'''Sauraha''' is in Central Nepal.

Understand

Sauraha, Chitwan District, lies just across the Rapti River from the Chitwan National Park. It is the eastern gateway to Chitwan National Park and jungle safaris for budget, mid-priced and 3-4 star tourists. Beginning literally as small and very quaint Tharu village of mud and daub huts and houses, with a half dozen mud and daub hotels, it has grown, for good or bad, into a small quiet town full of with western style hotels/resorts, restaurants, internet cafes, and gift shops.

Get in

By air

In addition to good road access, Sauraha has good air connections through Bharatpur airport with regular daily air services from Pokhara and Kathmandu. The airport lies just 15 kilometer to the west of Sauraha. Will need to change to bus, jeep, taxi for connection to Sauraha.

By bus

'''Via Kathmandu'''There are three types of buses available. Cheaper Birganj bound buses which will drop you at Tadi Bazaar about 4 kilometers north of Sunauli where you can easily get local bus, taxi, rickshaws, tanga/pony carts. These second bit more expensive type is the direct tourist buses that are no more comfortable than normal intercity except they are full of tourists. A third type are more comfortable aircondition buses (Greenline, etc). All buses will travel via Mugling, Narayangarh/Bharatpur, Tadi Bazaar, Sauraha. 4-5 hours.

'''Via Sunauli / Bhairahawa''' on a eastern bound (Birganj/Biratnagar)buses traveling through Butwal, Bharatpur, Tadi Bazaar. Change to local bus, jeep, pony cart, rickshaw to Sauraha 3 - 4 hours.

'''Via Pokhara''', like Kathmandu, direct tourist buses are available via Mugling, Narayangarh/Bharatpur, Tadi Bazaar, Sauraha. 3 - 4 hours.

Get around

See

Elephant Breeding Center

Tharu Cultural Museum

Do

Jungle / wildlife safaris by foot, jeep and elephant. You are for sure to see the great one horned rhinoceros (there are hundreds of them in Chitwan). Also many types of deer, monkeys, and much much much rarely Sher Khan, the great Indian Tiger.

Bird watching in and around the jungle. Especially Dashajar Tal (20,000 lakes) wetlands area approximately 10 kilometers north west from Sauraha.

Buy

There are a dozen or more gift shops around the main bazaar area.

Also, local Tharu wares like dhokiya-woven colourful baskets made from rice straw.

Eat

PARK VIEW RESTAURANT, opposite the visitors center at the end of Sauraha. It doensn't look like much from the outside but the chef Chitra was trained in one of the expensive resorts and that's how the food tastes like. The prices are much lower then in the resorts. You might have to wait a while until it's done, but with some Arrak or beer this isn't a punishment. Try the chicken steak sizzler, chicken burger or lasagna.

Drink

Sleep

Contact

Get out