"My first jungle experience" Royal Chitwan by josephescu

Irrespective of season, most people travelling through Nepal long enough to allow some days “in the wild” will choose Chitwan at least for an extended weekend. This was the cliché I came across while documenting travel plans back home, Chitwan being the third biggest attraction after the Kathmandu Valley and trekking the Himalayas. The wildlife, the first “contact” with the jungle, together with the promise of elephant-back rides inside the forest were enough to make me decide it is worth it.
So, between a dozen excels and other files opened at the office, I allowed a half an hour to find out the “to dos”, the “hows” and compare some offers. A few clicks further and I selected the “provider” of my first jungle experience.

I spent an extended weekend in Chitwan, just before Christmas 2006, and I guess this was one of the most pleasant and durable gifts I allowed myself until that time.

Chitwan is in fact the oldest and most famous nature reserve in Nepal, and one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal.

Formerly, the Chitwan Valley was well known for big game hunting and until 1950 was exclusively managed as a hunting reserve for the Nepali aristocrats and their guests. In 1963, the area south of the Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. In 1970, the king approved the creation of Royal Chitwan National Park, which ultimately came into force in 1973. Enlisted World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1984.

• Pros:very few tourists, which maybe news good for the wildlife
• In a nutshell:not only wildlife