Chitwan is a blend of nature, culture, religious places and diverse geography. Therefore, when Chitwan is discussed, most people think of visiting it once. There is no big planning and preparation needed to come here. As it is located in the middle of the country, anyone traveling east and west will step here.

Be it the federal capital of the country or any other major city. Those who travel by public or private vehicles to reach there exit/enter through this district . From here, the federal capital Kathmandu, the tourist city Pokhara and the border economic centers Birganj and Bhairahawa are almost at the same distance. Which has helped to make Chitwan a major tourist destination of the country . 

The confluence of the federal capital and other cities, Chitwan's tourism is rich in diversity. Tourists who come here do not have to return satisfied with only one thing . As there are many natural, cultural, geographical and religious destinations, destinations are available here for all types of tourists. 

Traditionally Chitwan's specialty is wildlife-based safari tourism. Religious tourism is on the second place as the holy pilgrimage site Devghat Dham is located here. Recently, destinations have been developed according to the interest of domestic and foreign tourists. Now the concept of farm house where you can enjoy walking and hiking in the slums is flourishing.

Earlier the limited tourism at Sauraha, the park entrance, has spread from East Pipley to West Nawalpur . In addition to increasing tourist activities on Rapti and Narayani shores of the district, hotels and resorts have been constructed with large investments. Earlier tourists used to come to see rare wild animals . Now more and more people come to see the culture and nature of Chitwan along with wildlife. 

The central area of ​​Chitwan Park is not the only tourist destination. Recently, attractive destinations have been identified in the mountainous terrain. Which have added tourist activities for the guests who come here . An example of that is Vyu-Danda located in Bharatpur-29.

Prince Rajbhandari, the social leader of Narayangadh, reaches the Mahabuddhist monastery site at Sheetal Khan Bhuyu-Danda in summer. After traveling for one and a half hour from Narayangadh, one reaches the said hill . As soon as you reach there in April/June, you will feel the cold . As there is no direct easy route from Narayangadh, Narayangadh-Muglinkhand is reached from Bhorle via Chowkidanda.

According to Rajbhandari, there are more than half a dozen tourist areas in Chepang and other tribal areas. There is Gauri Khola Waterfall near Vyu-Danda. There are Sitabhanjyang, Bat and Golden Cave . "From the hill, the headquarter Bharatpur is visible," he said, "if the road is built directly, it can be reached in half an hour."

He said that the residents of Narayangarh and Bharatpur can enjoy themselves by reaching there at the same time during the heat. Rajbhandari says that if the Ichchakamana road through Bhorle-Chowkidanda-Arubot is upgraded, it will be easier for the common people who go to the mountains to beat the heat. Narayangadh, Devghat along with the settlements of Chitwan and Tanahun can be observed from the hill. 

Until a decade ago, there was no road access in 9 hill villages of Savik. Common people used to walk to the old headquarters of Chitwan, Upardangarhi, Hattibang and Siraichuli. Sometimes the tourists going on foot trip had to suffer. Currently, the number of mountain climbers is increasing to understand the people's life and lifestyle, to look at the mountains, to observe sunrise and sunset, to observe caves and waterfalls.

According to Dinesh Kumar Chuke, the national president of the Federation of Hoteliers, the arrival of tourists in Chitwan started with the wildlife safari. Tourists are coming from all over the world to see the rare wildlife, birds and waterfowl in Chitwan Park.

Since two decades, Chitwan has become the first choice of domestic tourists as well. Nowadays, many tourists come here to visit the park and observe the culture of the local tribes. Therefore, tourists flock to destinations around the park. Sauraha is the first choice of domestic/foreign tourists. Then tourists come to Jagatpur, Patihani, Meghauli and Bharatpur.

'One type of tourism is not always enough,' said Chuke, 'so we are promoting Bharatpur and hilly destinations to add variety to the tourism of Chitwan.' , Ichchakamana, Lamojharna and other destinations have been developed . 

During the period of a decade and a half, tourists limited to Terai destinations started to climb the mountain and enjoy it, he said. According to Bishnu Mahato, Board of Director of Hotel Solti Western in Patihani, the main destination of West Chitwan, the first choice of tourists coming here is to visit Chitwan Park. During that time, they want to see the rare one-horned rhinoceros and tiger. Apart from that there are many who come for bird watching . 

