| In the late seventies, someone came up with the
idea of setting up cottages all around Sauraha, just outside
the park entrance. And for the last 30 years or so, Sauraha
holds the sway over accommodation in Chitwan. Most of the accommodation
in Sauraha consists of cottages, with either thatched or tiled
roofs, ethnic décor and come with ceiling fans, mosquito
netting, hot water on tap, a restaurant and decent grounds to
wander around. If you are with a package, the cost should include
all meals and camp activities, which means -- elephant ride,
a jeep safari, a canoe ride, a Tharu dance performance, slide
show presentations, Tharu village tours, jungle walks and bird
watching tours. The cost of your package depends on how comprehensive
it is. Look around before you decide on your hotel - the ones
fronting the river are among the best - tranquil and guaranteed
sunsets. The nice thing about Sauraha is that in spite of the
many hotels that have proliferated all over the place, it is
still secluded, placid and laid back.
But Sauraha is not the only place where you can stay. For
pampered seclusion you can also stay within the park. The
accommodation within the park is generally in the four or
five star category, exclusive, and therefore more expensive.
If you book a package, the cost of your package includes accommodation,
all meals and camp activities. The cost notwithstanding, staying
within the park is an interesting experience, since you can
sometimes spot wildlife foraging around at night.
Royal Park
Tel: 229029, 29361, F 412987 (Kathmandu)
The accommodation is entirely in bungalows. They have a total
of 17 comfortable rooms, an extensive ground in what can be
termed as an excellent location (south of the village and
near the park entrance). There is a restaurant and coffee
shop overlooking the river. The hotel also has facilities
for the disabled. The Park has a good restaurant and a bakery,
which can be something of a rarity in Chitwan.
Alka Resort Camp
T 29363 (Kathmandu T 224771)
Bit undecided about whether it was a resort or a camp, Alka
settled for a chalet. They also have a restaurant. Located
1.5 km northwest of Sauraha, next to the Community Forest
entrance, the location is peaceful but could get a bit isolated.
Hotel Hermitage
Tel: 056-80090, 80120 (Sauraha)
Tel: 424390 (Kathmandu)
The Hermitage has one of the best locations in Sauraha. On
the banks of the Rapti, you can get uninterrupted views of
elephants being bathed in the waters, a glorious sunset beyond
the tall grass and hours of solitude. However, all this is
from the dining room, the rooms come with a balcony, but do
not face the river. They have 12 double rooms in thatched
cottages, and a dormitory. The cuisine is very basic, but
tasty.
Jungle Rapti Lodge
They have seven basic rooms all with bath. The rooms are in
small mud and thatch huts. They do not accept credit cards.
Hotel Jungle Lodge
Tel: 056-80006
They have a nice walkway that opens out suddenly to a thickly
wooded dale. Stilted accommodation with thatched roofs, wooden
floors and deck chairs. Big twin-bedded rooms with nice furnishings.
Hillary Jungle Lodge
Tel: 056-80012
Tel: 29366 (Kathmandu)
This has eight rooms, only one of which has an attached bathroom.
The rooms are very pokey though clean. There is a small eating
area, again basic but clean food.
Parkview Lodge
They have five budget rooms with attached bathrooms and two
with a common bath. The rooms are very basic and small.
Rainforest Guest House
T 60235 Kathmandu
They have seven rooms with attached baths in thatched cottages
and five with a common bath. Rooms have satellite TV. There
is a fireside bar, which opens after sundown. Good mountain
views and lazy days spent on hammocks strung around the place.
Jungle World Nepal
056-60180/60790,80068
T 29368. F (Kathmandu) 419436
Eight double rooms with bath, a restaurant and a nice garden.
They have a Green Heaven Bar and a 300 person conference hall.
Jungle Resort
They have six thatched cottages with baths and are located
in a secluded spot in Sauraha. You can eat at the small, but
good restaurant.
Jungle Camp
T 29366 (Kathmandu T/F 222132)
They have four bungalows with four rooms in each. The rooms
come with pleasant balconies. There is a dining room with
large central chimney and bar. The drawback is that they do
not have electricity but candles and kerosene lamps are supplied.
Traveller’s Jungle Camp
Tel: 29365
This has 16 rooms, some with attached baths. Good service.
Chitwan Rest House
The restaurant is nicer than the six rooms (some without attached
bath). But overall, the rest house has a lovely ambience.
Some nice batik prints at the restaurant. The only drawback
is the closed-in feeling. Your view is blocked by the hedges
on either side marking off the territory.
Holiday Safari Jungle Lodge
This has 10 rooms all with bath. It also has a decent restaurant.
Popular with budget travellers.
Jungle Express Camp
Ordinary rooms with bath; dining room.
