This route was heavy with lorry and bus traffic as it is the only route through the mountains from Pokhara to the Terai plains boarding India. The road climbed for a while and then started to descend gradually, all the time following the river Trisuli.
We finally dropped out of the mountains and onto the plains. Almost at once the houses changed as did the dress of the local people - they even looked slightly different. This is the home lands of the Tharu, Rajbamsi and Dhimal people of Indian descent.
As the government had decided recently to close all the lodges inside Chitwan National Park, due to their leases running out, we were forced to stay just outside the park at Sauraha, in the Royal Park Hotel.
This is a typical safari lodge style hotel, with pleasant tree shaded gardens and nicely spaced double storey accomodation chalets. We arrived and were warmly greeted and then the programme of the next day or so was outlined.
After a good lunch we ventured out by local ox carts to explore the local Tharu villages. Our guide was a very nice local chap called Fule. He was a keen birder and we were soon spotting several species of birds, such as Blue Tailed Bee Eaters, Indian Roller, Rufous Tree Pie and stone chats.
We stopped and explored a village by foot, going into the traditional mud and thatch houses, which help keep the houses cool in the scorching summer heat. After some pleasnt interaction with the locals we mounted up again and made our way back towards our hotel. As we did the sun dropped and we were greeted with several elephants and mahouts making their way home after taking out the tourists in the park.
In the evening we treated to a local dancing / drumming show put on by the locals before an excellent evening meal.
Tomorrow we head into the park by canoe and elelphant.
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