Rapti River (East Rapti)
राप्ती नदी
The river that borders Sauraha, where you can paddle downstream by dugout canoe to watch crocodiles and waterbirds. A sunset on the riverbank is Chitwan's signature sight.
The Rapti River forms the northern boundary of Chitwan National Park and separates the town of Sauraha from the park. The most popular activity is an early morning canoe ride down the river in a traditional dugout carved from a silk cotton tree trunk. The trip takes about 30 to 60 minutes. You can get close to marsh mugger crocodiles basking on the banks and to slender-snouted gharials, along with kingfishers, herons and cormorants. If you are lucky, a rhino may come down to the water to drink. Most canoe trips end with a jungle walk back to town. Canoeing is an activity inside the park and requires a park entry ticket and a guide. Your hotel can usually book everything for you. In the evening, visitors crowd the sandy riverbank and the restaurants with views to watch the sunset. The sun sinks behind the jungle on the opposite bank, and elephants occasionally bathe in the river. The canoes sit low in the water, so do not stand up or reach into the river while riding.
Opening hours
All day (canoe rentals from about 07:00)
Nearby sights
- Sauraha
- Tharu Cultural Museum & Villages
- Baghmara & Kumroj Community Forests
- Elephant Breeding Center
- Bishazari Tal
- Narayani Riverside, Narayangarh
- Kasara Gharial Breeding Center
- Chitwan National Park