Out of the 77 districts of Nepal and located at the southwestern corner of Bagmati Province is Chitwan. With a smooth road, it’s 175 km away from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Lying in the Terai region of Nepal, its drainage basin is in the Gandaki River. The name Chitwan comes from Chitwan Valley. It is one of the inner terai valleys situated between the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges. It is an undisturbed part of the Terai region that hasn’t seen any exploitation in recent times. Legends believe that the forests of Chitwan saw rishis meditating. Chitrsen Baba ruled it; a Tharu God-king believed to be the incarnation of Vishnu. The southern part of Chitwan has Ayodhyapuri, which Hindus in Nepal believe to be the birthplace of Ram.
Chitwan originally comes from Sanskrit words “Citta” and “Vana,” meaning the heart of the jungle. Bharat put serves as the headquarters of the Chitwan District. Chitwan, as a place, sees agriculture as the primary source Of livelihood. The district has peasant farmers who cultivate cash crops like maize, wheat, mustard, and lentils. 27,170 ha of the area is used for Maize cultivation, and hence, it is the central maize-producing area in Nepal. Owing to the location of the place and its connectivity network, the distribution of maize can be done conveniently. Mustard oil production is another favorite activity in the business owing to the large scale cultivation of mustard. The Narayani River and its tributaries often flood Chitwan’s area due to silt, suitable for mustard cultivation. Owing to the land having clay, rice and vegetables like cabbage are grown. Predominantly. Beekeeping is another activity that is practiced in the place. Hence, agriculture is a significant source of local employment.
Chitwan as a place has not only rich agriculture but also intense flora and fauna. The first National Park of Nepal, the Chitwan National Park, provides a diverse species, much larger than anywhere to be found in the Indian subcontinent. With rare species like Bengal Tiger, Leopards, Mugger Crocodile, Indian Rock Python, the area is protected and guarded by the Nepal army. The Bishazari Tal lake is an important bird watching center in the park. The place has good connectivity with other parts of Nepal owing to the network of roads. However, Bharatpur airport is the only airport in the region. Talking about the landmark buildings, Upandarghari Fort, believed to have been built by Satrubhanjan Shah, the son of Prince Bahadur Shah. Kasara Durbar, made by Rana Regime, Diyalo Bangala Palace, the spring palace of Shah Dynasty of Nepal located at the bank of Narayani River, are significant buildings.
With immense flora and fauna in the city, it will be liked by a nature lover. The temperature here is of tropical monsoon type with high humidity. Chitwan has a lot to offer, especially for someone seeking comfort in the forests’ wilderness and wants to catch a glimpse of the rare species and soak in the calm air.