Chitwan National Park received 20,087 tourists during the Dashain festival holidays, from Ghatasthapana through the full moon on October 25, after jeep safaris inside the park resumed on October 9. The visitors included 11,891 Nepalis, 7,365 international tourists and 831 visitors from SAARC member countries. The park collected Rs 17,344,650 in revenue during the period, as tourists came to see wildlife including the one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tiger.
Visitor numbers and revenue
Park information officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari said the total visitor count comprised people from three reported groups: Nepali visitors, tourists from outside the SAARC region and visitors from SAARC member countries. Nepalis made up the largest group, followed by international tourists and then visitors from SAARC countries. Together, the three figures account for the reported total of 20,087 visitors.
- Nepali visitors: 11,891
- International tourists: 7,365
- Visitors from SAARC member countries: 831
- Total visitors: 20,087
The park recorded Rs 17,344,650 in revenue from visitors between Ghatasthapana and October 25, the full-moon day marking the end of the reported period. The figure represents revenue collected by the park during those holidays. The available figures do not provide a breakdown of the revenue by visitor category or by activity.
The reported headcount shows that Nepali visitors formed the largest share of Dashain-period arrivals. International tourists also accounted for a substantial portion of the total, while the SAARC visitor count was smaller. The figures provide a snapshot of attendance over the festival period, rather than a comparison with visitor numbers from earlier Dashain holidays.
Jeep safaris resume during the holidays
Jeep safaris inside the park resumed on October 9, during the Dashain holiday period covered by the visitor tally. Their resumption gave visitors the opportunity to explore the park by jeep while observing wildlife. The reported figures establish the timing of the restart, but do not specify how many tourists took part in jeep safaris or how many visitors entered the park through other activities.
The reopening was one part of the period’s tourism activity: the overall count includes all reported visitors and is not identified as a safari-only total. The park’s revenue figure likewise covers visitor revenue for the stated period, without a separate amount attributed to jeep safaris. The count and collection therefore describe the broader Dashain-period turnout at Chitwan National Park.
Wildlife draws visitors to Chitwan
Tourists visited to observe rare wildlife, including the one-horned rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger. These animals were among the attractions named in connection with the holiday visitors. The reported figures do not give a count of wildlife sightings, or say how many visitors came specifically to see either species.
The Dashain-period total of more than 20,000 visitors combines domestic and international tourism, with Nepalis accounting for more than half of those recorded. The tally spans the festival period from Ghatasthapana to the full moon on October 25, and includes the days following the October 9 resumption of jeep safaris. Park information officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari provided the visitor breakdown and revenue figure. Further details were reported by Onlinekhabar.
