Green Mansions Jungle Resort – Chitwan National Park

Green Mansions is located  on the edge of the Community Forest Reserve, overlooking the tall green mansions of the jungle’s tropical trees. Constructed on the lines of a tribal village, it blends in and ‘disappears’ into the natural backdrop of Nepals’s southern Terai Belt.Guestrooms are housed in two 6-room and four 2-room blocks, each room with its own private verandah and ensuite toilet. The large central building houses the Dining room, Bar and Reading Corner, the walls of which have painted scenes of a deer tropical forest. A cooling pool filled with lotus and water lily and stocked with fish(to keep the mosquito larvae at bay!) surrounds the building.

Everywhere, walls are treated with clay, decorated by local Tharu womenfolk. All fabrics used have been specially designed and woven in Nepal and as far as possible, we’ve tried to use as much native material to convey local colour. Garden A porticoed pavillion standing amidst gardens, houses a bar and services the open-air barbeque near by.Tropical gardens bloom and fruit throughout the are- orchards of mango, guava, banana; vegetable patches of beans, tomatoes, salad greens, cabbages that supply the kitchens; the vibrant colour of tropical blooms-bougainvillea, canna, daisies, sunflowers.

The accent is on relaxation:flip through a magazine, curl up with a book, take a ride in our bullock cart to explore the nearby village. With the jungles of the National Park and Community Forest Reserves so near, we offer the traditional elephant safari, birdwatching hikes, dugout canoe on the river. But don’t miss asking our naturalist to show you the crocodiles basking in the morning sun on the banks of the nearby Buri Rapti rivulet!!

Activities ( Program) at Green Mansions Jungle Resort 

Bullock Cart Tour

Even in modern times most people around the Chitwan area and the rest of Terai still use a Bullock cart as a mode of transportation. An open carriage is made pulled by two strong bulls and it fits about 4 to 5 people at a time along with a driver that steers the bulls. Taking a village tour of a Bullock Cart around Sauraha is a wonderful way to see the nearby villages inhabited mostly by the Tharu communities. There are many villages around the Chitwan National park that still maintain the old world charm that you can rarely see anywhere else.

This is a unique ride that is slow yet provides on with a great outdoor excursion experience. You will be able to see the Tharu villages, their age old traditions and lifestyle which can be quite intriguing to a person who has never seen the rural life of Nepal. They still use old methods to do their daily activities like cleaning and cooking. The Tharus are very hospitable, friendly and affectionate. Witnessing age old traditions and lifestyle on a Bullock Cart adds more enchantment to the entire excursion.

Tharu Cultural Dance Show

The indigenous people of the Nepal Terai, the Tharus are a community who has a rich culture. They are known to be hospitable and warm. While you can see the Tharus and their village on our tours, you will also be able to see them perform their song and dance in the evening when we organize a performance for you. In the evening we will entertain you with Tharu folk dances performed by Tharu troupes and invite guests to join them. This is one of the attractions of your trip to Chitwan. They will perform for an hour or two for you. The Tharu people live in the Terai which is generally the narrow plains extending across 500 miles of the southern border of Nepal, next to northeast India. The land is forested and fertile. The Tharu people are divided into several subgroups; the Rana Tharu live in the southwestern corner of Nepal. Ethnically, their background is Rajput, members of a high caste in Rajasthan. The Tharus have a rich and glorious history that dates backs to the medieval period of Indian history. They escaped Mughal invasion and settled down in Nepal. New language emerged in the later years to come but you can still see their old world charm in the way they sing and dance for you.

Jungle Drive

If you are not so keen on doing a jungle safari on the back of an elephant, a drive through the vast national park of Chitwan could be a great option. Jungle Drive is a tour of the forest reserve on a four-wheel jeep along the untouched portions of the park that gives you an opportunity to view rare species. It should however be understood that jeeps don’t go to places where an elephant could and therefore it has to follow certain trails. However viewing of animals is still large and the safari is normally fast. Jeep Safari is one of the most dynamic and exciting activities to discover a wide range of forest environment in the Chitwan National Park. The drive will be for about four hours during which we will be able to cover a span of about 50-55 kilometers. The drive will also take us to the elephant breeding centre. Jeep Drive goes through grasslands, riverside forests and Sal forests to Kasara (the National Park’s Headquarters). You will also drive past the Gharial Hatchery Farm where you will learn about how crocodiles are brought up and later released into the rivers. However during the summer time due to heavy rain we can make jeep drives to only the lake area which offers views of birds and mammals by the water.

Canoeing

A canoe ride along the Rapti river could be a great way to see some water creatures and birds in Chitwan. For a Canoe Ride, you need to get up early in the morning. A canoe in Chitwan is a small narrow wooden boat that will take you along the river for some of the most incredible sights. Most importantly, a canoe ride is a perfect way to see the Gharial. You can also see crocodiles or even spot a tiger drinking water. A few hours of Canoe ride will take you across the calm waters of the river Rapti. This is a magnificent part of the Reserve and a lot of birds and other animals depend on its water for survival.

The two species of crocodiles, the gharial and the marsh mugger are found in abundance in this river. Along with these amphibians, you can also see a variety of birds like the White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Indian Cuckoo and the Lesser Coucal among others. Apart from a jungle safari, Canoe ride the most popular activity when you are staying in Chitwan. While the weather can sometimes be hot, canoe ride being an activity in the river is a great escape from a usual humdrum humid holiday.

Jungle Safari

Chitwan is famous for the elephant jungle safari. This will give you an opportunity of riding the tamed Asian Elephant and explore the Jungle. A jungle safari on the back of an elephant can take you to the deepest parts of the jungle where you can see exotic creatures in the natural habitats. You will have an opportunity to see the wonderful one horned Rhino which is perhaps one of the most endangered species in the world. This is perhaps one of the most wonderful sanctuaries in the world due to its dense nature and numerous animals living safely in the remote parts of the jungle. The one horned Rhinoceros, Tiger, Leopard, different species of wild cats, elephants, sloth bear, gaur, wild boar, crocodiles, rhesus monkeys, pythons and the king cobra find shelter in this beautiful park. There are also about 350 species of birds which includes peacocks and eagles living here. The best time to explore the area is early morning or late afternoon. You will be advised to not wear any bright colored clothes to provoke these animals. The elephant safari is probably the best way to spot wildlife from up close. The elephants can come close to other animals. During the safari, you are not alone as the driver (mahout) sits at the front and next to him; you are always accompanied by professional guides and naturalists. On the back of an elephant you can get very close to the wildlife.

Bird Watching

A total of over 540 species of birds have been recorded in and around the Chitwan National Park. This includes some rare birds that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. An early morning or evening bird watching tour are a great time to spot some rare birds. Some of the birds that you can see in Chitwan are the Red Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall Eurasian Wigeon, Garganey, Northern Pintail, Rufous Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback, Lineated Barbet, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Indian Roller, Dollarbird, (Little) Green Bee-eater , Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Indian Cuckoo and the Lesser Coucal among others. More than 150 birds migrate to Chitwan during the autumn season.While most of these birds come from the north, a good number of birds flock to Chitwan from the south during the summer months. The Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Pallas’s Fish-eagle come to Chitwan from the north. The Bengal Pittas and several sunbird species arrive during the monsoon season for breeding. Ornithologists from all over the world flock to Chitwan owing to the various species of birds found here. While Chitwan National Park is known for its amazing animals, birds are normally overlooked by normal tourists. But upon keen observation, you can see some of the most magnificent birds and its most likely that you may have never seen them before.

• By Anil Blon 
• Natraj Trekking 
• http://www.natrajtrekking.com

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