The Chitwan District is located in the southwestern part of Province No. 3 with Bharatpur, the fifth largest city of Nepal, as its district headquarters. It covers an area of 2,238.39 km2. Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour is regarded as the most famous tourist activities in Chitwan which is carried out in the Chitwan National Park which is the first national park of Nepal covering the area of 932 km2 and ranges from about 100 m (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 m (2,674 ft) in the Churia Hills. A total of 68 species of mammal, 56 species of herpetofauna and 126 species of fish have been recorded in the park. The park is especially renowned for its protection of One Horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger and Gharial Crocodile. The park harbors not only the world’s largest terrestrial mammal (wild elephant) but also the world’s smallest terrestrial mammal (pygmy shrew). A total of 544 species of birds has been recorded so far including 22 globally threatened species including critically endangered Bengal Florican, Slender-billed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, and Red-headed Vulture.
Chitwan National Park Safari Tour includes Elephant Back Safari through which you can explore the subtropical forest and might encounter the one-horned rhino and endangered Royal Bengal Tiger. The other activities like Jungle walk, birds watching, boating/canoeing, elephant bathing, elephant breeding, Tharu village tour, Tharu cultural show, jeep safari, sunset and sunrise view are also included in the Chitwan Jungle Safari.
Climate
The Park has a range of climatic seasons each offering a unique experience. From October through February with average temperatures of 25oC offer an enjoyable climate. From March to June temperatures can reach as high as 43oC. The hot humid days give way to the monsoon season that typically lasts from late June until September, rivers become flooded and roads are impossible.
In late January, local villagers are allowed to cut thatch grasses to meet their needs, which offer a better viewing of wildlife for visitors. Also, between September and November and February and April, migratory birds join the residential birds and create spectacular bird watching opportunities. While the monsoon rains bring lush vegetation, most trees flower in late winter. The Palash tree, known as the “flame of the forest’ and silk cotton tree have spectacular crimson flowers that can be seen from a distance.
The Chitwan National Park has a tropical monsoon climate, with height humidity all through the year, and three main seasons.
Summer
March to early June is the traditional hot months, with temperatures rising progressively to a peak in May. During April, despite the heat of the day, the nights can be quite cold. Southwesterly winds prevail, and relative humidity is lowest in March.
Monsoon
Towards the end of May, the pre-monsoon storms set in. Dark clouds mass in the afternoons, with thunder and lightning and high winds. If rain falls, it comes in late afternoon showers lasting perhaps only fifteen to twenty minutes. As May changes into June the showers come with increasing frequency.
When the monsoon proper begins, around the middle of June, it is another story. From then until late September the moisture-laden south-easterly winds weeping up from the Bay of Bengal bring heavy rain, and of the annual total of some 80 inches, more than 80 percent falls in these three months.
Precipitation is not normally continuous, and often, in any monsoon month, there are as many dry days as wet ones. During the monsoon, humidity is extremely high.
Winter
Winter lasts from October to the end of February. The northerly winds are cool, coming down from the mountains, and this is the best time of the year to see the Great Himalayan Range, the air being particularly clear in November.
January is the coldest month, with temperatures falling almost to freezing-point, especially when it rains. From late November the relative humidity touches 100 percent in the mornings, and so there is dewfall during December and January nights and sometimes when you hear the drips pouring off the trees in the morning, it is often mistaken for rain. After an especially cold morning, it is hard to believe that the temperature will rise to 20-25 Celsius in the afternoon.