Starting our blog on Kathmandu to Chitwan Travel Guide.
Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, 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. The Kathmandu-Chitwan bus has 2 seats in each of the two columns. The drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan is approximately 5 hours.
The distance between Kathmandu and Chitwan (Sauraha) is 144 km. Similarly, Boundless Adventure sells bus tickets at its city office. If you are looking for private vehicles, we are interested in cars, Jeeps, Vans, and Buses.
Chitwan
Chitwan highlights the geographical features of the southern Terai plains. The Chitwan District is densely forested in the Southwestern region, with tropical and subtropical forests. Chitwan borders India to the South and is bordered to the north by the Narayani River (a tributary of the Ganges).
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 road routes from Kathmandu to Chitwan. Tribhuwan Highway, Nepal's oldest highway, is the primary route 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 runs along the Trishuli River, which originates 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, making it a popular destination for rafting enthusiasts.
Along the way, you will travel via various Tars, flatland right above the base of a hill. The road is lined with twists and turns, passing through numerous villages in the Dhading district.
Mugling to Narayanghat
From Mugling to 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, lies along this stretch of travel.
Devghat is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site located at the confluence of the Kaligandaki and Narayani Rivers. The road then leads to Narayanghat, penetrating the Chitwan district.
Narayanghat is a bustling town in the Chitwan district with modern amenities. The Narayani Bridge spans 420 meters across the Narayani River. The other route takes you west via the Narayani Bridge and leads to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, on the East-West Highway.
From Narayanghat, your bus heads southbound towards Tandi. From there, you will reach the tourist hub of Sauraha in Chitwan. 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 weight limit on bags for 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 en route for breakfast. It is usually made after at least 2 hours of departure. Furthermore, your bus driver will stop for refreshments multiple times. Note that 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 the domestic terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport. 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. The drive from Bharatpur Airport to Sauraha takes about 45 minutes by road.