Wildlife · Sauraha
Gharial & Crocodile Breeding Centre, Chitwan
Meet Nepal's critically endangered gharial at the Kasara breeding centre near Sauraha.
The Gharial Breeding Centre at Kasara, the headquarters of Chitwan National Park, is one of Nepal's most important reptile conservation projects and a fascinating stop on a safari from Sauraha. The gharial is a critically endangered, fish-eating crocodile with a distinctive long, narrow snout, and decades of habitat loss and river change pushed it to the brink. At the centre, eggs are collected from riverbanks, hatched and the young raised in protected pools before being released into the Rapti and Narayani rivers — a programme that has helped keep the species alive in Nepal.
What you'll see
Rows of pens hold gharials of every age, from tiny hatchlings to larger juveniles waiting for release, often alongside mugger crocodiles for comparison. It is the easiest place in Nepal to study the difference between the slender, fish-eating gharial and the broad-snouted mugger up close — there is more in our national gharial crocodile guide. Kasara also has a small visitor centre and museum with displays on the park's wildlife and conservation work.
Getting there and timing
The centre sits deep inside the park at Kasara, so it is almost always visited as part of a full-day jeep safari rather than as a standalone trip. The drive, a national park permit and a licensed guide are arranged by your lodge or operator. A full-day safari typically reaches Kasara around midday, making the centre and its museum a natural lunch and stretch stop.
Good to know
- You will need a full-day safari to reach it; a half-day jeep stays in the northern sector near Sauraha.
- Bring water, sun protection and a camera — midday light is harsh, so shade your lens.
- Keep behind the barriers and follow your guide's instructions at all times.
- Combine it in your mind with the elephant breeding centre as Sauraha's two great conservation visits.
The gharial centre is a highlight of the Chitwan safari from Sauraha collection and a meaningful add-on to the Chitwan jeep safari from Sauraha. See it among the village's attractions in top things to do in Sauraha, read more in Nepal's national parks and wildlife, and plan from the Sauraha travel guide.
Featured in
More wildlife & nature in Sauraha
Frequently asked questions
What is the gharial breeding centre in Chitwan?+
It is a conservation hatchery at Kasara, the park headquarters inside Chitwan National Park, that breeds the critically endangered gharial crocodile. Eggs are collected from riverbanks, hatched and the young raised in safety before being released into the Rapti and Narayani rivers.
How do you get to the gharial breeding centre from Sauraha?+
It sits at Kasara, deep inside the park, so it is usually visited as part of a full-day jeep safari from Sauraha rather than on its own. The drive and a national park permit with a licensed guide are arranged by your lodge or operator.
What is the difference between a gharial and a mugger crocodile?+
The gharial is a slender, fish-eating crocodilian with a long, narrow snout and, in males, a bulbous growth on the tip. The mugger is a broad-snouted, more generalist crocodile. Both are found in Chitwan's rivers, but the gharial is far rarer.
Is there anything else to see at Kasara?+
Yes. Kasara is the park headquarters and also has a small visitor centre and museum with displays on Chitwan's wildlife and conservation, plus a viewpoint over the river. It makes a natural lunch and stretch stop on a full-day safari.
