A greater one-horned rhino grazing in the sal forest of Chitwan National Park

Photo: Nirmal Dulal, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Bagmati Province, Nepal

Things to do in Chitwan

Nepal's wild Terai lowlands — a UNESCO-listed national park where jeep safaris track one-horned rhinos and tigers along the Rapti River from the village of Sauraha.

Chitwan is Nepal's most famous wildlife destination, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the steamy Terai lowlands. The riverside village of Sauraha is the main base, where lodges line the Rapti River and the grasslands beyond hide one-horned rhinos and Bengal tigers. If you're basing yourself in the village, start with our pick of the things to do in Sauraha.

It's a complete change of pace from the mountains: spend your days on a jeep safari in Chitwan National Park, drift down the river by dugout canoe, visit the elephant breeding centre, and catch a Tharu cultural show after dark. Below are our picks for where to stay and what to do.

Where to stay in Chitwan

Barahi Jungle Lodge

A riverside safari resort at Meghauli with a pool, full board and guided jungle activities.

The Best Jungle Lodges in Chitwan

Riverside resorts and friendly Sauraha stays beside the jungle — where to sleep in Chitwan.

How All-Inclusive Chitwan Lodges Work

How all-inclusive Chitwan lodges work — buffer-zone settings, full board, daily guided outings and who the model suits.

Chitwan Luxury Resorts

Premium full-board safari resorts with pools, private guides and riverside settings near Chitwan park.

Green Park Chitwan

A relaxed garden lodge in Sauraha with a pool, leafy grounds and easy safari access.

Meghauli & Western Chitwan Stays

Quiet, upmarket riverside lodges in Meghauli and western Chitwan, away from the Sauraha crowds.

Sauraha Budget Guesthouses

Cheap, friendly rooms in Sauraha village beside Chitwan — what to expect and how to choose a good one.

Where to Stay & Eat in Chitwan

Sauraha, jungle lodges, Meghauli resorts and where to eat and drink — Chitwan accommodation and dining by area and budget.

Where to eat in Chitwan

Where to Eat in Chitwan

Sauraha's riverside restaurants and rooftop cafes, Tharu set meals, dal bhat and lodge dining.

Adventure in Chitwan

Chitwan Cycling Tours

Explore Sauraha's Tharu villages, riverside and forest edges by bike — routes, hire and timing.

Boating in Chitwan

Canoeing the Rapti River

Drift down the Rapti in a dugout canoe past basking crocodiles and riverbank birdlife.

Rapti River Canoe Trip

A dawn dugout drift on the Rapti past basking crocodiles, kingfishers and riverbank wildlife.

What to do in Chitwan

The Best Things to Do in Chitwan

Jeep safaris, Rapti River canoeing and the elephant breeding centre — the best of Chitwan.

The Best Time to Visit Chitwan

October to March is best for cool weather and wildlife — here's what each season offers.

Bird Watching in Chitwan

With 500+ species, Chitwan is one of Asia's great birding spots — here's where and when to go.

Bishazari Tal (Twenty Thousand Lakes)

A Ramsar-listed oxbow lake and wetland of crocodiles and waterbirds near Bharatpur.

Chitwan Beyond the Safari

Bishazari Tal, Kasara HQ, Devghat, community forests, Rapti sunsets, cycling and family days near Chitwan.

Chitwan with Kids

A family guide to Chitwan: gentle wildlife, the elephant centre, easy canoes and a kid-friendly plan.

Devghat from Chitwan

Day trip to Devghat near Chitwan: the sacred Trishuli-Kali Gandaki confluence, temples and ashrams.

The Elephant Breeding Centre

Meet calves and mothers at the Khorsor elephant centre, a short walk from Sauraha.

Gharial Breeding Centre at Kasara

See endangered gharial crocodiles raised for release at the Kasara conservation centre.

Jungle Walk in Chitwan

Explore Chitwan's forest on foot with a licensed naturalist — closer to the wild, by the rules.

