Starting our blog on Kathmandu to Chitwan Travel Guide.
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is centrally located. It has a long history of kings, monuments, culture, trade, and religion. This valley spans 570 square kilometers and is a tourist hub called the "City of Temples." It is an open museum for travelers.
UNESCO Sites of Kathmandu
7 UNESCO heritage sites reside inside Kathmandu Valley. These are Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Changunarayan, and Boudhanath. Inhabited densely by Hindus and Buddhists, it is a pilgrimage site. This beautiful valley is surrounded by lush green hills on all sides.
Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Chitwan
For your journey to Chitwan, you can take a luxury tourist bus from the Sorahkhutte tourist bus station in Kathmandu. The bus usually has 42 seats and is comfortable with tourist amenities. The bus leaves from Kathmandu early at 7 a.m. Kathmandu Chitwan bus consists of 2 seats in each of the two columns. It’s a drive of approximately 5 hours from Kathmandu to Chitwan.
The distance between Kathmandu and Chitwan, Sauraha, is 144 km. Similarly, Boundless Adventure sells bus tickets at its city office. If you want private vehicles, we are interested in cars, Jeeps, Vans, and Buses.
Chitwan
Chitwan portrays the geographical features of the southern plains of Terai. The Chitwan District is densely covered in the South Western territory with tropical and subtropical forests. Chitwan borders India to the South and is cut by the Narayani River (a tributary of the Ganges) to the north.
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park, located here, is home to diverse and rare flora and fauna, making it a tourist hub in Nepal. Its rich ecosystem encompasses a variety of habitats, including lush forests, grasslands, wetlands, and rivers.
The dense tropical forest of Chitwan National Park has been home to several rare wildlife species, including the majestic Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephant, and mugger crocodile. The forest is also filled with Sal trees, figs, bamboo, and medicinal herbs.
Boasting over 500 species of birds, Sauraha is an Arcadia for nature enthusiasts. It is a tourist town located on the bank of the Rapti River, the gateway to Chitwan National Park.
Alternatives for Kathmandu to Chitwan Travel Journey
Road trip from Kathmandu to Chitwan
There are multiple roadway routes you can take to get to Chitwan from Kathmandu. Tribhuwan Highway, the oldest highway in Nepal, is the major highway for this traverse. The road first crosses the Kathmandu Valley from Naubise, then follows the famous Prithvi Highway to Mugling. Then, it heads toward the bustling city of Chitwan, Narayanghat.
Naubise to Mugling
The 110-kilometer stretch from Naubise to Mugling travels alongside the raging Trishuli River, which originates high in the Himalayas. Mugling is a popular stopover on the Prithvi highway, located at the confluence of the Marsyangdi and Trishuli Rivers. Both of these rivers are Tributaries of the Saptagandaki River system. The Trishuli River is famous for its raging rapids for rafting enthusiasts.
Along the way, you will travel via various Tars, flatland right above the base of a hill. The road is filled with twists and turns through numerous villages in the Dhading district.
Mugling to Narayanghat
From Mugling until Narayanghat, we travel along the riverbank of the Narayani River. The stretch is 37 kilometers long, with a few twists along hilly roads. One of the most significant Hindu pilgrimage sites, Devghat, is located between this travel stretch.
Devghat is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site located at the confluence of the Kaligandaki and Narayani Rivers. The road then leads to Narayaghat, piercing into the Chitwan district.
Narayanghat is a bustling town in the Chitwan district with modern amenities. There is a vast bridge, Narayani Bridge, spanning 420 meters over the Narayani River. The other route takes on Narayani Bridge to the west and heads towards Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, via East-West Highway.
From Narayanghat, your bus heads southbound towards Tandi. From there, you will reach the tourist hub of Chitwan, Sauraha. The journey from Narayanghat to Sauraha is 17 kilometers. Your final stop on the Kathmandu Chitwan Bus travel is at Sauraha, the gateway to Chitwan National Park.
Luggage
Your bus will have a luggage compartment at the back. There is no weightage limit for the bags on buses traveling from Kathmandu to Chitwan. The luggage compartment is inside the bus, safe from rain showers and dust.
Stopovers along the way
The bus from Kathmandu to Chitwan stops for breakfast en route. It is usually made after at least 2 hours of departure. Furthermore, your bus driver will stop for refreshments multiple times. Note that the cost of your breakfast is not included in the bus ticket price.
Backpackers,
This bus journey is a budget option for travelers going to Chitwan. Backpackers can take a low-cost bus from Kathmandu to reach Chitwan in 5 hours.
Boundless Adventures provides bus tickets and all other travel requirements for the Chitwan tour. Email us with your needs.
Air Travel from Kathmandu to Chitwan
In our Kathmandu to Chitwan Travel Guide, we recommend taking a direct flight. The flight is scheduled throughout the day and departs from Tribhuwan International Airport, a domestic terminal. A twenty-two-minute flight from Kathmandu will land you at Bharatpur Airport. You will have to arrange a transfer vehicle from Bharatpur to Sauraha. Bharatpur Airport to Sauraha takes about 45 minutes by road vehicle.