After
leaving chaotic Kathmandu, starts the beginning of discovering genuine Nepal.
Though not quite yet. I decided to book a visit to Chitwan national park and
start my wandering with one of the highly recommended experiences while in
Nepal. I arranged with an agency: one afternoon rafting towards Chitwan
national park, and then two nights, three days guided visit of the park (this package cost varies from 80-180 $). And I have to say it's a must visit place,
amazing scenery and wildlife. For me it felt like a place for a real rest, not
too big and very peaceful.
However, there
is no need to book this package through an agency. All you need to do:
find a bus which will take you to Sauraha, skip rafting, get a place to
sleep in Sauraha, go to Chitwan national park entrance and ask for a ticket.
Rafting down to Chitwan national park is nice, if you've just arrived to Nepal it
introduces you to a variety of scenery, unfortunately, rafting itself it's not
that good in the spring time. Water level is low and there isn't much of white
water. Even in autumn time, there are many other places bigger for rafting –
e.g. Annapurna region. Finding a place to sleep in Sauraha is not a problem,
since as soon as you get off from the
bus you'll be covered with offers. Best thing, take a cab to get you to the
hotel zone and decide yourself . Entrance to the national park costs 7$ a day,
which includes a guide. Just a little extra work will save you up quite a bit
of money.
Chitwan
National park provides with a range of different activities: elephant back
riding, elephant bathing, canoe ride and crocodiles, jungle walking, bird
watching, elephant breeding center, cultural program. It left me thrilled for
these three days, and I'd go back again. And if you find a nice guide (as mine
was) – funny, charming and helpful, try to get him to take you for a sleep over
in the park (it's in one of those little, wooden observing houses in the
jungle).
Extra tip#1: Shiva's dream hotel – It was in
my package and there is no hot water and food is absolute night mare.
Extra tip#2: Some gin & tonic at the river bank and chilling, makes it irresistible.
