Chitwan Elephant Festival

चितवन हात्ती महोत्सव

View on map
MusicSauraha/Chitwan
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
DurationWinterEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsSauraha sits at the edge of Chitwan National
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Chitwan Elephant Festival in Sauraha/Chitwan

The Chitwan Elephant Festival is an annual event held in Sauraha, the main tourist village bordering Chitwan National Park, celebrating the region's working and rescued elephants with parades, games, and cultural programs.

Chitwan National Park, established in 1973 as Royal Chitwan National Park and granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1984, sits in the Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal and has a long history intertwined with elephants, from their use in feudal-era hunting expeditions before the 1950s to their role in the Gaida Gasti, an armed rhino patrol formed after the park's rhino population collapsed to just 95 animals by the late 1960s due to habitat clearance and poaching.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Sauraha sits at the edge of Chitwan National Park, Nepal's first national park, established in 1973 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, an area whose history of elephant use for patrolling, tourism, and earlier royal hunting expeditions gives an elephant-themed festival deep local roots

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival connects to Chitwan's long history of elephant use

Water and renewal

Living ritual

from the feudal hunting camps of Nepal's ruling class in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the rhino and wildlife patrols that helped establish the national park after poaching decimated the area's rhino population by the late 1960s

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

Use Sauraha/Chitwan transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor events in the Terai lowlands, with sun protection and insect repellent given Sauraha's warm, humid climate near the national park.

Safety

At Chitwan Elephant Festival, agree on a meeting point and plan food, water and the return route before crowds thicken.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Sauraha/Chitwan, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.70 N, 85.32 EOpen in Google Maps

Sauraha/Chitwan, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Nearest airportPHH — Pokhara
TransportUse Sauraha/Chitwan transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Sauraha/Chitwan, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sauraha/Chitwan via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sauraha/Chitwan, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor events in the Terai lowlands, with sun protection and insect repellent given Sauraha's warm, humid climate near the national park.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Chitwan Elephant Festival?

Chitwan Elephant Festival is listed for December · Winter. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Chitwan Elephant Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Sauraha/Chitwan, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Winter is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sauraha/Chitwan, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLchitwanwildlifesafari.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusOfficial source linked
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