Chilling out in Chitwan

After our guide advised us to make as little movement as possible everyone was dead silent, as if our very words were enough to rock the boat and tip into the water. Our stillness was matched by the calm of the river, the mist hovering above as if casting a spell locking the scene in space and time. Our voyage down the Chitwan river was like something out of a fairytale. From time to time flashes of electric blue would appear through the misty haze, kingfishers going about their early morning rituals.  A flock of egrets waded in the shallow waters and a few river folk, dressed in their colourful shawls, could be seen making their morning ablutions. Many forms of life were enjoying this river, each living quite harmoniously with each other. Besides these subtle but vibrant reminders of life that were all around us, and the soft voice of our guide quietly point out one bird or another, our journey was undisturbed and I felt as if I too belonged to this beautiful place, drifting slowly and serenely downstream. 

We had woken at sunrise to join the canoe trip, taking our party down river before entering the very heart of the jungle by foot for a guided, wildlife trek. Chitwan was full of surprises, with the river at the centre of it all. On the day I arrived from Kathmandu, my friend and I chose to hire bikes and cycle around the area. Chitwan is in the Terai region of Nepal and therefore one of the flattest areas of the country - great if you need a break from trekking up mountains and want to really immerse yourself in the slow rhythms of nature. Our bike ride took us through small villages of straw and mud brick houses, across rice fields, over bridges with water buffalo and elephants crossing the waters and even a regional taekwondo championship! On returning from our bike ride, my friend decided to relax on the balcony of our perfectly located guesthouse, perched right over the river itself, whilst I couldn’t resist a walk along its sandy bank. I barely met a soul as I wandered close to the water’s edge, admiring the birdlife and the few boatmen who slowly made their way past, the sound of their wooden oars gently knocking the sides of their slender canoes. Across the river was the national park itself, where tigers, elephants, rhino, monkeys and deer roamed freely. I’d already spotted a few crocodiles earlier that day (at a safe distance I’m pleased to say) and I was in for another treat as, whilst admiring the breathtaking red and orange hues of the setting sun, I was snapped out of my reverie by an elephant that came strolling right past me, his rider giving me a big grin and letting me take a photo before they sauntered on past. For me, nothing could have added more grace to that moment than this gentle giant, with his enormous dinner plate feet and big flappy ears! I didn’t even hear him approach.

I made my way back to my hotel for dinner, enthralled by how well the day had unfolded and curious as to what was still to come…..On returning from our bike ride, my friend decided to relax on the balcony of our perfectly located guesthouse, perched right over the river itself, whilst I couldn’t resist a walk along its sandy bank. I barely met a soul as I wandered close to the water’s edge, admiring the birdlife and the few boatmen who slowly made their way past, the sound of their wooden oars gently knocking the sides of their slender canoes. Across the river was the national park itself, where tigers, elephants, rhino, monkeys and deer roamed freely. I’d already spotted a few crocodiles earlier that day (at a safe distance I’m pleased to say) and I was in for another treat as, whilst admiring the breathtaking red and orange hues of the setting sun, I was snapped out of my reverie by an elephant that came strolling right past me, his rider giving me a big grin and letting me take a photo before they sauntered on past. For me, nothing could have added more grace to that moment than this gentle giant, with his enormous dinner plate feet and big flappy ears! I didn’t even hear him approach.

I made my way back to my hotel for dinner, enthralled by how well the day had unfolded and curious as to what was still to come…..