Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park holds the distinction of being Nepal's inaugural national park, established in 1973 under the name "Royal Chitwan National Park." Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, it spans a substantial area of 952.63 km2 (367.81 sq mi) in the lush Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal, encompassing Nawalpur, Chitwan, Makwanpur, and Parsa Districts. The park's elevation varies between approximately 100 m (330 ft) in the river valleys and 815 m (2,674 ft) in the Sivalik Hills.

Human settlements are naturally delineated by the Narayani-Rapti river system, which forms the northern and western boundaries of the protected area. Parsa National Park lies adjacent to the eastern side of Chitwan National Park, while Valmiki National Park, an Indian Tiger Reserve, extends contiguously to the south. This coherent protected area, spanning 2,075 km2 (801 sq mi), constitutes the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) known as Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki. It encompasses a vast expanse of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests, covering a total area of 3,549 km2 (1,370 sq mi).