World Heritage listed Chitwan National Park is home to 650 one-horned rhinoceros, 93 adult panthers, more than 60 species of mammals and more than 546 species of birds. Mahato said that many foreign tourists come to see the birds. "Jeep, elephant and jeep safari are more popular inside the park," he said, "Other than that, there are many people who visit the park by boat, walk around the park and visit the Tharu village in the middle."

The park as well as the hilly area is famous for bird watching. Lately Bisahazari Lake and Batuli Pond have become bird destinations. The sunrise can be seen from Siraichuli, the highest point in the district, and the sunset from Golaghat located in Bharatpur-28. Now Kathar, Kumrom, Sauraha in the east of the district, Patihani, Jagatpur, Meghauli and Dnyaneshwar community forests in the west and Madi valley in the south have become the center of attraction for domestic and foreign tourists, said Mahato.

Moreover, Devghat is a center of religious tourism at the confluence of Nawalpur, Chitwan and Tanahun. "Recently, tourism programs have become diverse," Mahato said, "along with nature, culture, religion, education and health tourism are flourishing here." According to Mahato, twice as many tourists visit the central community forest of the district as compared to those who enter the park.

Foreign food from Raithane

Vishal Kumal, who brought the cultural village resort into operation at Golaghat in the tourist center of Meghauli, has mentioned the food dishes on a wooden board and placed them at the entrance . In the said 'menu', Raithane has mentioned about the food dishes . Rapti and Narayani dishes from fish, chicken and duck to ghongi are available .

Vishal said that Ghongi dishes which are preferred by the local tribal/tribal community are now loved by everyone. According to him, instead of Ghongi, 'kiss food' is written on the menu. "I named it kiss food because you have to suck it with your lips," he said.

The menus of Chitwan's urban and established tourist destinations include traditional Nepali dishes from various countries. Hotels and restaurants in Bharatpur, Ratnanagar, Sauraha are popular with local/foreign food . There are a lot of demanding snacks. That is why it is mentioned that ``Ihan Thakali Khana'' is available in the restaurants located on the highway right and left and in urban areas from Kurintar in Chitwan to East Pipley. However, Chitwan is the traditional dish of the Tharu community that many expect. As a result, Tharu food is preferred in hotels, restaurants and homestays around Chitwan Park.

'Guests who come here usually look for gongs, chichar, fish,' said Somlal Mahato, a homestay businessman from Meghauli, 'They come from far away to eat duck and chicken.' Chitwan's Madi, Nawalpur's Amaltari, Kathar and Kumroz are famous for their food. ; Shivghat in Bharatpur is famous for its fish dishes. There is now a crowd in the hilly destinations to eat chicken and chicken. 

North of Chitwan, Shaktikhor, Upardanggarhi, Siddhi, Piple, Muglin, Kurintar, Hattiwang, Mayatar are now crowded with people going to eat corn, millet and local chicken . Restaurants and sweet shops have opened in the city for vegetarian dishes. 

From homestay to star base

Until two decades ago, when it was necessary to name a classy hotel/resort in the district, at that time 7 hotels operating within Chitwan Park were remembered. Apart from that, limited hotels were opened in Sauraha. Until the period of armed conflict in the country, it was not customary to consider domestic guests as tourists. Priority was not given to Nepali guests in foreign targeted hotels/resorts. 

After the peace was established with the end of the armed conflict, there was a wave of hotel/resort operation in Chitwan . Also, the tourist destinations of the district started getting full of domestic tourists. At first, a new hotel was built in Sauraha. The former hut hotel was upgraded . There was a scramble to add service facilities . Now more than two hundred hotels with facilities are operating in Sauraha alone. 

Rapti and Narayani shores of Chitwan have been full of quality hotels/resorts for the past decade. From Kumroz to West Nawalpur in the east, attractive and well-equipped hotels have opened . According to tourism businessman Vasu Dhungana, more than a dozen international level hotels are operating in Chitwan. The number of hotels operating under international management continues to increase.

Under Rapti coast, classy hotels have been opened in Patihani, Jagatpur and Meghauli via East Kathar, Kumroz, Sauraha . Apart from this, there are plenty of small investment homestays and resorts. Hotels have been opened in Kurintar, Muglin, Kavilas, Thimura, Bhateri, Padampur, Bharatpur, Gaindakot to South Amaltari from Narayani Bank. Big and star level hotels have been operated in urban areas as well. New constructions are being done in many places.