my story
Born in the Heart of Chitwan National Park
My name is Krishna Pariyar, founder of Jungle Safari Tours. I was born in 1981 in Sauraha, on the edge of Chitwan National Park, one of Asia’s most famous wildlife destinations.
When I was born, Chitwan was very different from today. The forest was untouched and incredibly rich with wildlife. Traditional Tharu Villages were small, natural, and environmentally friendly. Houses were built from grass, mud, and wood gathered from the forest. Villages were far apart—sometimes three to seven kilometers from one another—and homes were separated by open fields and dense jungle.
People lived in complete harmony with nature. Families depended on fishing, collecting wild vegetables, gathering firewood, and drinking water directly from rivers and wells. In many villages there was only one shared well for everyone. The local economy was based largely on barter. People exchanged food, tools, labor, and traditional skills rather than using money.
Every night, one member of each family stayed awake in simple wooden watchtowers to protect crops from wild animals such as one-horned rhinoceroses, deer, and sometimes wild elephants. During the day, villagers gathered what they needed from nature; during the night, wildlife visited the edges of the villages. Humans and animals shared the same landscape.
As a child, I watched travelers arrive in expedition vehicles with all their camping equipment. They swam in the rivers and slept on the sandy riverbanks under the stars. I loved playing with these visitors and listening to their stories. My father worked as a local jungle guide, and I often accompanied him into the forest. From him, I learned to read animal tracks, understand the behavior of wildlife, and respect the delicate balance between people and nature.
These childhood experiences shaped my life.
In March 2007, I founded Jungle Safari Tours to share the real Chitwan with visitors from around the world. Since then, I have dedicated my life to sustainable tourism, wildlife conservation, and community development.
Over the years, I have participated in:
- Tiger population counts
- Churia Hills ecological surveys
- Bird surveys
- Flood and river clean-up campaigns
- Community forest conservation programs
- Environmental awareness training for local residents and new guides
I also serve as a trainer, sharing my practical knowledge with newcomers to the tourism and conservation sectors.
Our business model is based on fairness and community empowerment. We work with a network of experienced local guides, and we share tourism opportunities so that many families benefit. This creates a true win-win system: travelers receive authentic, expert-guided experiences, and local communities earn directly without middlemen.
Every year, we allocate 10% of our profits to support skill-development programs and local capacity building.
Our long-term vision is to establish homestays in the homes of our guides, allowing guests to experience real village life while ensuring tourism income is distributed equally among local families.
At Jungle Safari Tours, we do more than organize safaris. We share a lifetime of knowledge, conservation experience, and a deep personal connection to the forests of Chitwan.
When you travel with us, you are not just visiting the jungle—you are exploring it with someone who was born and raised in its heart.