What Lies Beyond Kathmandu: Exploring Southern Nepal

1. The heart of Nepal's jungle, Chitwan National Park

Chitwan means “The Heart of the Jungle.” and it’s one of the most popular sites in all of Nepal. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, all 932 square kilometers (230,302 acres) of it, which covers the forests, marshland and grassland of Southern Nepal. But if you think it’s all about roughing it, think again. Because Chitwan receives visitors from all walks of life including children and seniors, there are now plenty of eco-resorts and lodges in close proximity to the park as well. In this group of resorts, you’ll find that you’ve escaped the rest of the tourist pack you left behind in Kathmandu, so there’s enough time for you to relax while you wait for the proper hours to spot some nocturnal wildlife. What makes the park so special is a good sampling of these rare animals including the one-horned rhino, a species that has gained international popularity primarily because of the World Wildlife Fund’s efforts. They also have monkeys, deer, and birds all over. Lastly, if you’re extremely lucky, you can also spot a royal Bengal tiger.

Chitwan National Park

Address: Subarnapur 44200, Nepal

Website: Chitwan National Park

2. The hidden respite in Bardia National Park

Bardia is Nepal’s largest national park, 36 square kilometers (8,895 acres) bigger than Chitwan. It also happens to be the most uninhibited. For those of you who want to further escape the crowds though, you’ll find that Bardia, no matter what time of the year you visit, is never overrun with tourists. This is an advantage when you want to spot animals like the Bengal tiger. It’s also home to wild elephants, wild deer, and gangetic dolphins. For sightings like this, you’ll have to stay a minimum of 5 days. Bardia is also home to an indigenous ethnic tribe in Nepal called Tharu. The Tharus have their own language, customs, and traditions, some of which are still grounded in animism. The Tharus live in mud villages in this area. They plant corn, lentils, and rice for sustenance. They also rely on what the jungle gives them for protein such as deer, rabbit and wild boar.

Bardia National Park

Address: Bardia, Bheri 21800, Nepal

Website: Bardia National Park

3. The birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini

In Buddhism, there are four places in the world that Buddha holds most sacred. One of them is Lumbini where he was born. It is unsurprising then that Lumbini was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crowning glory is the Maya Devi Temple, where the Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Buddha. The gardens are huge. It is a 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) spread that contains ancient stupas and the pillar of Ashoka, which the Indian emperor and Buddha follower erected there. The inscription gives Lumbini a tax-free status in commemoration of Buddhism’s founder. You’ll also find maroon-robed monks meditating under a bodhi tree, just as Buddha did centuries ago to reach enlightenment. It also has several monasteries which have been built by Buddhist followers all over the world. On the grounds, you’ll find the Lumbini Museum, which holds the manuscripts and other ancient artifacts discovered or excavated from the area. You can also roam through the Japan Peace Stupa.

Lumbini

Address: Rupandehi District, Nepal

Website: Lumbini

4. Where Rama met Sita, Janakpur

Janakpur is one of the most important cultural and religious sites in Nepal because it so happens to be the birthplace of Sita, thus making it one of the most important places of Hinduism all over the world. The Janaki Mandir, its most important building, was where the king of Janakpur found an infant Sita on his doorstep. He then raised her as his own daughter. The whole palace is an ostentatious display of curves and details that make it look like it’s carved out of a children’s storybook. According to the epic, Ramayana, Janakpur is also where Lord Rama and Sita got married. Buddha, at one point in his life, also lived in Janakpur. Other than its religious significance, Janakpur is also a site for the locomotive enthusiast, as it’s the only spot in Nepal that has a railway and railhead.

Janakpur

Address: Dhanusa District, Nepal

Website: Janakpur

A life of its own

Because Terai is so rich in natural resources, it also follows that there have been disputes on who actually owns this part of Nepal. The long historic dispute with India still rears its head once in a while. Indian politicians will insist that Terai is actually part of India. More than this though, Terai or Southern Nepal has also had its share of environmental problems. The almost-extinct, one-horned rhino is always being hunted even up to this day. Nevertheless, Terai also has this rustic, untouched beauty (it was even untouched by the 2015 earthquake) that becomes a great juxtaposition to the cold, sometimes harsh, climate of the Himalayas. Its flatness makes an endearing foreground to the striking Mahabharat range and the mountain villages that come with it. It pulsates with a life of its own, not quite Indian, but not quite Nepalese either.