World Heritage Identification Number: 284
World Heritage since: 1984
Category: Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Protected Areas & National Parks
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇳🇵 Nepal
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Exploring the Biodiversity Haven: Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park, located at the base of the Himalayan range in south-central Nepal, stands as a testament to the richness and diversity of the Terai region that once stretched across the foothills of Nepal and India. Established in 1973 as the Royal Chitwan National Park, it was later designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, acknowledging its significant role in preserving unique ecosystems and endangered species. Covering an expanse of approximately 952.63 square kilometers (367.81 square miles), this protected area offers a captivating blend of diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and cultural heritage.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It has a particularly rich flora and fauna. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the park, which is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criteria (vii): The spectacular landscape, covered with lush vegetation and the Himalayas as the backdrop makes the park an area of exceptional natural beauty. The forested hills and changing river landscapes serve to make Chitwan one of the most stunning and attractive parts of Nepal’s lowlands. Situated in a river valley basin and characterized by steep cliffs on the south-facing slopes and a mosaic of riverine forest and grasslands along the river banks of the natural landscape makes the property amongst the most visited tourist destination of its kind in the region. The property includes the Narayani (Gandaki) river, the third-largest river in Nepal which originates in the high Himalayas and drains into the Bay of Bengal providing dramatic river views and scenery as well as the river terraces composed of layers of boulders and gravels. The property includes two famous religious areas: Bikram Baba at Kasara and Balmiki Ashram in Tribeni, pilgrimage places for Hindus from nearby areas and India. This is also the land of the indigenous Tharu community who have inhabited the area for centuries and are well known for their unique cultural practices.
Criteria (ix): Constituting the largest and least disturbed example of sal forest and associated communities, Chitwan National Park is an outstanding example of biological evolution with a unique assemblage of native flora and fauna from the Siwalik and inner Terai ecosystems. The property includes the fragile Siwalik-hill ecosystem, covering some of the youngest examples of this as well as alluvial flood plains, representing examples of ongoing geological processes. The property is the last major surviving example of the natural ecosystems of the Terai and has witnessed minimal human impacts from the traditional resource dependency of people, particularly the aboriginal Tharu community living in and around the park.
Criteria (x): The combination of alluvial flood plains and riverine forest provides an excellent habitat for the Great One-horned Rhinoceros and the property is home for the second largest population of this species in the world. It is also prime habitat for the Bengal Tiger and supports a viable source population of this endangered species. Exceptionally high in species diversity, the park harbours 31% of mammals, 61% of birds, 34% of amphibians and reptiles, and 65% of fishes recorded in Nepal. Additionally, the park is famous for having one of the highest concentrations of birds in the world (over 350 species) and is recognized as one of the worlds’ biodiversity hotspots as designated by Conservation International and falls amongst WWFs’ 200 Global Eco-regions.
Encyclopedia Record: Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is the first national park of Nepal. It was established in 1973 as the Royal Chitwan National Park and was granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers an area of 952.63 km2 (367.81 sq mi) in the Terai of south-central Nepal. It ranges in elevation from about 100 m (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 m (2,674 ft) in the Sivalik Hills.Additional Site Details
Area: 93,200 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 27.5 , 84.33333
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Chitwan National Park reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
Image
© Vadim Tolbatov, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Chitwan National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Impact of Tourism on Indigenous Bote Community of Chitwan National Park
Tourism in Chitwan National Park, while enhancing the economic livelihood of the indigenous Bote community and contributing to biodiversity conservation, fails to deliver significant socio-cultural benefits. Despite the park's strong destination image in Nepal's tourism sector, the Bote community remains largely unable to capitalize on these opportunities. A mixed-method study revealed weak positive impacts on economic and environmental aspects but no socio-cultural changes. This suggests that while tourism can support sustainable conservation efforts and reduce park-people conflicts, its potential for broader community benefit is underutilized.
Prateek Gurung, & Gangaram Biswakarma. (2026). Impact of Tourism on Indigenous Bote Community of Chitwan National Park. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.20464829
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Zoonotic risks and conservation challenges: Gastrointestinal parasites in wild mammals of Chitwan National Park, Nepal
A comprehensive study of gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) in wild mammals of Chitwan National Park, Nepal, reveals a significant prevalence of 85.7% infection rates, with helminths being more common than protozoans. Nematodes were the most prevalent helminth group, followed by trematodes and cestodes, with multiple infections observed more frequently than single infections. The findings highlight a major health concern that could impact species survival and conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for proactive strategies to monitor and address these zoonotic risks in the park.
