Visiting Nepal

Chepang Hills Trail

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Experience of the chitwan Chepang Hills

Nepal's best-known and most accessible national park Royal Chitwan National Park is invariably associated with the Royal Bengal tiger and the great one-horned rhinoceros, both endangered species. Besides this, another factor adding a distinct touch tot eh Chitwan experience is the colorful Tharu and the Chepang culture.

Trekking into the Chitwan Chepang Hill Trail, takes one through the charming villages of Nepal's hills, and also gives an opportunity to experience first hand the Chepang culture prevalent in this region. Chitwan lies south-west of Kathmandu, near the Indian border on the tropical terai. It is accessible by air with a flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur or Meghauli, and by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara. One can either take a bus from Kathmandu or a raft trip down the Trisuli River to begin the trek. The trail climbs uphill from Hugdi Khola through Laitak Chautara and Khor Bhanjyang, a campsite among terraced fields.

The Chitwan Chepang Hills Trail

The newly developed Chitwan Chepang Hills Trail is unique because of one of the most ethnic cultures of Nepal- Chepang Culture. Chepangs, believed to be influenced by Tamangs, speak their own distinct language, leading a nomadic life and their primary lifestyle, hunting, foraging for wild roots and fishing and traditional farming near jungles. A Praja Pande (faith healer) might be an interesting figure for cultural tourists to be introduced to . They inhabit the remot and sparse contours of Makwanpur, Chitwan, Gorkha and Chading districts. Other ethic groups found in this region largely comprise of Tharu, Musahar, Satahar, Danuwar, Tamang, Kumal Gurung and Magar. The Chitwan Chepang Hills Trail offers a rare combination of cultural and sighseeing experience. A stay in the beautiful homes of the villagers as guests and sharing their meals is a journey of discovery in itself. The unique culture in this area, bird watching, and other natural attractions add to the experience.

Hattibang

Hattibang, the first night halt on the way from Hugdi Bazaar, offers good scenery of the surrounding mountains and touch of Magar, Chepang and Giripuri culture, at the several home stay and community-managed guest hourse. Villager give a unique cultural performance for visitors on request and offer Local handicrafts on sale as souvenirs.

Sirichuli (1,945 m)

Siraichuli, one of the highest hills of Mahabharat range, offers spectacular views of the mountains and magnificent sunrise and sunset viewsof the mountains and magnificent sunrise and sunset views. The view includes a wide rnge of Himalayan peaks such as Rolwaling, Gaurishankar, Langtang, Gorkha Himal, Peak 29, Himalchuli, Manaslu, Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, and the Royal Chitwan National Park in the Terai . The trek to tSiraichuli from Hattibang is challenging through rough landscape and vegetation.

Jyandala

Jyandala village on the trail is a chepang settlement where tourists can have cultural experience. A tour of the village and accommodation at village home stay is recommended. Next is Chisapanitar, which is a popular bird-watching site. More than 250 varieties of bird species are found here. The dense forest in this region is also home to other wild animals.

Upardang Gadi

Upardang Gadi is another interesting place which used to be the headquarters of Chitwan till early 1962. The remains of a historic fort that defended the surrounding country side are still here, sitting at 1,275 meters, which is said to have been buit by Shatru Bhanjan Shah. Offering spectacular views, camping service is available through community along with Home stay facilities.

Shaktikhor

Shaktikhor, where the trek formally ends gives ample opportunity to visitors for a wholesome cultural experience Home-stay experience, Cultural show, Chepang Museum and Visitors' information centre, Caves and waterfalls around Shaktikhor make Shaktikhor a unique experience. Travelling to Chitram waterfall on the next day and stay at Chepang houses in Majhbang village of Siddhi VDC is yet another attraction.

Accommodation

Besides home-stay facilities in Shaktikhor, Gadi, Chisapanitar, Chitram, Majhbang and Hattibang, resting places, porter shelters with bath rooms/toilets are also available. Tea houses are available in Siddhi, whereas camping site is available in Uppardang Gadi, Hattibang, Chitram and Jyandala. The nerest point where all major tourist facilities are available is Sauraha near the Roayal Chitwan National Park or Narayanghat.

