River sunset
Behind the forest.
Nabin K. Sapkota — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Supradai — CC BY 4.0 · Hopingyousuf — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ajay Gautam — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small town on the bank of the Rapti River at Chitwan National Park's main entrance, the river dividing it from the forest. It has become the visitors' base for safaris, with hotels, lodges and restaurants scattered among fields and palms. The town's finest moment is sunset on the riverbank, when people sit on benches and sand to watch the sun sink behind the forest on the far bank, its orange colours mirrored in the water as long wooden canoes glide past. A rhino or deer often appears on the opposite bank. The area is home to the Tharu, one of the Terai's indigenous peoples, with villages of decorated mud houses that can be visited by bike, and their traditional dances are performed in town in the evening. The riverbank is free and open, but never cross the river alone: the far bank is forest with dangerous wild animals. The Terai plains are very hot from April to June; October to March is the mildest time.
Behind the forest.
On the water.
Mud houses.
Sauraha, on the edge of Chitwan National Park
Sometimes, yes: rhinos and deer appear on the far bank of the river, especially at sunset.