CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK (932 sq km)
Owing to its rich adornment of nature, Chitwan National Park was declared UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1979. The park that includes in its area a part of the Shivalik hills, is covered with deciduous forests overlooking the floodplains of Narayani, Rapti and Reu rivers and offering a wilderness of rich ecosystem that includes mammals, birds, reptiles and water animals of several kinds. There are around 600 plat species, 50 mammals, 526 birds and 49 amphibians reptiles found in the park. The highlights, of course, are the 500 Asian one-horned rhinoceros and some 100 nocturnal Royal Bengal tigers that live in the dense forests of the park. Sharing home with these are other animals like rhesus monkey, grey langur, deer, leopards, white stockinged gaur, wild boar, wild dogs and wild cats. Among reptiles are different kinds of snakes including the python, while the river areas breed amphibians like the endangered snouted gharial popularly known as Gangetic Crocodile and marsh crocodiles. The forestis alive during summer with the arrival of migrant birds paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta and parakeets, while winter birds include waterfowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, bar-headed geese, cormorants and migratory birds from Siberia. Other bird varieties are woodpeckers, hornbills, peacocks, peahens, floricans and redheaded trogons. A rare attraction of the park is the world’s fresh water dolphin variety sometimes seen in River Narayani. Another factor adding a distinct touch to the Chitwan experience is the colorful Tharu culture. There are also sites of religious and historical importance at Devghat, Pandavnagar, Balmiki Ashram and Kabilaspur.

Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, boat ride, jeep drive
Accommodation: Resort hotels and lodges
Access: The park headquarters at Kasara is a 21 km drive Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu
Best Season: Oct-Feb (average temperature 25 degrees Celsius); Mar-Jun (hot, up to 43 degrees Celsius), Jul-Sep (rainy)
Park Headquarter: Kasara, Tel: 056-529405

BARDIA NATIONAL PARK (968 sq km)
The Bardia National Park is the largest and most undisturbed protected area in the Terai and is home to the endangered Royal Bengal tiger and Nepal’s famous one-horned rhinoceros. The national park located in the far western district of Bardiya, is bordered by River Karnali in the west, the Churia range in the north, while the River Babai flows right through the park. The varied geographical factors together with the thick cover of Sal, savannah forests and grasslands render this region ideal as wild animal habitat. The park hosts 30 different mammals, more than 250 species of birds, and several varieties of reptiles and water animals. Some of the other animals found here are elephant, swamp deer, blackbuck, gharial crocodile and marsh mugger crocodile. The exotic Gangetic Dolphin is also sometimes seen in Riber Karnali. Birds include endangered varieties of Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and sarus crane. The park offers the rare opportunity of fishing at River Karnali and River Babai.

Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, boat ride, jeep drive
Accommodation: Jungle lodges
Access: Three hours by jeep (95 km) from Nepalgunj which is 1 hour minutes by air or 531 km by road from Kathmandu
Best Season: Oct-Mar; Apr-Jun (hot, up to 45 degrees Celsius), Jul-Sep (rainy)
Park Headquarter: Thakurdwara, Tel: 084-429719

KHAPTAD NATIONAL PARK (225 sq km)
Khaptad National Park in West Nepal is the home of Khaptad Swami, the renowned scholar and a hermit. The park with rolling hills of grasslands and forests of subtropical, temperate and sub alpine vegetation is also a rich natural habitat. The park boasts of 224 species of medicinal herbs and offers excellent bird watching opportunities, with 270 species of birds, the common ones being different varieties of Impheyan Pheasant, partridges, flycatchers, bulbuls, cuckoos and eagles. Animals in the park are barking deer, wild boar, ghoral , Himalayan black bear, yellow-throated marten rhesus monkey and langur monkey. The park also offers religious sightseeing at Tribeni on the way to its headquarters. There are several historical temples surrounding this area and an annual celebration aof Ganga Dashhara is held here every Jestha Purnima. Another religious site is Sahara Linga at 3,200 meters, the highest point of the park. Other religious areas in the park include Ganesh Temple, Nagdhunga, and Kedardhunga. These areas are ideal places for meditation. Towards the northeast of the northeast of the park is Khaptad Lake where a festival is held every August an September.

Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Camping
Access: Fly to Dipayal from Nepalhunj and then a three-day walk
Best Season: Mar-May and Oct-Nov (10-20 degrees Celsius); Jun-Sep (rainy), Dec-Feb (snow)
Park Headquarter: Khaptad