Even during the peak heat of the Nepali month of Jestha (mid-May to mid-June), the number of Indian tourists visiting Chitwan National Park has increased, tourism operators said.

While the overall number of domestic and international visitors usually declines compared to mid-April to mid-May, Indian arrivals have risen, bringing renewed activity to Sauraha.

Hotel entrepreneurs and jeep safari operators in Sauraha said visitors from India’s Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states are arriving in greater numbers. “It is extremely hot in those states. Many Indian tourists travel to Nepal with plans to visit Muktinath, Pokhara and Manakamana, and they also stay in Chitwan,” said Rishi Tiwari, a hotel and jeep safari operator. He added that visitors often describe Nepal’s climate as cooler and more affordable.

Tourism and hotel entrepreneurs in Sauraha said Indian arrivals during the summer season were previously relatively low, as most tourists focused on destinations like Pokhara and the Muktinath region. Large crowds are still not seen in Chitwan compared to those areas, but this year, a notable number of Indian tourists have arrived even in mid-May to mid-June.

Tourists in Sauraha mostly take jeep safaris. “We have seen those returning from Muktinath stopping in Chitwan. Those returning from Pashupatinath also stay here for a night. Most are either returning via Sunauli or stopping briefly before heading back to India,” said Ramesh Regmi, operator of Nature Heritage Hotel in Sauraha. He added that some arrive in private vehicles in small groups, while others come in larger groups on buses.

Tourists arriving in small private vehicles usually dine at hotels, while groups travelling by large buses often cook their own food but use hotel rooms for accommodation, Regmi said. Jeep safaris remain the main attraction due to the short wildlife viewing experience available in Chitwan.

According to Avinash Thapa Magar, information officer at Chitwan National Park, a total of 256,800 tourists, including domestic, visited the park from mid-July to mid-June in the current fiscal year. Of them, 153,874 were domestic tourists, 19,855 from SAARC countries and 83,071 from other countries.

In mid-May to mid-June alone, 16,628 domestic tourists visited the park. Foreign arrivals also declined compared to mid-April to mid-May, with 7,433 foreign tourists in mid-May to mid-June against 9,881 in mid-April to mid-May. The highest foreign arrivals this fiscal year were recorded in mid-October to mid-November at 11,809.

However, Indian tourist arrivals within the SAARC category rose sharply in mid-May to mid-June. While 1,813 Indians visited in mid-April to mid-May, the number increased to 5,863 in mid-May to mid-June.

Domestic arrivals peaked in mid-October to mid-November with 19,109 visitors, followed by mid-April to mid-May with 18,046. Generally, tourist arrivals peak between mid-Octobe to mid-November and mid-February to mid-March, but this year, mid-February to mid-March recorded fewer visitors than mid-April to mid-May, and even mid-January to mid-February saw higher numbers than mid-February to mid-March. Domestic arrivals also declined in mid-May to mid-June after mid-April to mid-May.

Indian arrivals stood at 3,012 in mid-December to mid-January, while in subsequent months the figure did not cross 2,400. In mid-July to mid-August, only 393 SAARC tourists visited the park. Between mid-December and mid-January, and mid-February and mid-March, a total of 2,344 Indian tourists visited.

With the sharp rise in Indian arrivals, mid-May to mid-June has become one of the busiest months for total tourist numbers after mid-October to mid-November. Earlier, mid-February to mid-March used to see the highest Indian tourist inflow.

Sauraha’s tourism activity has also been supported by a two-day weekend, which has boosted short-distance travel, operators said. Chitwan National Park remains the country’s leading destination for wildlife observation, home to rare species such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger.