I’ve always believed that some places speak in quieter tones — not loud cities or dramatic peaks, but soft, earthy corners of the world where life moves slowly. My short trip to Chitwan felt exactly like that.
I arrived in the evening and spent the next full day immersed in Chitwan National Park — walking through forests, feeding elephants, and listening to the rain fall over the jungle. On the third evening, I left for Pokhara — full of stories, the scent of wet grass still in my clothes, and a deep calm I hadn’t expected.
This blog isn’t a guide. It’s a series of postcards — little memory-stamps from a short journey that left a lasting impression.
📌 What to Expect from This Blog
A collection of eight vivid, personal postcards from a 2-day trip to Chitwan National Park — Nepal’s iconic jungle destination. From walking safaris and elephant encounters to riverside moments and quiet observations, this blog captures the essence of slow travel, spontaneous magic, and the rare balance between humans and the wild.
📬 Postcard 1: Arrival, Markets & a Gentle Giant
We arrived in Chitwan just before sunset. Our hotel, tucked away from the busy center, was quiet and surrounded by greenery. After dropping our bags, we walked to the local market to pick up some snacks for our safari the next day.
On our way back, something stopped us in our tracks — an elephant, calmly standing at a neighbor’s house.
Naturally, I walked up to ask about her. The man told me he’s raised her since childhood. Their bond spans decades. It was a beautiful story — one that brought up mixed feelings too. I know the debate around keeping wild animals at home. But in Chitwan, there’s something deeply woven between humans and animals — a shared rhythm.
He told me that they no longer give human rides on her, which was good to hear. Every morning at 7, they walk into the jungle so she can graze and stretch. I had nothing to offer her then — but I promised to return with bananas.
As we walked back, we saw the sun setting gently over the rice fields next to our hotel. It was the kind of moment that feels like a quiet welcome.
📬 Postcard 2: Into the Wild – The Walking Safari
Our morning began early with a walking safari, guided by two locals who knew the jungle like the back of their hands. Before entering the forest, we had to cross a calm river — stepping into wild territory.
Within the first stretch, one of our guides pointed to a tree. I climbed up, and from there I saw it — a rhinoceros grazing in the misty distance. Fog made it hard to capture a photo, but the experience didn’t need one. It felt primal, grounding.
Later, we spotted a rhino again, this time taking a bath. A majestic sight. We even glimpsed a tiger far in the distance. Along the way, we discovered colorful mushrooms, insects, and birdsong all around.
If you’re planning your own jungle safari in Nepal, walking safaris are the way to feel part of the forest, not just a visitor.
📬 Postcard 3: Jeep Safari – Rain, Peacocks & Tigers
The afternoon brought a jeep safari, rolling into the deeper parts of Chitwan. As we entered the forest, we saw many domestic elephants roaming — especially the young ones. Their presence was heart-melting, though we kept a respectful distance. They may look calm, but elephants can be dangerous if they don’t know you.
We spotted rhinos just beside our jeep, and our guide reminded us — they tend to attack only if they see you as small or vulnerable. So, sitting high in the jeep, we were fine.
Then — the same tiger from the morning, now resting near a pond. What are the chances?
The rain came suddenly. We paused at the crocodile breeding center, taking shelter. After the downpour, something magical happened: peacocks began calling and dancing. We couldn’t see them all, but the sound felt like celebration.
We even spotted a crocodile sunbathing as we rolled past. And dozens of small, vibrant birds emerged as the forest glistened from the rain.
📬 Postcard 4: A Promise Kept – Feeding the Elephant
That evening, as promised, I returned to the neighbor’s house — bananas and watermelon in hand.
The elephant recognized us, I think. She let us touch her trunk gently, always under the watchful eye of her caretaker. Being that close again, with food this time, felt deeply personal.
It’s advised not to approach elephants without permission. But this was special. A promise kept, a bond honored, and a moment I’ll carry for a long time.
📬 Postcard 5: A Slow Morning with Birds & Coffee
The next morning was slow and beautiful. I woke to the sounds of birds echoing through the trees around the hotel.
Coffee in hand, I sat by the garden and let the jungle breathe around me. No plans, no rush. Just a good-weathered, peaceful start before another mini-adventure.
Sometimes, the quietest moments feel the fullest.
📬 Postcard 6: The Elephant Breeding Center & Life in the Park
Before leaving Chitwan, we made one last stop — the Elephant Breeding Center, located a little ways outside the main settlements.
