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Places to Visit
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Chitwan is one among 75 districts of Nepal. It is truly a destination not to be missed by tourists visiting Nepal. Located very close to Kathmandu, Chitwan offers many unforgettable experiences. It lies in the heart of the country. It is actually enroute to those heading to/from any Indian border and can be a very convenient and exciting stop over for them. it is 140kms. (approx.) south east of Kathmandu. Chitwan is easily accessible from Kathmandu both by road and air. The journey about 4-5 hours by road, whilst by air it is merely 20 minutes. Chitwan is known as the leading tourist center in Nepal because of its dense forest, rich diversity in wildlife and natural beauty. Chitwan has over 50 different species of mammals, 400different types of birds and many species of reptiles. In 1987 butterfly spotters identified 67 different types of butterfly here. The places worth visiting are: 1. Royal Chitwan National Park 2. Bees Hajari Taal (Lake) 2. DevGhat 4. Kasara 5. Bikram Baba
1. Royal Chitwan National Park Located in the district, is the Chitwan National Park, which is a world famous destination for nature lovers and adventure travelers. The park used to be hunting ground for the rulers of Nepal and their royal guests from the 19thcentury. The park has even hosted the British Royal families, starting from King George V to Queen Elizabeth II. The park was established in 1964 in order to minimize and woodcutting. It covers an area of 1431sq. km. (including adjoining Parsa Wildlife Reserve). The park is home to many endangered wild animals and birds, including the One-horned Rhinoceros and The Royal Bengal Tiger. It is for this reason the park has been recognized as a World Heritage Site. Today the park offers one of the finest wildlife experiences in Asia. The park and the adjoining area have lodges and resorts to suit every discerning traveler. Basides the wildlife, the park also offers a wide range of interesting activities such as elephant back safari, canoe rides, cycling, jeep safari, ox-driven cart ride, jungle walk, Tharu cultural shows and visits to elephant breeding center, Tharu village and crocodile breeding farm. 2. Cable Car:
3. Bees Hajari Taal (Twenty Thousand Lake): Located in the middle of the jungle, it is 10 kms from Narayangarh. This place is very calm, beautiful and exciting mainly for bird lovers. Along with many rare species of birds you will encounter with deer, peacocks and many other wild animals. In addition, many migratory birds can also bee seen here, some from as far as Siberia. This place is slowly gaining and is a very famous picnic spot among locals. 4. Devghat: Of the famous pilgrimage sites in Chitwan and the entire country, Devghat is considered to be one of the holiest sites for Hindus. It is 6 kms from Narayangarh at the confluence of 2 of the holiest rivers of Nepal - Sapta Gandaki and Kali Gandaki. The area is dotted with temples, Yagya Shalas and Ashrams' some of the famous ones include Mukundeshwor, Chitrashala, harihar Mandir, Shivalaya, Aghori Baba's Ashram, Galeshwor Baba's Ashram, Haran Kunda, Baristha Gufa and Sita Gufa. It is believed that Balmiki, a famous Hindu sage lived here and Goddess Sita, the wife of Lord Rama spent the last days of her life here. 5. Kasara: Situated on the bank of River Rapti, it is about 25 kms from Narayangarh. Kasara used to be a hunting place for the rulers of Nepal. Now there is an army camp and a crocodile breeding farm. There are 2 species of crocodiles - Gharial and Marsh Magar. A few minutes walk from the breeding center and you will be in front of a historical museum with rare collections from the National Park. 6. Bikram Baba: Moving a little ahead of Kasara, by the river Rapti you find yourself before a shrine of Bikram Baba, a god very popular among the Tharus (Indigenous inhabitants of Chitwan). During the months of March-April, a large number of devotees come to this place to worship the idol of Bikram Baba. It is believed that if one prays with a clean faithful heart, Bikram Baba fulfils their wishes. Many childless couples visit the place as it is believed that they conceive by worshipping the idol.
Chitwan has a very pleasant climate all year round. The lush and highly fertile agricultural land in the district with a backdrop of the mighty Himalayan peaks present a fascinating vista. Chitwan is one of the most important places in Nepal from tourism point of view.
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