Wildlife Camp
T 29363 (Kathmandu T 228784)
This has 15 rooms most with a bath. The friendly and efficient
staff is the bonus.
River View Jungle Camp
T 60164 (Katmandu, T 410418)
It has 30 rooms to choose from most come with a bath. While
it offers a good view of the river, it is not as close to
the river as say, Hotel Heritage.
Rhino Lodge
T (Kathmandu) 420316, F 417146
Very popular with tourists, despite the dreary facilities.
It has two lodges, far apart from each other. They have a
elephant called Sunakali who can take you for rides in the
jungle. The location near the park entrance ensures you are
as close to the woods as you can possibly get in Sauraha.
It also has some unbeatable river views.
Jungle Safari Camp
T 20730
It has 17 rooms and most have a bath. Also located near the
park entrance. The Camp has a restaurant where you eat basic
but tasty meals.
Annapurna View Lodge
T 29363
You do not get to see the Annapurna most times, so come here
for the nice walks it offers to the park boundaries and the
rather nice grounds.
Crocodile Safari Camp
This has 10 rooms some with bath. Reasonable fare at the restaurant.
Safari Wildlife Lodge
T (Kathmandu) 225897 F 224466
This has 15 rooms most with bath. There is also the de rigeur
dining room.
Skyline Jungle Camp
T 29363
11 modern cottage rooms most with bath, dining area, clean
and peaceful, popular with budget travellers.
Jungle Tourist Camp
Tel: 601652
This has 12 rooms most with a bath. It has a small restaurant
that serves some pretty boring food.
Eden Guest House
This has 15 rooms, some with bath. There is a quiet-ish dining
room tucked away in the grounds.
Mother Nature Resort
Tel: 601180
Communes with nature, since it is quite far from hotels. It
has nine rooms some with bath. There’s an eating area,
which is clean and basic. The accommodation is all mud and
thatch cottage.
Sauraha Jungle Lodge
There are eight rooms all with common bath. They also have
a small restaurant.
Chitwan Paradise Hotel
Royal Chitwan National Park, Sauraha
Tel: 056-80048; Fax: 977-56-60235< br>The hotel is located
near the Rapti River and it is this location that really makes
this place special. The rooms are luxurious, specially when
compared to the rest of Sauraha and particularly clean and
comfortable. All the rooms have a balcony and solar heated
hot and cold running water.
Chitwan Resort Camp
Royal Chitwan National Park, Sauraha, Tel: 056-80082
Kathmandu Office: c/o Mandala Book Point, Kantipath; Tel:
227711, 249555; Fax: 977-1-255921
The Camp is close enough to the village, but is reasonably
insulated from it. Sun and shade, with a machhan that’s
great for sitting around. The Camp is spread over green gardens
and is located in the heart of Sauraha. The resort has 12
double rooms with attached baths, modern comforts and facilities.
All major credit cards accepted
Hotel Forest Resort
No phone.
Small, shady, mellow and cheap.
Green Peace Jungle resort
Tel: Kathmandu: 423744
This hotel has lush grounds and despite a great location doesn’t
quite make the grade.
Island Tented Camp
No phone.
This is on the way to the Elephant Breeding Project. It has
a couple of machaans and its location beside the river ensures
that you get a good chance of hearing the animals at night.
Baghmara Wildlife Resort
Tel: 56-800041; Fax: 977-56-800452
Kathmandu Office; Thamel, Jyatha, Hotel Blue Diamond complex:
Tel: 222180, 221859, 222270, 226320, 226907, 242533; Fax:
977-1-226392
This is to the northwest of Sauraha near the Baghmara Community
Forest on the banks of the Budhi Rapti river. The resort is
spread over an area of 24,000 sq m and has modern amenities.
All rooms come with air-conditioning, TV, telephone and fan,
with attached bath and 24-hour hot and cold water. The resort
has a swimming pool, tennis and badminton courts, and a restaurant
serving Nepalese, Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine.
Hotel Jungle Camp
(Kathmandu office: Tel: 204669
The Camp is situated in extensive, forested grounds, and has
nifty bamboo bungalows, a restaurant and bar.
Jungle Adventure World
Kathmandu Office: PO Box 13787, Durbar Marg; Tel :261127,
231198’ Fax: 977-1-231200Located in a forested compound,
it has decent bungalows in an excellent location near the
river, close to the park entrance and the village.
Osho Camp
Tel: 29367; Fax: 60235
You will have to participate in the daily meditation sessions
if you stay here, since it is actually a Rajneesh retreat
centre. If you are okay with that, the Camp has some fairly
decent accommodation and a restaurant to match.
