paperwork make Chitwan hard on dogs.
If you're travelling with a pet, see the rest of Nepal from Pokhara instead.

Pet and child policies vary by stay and operator and change often. Confirm before you book.

Local guides

Local guides in Chitwan

Reviewed by WanderTrail. Message them on the site without sharing your number.

Sandesh bhandari

Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan +5 · Nepal

English, Nepali, Hindi

Licence provided

$25 / day

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Before you go

Practical tips

Jungle walks: Walks go through rhino and tiger habitat on foot. Go only with licensed guides, usually two, and follow their instructions.
Elephant rides: Many travellers now skip elephant-back safaris over welfare concerns. Jeep safaris and canoe trips see just as much.
Heat and insects: Bring repellent, long sleeves and a hat. From April it's very hot by midday, so do activities early.

Questions

Chitwan FAQs

Will I see a tiger in Chitwan?

It's possible but rare. Rhinos, deer, crocodiles and birds are seen on most trips; a full-day jeep safari into the core gives the best tiger chances.

How many days do I need in Chitwan?

Two nights is enough for a canoe trip, a jeep safari and a Tharu village. Stay three for a full-day safari or birding.

Can I combine Chitwan with Pokhara and Kathmandu?

Yes. A 9–10 day loop of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan is the classic first Nepal trip, and Chitwan is close to the Birgunj and Bhairahawa borders.

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Bagmati Province

Quick facts