The following information about Chitwan taken from the Maruni Sanctuary Lodge:
Chitwan National Park
Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) has long been one of the country’s treasures of natural wonders. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq/km in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. The area comprising the Tikauli forest - from Rapti river to the foothills of the Mahabharat - extending over an area of 175 sq/km was declared Mahendra Mriga Kunj (Mahendra Deer Park) by the late King Mahendra in 1959. In 1963, the area south of Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. The area was gazetted as the country’s first national park in 1973. Recognizing its unique ecosystems of international significance, UNESCO declared RCNP a World Heritage Site in 1984.
In 1996, an area of 750 sq/ km surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone which consists of forests and private lands. The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the buffer zone. His Majesty’s Government has made a provision of plowing back 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development in the buffer zone.
Climate
Conditions are subtropical with a summer monsoon from mid-June to late-September, and a relatively dry winter. Mean annual rainfall is 2400mm with about 90% falling in the monsoon from June to September. Monsoon rains cause dramatic floods and changes in the character and courses of rivers. Temperatures are highest (maximum 38°C) during this season and drop to a minimum of 6°C in the post-monsoon period (October to January), when dry northerly winds from the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau are prevalent.
Features
The park houses a diversity of ecosystems, including the Churia hills, ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise slowly towards the east from 150 meters to more than 800 meters. The western portion of the park is comprised of the lower but more rugged Someshwor hills. The park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve.
The Chitwan valley consists of tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forests cover 70 percent of the park. Sal leaves are used locally for plates in festivals and religious offerings. Grasslands cover 20 percent of the park. There are more than 50 different types of grasses, including the elephant grass (Saccharum spp.), renowned for its immense height. It can grow up to 8 meters in height! The shorter grasses (Imperata spp.) are used for roof thatching, and mats, rope and paper making.
Tharus are the main indigenous ethnic groups in Chitwan. They are well known for their resistance to malaria. Traditionally they are farmers and practice their own unique tribal culture. A stroll or a ride through the Tharu village will provide an opportunity to see their traditional farming and relics. Traditional Tharu stick dance gives an insight into their culture
The park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. Some of the most endangered fauna found in the park:
Mammals and reptiles:
One-horned rhinoceros, Gaur, Royal Bengal tiger, Wild elephant, Fourhorned antelope, Pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, Gharial crocodile, Golden monitor lizard, Python.
Birds:
Bengal florican, Lesser florican, Giant hornbill, Black stork, White stork.
5-DAY TRIP
Early Arrival
Providing you have sent us your arrival details, you will be met at
the airport by a representative from the Kathmandu Guest House (look
for their sign - they will be looking for you) and escorted to the
guest house. Kim will book the extra nights for you, so your room
will be ready.
Day 1 - Arrive Kathmandu
1340m
You'll be met at the airport by one of our representatives or someone from the
Kathmandu Guest House, so look out for a Kathmandu guest house sign and/or a sign with your name on it
when you leave the airport. They will bring you back to the Kathmandu
Guest House, where your rooms are booked.
At the Kathmandu Guest House, once you leave the beautiful garden oasis, you are in the thick of Thamel, the main tourist
area of Kathmandu. Thamel is a myriad of banners, signs, music shops,
bakeries, internet cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, shops of all
imaginable varieties and eccentrically clad backpackers. You will meet with someone to go over details either today or tomorrow, depending on your schedule.
Kathmandu
Some ideas to explore the Kathmandu valley. Climb the
many steps to Swayambhunath (the monkey temple), with its commanding
views of Kathmandu (at 1420 m), its whitewashed stupas and its unique
synthesis of Buddhism and Hinduism. The striking Buddha eyes of
Boudhanath Stupa watch over a lively and colorful Tibetan community
and attract pilgrims from all over the Himalayan Buddhist realm. In
the midst of traditional gompas, and hung with long strings of
multi-colored prayer flags, Boudhanath attracts Sherpas, Tibetans and
tourists alike for daily circumambulations (koras) of the stupa.
Durbar Square, one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, is a
synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist temples, stupas and statues, and is
often the site of festivals, marriages and other ceremonies. Hindu
Pashupatinath and its sacred temple complex on the banks of the holy
Bagmati river. Here, monkeys run up and down the steps of the burning
ghats, and trident-bearing saddhus draped in burnt-orange and saffron
sit serenely meditating - when they’re not posing for
photos-for-rupees.
