Explore
the Divine Mountain Kingdom at the foot of the
Mighty Himalayas 
Nepal’s Terai possesses a beauty that
is totally unexpected in a country known mainly
for soaring snow-covered mountains. Chitwan,
a majestic and powerful location teeming with
wildlife hosts one of Asia’s finest national
parks, renowned for its dense concentration
of wildlife. Seas of elephant grass ripple beneath
a magnificent sunset and pervasive sense of
relaxation soaks in deeper the longer you stay.
Chitwan literally means ‘heart of the
jungle’ and in recent years, Chitwan tops
the list of things to do in Asia. With its astounding
wildlife, Chitwan is a true safari adventure.
Elephant rides, jeep tours, canoe trips and
walks offer a different slant on the luxuriant
teeming forest.
Royal Chitwan National Park
Sal forests cover 70% of the area and there
are about 600 species of plants and are home
to the only significant number of one-horned
rhinos and other endangered species like the
Royal Bengal Tiger, the Gangetic Dolphins and
the Gharial Crocodile. There are altogether
over 43 species of large mammals, 526 species
of birds, 150 different types of butterflies,
126 species of fish and 49 species of reptiles.
Wild Life
The fauna of the terai is striking and the
most obvious are the handsome black-faced, grey
langur monkeys and the common brownish red rhesus
monkeys. Deers include the spotted, barking,
samber, hog, swamp and Asia’s largest
antelope, the blue bull.
Other animal species found here are leopards,
wild dogs, various species of mongoose and cats,
wild boar, porcupines, bats and squirrels. Today,
Chitwan boasts of nearly 500 one-horned rhinos;
a quarter of the species total and their numbers
continue to grow. About 100 tigers have also
been counted in the park.
Indigenous
People
Ethnic groups found in this region largely
comprises of Chepang, Tharu, Musahan, Satahar,
Danuwar, Tamang, Kumal Gurung and Magar. One
of the most backward ethnic groups of Nepal,
the Chepangs inhabit in the remote and sparse
contours, outback and rolling precipices of
the districts of Makwanpur, Chitwan, Gorkha
ad Dhading, They have their own distinct language,
lead a nomadic life and their primary lifestyle
includes hunting, foraging for wild roots and
fishing and traditional farming near jungles.
Their settlements, house construction, social
organization, language, customs, festivals and
religion are unique. It is felt that their religion
and culture are influenced by the Tamangs. Especially
a Praja Pande (faith healer) might be an interesting
figure for culture tourists to be introduced
to.
