Chitwan National Park, National park and World Heritage Site in central Nepal
Chitwan is a protected area in the southern lowlands that stretches across several districts, covering forests, grasslands, and floodplains between two major rivers. The landscape shifts from dense jungle to open meadows, through which elephants, rhinos, and numerous bird species move.
The area served as a hunting ground for the royal family until the early 1970s, when it was declared the country's first national park. Since then, conservation efforts have helped increase the number of greater one-horned rhinos and other threatened animals.
Tharu communities in villages around the reserve still perform traditional dances and songs during festivals. Many families craft items from natural materials, which visitors can discover in small workshops and markets.
Travelers reach the reserve most easily through Bharatpur, from where lodges and accommodations in different price ranges lie near the edge of the protected area. Safaris on elephant back or in jeeps, as well as canoe trips, usually start early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
In special breeding stations, biologists work on raising gharials, whose long narrow snouts are easy to distinguish from other crocodiles. The facilities also care for injured vultures and rare turtle species, which visitors can observe during guided tours.
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