Many people call Chitwan the 76^th district of Nepal. And, there is a simple reason for doing so. Few districts in the country harbour a population so varied in cultural identity or can boast of a terrain as diverse as Chitwan's.

What was once vast impenetrable malaria infested jungle teeming with wildlife till only a few decades ago is today humming with migrants from places to places as far apart as Patan, Bhaktapur, Lamjung, Tanahu, Gorkha, Manang, Kaski, Baglung, Parbat, Gulmi, Syangja and Nuwakot. And so the diverse mix of Brahmins, Kshetris, Newars, Tharus, Gurungs, Tamangs and other ethnic groups. Today the has given away to fertile farmlands and conventional crops are being supplemented  by poultry, livestock, off season vegetables and the like.

If Chitwan was once renown for for its succulent mustard seeds and choice paddy as well as maize today it is better known for the booming poultry and feed industry. a dozen or so large entrepreneurs and hundreds of smaller ones have established Chitwan as the number one district for poultry and feeds. Hatcheries, layer farms, broiler farms, feed industries are all trying to achieve economies of scale as the farmers vie among themselves to survive in the cut throat market.

Groundwater irrigation, pesticides and hybrid species have helped vegetable farmers a prosperous breed. Leaving aside a few incidents when crop prices crash due to lack of proper marketing  and timing, more and more farmers are trying out alternatives to conventional crops, be it vegetables, fruits, seed multiplication or sesame trees. Those looking for a future in agri business and livestock should certainly consider Chitwan as a possible area for locating such ventures.

Besides farming Chitwan has always held an attraction for tourists, both locals and foreigners, who hold an affiliation for nature. Almost a hundred thousand wild life lovers flock down here annually usually from September to May to roam the jungle, quite often atop an elephant. The serene jungle, the cool streams and the hospitality in jungle resorts help one escape from the rat race of urban life, making visitors want to come again and again. Affordable rates is another major attraction for tourists on a tight budget. 

A new development in Chitwan has been the B. P. Memorial Cancer Hospital as well as a Medical College. The cancer hospital built with assistance from the Chinese government has just recently opened its gates to patients and hopes to establish itself as one of the leading cancer treatment centers in the North Indian Subcontinent. Similarly the Medical College within the Bharatpur Hospital premises is slowly gaining momentum as its newly built hospital nears completion. Both these facilities will be a huge relief to patients shuttling to Kathmandu for the smallest ailment.

Any write up on Chitwan will be incomplete without mention of the sprawling Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science at Rampur. Built with American aid, it is a vast institution with the facilities of a small university. The facilities are grossly underutilized but now that student politicking is on the wane, the institute may be able to turn a new leaf and so contribute to the advancement of Chitwan.

And of course there is Devghat, the holy of holies. Perched on the confluence of the Trishuli and the Kali Gandaki, Devghat holds a peculiar charm for those seeking to retire along side some holy river. The Vikas Samiti there has not been able to cope haphazard development but still Devghat holds great attraction for ageing Hindus who may bathe in unpolluted water (remember Bagmati) or listen to daily Satsang (lectures) from learned pundits.

So, there is Chitwan for you! You want fun and adventure; go to the jungle or raft down the turbulent Trishuli. You want to try your hand at poultry; visit any renown hatchery and they will give you a complete integrated package. You want a holy dip; Devghat is your place. Treatment at affordable rates ; a choice of the new Medical College Hospital, the Cancer Hospital and a host of new nursing homes to cater to your requirements. You want to study agriculture, animal science, pure science, technical diplomas like CMA nursing, health assistant, management, humanities, MBBS, ............. a wide choice awaits you. You want to start an industry; now is the time to do it! With the slump in land prices and financial institutions eager to help you out, and of course a strategically located area from the distribution point of view, what more can a person want?

Name it and Chitwan has it!