Tiger Camp
Tel :60189; Kathmandu: Tel :224318
This vies for the best location in Sauraha, since it and overlooks
the river. At the park entrance the garden seating area is
great for watching elephant bathing and other river activity.
Good restaurant. Disappointing rooms (bit of a rodent problem),
though there’s a marvellous machaan-like hut.
Chitwan Jungle Lodge
Royal Chitwan National
Kathmandu Office: Durbar Marg; Tel: 228918, 228458, 222679,
Fax: 228349
Chitwan Jungle Lodge offers usual `jungle activities’
that all the other hotels offer. A government concessional
holding, the Lodge offers discounts to SAARC countries.
Gaida Wildlife Camp
Royal Chitwan National Park
Kathmandu Office: Kamal Pokhari; Tel :434520; Fax:977-1-434297
One of the better resorts in Chitwan, the Gaida Wildlife Camp
provides accommodation in timber-framed bungalows as well
as spacious tents. All accommodation comes with attached baths.
This is also a government concession holder.
Island Jungle Resort
Royal Chitwan National Park
Kathmandu Office: Durbar Marg; Tel: 220162 ,229116; Fax: 977-1-225615
Accommodation is in the form of spacious safari tents and
lodges. Located on Bandarjhola Island, this is also a government
concession holder.
Machan Wildlife Resort
Royal Chitwan National ParkMachan Wildlife Resort is one of
the most widely advertised accommodation in Chitwan. It offers
a nice combination of wilderness and comfort and has the only
swimming pool inside the park. The resort’s design reflects
the traditional indigenous architecture of the region. Again
a government concession holder.
Tiger Mountain
Royal Chitwan National Park
Kathmandu Office: Lazimpat; Tel: 411225; Fax: 977-1-41407,
419126
This hotel is built on a tree top. They use solar power inside
the lodge and serve both Nepali and Western cuisine. They
have 12 large safari tents each with comfortable twin beds
and attached bathroom units. There is also a bar, a fully-stocked
bar and a central fireplace. The architecture is patterned
after Tharu houses.
Green Mansions
Badreni, Chitwan
Kathmandu Office: P O Box: 3828, Tel: 221854; 411025; Fax:
977-1-231271
Green Mansions is situated on the edge of the community forest
and has two six-room and four two-room blocks. All rooms come
with a veranda and attached bathroom. Styled on the lines
of a tribal village, the dining room, bar and reading room
of the resort is in a large central building. A swimming pool
with an outdoor barbecue is on the cards.
Hotel Himalayan Safari
Sauraha; Tel :056-60955Traditional Tharu style cottages in
a village atmosphere. Some rooms come with attached baths,
some don’t, but all have 24-hour hot and cold showers.
You can eat at the restaurant, which serves both Continental
and Oriental dishes.
Jungle Lagoon Safari Lodge
Royal Chitwan National Park: Tel: 056-80126< br>Kathmandu
Office: Durbar Marg; Tel: 242900. 231347; Fax: 977-1-231347
Thamel Reservation Office: Tel: 258427; Fax: 877-1-248493
A great location on the banks of the Rapti river, this forms
the northern boundary of the Royal Chitwan National Park.
Expect sweeping views of lush green forests to the south and
snow-capped mountains to the north. Accommodation in individual
bungalows with attached bathroom, running hot and cold water.
Restaurant serves Nepalese, Chinese, Indian and Continental
cuisine. Other facilities include: Laundry, ISD/STD facilities
and a Nepal Bank exchange counter.
The Rhino Residency Resort
Royal Chitwan National Park
Sauraha
Head Office: Durbar Marg; Tel: 231198, 220697; Fax: 977-1-231200
Thamel: Office: Tel: 424777; Fax: 977-1-419419
The resort is located in a tranquil area by the banks of the
Rapti river just south of Sauraha, a short walk from the National
Park. The resort has 24 rooms and is housed in three blocks,
each comprising eight air-conditioned rooms with attached
bath and 24-hour hot and cold running water. The restaurant
serves Indian, Chinese, Nepalese and Continental cuisine.
Other facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, library,
mini museum and a conference room (for 60 people) and more.
Rhino Resort Pvt. Ltd.
Meghauli (western part of Royal Chitwan National Park); Tel:
056-24134; Fax; 977-56-24134
Kathmandu Offices: PO Box: 1912, Tripureswor; Tel: 265454,
Fax: 977-1-265453; Thamel; 424777; Fax; 977-1-419419.
The resort borders the Royal Chitwan National Park at Meghauli,
and is acknowledged to be the best area for game-viewing and
bird-watching. As the only jungle resort in the area, its
16-acre compound also encloses its own private jungle which
is said to have medicinal herbs.
Cuisine on offer includes Continental, Japanese, Indian or
Nepalese. |