To get there, we hopped on a tuk-tuk — the same one we’d taken before. The road took us past familiar village scenes: open rice fields, goats wandering freely, cows resting under trees, and kids waving from doorsteps. The pace was slow, and the view was as peaceful as it was alive.
On the way, I got talking to the driver. I asked what life is like here, inside a national park — because that’s what it is. The village itself lies within Chitwan National Park. A place where humans live with — not just near — the wild.
He told me something I haven’t forgotten:
“Wild elephants come into the village at night and eat almost everything we plant. But we can’t stop them. They’re protected. So we just let them be.”
He said it casually, with no frustration. Just fact — part of everyday life. And in that quiet moment, I truly felt what co-existence means here.
It’s not just something you see on a jungle safari. It’s something people live with, every single day.
Soon, we arrived at the Elephant Breeding Center. It was a place I’d heard about — dedicated to the care and conservation of elephants — but it left me with mixed emotions.
The elephants were beautiful, massive, awe-inspiring. But many were tied, and the sense of confinement weighed on me. Their caretakers explained that elephants can be dangerous if not kept in control — and with their strength, even a small act of resistance can cause real damage. Still, seeing them restrained was difficult.
This visit wasn’t my favorite moment of the trip — but it was a necessary one. It showed me that conservation is never black and white. It lives in the space between love and control, freedom and safety, nature and community. As WWF Nepal puts it, it’s a balance between wildness and protection.
We rode back in silence, taking one last look at the landscape where humans and wild animals live side by side, not perfectly, but somehow — harmoniously enough.
📬 Postcard 7: Rivers, Rhinos & Goodbyes
We had a few hours to spare before our drive to Pokhara, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend them than by the Rapti River.
I’ve been to Chitwan before, and if we’d had more time, I would’ve loved to visit Bishazari Taal — the famous “20 Thousand Lake.” It’s a haven for birds, flora, and everything wild and beautiful. But time was short, and I made a note to myself: next time, don’t skip it.
Instead, we headed toward the riverside — a peaceful spot lined with little restaurants and bars that overlook the water. The air was soft, the vibe lazy in the best way. A friendly cat greeted us at one café, purring like she owned the place. We ordered lunch and let the hours drift.
But Chitwan wasn’t quite done with us.
On the short walk to the river “beach”, we passed by an army-protected zone — and there, grazing casually in the grass, were two baby rhinos. Absolutely adorable. We stopped and just watched them, quietly, as if not to break the moment. No safari guide, no crowd — just us and two young giants doing their thing.
On the way back, something familiar caught our eye: another elephant, this time in the yard of a local house. Naturally, we stopped. The man welcomed us kindly and let us touch the elephant. I couldn’t believe it — two days in Chitwan and so many close, respectful encounters with these majestic beings.
And of course, just like before, I brought her bananas. How could I not?
It was the perfect ending. Nothing grand. Nothing forced. Just a slow farewell full of small, wild wonders.
📬 Postcard 8: A Quiet Encounter in Daylight – One Last Glimpse
Just as we were heading back to the hotel for the final time, Chitwan gifted me one last moment.
There she was again — the elephant from day one.
The one I had met in the evening, the one I fed with bananas and watermelon, the one whose bond with her human still stays with me.
Her owner had told me she usually isn’t home during the day — she’s out in the jungle, walking, grazing, just being herself. But somehow, on this bright, warm afternoon, she was there. Standing quietly by the roadside, bathed in sunlight.
I couldn’t resist. I stopped. Looked at her for a while. And clicked a photo — not for Instagram, not to post, just to remember. To carry her presence with me a little longer.
It felt like a proper goodbye. A soft one.
No wild adventure, no sound — just a big, gentle soul and a quiet moment of connection.
🌿 Until Next Time, Chitwan
Chitwan is not just a destination — it’s a feeling that lingers long after you leave. Through these eight postcards, I’ve tried to bottle up the sounds of the forest, the kindness of strangers, the silent strength of elephants, and the joy of spontaneous moments that you can’t plan — only feel.
It’s a place where humans and wildlife share the same rhythm, sometimes clashing, often coexisting, always learning. And while I didn’t get to revisit every corner — like Bishazari Taal — I left with something far more valuable: stories that stay, and a gentle reminder that sometimes the wildest parts of a journey are the quietest.
I’ll be back, Chitwan. For the lake, the birds, the forest… and maybe, just maybe, another banana for a familiar elephant.
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