History

Chitwan or ‘Heart of the jungle’ is famous as one of the best wildlife-viewing parks in Asia and a classic example of the ‘Terai’ landscape. This dense jungle tract was declared a protected area in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. Formerly called the Royal Chitwan National Park, it was once a favorite hunting ground for the Nepalese royalty. The protected area stretches over 900 kilometers square of subtropical forest. Combined with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve on the East and the Valmiki Tiger reserve in India on its southern boundary, these contiguous forests span over 3000 kilometers square. The spectacular landscape of Chitwan with the mighty Himalayas as a backdrop and the lush green riverine jungles makes for one of the most exciting safari holiday destinations in the world. The park is famous for its success in conservation of the rare and endangered Greater One-horned Rhinoceros. It is a matter of great pride for the custodians of Chitwan that no rhinos or tigers have been poached here in the last few years. There are over 600 Rhinos in Chitwan, affording excellent sightings and photographic opportunities to visitors.