History of Chitwan

The name "Chitwan" means "Heart of the Jungle" in Nepali. For centuries, this land in the Terai lowlands was home to the Tharu people, who had developed a natural immunity to malaria and lived sustainably within the forest ecosystem.

In the 19th century, the region became a royal hunting reserve for Nepal's Shah kings and their British guests. Tigers, rhinos, and crocodiles were hunted in staggering numbers. After Nepal opened to tourism in the 1950s, it became clear that conservation action was urgently needed.

In 1973, Chitwan was declared Nepal's first national park. In 1984, UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site. Today, Chitwan is celebrated as one of Asia's greatest conservation success stories — with rhino and tiger populations significantly recovered from historic lows.

The Tharu People

The Tharu are the indigenous inhabitants of the Terai forests. They lived here for thousands of years before the park was established, developing deep ecological knowledge, unique cultural traditions, and a way of life perfectly adapted to the jungle's rhythms. Our Tharu Village tours honour and support this remarkable community.

Walk Where Tigers Walk

Nothing compares to exploring the jungle on foot. No engine noise. No barriers. Just you, your guides, the forest floor, and whatever creatures choose to reveal themselves. This is the most authentic wildlife experience in Chitwan.

Your group will be led by a minimum of two trained naturalist guides — certified by Nepal's Department of National Parks. They read the jungle in real time: fresh footprints in the mud, a broken branch, a startled deer, the alarm call of a peacock — every sign tells a story.

Morning walks (starting around 6am) offer the highest chance of wildlife sightings. Afternoon walks (3pm start) are excellent for bird watching and golden hour photography.

What You Might Encounter

• One-Horned Rhinoceros — frequently seen near grassland edges
• Spotted Deer and Sambar in the sal forest
• Indian Peacock displaying in clearings
• Giant Hornbill, Kingfisher, and rare forest birds
• Tiger footprints, scrapes, and scat (tiger sightings are always possible)
• Crocodiles basking on river sandbanks
• Langur Monkeys and Rhesus Macaques in the canopy

Safety

All guides carry emergency communication equipment. Groups are kept small (maximum 8 people, split into two groups of 4). Our safety record over 18 years of guiding is impeccable. Your guides will brief you on safe wildlife behaviour before entering the park.

The Hunt for The Tiger

Our signature "Mission Tiger" jeep safari takes you deep into the core zones of Chitwan National Park, covering terrain that would take days to cover on foot. Open 4x4 vehicles give you 360-degree sightlines over grasslands and riverbanks where large mammals frequently appear.

Your guide will direct the driver toward fresh tiger territory based on daily intelligence from rangers and morning tracking reports. While tiger sightings are never guaranteed in the wild, our guides' deep knowledge of animal movements gives you the best possible chance.

The jeep safari is also outstanding for rhino sightings, wild elephant herds, and the park's extraordinary birdlife — including the endangered Bengal Florican.

Jeep Safari Includes

• Certified naturalist guide throughout
• Open-top 4x4 jeep for unobstructed viewing
• Grassland routes, river crossings, and forest tracks
• Optional stop at Crocodile Breeding Centre (extra fee)
• Morning and afternoon route options available

Crocodile Breeding Centre

The government-run Gharial Conservation and Breeding Centre near Kasara is a fascinating addition to your jeep safari. Gharial crocodiles — one of the world's most endangered reptiles — are bred here and released into the Narayani River. Ask your guide to include it in your route.

Glide Into the Heart of the River

A canoe safari on the Rapti River is unlike any other wildlife experience. Traditional dugout wooden canoes — the same style used by Tharu fishermen for generations — carry you silently through one of the park's most wildlife-rich corridors.

From your low vantage point on the water, you experience the jungle at riverbank level — exactly as the animals do. Marsh mugger crocodiles rest metres away on sandbanks. Gharial crocodiles hang motionless in the shallows. Kingfishers, herons, and storks fish alongside you. Rhinos sometimes wade into the river to cool down, just meters from your canoe.

The Rapti also forms the northern boundary of the park core zone — meaning wildlife on both banks is abundant and undisturbed.

What to Expect

• Traditional hand-carved dugout canoe, steered by experienced boatman
• Marsh mugger and gharial crocodile sightings almost guaranteed
• Outstanding bird watching: kingfishers, cormorants, egrets, storks, and more
• Possibility of rhino, elephant, and deer sightings on the riverbank
• Morning mist over the river creates extraordinary photographic conditions
• Silent experience — no engine noise, total immersion in nature

A Night Above the Wild Jungle

For centuries, farmers in Chitwan's villages slept in wooden watch towers to protect their crops from rhinos and elephants. Today, those same towers — in community forests and park extension areas — offer one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in Nepal.

As night falls, the jungle transforms. Deer move into clearings. Wild boar root through the undergrowth. On fortunate nights, you may hear the distant roar of a tiger or the crashing footsteps of an elephant herd. The sky, undiluted by light pollution, blazes with stars above the jungle canopy.

At dawn, the jungle wakes in layers — first insects, then birds, then the deer and peacocks emerging into morning light. Your guide will be with you throughout, explaining every sound and movement.

Important Notes

• Tower stays are only available in community forests and park extension zones — not inside the core park area
• Basic bedding and mosquito nets are provided
• Guide stays the night with your group
• Dinner and breakfast can be arranged with local homestay family nearby
• Best experienced October through March (cool nights, high wildlife activity)
• Not recommended for guests with significant mobility limitations

The Original Guardians of Chitwan

The Tharu people have lived in the Terai forests of Nepal for thousands of years. They developed a remarkable genetic adaptation to malaria that allowed them to inhabit regions other communities found uninhabitable. Their relationship with the jungle is ancient, intimate, and sustainable.

Traditional Tharu villages are characterized by long, low houses built from mud, straw, and bamboo — the same materials used for centuries. Intricate geometric patterns are painted on the walls. Family compounds are arranged around shared courtyards. The Tharu language, weaving traditions, stick dances, and ceremonies remain vibrant and alive.

Our village tour is led by a local Tharu guide who will share the real story of his community — including how the establishment of Chitwan National Park affected Tharu families who were relocated from their ancestral lands, and how the community has worked to find a sustainable relationship with the protected area.

What the Tour Includes

• Walk through a traditional Tharu village with local guide
• Visit family homes and see traditional mud architecture
• Learn about Tharu farming, fishing, and forest practices
• See traditional Tharu weaving and crafts demonstrations
• Optional evening: watch traditional Tharu stick dance performance
• Meet community members and hear their stories

The Most Authentic Night In Chitwan

You can stay in a resort with a swimming pool. Or you can stay in the home of a man whose father guided tourists through this jungle before there were roads. The choice says everything about the kind of traveller you are.

Our homestays are in the actual family homes of our local guides — situated in traditional villages on the edge of Chitwan National Park. Simple, clean rooms. Fresh home-cooked Nepali meals. Evenings spent talking around a fire with your host family. Mornings that start with birdsong, strong tea, and a walk into the jungle before the rest of the world wakes up.

This is how Krishna and his family grew up — and this is what they invite you to share.

Homestay Package Includes

• One private room (double or twin available)
• Two breakfasts
• One lunch
• One dinner
• Evening conversation with host family
• Optional morning walk in community forest
• Transport to/from safari starting point

Our Future Plan

We are expanding our homestay network so that every local guide in our team has a properly equipped guest room in their home. Our goal is that within the next few years, tourists can choose to stay with any of our guides, distributing income equally across the community.