Day 2 - Fly to Bharatpur 185m
We'll head to the domestic airport for our short flight to the tropical terai, landing at the small Bharatpur airport mid-morning. Look for a sign with your name on it; a representative of the Maruni Sanctuary Lodge will be waiting to greet you. Bharatpur is the gateway to Chitwan, and the drive to Muruni Sanctuary Lodge is about half an hour.
The Chiwan Maruni Santruary Lodge is lovely, the rooms each uniquely decorated in local style, serene and green with tropical foliage and fruit trees. The lodge is located in one of the least disturbed parts of Sauraha (the village nearby) and offers a chance not only to view the wildlife but to visit the nearby Rana Tharu villages.
After checking into your room and having lunch, you'll hear the schedule for the next three days and head out on some excursion, either a walking safari or by canoe. NOTE: Your three days will be customized so might not be exactly in the order listed below ...
Day 3 - Chitwan Wildlife Safari
You'll have a full day of activity today, starting with a fantastic breakfast and followed by a birdwatching canoe trip down the river in the morning mist. You'll visit the elephant breeding sactuary and after lunch head out on elephants for some rhino and wildlife spotting, alot of fun and a great way to view the wildlife up close. At sunset, tired and happy, you'll head back to your rooms for a shower and dinner at the restaurant.
Chitwan (from Maruni):
The Park covers a pristine area with a unique ecosystem of significaant value to the world. It contains the Churiya hills, Ox-bow lakes and flood plains of Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. Approximately 70% of the Park vegetation is sal forest. The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%) riverine forest(7%) and sal with chiropine 3% the later occuring at the top of the Churiya range. The riverine forests consist mainly of khair, sissoo and simal. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The saccharum species, often called elephant grass, can reach 8m in height. The shorter grasses such as Imperate are useful for thatch roofs. There are more than 43 species of mammals in the Park. The Park is especially renowned for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, the tiger and the gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animals. It also harbors endangered species such as gaur, wild elephant, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard and python. Other animals found in the Park include the sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth bear, palm civet, langur and rhesus monkey. There are over 450 species of birds in the Park. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal jolrican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. Common birds seen in the Park inclde the peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. The best time for bird watching is March and December. More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles occur in the Park, some of which are the marsh corcodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises. The Park is actively engaged in the scientific studies of several species of wild fauna and flora.'
Day 4 - Chitwan (half-day). Fly to Kathmandu
Another magical morning of birdwatching, time to visit some of the local Rana Tharu villages and the elephant dung paper factory, and finally it will be time to head to the airport for your short flight back to Kathmandu. You'll be met by one of our representatives and brought back to the Kathmandu Guest House.
Day 5 - Depart
We'll take you to the airport for your flight home, or you're free to extend your vist and stay longer in Kathmandu or the Kathmandu valley.
Extra Days in Kathmandu
*** If you wish to stay longer, we can offer plenty of
suggestions: mountain biking or rafting in the Kathmandu valley, an
Everest sightseeing flight, a trip out to Bhaktapur or Patan,
Kathmandu Valley's other historic capital cities, a night at the Fort
Hotel in Nagarkot for a bit of luxury and expansive sunset and sunrise
mountain panoramas or a multi-day trip out to Chitwan or Bhardia
National Parks. Kim can help to arrange any of these excursions for
you.
7-DAY TRIP INCLUDING POKHARA
Early Arrival
Providing you have sent us your arrival details, you will be met at
the airport by a representative from the Kathmandu Guest House (look
for their sign - they will be looking for you) and escorted to the
guest house. Kim will book the extra nights for you, so your room
will be ready.
Day 1 - Arrive Kathmandu
1340m
You'll be met at the airport by one of our representatives or someone from the
Kathmandu Guest House, so look out for a Kathmandu guest house sign and/or a sign with your name on it
when you leave the airport. They will bring you back to the Kathmandu
Guest House, where your rooms are booked.
At the Kathmandu Guest House, once you leave the beautiful garden oasis, you are in the thick of Thamel, the main tourist
area of Kathmandu. Thamel is a myriad of banners, signs, music shops,
bakeries, internet cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, shops of all
imaginable varieties and eccentrically clad backpackers. You will meet with someone to go over details either today or tomorrow, depending on your schedule.
