BHARATPUR: Chitwan National Park welcomed 272,923 visitors in the fiscal year 2025/26 (2082/83 BS), an increase of 41,594 tourists compared to the previous fiscal year, driven largely by a surge in domestic visitors.

According to the park office, the total included 161,375 Nepali visitors, 22,883 tourists from SAARC countries, and 88,665 visitors from other countries. In the previous fiscal year, the park recorded 231,329 visitors, including 117,206 Nepalis, 24,800 SAARC tourists, and 89,323 foreign visitors.

The number of Nepali visitors increased by 44,169, while arrivals from SAARC countries and other international markets declined slightly.
Despite the rise in overall visitor numbers, the park’s revenue fell to Rs 310.16 million, down from Rs 338.6 million in the previous fiscal year.

Information Officer Avinash Thapa Magar attributed the decline in revenue to the drop in foreign tourists, who pay higher entry fees than domestic visitors. He said the Gen-Z protests and the Iran–US conflict affected international tourist arrivals, reducing revenue despite higher overall footfall.

The highest number of visitors was recorded in Kartik (October–November) with 32,252 tourists, while Shrawan (July–August) saw the lowest turnout with 7,073 visitors.
Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, elephants, gharial crocodiles, and diverse birdlife, attracting visitors for jeep safaris and jungle walks throughout most of the year.