Friends in this lesson i am giving you information about the chitwan district of nepal.The chitwan district of nepal has become a confluence of different castes and cultures.Until the last 4 decades this district was popularly known as kalapani dead valley.Most of the area of this district was covered with dense forests.The picturesque land here created by millions of years of geographical development and change has become a place of origin for humans with its natural beauty,biodiversity ,special fauna etc.Also this district seems to have progressed due to modern development networks.The maximum length of this district which is east-west is 88 kilometers while the maximum north-south width is 50 kilometers and minimus width of 20 kilometers.The district headquarters bharatpur is located 150 kilometer south of the capital kathmandu at the center of the east-west mahendra highway connecting mechi to mahakali mahendra highways.There are regular flights from the district’s bharatpur airport to tha capital kathmandu so there are good air transport facilities here. In bikram sambat 1992 the headquaters of chitwan was shifted to juwane.Later it was shifted to bharatpur again in bikram sambat 2014.After the outbreak of malaria from bikram sambat 2011-2012 the people of the hilly areas migrated to chitwan and the population started increasing there.There are various sayings regarding the naming of chitwan district.In the second era goddess sita’s exile was sung in this place.It is said that the forest where sita lived in the forest was called sitaban and since sita lived in the forest it can be believed that the word chitwan came from that sitaban over times.In nepali forest is called ban.According to another saying the name of this district was chitwan after the name of king chitrasen according to the priest of the tharu caste who are called the locals here.It is said that chitwan was eventually renamed chitrasari after a king named chitrasen.There is another story behind the naming of chitwan district.In ancient time this place was called chitwanbana because there was a dense forest and leopards were found in abundance here.Later it is said that the word chitwan originated from that chitwanbana.In nepali chituwa means leopard bana neans forest. Thus it is said that chitwan was formed from chitwabana.
Talking about the natural resources of chitwan district thete are a many natural resources here.The main one among these natural resources is narayani river.One of the three major river systems of nepal the narayani river,a joint tributary of the gandak river, flows through the western border of this district and enters india from triveni gorge.This river flows near devghat dham in tanahun district.The main tributary of the narayani river is the kali gandaki river. The narayani river which is considered the deepest in nepal is also called the sapta gandaki.Seven rivers kali gandaki,budhi gandaki, seti,madi,daraudi, marsyandi and trishuli river have become major trubutaries of this river.This rivers also flows from near devghat dham in tanahun district and merges with the trishuli river at the famous devghat dham the confluence of the gandaki river.After that it flows towards india through the narayani river.Similarly another river is the trishuli river.The kali gandaki and trishuli rivers merge at devghat dham and reach the entry point into india through the narayani river.The length of this river is about 83 kilometers. All the rivers and streams of this chitwan district are merged into this river and flow south.Another river flowing in chitwan district is the rapti river.Talking about the rapti river is is the second important river of this district.The rapti river originates from the mahabharat mountain a little above bhimphedi and bhainse in makawanpur district.After that it flows from east to west through almost the middle of the plains of chitwan district.This river joins the narayani river at a place called kalabanjar in chitwan district and flows south.Since the rapti river has formed the chitwan valley it is also called the rapti valley.The tributaries of this valley included manahari, lhothar,khangery,panchnadi,budhi rapti, ryehu etc.Which have played a major role in the chitwan valley.The east rapti irrigation project which began in bikram sambat 2059-2050 has irrigated approximately 6500 hectares of land in chitwan district.
There are many tourist destination of chitwan district.Among them are chitwan national park and sauraha.Chitwan national parkis major tourist destination in this district.This area is spread over some area of chitwan,nawalparasi and makawanpur districts.This national park is aldo the first and largest national park in nepal.This park covers the main areas from the chure hills to the rapti,narayani and rewa rivers.About 70% of the park is covered with saal trees.This chitwan national park is famous for the One-horned rhinoceros and due to tireless efforts for its conservation the number of one-horned rhinos increased to 503 in 2011.Similarly this national park is home to more than 60 different types of mammals including the bengal tiger,blue-cow, sloth-bear,leopard,barking-dog, deer, sambar-deer,antelope,hog-deer, monkey,ape etc.Similarly according to the 2010 tiger census there were 135 adult leopard in the national park.Similarly reptiles and amphibians include gharial crocodiles,alligators,pythons and more than 546 species of birds, including natives birds one have more the park even more attractive. Not only this various type of butterflies and insects have made this park even richer.In 1984 A.D. this park was listed on the world heritage list.The annual visit of thousands of domestic and foreign tourist to this national park provides employment opportunities to the local residents and also contributes to revenue collection.Sauraha is another tourist destination in chitwan district. Similarly sauraha in chitwan district which falls under this region has also become a major tourist destination. An important tourist destinstion for domestic and foreign tourists in rhis region sauraha is also the gateway to chitwan national park.To reach sauraha one should go straight south from the sauraha entrance on the east-west highway.It is located about 18 kilometers east-south of the district headquarters bharatpur.The main attraction of this region are elephant safaris in the park and bagmara community forest and bathing with elephants in the rapti ruver.Similarly tourists coming here can enjoy here boats rides,tharu cultural museum and biological information center,elephant breeding center,village tour etc.There are also high-end hotels to stay in sauraha. Tourists can enjoy elephant safaris, camel safaris,bullock carts and vehicle safaris in the forest.Since the sauraha settlement is close to the forest one-horned rhinos,elephants and other wild animals can be seen roaming bear the settlement. Similarly while traveling by boat crocodiles and aligators can be seen sleeping on the banks of the river. After going there you can see tharu cultural dance in tharu cultural house every friday and saturday.