Food

Wholesome and organic locally produced agricultural items are available along the Chepang Hills Trail. Millets, wheat, corn, buck wheat Dhido (Nepali food item) and roti, baked corn, soybeans and other beans, dal and rice, gundruk (partially fermented edible leaves), seasonal vegetables and fruits, ghee, milk, honey curd, other juices, poultry/goat items, edible roots, etc. are available. Other phuloura , crab, tama (bamboo shoots), fish, nettle etc are also available on demand.

Chepang museum

Chepang Museum has also been established at Shaktikhor with the view to preserve and promote primitive cultures, originalities, costumes, life styles of the people, Different materials used by the Chepangs and relics like catapults used in killing birds, slings and bows used for hunting animals, crusing devices, dhiki and janto (traditiional stone tools for beating and grindig grains), pots, wooden containers, drums have been kept in the museum.

Shaktikhr Tourist Information Center

A visit to the tourist information center at Shaktikhor is recommended for current travel information, while trekking in the Chitwan Chepang Hills. The tourist information center at Shaktikhor has resource materials that can provide information on cultureal and natural attraction of the ?Chepang Hills. The information center also arranges trained tour guides, cooks, informative books, tents utensils, and facilitate Chepang museum tours, local handicraft sales and crop sales, documentary show.

Tourist Attractions and Services along the Chepang Hill Trail

1. Hugdi Bazaar (309m)

• High-way vehicle transport.
• Tourist information corner and information boards, Local trained guides and porters.
• Local markets, small teashops and grocery shops

2. Khorbhanjyang(900 m)

• Village life style and traditional houses and school.
• Panoramic view of mountains and hills.
• Trishuli River

3. Jayapuri

• Resting houses, and small teashops.
• Local cuisine, pure un-processed milk, curd and ghee . Seasonal organic fruits and vegetables.

4.Hattibang:(1410m)

• Chepang, Giripuri and Magar's villages and their cultural performance
• Elep nt Shaped bouldes, Scenic beauty of the hills and the mountainss
• Community managed guesthours, Home stay and local cuisine. Small teashops and grocery stores.
• Small health center and schools.
• Village and Jungle tour local handicrafts sales.

5. Jyandala Village : (Kaling-Jautesh-Changa-Rajbhoj-Kolbhaniyang- Dinglang)

• Pure Chepang village tour and Chepang Culture
• Home stay and local cuisine, Camping site.

6. Siraichuli (1946m)

• Sunrise and Sunset viewing points.
• View of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang Himalayas and other surrounding hills, plus the Terai, Churia Parbbat, Chitwan National Park and the Rapti and Narayani river basins.
• Paragliding (1600 meters difference)
• Dense Jungles, rhododendrons and wildlife.
• The historical and sacred temple of Sidda Baba

7. Chisapanitar (1695m) :

• Bird watching with more than a 100 species of birds
• Jungle safari and natural scenic beauty.
• Historically significant places.

8. Upardang Gadi: (1275m)

• 300 year-old fort, A taste of Chitwan's capital of the pre 2018 B.S era
• Home stay facilities and provisions for tents for camping, organized by the local community.
• Gurung and Chepang villages and their cultural heritage. Beautiful view of the Himalayas and the surrounding hills and Terai.

9. Shaktikhor (355 m)

• Tourist information center, Chepang Museum, Kalika Temple, historically significant statue of Lakhan Thapa, Elephant foot boulders
• Home stay, small hotels, restaurants, and local cuisine.
• Sinti Cave, Bat Cave, Sinti waterfall, fishing, bird watching Public transport, telephone and electricity facilities.
• Cultural dances by Chepang, Magar, Gurung and other ethnic groups
• Trained tour guides and porters.
• Local handicraft exhibition and sale.

10.Shaktikhor- Siddhi - Chitram

• Small teashops, Local cuisine, Local Handicraft sale.
• Village tours and home stay facility at Majhbang (Chepang House) with pure chepang culture
• Caves and Chitram waterfall, bird

11. Korak

• Kaminchuli hill (1937 m)
• Community forest, Bird watching
• Tamang community , cultural heritage
• Noke Cave with steaming geysers
• Lekahamchuli, shinning stones, seasonal migrated birds.

Recommended Itineraries

Chitwan Chepang Hills (5 Days)

Day	From - To	Activities	Time
Day 1	Kathamndu- Hugdi Bazar- Hattibang	Drive to Hugdi, Trek from Hugdi and overnight at Hattibang, observe cultural show. Local handicrafts on sale	3 hrs. drive from Ktm. 4-5 hrs trek.	Hattibang (Home stay or community guest house)