Chitwan, heart of the jungle in Nepal

Chitwan in central Nepal is the gateway to the east and west of the country and lies at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain range. Bharatpur, on the Narayani River, is Chitwan District’s major town. Farmers raise poultry and crop rice, maize, wheat, mustard and a variety of vegetables, such as cabbage, beans, cauliflower, radish, broccoli, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and pumpkins.

Chitwan means “heart of the jungle” and it is here that Nepal created its first national park covering 932 square kilometres. The Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve accommodate a diverse collection of plants and animals. Animals include the Bengal tiger, the Asian rhinoceros, the Indian rock python, the Mugger crocodile, deer, and leopards. The Nepalese Army patrols the area to prevent animal poaching. The area south of the Rapti River was declared a rhinoceros sanctuary in 1963, and by 1973 the entire area was gazetted as a National Park.

Inside Chitwan National Parks are lakes, rivers, and flood plains full of reptiles and amphibians (frogs and turtles) with about 20% grassland. There are about 50 different types of grasses, such as 8 metre high elephant grass. The local communities are allowed to cut the grasses for thatch. The park is also home to birds and is a popular location for bird watching.

An area of 750 square kilometres surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone in 1996. In the buffer zone, which has forests and private land, local communities undertake community development activities and manage the natural resources. From the revenue from the Chitwan National Park, the government contributes 30-50% of the funds for community development in the buffer zone.

Chitwan National Park has an elephant breeding program and offers accommodation (in 7 resorts) as well as elephant safaris.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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