Similarly other important tourist destination in chitwan district include narayangadh market and upardang fort.Talking about the other tourest destinations in chitwan district narayangadh market in bharatpur. Bharatpur municipality was established in bikram samvat 2035. Accordingly the narayangadh market is the main urbans area of this municipality under bharatpur municipality.The vast narayani river flows a short distance from bharatpur which is also the headquarters of chitwan district. Narayangadh market is a large market in the inner madhesh of nepal.The market is very busy as it is located next to the highway.This narayangadh market is also the juction of the east-west mahendra highway and the capital.The main center of this district is located 150 kilometers south of the kathmandu. Similarly regular flights are operated from bharatpur airport located there to the kathmandu which is also the closest flight from the capital.Not only this there are wel-equipped hospitals in narayangadh market. That is why this market has become even more popular.Similarly large colleges are also operating for advanced education.Similarly small and large vehicles are operating from here to reach various part of the country.Devghat dham,bageshwori temple,ganeshsthan,harihar temple, pashupatinath temple,bishwo santi monastery,kalikamai temple, jakhadimai temple,durga temple etc.are the major religious places in this municipality.Also the notable physical structure here include the palace built by king mahendra on the banks of the narayani river,kasara palace,narayani bridge,kabard hall,diyalo bangala etc.Due to this physical structures it has become a tourist area.There are many historical and religious places in chitwan district.Upardand fort ranks first among those historical places.It is located on the mahabharata mountain about 10 kilometrrs north of tandi market in ratnanagar municipality on the mahendra highway.This fort located in dahakhani village development committee 1 of the mahabharata series looks very attractive and strong among the forts in the mahabharata series.This upardang fort is also called a historical fort.It is said that this fort was built in bikram sambat 1828 by bahadur shah’s eldest son satrubhanjan shah during the reign of bhadur shah collecting chitwan’s revenue to fight the war with the british.This fort is made of a type of iron that cannot be penetrated by cannons from the outside.Inside the fort a house for storing weapons and a well for collecting rainwater can also be seen.Currently a primary school is operating in this house which was priviously uemsed only for storing weapons.Until in bikram sambat 2013 this fort was the headquarters of chitwan and later it was shifted to bharatpur in bikram sambat 2014. Since the plains of chitwan ,the chure hill and the mountains can be seen from here this fort is not only historical but also of tourist importance.
Similarly chitwan district also has other tourist attractions like bisahajjari lake,pashuram pool and triveni dham.First i will describe bisahajjari lake in chitwan district.This lake is located twenty thousand feet south of the tikeuli gate of the east-west mahendra highway.It is also named bisahajjari lake which is located twenty thousand feet south of this highway.This lake is also the largest lake in chitwan district.It is said that this lake was also formed by collecting canal water brought from east chitwan in bikram sambat 2022.This lake has gained tourist importance as it is hone to 125 species of animals and birds,50 species of fish,the endangered black stork, various types of snakes and pythons and birds from the himalayan and siberian region. This lake seems to have helped make chitwan district a more tourist destination.Pashuram pool is also a popular tourist spot in chitwan district.Devati stream is one of the various rivers that originate from someshwar mountain in the south of the madi valley and merged with the rehu or rewa river.This river is called devaki stream because many figures of hindu gods and goddess are seen in this river.Since its origin is frome a rock shaped like a cow’s hoof it is said that water is called gaudha kuwa or goddak pool. On the last peak on the side of someshwar mountain there is a parshuram kunda or pool. According to legend parshuram of the mahabharata ere performed penance in this pool.This pool is formed the beautiful waterfalls that flows from someshwar mountain.Every years a goddak bathing a grand fair was held here on the days of ramnavami and chaite dasain festivals.In addition the beautiful natural resources including draupati pool, udhishthira’s broken umbrella,The ancient king birat’s stable and statues of the five pandavas have enhanced the dignity of this area.This area is also condidered very important for tourists.Similarly triveni dham is another tourist destination in chitwan district.This place called triveni is located in the south-west corner of chitwan district on the border of nawalparasi district.It is believed that bathing in triveni dham known as an important pilgrimage site for hindus can free one from all sins.Located near the chure range a grand fair is held here every year on the full moon day of the month of magh. Similarly a large crowd of devotees gathers here on maghe sankranti and chaite dasain festivals.A large number of pilgrims from india,tibet, sikkim and bhutan also come here.
