Chitwan Travel

Air
There are daily RNAC flights from Kathmandu to Meghauli, near Tiger Tops Lodge in the park. There are daily flights between Kathmandu and Bharatpur (Narayanghat), 15km west of Tandi Bazaar, for $60. Tickets can be gotten from travel agencies in Sauraha.

Bus If you want to go to Sauraha you have to first get to Chitrasari (3km north of Sauraha) or Tandi. There is a bridge being built, that will enable buses in the future to go all the way to Sauraha. Private buses stop in Chitrasari, between Tandi and Sauraha, and you then cross a foot-bridge, and on the other side you get a jeep the remaining 3km for Rs 35 per person.

The closest public bus stop to Sauraha is at Tandi (Tadi) Bazaar on the main Mahendra Highway, 7km east of Sauraha and around 15km east of Narayanghat. The buses do not stop in Sauraha, because the bridge can not take vehicle traffic.
Public buses from Tandi depart to Kathmandu (5 hr, 9 and 10 am) and Pokhara (5 hr, 9 and 10 am). Bus departing from Tandi can be booked at lodges. They will charge a commission, but you should check to see if it is fair. You can books buses yourself in Tandi. When departing Sauraha, you may have to first go to Tandi (7km) and from there get a bus to Narayanghat, from where there are buses to many places all over Nepal. Mini-buses go between Tandi and Narayanghat (30 minutes) for Rs 7. Government Sajha buses from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Tandi costs Rs 90.
Private buses go daily to Chitrasari (near Sauraha) from Kathmandu (6 or 7 hr) and Pokhara (6 or 7 hr) for around Rs 200. The private tourist buses are booked by most travel agencies in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

If you arrive in Chitrasari before noon you can usually get a hotel jeep to Sauraha for Rs 35 per person or Rs 350 for the entire jeep. Each hotel usually has its own jeep. If you stay in the hotel the ride is free. Sometime there are no jeeps and you will have to ride a bike or walk to Sauraha, which takes around 1½ hr. You can hire a bike and you can arrange for your hotel to return the bike later. It is a pleasant, if it is not too hot, easy two hours walk from Tandi Bazaar to Sauraha. You can also take an ox cart for Rs 20.

Buses from Tandi to Sunauli for the Indian border take around five hours and costs Rs 120. Buses to Birganj take three hours and costs Rs 70.
Greenline operates a daily A/C bus for Rs 500. It departs both Kathmandu and Chitrasali (for Sunauli).

When departing from Sauraha, a tourist bus to Kathmandu or Pokhara can be arrange through your hotel or a travel agent. A hotel jeep will bring you to the bus. Included in the price of the bus, will be the commission of the agent, so it pays to shop around. To get a good seat you should book well in advance.

Long-distance Car
Most people staying in the lodges in the park arrive by a car from Kathmandu or Pokhara, which is arranged by the lodge. The ride takes four or five hours. If you are traveling to or from Kathmandu, it is a good idea to go via the breath-taking Tribhuvan Highway going through Daman and Hetauda. Going this way will take an extra hour and will cost extra. See the Daman section for a description of the route.

Cars normally drop passenger off at the turn-off for the main road. The lodges then send a vehicle, usually a four-wheel drive to pick you up and bring you across the river and to your lodge. During the months of September and October, just after the monsoon, the river may be too high for a vehicle to get over the river. During this time elephants may be used to transfer visitors the 5km to 7km ride to their lodge.

Rafting
Rafting companies in Kathmandu operate a rafting trip down the Trisuli River to Chitwan. This trip is often combined with a stay of a few nights in a lodge in the park.

The raft trip begins at Mugling, which is located where Kathmandu to Pokhara road (Prithvi Highway) turns off to Narayanghat and Chitwan, or further up the river. The rafting trip to Chitwan lasts two or three days. This is a mellow white-water rafting and is a relaxing trip with some good views and some nice beaches for camping.
The price for rafting ranges from $30 to $90. A rafting and stay at Chitwan can begin at $150. You should ask some questions about the trip. Where does it begin? How long does it last? What do you get at Chitwan? How do you get from the river to your lodge at Chitwan?

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides