Introduction
to city Chitwan - In Nepal
Situated in the South-Central Nepal along
the international borders with India,
the Royal Chitwan National Park is home
to some of the most endangered wildlife
species in the world. The park till recently
was a playground of Nepal/’s elite
who hunted freely, but things have changed
enormously and today it is the most protected
forest zone in the country. Chitwan derives
its name from the local word Chituwa Ban
or Leopard Forest, though there are many
more exceptions to this theory. According
to another theory, the park derives its
name from Sita Ban (forest of Sita), after
the heroine of great Hindu epic Ramayana.
To substantiate the legend, there is Balmiki
Ashram at Triveni where it is said that
Sita resided while in exile. The park
was officially established in 1973. In
1984, it became a World Heritage Site
as notified by UNESCO. Drained by two
major rivers Rapti and Narayani, the park
covers subtropical forests housing a variety
of wildlife including elephants, royal
Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros,
leopard, sloth bear, and wild bison. Migration
of wildlife across the borders to Valmiki
National Park in India is a common phenomenon.
SightSeeing
: Places to visit in destination
- Chitwan
The Royal Chitwan National Park is the
third most popular destination in Nepal
after Kathmandu and Pokhara, and not without
reasons. The range of flora and fauna
found in the Park is amazing and administration
of this place is a role model for other
protected areas in the country. Though
the park is well protected, you can still
experience the feel of a real-life jungle.
Sub-tropical jungles, elephant grasslands,
hilly areas, and flood plains are all
an integral part of park landscape. An
elephant ride through the park gives you
the opportunity to sight the denizens
from close quarters, while a boat ride
on the river through the jungles can be
an exciting affair and a good option to
move deep inside.
Excursions
: Places nearby city - Chitwan
There are several exciting options for
daylong and weekend trips from Chitwan
National Park. The Gharial Breeding Centre
is an important step towards the conservation
and research on Gharial, one of the most
endangered species. Lamital and Devital
are two lakes flocked by migratory birds
during winters. Bikram Baba is a Hindu
religious site while Sauraha is the major
commercial hub in the park region. The
Elephant Breeding Centre is a response
from the park authorities to increase
the number of pachyderms who felicitate
visitor transportation inside the park. |
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