Sauraha
सौराहा
The gateway town to Chitwan, with a single main street lined with hotels, restaurants and travel agencies. Walk down to the riverbank to watch the sunset.
Sauraha was originally a village of the Tharu people and is now the hub of tourism in Chitwan. The main street runs from the bus stop down to the Rapti River, lined with resort hotels and backpacker guesthouses at every budget level, Western restaurants and Nepali eateries. Nearly every safari, canoe trip, jungle walk and Tharu dance performance can be booked right here. The town is easy to explore by bicycle or on foot. To the north is the Tharu Cultural Museum, about 3 km west is the Elephant Breeding Center, and the country lanes to the east are flanked by rice paddies and traditional mud-walled farmhouses. The riverside sunset viewpoint and the row of bars are the liveliest spots in the evening. The town has ATMs, but they sometimes run out of cash, so bring plenty of Nepali rupees from Kathmandu. Wild rhinos occasionally wander into the edge of town at night, so do not approach them.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Rapti River (East Rapti)
- Tharu Cultural Museum & Villages
- Baghmara & Kumroj Community Forests
- Elephant Breeding Center
- Bishazari Tal
- Narayani Riverside, Narayangarh
- Kasara Gharial Breeding Center
- Chitwan National Park