Essentials
- City
- Sauraha (Chitwan District), Bagmati Province, Nepal
- Population
- Approx. 50,000 in the Ratnanagar municipality area
- Internet Speed
- Average 20-40 Mbps via WorldLink or Vianet; 4G speeds around 15 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 133 NPR; Global IME Bank and Everest Bank have ATMs in Sauraha
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (RS 25/liter) or filtered systems
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/D/M sockets; Power cuts occur but most tourist lodges have solar backups
- SIM Card
- NTC (Nepal Telecom) or Ncell; RS 500 for 20GB data packages
- Banking for Expats
- Primarily cash-based; Nabil Bank ATMs accept international Visa/Mastercard
- Accommodation
- Riverside lodges and boutique hotels; monthly rentals via direct negotiation with guesthouse owners
- Cashless Friendly
- Limited; Fonepay (QR) is widely used by locals, but tourists need cash for most small shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options available; River Bank Inn (approx. $25/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Chitwan Gaida Lodge or Traveller's Jungle Camp ($10 - $15 per night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sauraha Main Street for proximity to Rapti River and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Odari or further inland from the main tourist strip for quieter, cheaper long-term stays
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None dedicated; The Hub Sauraha offers a community vibe suitable for work
- Best Cafe for Work
- Art Cafe (Sauraha); reliable Wi-Fi, good coffee, and river views
- Networking Events
- Informal gatherings at Jalapi Restro & Bar during sunset
- Social Events for Expats
- Chitwan Expats and Volunteers Facebook Group; weekly trivia at local bars
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Pathao (limited availability); local E-rickshaws are the standard (RS 100-300 per trip)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Local shops on Sauraha Road; Bicycles (RS 500/day), Scooters (RS 1,500/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Rapti River Banks (sandy spots for sunset, no swimming due to crocodiles)
- Top Regional Airline
- Buddha Air (flights from Bharatpur Airport to Kathmandu, approx. $100)
- Top International Airline
- Nepal Airlines (via Kathmandu International Airport)
- Highway Access
- Mahendra Highway (East-West Highway) connects to Bharatpur and Tandi
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Sauraha Tourist Bus Park (Daily buses to Kathmandu and Pokhara)
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal pass system; pay per ride on local micro-buses
- Regional Travel
- Tourist Bus to Kathmandu (5-7 hours, RS 1,200); Local bus to Bharatpur (RS 50)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- College of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (Bharatpur, 15km away)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Shanti Yoga Center; drop-in classes available for RS 1,000
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness First Gym in Tandi (approx. RS 3,000/month)
- Laundry Services
- Sauraha Laundry Service (RS 150 per kg)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Birdwatching Locations
- Canoe ride on the Rapti River (over 500 species recorded)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Many riverside campsites offer evening bonfires
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Beeshazar Taal (20,000 Lakes) - wetland area for cycling
- National Parks Nearby
- Parsa National Park (adjoining Chitwan to the east)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 10km dirt loop through Tharu villages and mustard fields
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Rapti River Bank at sunset
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Express (Bharatpur branch); Nepal Post (Sauraha office)
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobile repair shops in Tandi/Ratnanagar
- Table Tennis Spots
- Available at some resorts like Landmark Forest Park
- Language Classes
- Informal Nepali lessons at the local primary schools or via volunteers
- Libraries & Study Spots
- No public libraries; quiet garden cafes like Safari Cafe are best
- Community Centers
- Bachhauli Community Forest Office surroundings
- Gaming Lounges
- Small internet cafes in Tandi with basic PC gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None; casinos are located in Kathmandu or at the border (Bhairahawa)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $450 per m² (Sauraha area is mostly leasehold/agricultural)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $300 per m² in Ratnanagar outskirts
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $32,000 for a 60 m² unit (Note: Foreigners cannot easily own land)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $22,000 for a 60 m² unit
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $48,000 for an 80 m² unit
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $35,000 for an 80 m² unit
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Residency-based; 183 days stay makes you a tax resident
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 36% (for income over 2 million NPR)
- VAT
- 13%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, under the Income Tax Act 2002
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual land and building tax paid to the municipality
- Property Transaction Tax
- Registration fee approx. 5% of property value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa; most stay on a tourist visa (max 150 days/year)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodmandu (service is intermittent/limited in Sauraha, better in Bharatpur)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Tharu Ghongi (snails) or a traditional Tharu Thali (approx. RS 500)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Greeneries Restaurant; extensive veg menu and fresh salads
- Best Dessert Spots
- Chitwan German Bakery (Sauraha); fresh croissants and apple pie
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Tandi Bazaar (Ratnanagar) for local prices on clothing and goods
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Daraz.com.np (delivery to local pickup points)
- Grocery Delivery
- Not available; best local market is the Saturday Haat Bazar
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Sunset View bars along the Rapti River
- Local Brewery
- Gorkha Brewery (located nearby in Nawalparasi); try Gorkha or Arna Beer
- Wine Bars
- KCJ's Restaurant & Bar (selection of domestic and imported wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- Sauraha riverfront food stalls for Pani Puri and Chatpate
- Popular International Cuisine
- Friends Restaurant for Italian pasta and wood-fired pizzas
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Chitwan National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tharu Cultural Museum & Research Center ($2 entry)
- Historical Sites
- Kasara Durbar (former royal palace inside the park)
- Religious Sites
- Devghat Dham (confluence of Trishuli and Kali Gandaki rivers)
- Annual Events
- Chitwan Elephant Festival (December/January)
- Cultural Districts
- Tharu Villages (Bachhauli and Harnari)
- Theater Venues
- Tharu Cultural Program Hall (nightly dance performances)
- Local Markets
- Tandi Saturday Market
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic music at Bamboo Garden Restaurant
- Street Art
- Hand-painted Tharu motifs on traditional mud houses in Bachhauli
- Cooking Classes
- Tharu Community Cooking Class (book via local homestays)
- Art Galleries
- Local handicraft shops featuring Mithila art
- Historic Buildings
- Traditional Tharu Longhouses
- Local Heritage
- Rhino and Tiger conservation culture