Kasara and Chitwan National Park Headquarters

The park headquarters at Kasara: visitor centre, gharial breeding centre and the old Kasara Durbar.

Rapti Riverside Sunset

The classic free Chitwan experience: sunset over the Rapti at Sauraha, with the best spots and timing.

Tharu Cultural Program in Chitwan

Watch the Tharu stick dance and folk music at an evening cultural show in Sauraha.

Tharu Culture in Chitwan

Village tours, the stick dance, Tharu food, homestays and heritage around Chitwan's Sauraha gateway.

Tharu Homestay in Chitwan

Stay with a Tharu family near Sauraha — home-cooked plains food, painted mud houses and village life.

Tharu Cultural Museum in Chitwan

A small museum at Bachhauli near Sauraha showing Tharu tools, dress and the heritage of the Terai.

Tharu Village Tour in Chitwan

Walk or cycle through Tharu farming villages near Sauraha — painted homes, grain stores and daily life.

Top Things to Do in Chitwan

Tharu dances, oxbow lakes, gharial crocodiles and birdwatching — Chitwan's best beyond the jeep safari.

Visiting Bishazari Tal (Twenty Thousand Lakes)

How to walk the Twenty Thousand Lakes wetland near Chitwan: timing, watchtower, birds and access.

Nightlife in Chitwan

Chitwan Nightlife & Bars

A relaxed, low-key evening scene in Sauraha — riverside bars, rooftops and the Tharu cultural show.

Wildlife & nature in Chitwan

Chitwan Bird Watching

With 500+ species, Chitwan is one of Asia's great birding spots — where, when and how to go.

Chitwan's Community Forests

Buffer-zone woodlands run by local user groups: guided walks, birds, rhinos and grassroots conservation.

Half-Day vs Full-Day Jeep Safari in Chitwan

Half-day or full-day jeep safari in Chitwan — what each route includes, how long it takes and which to book.

Which Chitwan Activities Suit You?

Chitwan's activities compared by effort, age and time — which suit families, non-walkers, birders and short stays.

Guided Jungle Walk in Chitwan

Explore Chitwan on foot with licensed naturalists — the most immersive and intimate safari option.

What You'll See on a Chitwan Safari

What a Chitwan safari reliably delivers — rhinos, deer and crocodiles — and why a tiger is a bonus.

Festivals & events in Chitwan

Tharu Cultural Show in Chitwan

An evening of Tharu music and the famous stick dance in Sauraha — Chitwan's best cultural night out.

Tharu Stick Dance in Chitwan

Lathi naach — the famous Tharu stick dance of the Terai, clashing sticks to fast drumbeats in Sauraha.

Nepali cuisine in Chitwan

Tharu Cuisine in Chitwan

Dhikri dumplings, ghonghi snail curry, river fish and wild greens — the plains food of Chitwan's Tharu.

Plan your trip in Chitwan

Chitwan Itinerary: 2 to 3 Days in the Jungle

A ready-made 2 to 3 day Chitwan plan combining safari, river, culture and wildlife.

Jeep vs Canoe vs Walking Safari in Chitwan

Jeep vs canoe vs walking safari in Chitwan — how to choose, what to wear and the ethics.

Where to Stay in Chitwan

Sauraha for convenience, inside-park lodges for wilderness, Meghauli for quiet — how to choose.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Chitwan from Kathmandu or Pokhara?+

Chitwan is roughly a 5–6 hour drive from either Kathmandu or Pokhara by tourist bus or private car. Short domestic flights to Bharatpur also connect Kathmandu to the park in about 25 minutes.

What animals can you see in Chitwan National Park?+

Chitwan is famous for one-horned rhinoceros, plus Bengal tigers, wild elephants, sloth bears, deer, gharial crocodiles and over 500 bird species. Rhinos and crocodiles are the most reliably spotted.

How many days do you need in Chitwan?+

Two nights is ideal — enough for a full-day jeep safari, a canoe trip on the Rapti River, the elephant breeding centre and a Tharu cultural show. Add a night if you want a deeper jungle experience.

Nearby destinations