Che Pang Hill Trekking

Chepangs of Chitwan, who were pursuing their traditional occupations of fishing, hunting, bird catching and farming at jungle edges, now have attempted to seek new avenues of income by displaying these originalities to tourists. The tribal people with their domination in mountainous VDCs of the district - Kaule, Siddhi, Korak and Shaktikhor- had been compelled to live on wild tubers, fruits and hunted animals till the last decade.

It is no doubt that additional income can be made and the tribal existence preserved provided the original arts, cultures, rituals, customs and identities of the Chepang people  were presented before tourists visiting the area. This awareness, though lately developed, has given new hopes and enthusiasm to the people towards tourism. Aiming to improve the livelihood of the people through tourism .

Recently, a Chepang Museum has been set up at Shaktikhor with the view to preserve and promote the primitive cultures, originalities, costumes, and life styles of the people. It also aims at making known these aspects to the world. Different materials used by the Chepangs and relics like catapults used in killing birds, slings and bows used in 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 this area, famous as the Chepang Trekking Route, can be one of the most unforgettable, explorative and romantic visits in one's life. The tourists traveling to Sauraha through this route can make a package ranging from 3 to 7 days, according to the leisure they have. The trekking tour through this route takes the visitor at proximity with the cultures, customs, life styles and traditions of Chepang people besides providing
chances to have first hand experiences with the Gurung, Magar and Giripuri communal people.

Siraichuli (1946 metres), which is the highest peak in Chitwan and is on this trekking route, provides chance to have panoramic views of sun rise and sun set. It is often comapred with the Tiger Hill of Darjeeling, India. One can enjoy the scenes of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and other peaks at their front in the north while the flow of Rapti and Narayani rivers, green stretch of Chitwan National Park and Terai lowlands can be seen in the south from the spot. After few hours' walk, a visitor can reach the Upardang Gadhi, one of the ancient forts of historic importance. Along with that, one can also do bird watching, enjoying the views of different caves, cascades, wild lives and cool wilderness. There is a lot of tourism potential in the area as some of the caves in the area are yet to be explored.

A tourist can start his tour on the Chepang Trekking Route from Jogimara VDC on the Prithvi highway from two sides. There are information boards, home stay hotels, shops and other facilities for the tourists at different spots on the trekking route with the view to promoting facilities to them.