Chitwan National Park
🇳🇵 Nepal
🦏 Rhinoceros Roaming Chitwan's WetlandsChitwan National Park is a tropical savanna set in the low‑lying Terai region of southern Nepal, just below the Himalaya foothills. Rolling grasslands, dense riverine forest and the meandering Narayani River create a mosaic of habitats that differ sharply from the alpine parks of the north.
27.462° N 84.631° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Great Indian Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros unicornis
★ 
Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ 
Gharial
Gavialis gangeticus
★ 
Axis Deer
Axis axis
📊 Most Spotted
Mugger Crocodile
Crocodylus palustris
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Little Cormorant
Microcarbo niger
Red-naped Ibis
Pseudibis papillosa
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Rufous Treepie
Dendrocitta vagabunda
Rhesus Macaque
Macaca mulatta
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Great Indian Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros unicornis
★ Tiger
Panthera tigris
★ Axis Deer
Axis axis
📊 Most Spotted
Rhesus Macaque
Macaca mulatta
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
Hog Deer
Axis porcinus
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
Himalayan Langur
Semnopithecus schistaceus
Indian Muntjac
Muntiacus muntjak
Asian Jackal
Canis aureus
Gayal
Bos frontalis
Indian Gray Mongoose
Herpestes edwardsi
Northern Palm Squirrel
Funambulus pennantii
📊 Most Spotted
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis
Pearl-necked Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
Little Cormorant
Microcarbo niger
Red-naped Ibis
Pseudibis papillosa
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Rufous Treepie
Dendrocitta vagabunda
Long-tailed Shrike
Lanius schach
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Mugger Crocodile
Crocodylus palustris
Bengal Monitor
Varanus bengalensis
Burmese Python
Python bivittatus
Oriental Garden Lizard
Calotes versicolor
Indian Softshell Turtle
Nilssonia gangetica
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Chequered Keelback
Fowlea piscator
Dhaman
Ptyas mucosa
Indian Black Turtle
Melanochelys trijuga
Trinket Snake
Coelognathus helena
Indian Cobra
Naja naja
Northern House Gecko
Hemidactylus flaviviridis
Recent sightings in Chitwan National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Sloth Bear Foraging
During the drier cooler months leading into spring, sloth bears are frequently seen scouring the forest floor for termites and fallen fruits.
3Riverine Marsh Crocodile Basking
As winter transitions to spring, mugger crocodiles and gharials regularly haul out onto sandy riverbanks to absorb solar heat.
2Monsoon Bird Breeding Season
The arrival of the monsoon brings lush vegetation and insect abundance, triggering peak breeding plumage and vocalizations among resident avian species.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Sloth Bear Foraging
- 2Monsoon Bird Breeding Season
- 3Riverine Marsh Crocodile Basking
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Beautiful Eagle We also saw countless deer, wild boars, and vibrant birdlife around every corner.
These crocodiles have very long, thin snouts, making them look entirely different to the marsh mugger crocodiles we saw when we were canoeing.
We also saw a bunch of spotted deer and a few of the larger sambar deer – the largest deer species in Nepal.
I watched two Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers playfully chasing each other from tree to tree.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Chitwan National Park?
The most likely sightings are Great Indian Rhinoceros (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Axis Deer (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Gharial (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Mugger Crocodile (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), White-throated Kingfisher (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 1262 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Chitwan National Park for wildlife?
November has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Great Indian Rhinoceros in Chitwan National Park?
Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a Great Indian Rhinoceros sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 372 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Tiger in Chitwan National Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Tiger sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Gharial in Chitwan National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Gharial sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 188 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Axis Deer in Chitwan National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Axis Deer sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 273 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
ExcellentHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