Day 2 - Fly to Pokhara 830m
Up early for our short but scenic flight to Pokhara, 198 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
You will fly high above the north-south rivers flowing down towards the Terai from the Himalaya and Tibet,
over terraced villages and green hills with the Ganesh, Langtang, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges in the distance,
to balmy, sub-tropical Pokhara. We stay at the fantastic Barahi Hotel, it's clear pool a wonderful oasis in the afternoon heat. We have the
afternoon to wander the shore of Phewa Lake, drink fresh juice, do some shopping, or sit and relax at the hotel
with a book. Head to Moondance Cafe for dinner and drinks in the evening,
an atmospheric restaurant just near the hotel.
Day3 - Pokhara
Pokhara is such a magical destination that we couldn't resist adding an extra day. There are lots of activities that the travel desk at Barahi will arrange for you, ranging from day walks to paragliding. Enjoy, and don't miss a dinner at Moondance Cafe just down the road.
Day4 - Drive to Bharatpur 185m
After breakfast you'll hop into your private vehicle for the four to five hour scenic drive to the Maruni Sanactuary Lodge, just outside Chitwan National Park. Feel free to stop for photos as you wish as you're driving through some of the most lovely rural countryside in Nepal.
The Chiwan Maruni Santruary Lodge is lovely, the rooms each uniquely decorated in local style, serene and green with tropical foliage and fruit trees. The lodge is located in one of the least disturbed parts of Sauraha (the village nearby) and offers a chance not only to view the wildlife but to visit the nearby Rana Tharu villages.
After checking into your room and having lunch, you'll hear the schedule for the next three days and head out on some excursion, either a walking safari or by canoe. NOTE: Your three days will be customized so might not be exactly in the order listed below ...
Day 5 - Chitwan Wildlife Safari
You'll have a full day of activity today, starting with a fantastic breakfast and followed by a birdwatching canoe trip down the river in the morning mist. You'll visit the elephant breeding sactuary and after lunch head out on elephants for some rhino and wildlife spotting, alot of fun and a great way to view the wildlife up close. At sunset, tired and happy, you'll head back to your rooms for a shower and dinner at the restaurant.
Chitwan (from Maruni):
The Park covers a pristine area with a unique ecosystem of significaant value to the world. It contains the Churiya hills, Ox-bow lakes and flood plains of Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. Approximately 70% of the Park vegetation is sal forest. The remaining vegetation types include grassland (20%) riverine forest(7%) and sal with chiropine 3% the later occuring at the top of the Churiya range. The riverine forests consist mainly of khair, sissoo and simal. The grasslands form a diverse and complex community with over 50 species. The saccharum species, often called elephant grass, can reach 8m in height. The shorter grasses such as Imperate are useful for thatch roofs. There are more than 43 species of mammals in the Park. The Park is especially renowned for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, the tiger and the gharial crocodile along with many other common species of wild animals. It also harbors endangered species such as gaur, wild elephant, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard and python. Other animals found in the Park include the sambar, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth bear, palm civet, langur and rhesus monkey. There are over 450 species of birds in the Park. Among the endangered birds are the Bengal jolrican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. Common birds seen in the Park inclde the peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. The best time for bird watching is March and December. More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles occur in the Park, some of which are the marsh corcodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises. The Park is actively engaged in the scientific studies of several species of wild fauna and flora.'
Day 6 - Chitwan (half-day). Fly to Kathmandu
Another magical morning of birdwatching, time to visit some of the local Rana Tharu villages and the elephant dung paper factory, and finally it will be time to head to the airport for your short flight back to Kathmandu. You'll be met by one of our representatives and brought back to the Kathmandu Guest House.
Day 7 - Depart
We'll take you to the airport for your flight home, or you're free to extend your vist and stay longer in Kathmandu or the Kathmandu valley.
Extra Days in Kathmandu
*** If you wish to stay longer, we can offer plenty of
suggestions: mountain biking or rafting in the Kathmandu valley, an
Everest sightseeing flight, a trip out to Bhaktapur or Patan,
Kathmandu Valley's other historic capital cities, a night at the Fort
Hotel in Nagarkot for a bit of luxury and expansive sunset and sunrise
mountain panoramas or a multi-day trip out to Chitwan or Bhardia
National Parks. Kim can help to arrange any of these excursions for
you.
Namaste & Tashi Delek!
