Sauraha sees tourism rebound after months of weather-related disruption
After months of disruption caused by floods and road closures, Sauraha's tourism sector is rebounding as favorable weather and holiday travelers return to the Chitwan gateway.
Tourism in Sauraha, a key gateway to Chitwan National Park, is showing signs of a strong recovery following a period of stagnation caused by natural disasters. Local business owners report that the recent Dashain holidays and improved weather conditions have brought a significant influx of both domestic and international visitors to the region.
For several months, the local hospitality sector struggled as floods, landslides, and damaged road infrastructure deterred travelers. Suman Ghimire, former president of the Regional Hotel Association of Nepal, Chitwan, told Khabarhub that these environmental challenges delayed the start of the primary tourism season by approximately one month. Floods and poor roads had first hit bookings, he said, but the situation has gradually improved.
Business operators in the area have expressed optimism as the pace of activity accelerates. Gokarna Giri, a local tourism entrepreneur, described a bustling atmosphere in the town, noting that visitors are actively engaging in various activities, from shopping to jungle excursions. He stated that the return of guests has significantly improved the morale of local business owners.
Lodging facilities have also seen a surge in demand. Lav Sapkota, manager of Batika Resort, said all the resort's rooms had been full for the past two to three days and that most guests were Nepali. "It is very difficult to find rooms for the guests," he told Onlinekhabar.
Rishi Tiwari, another local entrepreneur, observed that tourist numbers following the Dashain Tika have surpassed those of the previous year. He named jeep safaris, elephant safaris, boat rides on the Rapti River and Tharu cultural dances as the main draws, and urged domestic and foreign tourists to visit while the weather is favourable.
Domestic tourists did not arrive in the expected numbers in the first days of Dashain, Onlinekhabar reported, but arrivals rose after Tika. According to Chitwan National Park, 20,087 people visited the park from Ghatasthapana to the full moon on October 25 (11,891 Nepalis, 831 from SAARC countries and 7,365 from other countries), paying Rs 17.34 million in entry fees, conservation officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari said. Most toured by jeep safari from Sauraha; on October 26 alone, 2,037 Nepali visitors entered through the Sauraha post.