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 cultures, at the several home stay and community-managed guest house. Villagers give a unique cultural performance for visitors on request and offer Local handicrafts on sale as souvenirs.
Siraichuli, at 1,945m, one of the highest hills of Mahabharat range, offers spectacular views of the mountains and magnificent sunrise and sunset views. The view includes a wide range of Himalayan peaks such as Rolwaling, Gaurishankar, Langtang, Gorkha Himal, Peak 29, Himachuli, Manaslu, Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri and the Royal Chitawan National Park in the Terai. The trek to Siraichuli from Hattibang is challenging through rough landscapes and vegetation.
Jyandala village on the trail is a Chepang settlement where tourists can have a 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.
Uppardang Gadi is another interesting place which used to be the headquarters of Chitawan till early 1962. The remains of a historic fort that defended the surrounding countryside are still here, sitting at 1,275 meters, which is said to have been built by Shatru Bhanjan Shah. Offering spectacular views, camping service is available through community along with Home stay facilities.
Shaktikhor, where the trek formally ends, gives ample opportunity to visitors for a wholesome cultural experience. Home-stay experience, Cultural shows, Chepang Museum and Visitors’ information center, 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 attraction.
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 nearest point where all major tourist facilities are available is Sauraha near the Royal Chitawan National Park or Narayanghat.
The Chepang Museum has also been established at Shaktikhor with the view to preserve and promote primitive cultures, originalities, costumes, lifestyles of peoples. Different materials used by the Chepangs and relics like catapults used in killing birds, slings and bows used for hunting animals, crushing devices, Dhiki and Janto (traditional stone tools for beating and grinding grains), pots, wooden containers, drums have been kept in the museum.
A visit to the tourist information center at Shaktikhor is recommended for current travel information, while trekking in the Chitawan Chepang Hills. The tourist information center at Shaktikhor has resource materials that can provide information on cultural and natural attraction of the Chepang Hills. The information center also arranges trained tour guides, cooks, informative books, tents, and utensils and facilitates Chepang museum tours, local handicraft sales and crop sales, documentary show.
The Trail is accessible by 82 km drive from Kathmandu to Hugdi Bazaar, between Mugling and Krishna Bheer of Dhading district, on Prithivi Highway. Shaktikhor can be reached by driving 18 km north from Tandi Bazaar of Ratnanagar Municipality, if the visitor is coming from Sauraha or National Park.
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