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A group of people walking through a green grassy area with bare trees

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Sauraha and the Park Gateway

Sauraha serves as the primary tourist gateway town and main entrance to Chitwan National Park.

Photo: tour listing on Viator

Located 150 to 160 km from Kathmandu and Pokhara, Sauraha is the busy hub where most Chitwan trips begin. It offers direct access to the Rapti River and local cultural sites.

You will find river access for dugout canoes here, along with museums detailing the indigenous Tharu people. Spend a day exploring these gateway attractions before heading deeper into the jungle.

A calm lake covered with green aquatic plants surrounded by dense forest
Photo: tour listing on Viator
01

Rapti River Bank

1-2 hoursCanoe access

The Rapti River forms the park border. This is where dugout canoe safaris launch. Wildlife frequently comes to the banks to drink.

Three people walking across a grassy field towards a dense green forest
Photo: tour listing on Viator
02

Tharu Cultural Museum

1 hourCultural history

This local museum displays the traditions, tools, and history of the indigenous Tharu people. The Tharu are native to the Terai lowlands.

Expansive green grassy plain with several large, bare trees under a blue sky
Photo: tour listing on Viator
03

Elephant Breeding Center

1-2 hoursWildlife viewing

This facility was established to protect endangered elephants. Visitors can view mothers and their calves.

Try to go in the morning when the elephants are most active.

Book a Tour from Sauraha

Close-up profile of a one-horned rhinoceros standing in dry grass.
3-Day Chitwan National Park Jungle Safari Tour Package with Pick Up72 h 4.9 (191)from $200
3-day jungle safari packagefrom $200 on Viator
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