Maharjan, B., Jain, P., & Koju, N. P. (2025). Zoonotic risks and conservation challenges: Gastrointestinal parasites in wild mammals of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 26, 101041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101041
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The fishing cat: New insights on distribution in the northern sector of Chitwan National Park, Nepal
A recent camera-trapping study in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, reveals that fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) inhabit areas less than one kilometer from human settlements, suggesting their adaptability to human-dominated landscapes. The research, conducted over 130 camera trap nights in April-May 2021, documented the species near the Rapti riverbed, where seasonal shallow water holes likely facilitate hunting. This finding expands our understanding of fishing cat distribution and behavior in Nepal, a region with significant research gaps on this elusive feline. The study highlights their proximity to human settlements and aquatic habitats, offering new insights for conservation efforts.
Maharjan, R., Mishra, R., & Karki, J. B. (2024). The fishing cat: New insights on distribution in the northern sector of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Nepalese Journal of Zoology, 8(1), 81–85. https://doi.org/10.3126/njz.v8i1.67115
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Multi-stakeholder identification and prioritization of human–tiger conflict reduction measures in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
A multi-stakeholder approach identified and prioritized 22 human-tiger conflict reduction measures for Chitwan National Park, Nepal, including compensation payments, tiger-proof fences, and habitat/prey management. These measures were ranked based on input from victims (e.g., farmers), beneficiaries (e.g., tourist guides), and park managers, revealing divergent priorities: victims favored fences, beneficiaries prioritized habitat management, while compensation was universally preferred by managers and often ranked highest across groups. The study underscores the need for tailored policies that balance stakeholder perspectives to effectively mitigate conflicts in tiger conservation areas.
Dhungana, R., Maraseni, T., Allen, B. L., Kandel, R. C., Koirala, P. N., Pant, G., & Ranabhat, R. (2024). Multi-stakeholder identification and prioritization of human–tiger conflict reduction measures in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Oryx, 58(5), 655–663. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605323001734
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Ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the Summer habitat use of Bos gaurus and its conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Uncontrolled fire, invasive species, human disturbances, and climate change pose the most significant threats to the gaur population (Bos gaurus) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. This study identified key ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing their summer habitat use, including a preference for dense forests and proximity to roads or firelines while avoiding areas with predators. Researchers used binary logistic regression models to analyze these influences and ranked conservation threats using the relative whole-site threat ranking method. Effective habitat management strategies, such as maintaining firelines, controlling invasive species, and managing grasslands, are recommended to sustain gaur populations and associated herbivores. Future research should expand geographically and temporally to assess long-term habitat suitability.
Poudel, S., Pokhrel, B., Neupane, B., Miya, M. S., Kc, N., Basyal, C. R., Neupane, A., & Dhami, B. (2024). Ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the Summer habitat use of Bos gaurus and its conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. PeerJ, 12, e18035. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.18035
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Community Development for Bote in Chitwan National Park, Nepal: A Political Ecology of Development Logic of Erasure
Despite the shift from fortress conservation to community-based development in Nepal's protected areas, traditional indigenous livelihoods and knowledge of marginalized groups, such as the Bote people in Chitwan National Park, continue to be erased under state modernization initiatives. An ethnographic study in two buffer zone villages revealed that while community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) promises inclusion, it often perpetuates exclusionary practices, ignoring customary environmental ethics and livelihoods. The research, grounded in political ecology, highlights the need for a conservation approach that respects traditional knowledge and values, challenging the prevailing logic of development in Nepal's protected areas.
Rai, I. M., Melles, G., & Gautam, S. (2023). Community Development for Bote in Chitwan National Park, Nepal: A Political Ecology of Development Logic of Erasure. Sustainability, 15(3), 2834. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032834
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Factors influencing the habitat selection of Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and its conservation threats in the Rapti River of Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in the Rapti River of Chitwan National Park, Nepal, exhibit strong habitat preferences for sandy riverbanks with moderate to moderately steep slopes (15–35°), where 39.1% of observed individuals were found basking. This species, a keystone predator, faces significant conservation threats from illegal fishing, sand mining, and waste disposal, which require targeted management strategies. The study employed a generalized linear model (GLM) to analyze habitat selection based on factors like bank substrate, slope, and anthropogenic disturbances, alongside a whole-site ranking method to assess threats. Findings underscore the need for spatio-temporal research to understand resource partitioning with sympatric gharials and enforce stricter regulations against human encroachment.
K.C., N., Neupane, B., Belbase, B., Dhami, B., Bist, B. S., Basyal, C. R., & Bhattarai, S. (2023). Factors influencing the habitat selection of Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and its conservation threats in the Rapti River of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 42, e02406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02406
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