Similarly chitwan district also has important tourist destinations like meghauli and kasara If we talk about the tourist spot meghauli in chitwan district it is also one of the main destinations.It is located about 25 kilometers west of bhaktapur the headquarters of chitwan district.Neghauli is nepal’s first chitwan national park and is located as a beautiful island surrounded by two large river narayani and rapti on three sides.It is known as a center of tourist attraction and an emerging tourist destination. Even before the establishment of the chitwan national park it is also the gateway to tigertop jungle resort which started the first jungle safari in nepal since bikram sambat 2022.Meghauli is famous for its 8 community forests,thatu cultural house, 25 kilometers of beaches surrounded by two rivers,boat rides, birds watching,the international elephant polo game played only in nepal, parajumping and glimpses of the culture of different castes. Here the view of the sunset seen at golaghat the confluence of two large rivers narayani and rapti in the evening has given tourists an unforgettable natural spectacle.If you need to stay during the religious tourist water journey from devghat dham to triveni dham comfortable resorts,hotels and tharu community homestays have been arranged at this place.Due to various reason meghauli can be considered a major tourist destination in chitwan district. Similarly another tourist destination in chitwan district is the kasara area.Kasara is located about 17 kilometers south of bharatpur the headquarters of chitwan district.Similarly kasara is located 2 kilometer south of patihani village development committee which is within the chitwan national park.Kasata is famous as a religious site of bikram baba and a crocodile breeding center.This place is also considered important for the ankhetopphar museum which has a collection of rare wild animals and birds,snakes, pythons, and butterflies.This kasara museum is established in the kasara palace of the rana period.In this way it is another features that you can observe various species of fish, amphibians, animals and rare wildlife found in the lakes and ponds in this area.
Chitwan district is a district with many religious places so there are also religious like valmiki hermitage,bikram baba and baikunthe dham here.first of all i will give you information about valmiki hermitage.About 2 kilometers east of triveni dham valmiki hermitage dating back to the ramayan period is located inside the forest of chure hills. In the second era exiled sita gave birth to lava and kusha in this place.In this hermitage valmiki practiced penance and taught lava and kusha.Goddess site also lived in this place so it is considered a sacred religious place.This place rich in carved and large stones and inscription of archaeological,religious and historical importance.Inside this hermitage is the temple of harenath on the right of which statues of sage valmiki and on the left of sita,lava and kusha have been installed.Then this area is very picturesque.Brief information about bikram baba tourist place of chitwan district. bikram baba has been regarded as the deity or historical deity of the tribal tharu community of chitwan.The inhabitants of the tharu castes here are known to worship as a special deity. bikram baba is located at the foot of a tree on the banks of the rapti river under the south chitwan national park from jagatpur.The tharus of chitwan come to this place every year on ramnavami and worship. Similarly they sacrifice animals, ducks,pigeons etc.It is believed that if they do this their wishes will be fulfilked and even those who do not have children will have gaved children.Now faith and devotion towards this bikram baba is increasing among other castes as well.Since the people have believe in nature priests of the tharu castes perform worship here to protect them from natural disasters, diseases and natural accidents. Similarly baikunthe dham is also a tourist destination in chitwan district.baikunthe dham or baikuntheshwor mahadeva temple is located in ayodhyapuri 6 of the madi valley.This baikunthe dham is an important place among the religious pilgrimage site in nepal.It is said that king kubera of lanka performed penance in this place and that ratna karna also attained enlightenment here and became sage valmiki.Similarly ravana also attained power by penance here and the sons of king pandu of hastenapur performed penance here for 12 years.It is said that during their 12-years exile they attained power that no one could recognize.It is said that arjun’s son abhimanyu and his wife subhadra also attained the power to not feel hunger,thirst or fatigue by doing penance at this place.It is said that since that time the subhadra fair has been held at this place.Friends how did you like in the information about chitwan district written in this lesson ? If you want to write some opinions and suggestions about my shortcomings in this regard you can write your suggestions in the comment box.
