19th Elephant and Tourism Festival from December 26 to 28

The 19th Chitwan Elephant and Tourism Festival-2025 will be held in Sauraha, Chitwan from today, (December 26 to 28). The festival is being organized by the Regional Hotel Association Nepal, Chitwan and the main co-organizer of the United Elephant Operation Cooperative Society Limited.

The main objective of the festival is to promote tourism in the Chitwan National Park and Sauraha area, listed as a World Heritage Site, coexistence between humans and wildlife, conservation awareness and sustainable tourism development, according to the organizer. This festival, which has been organized continuously since 1997, has been making a significant contribution to establishing Chitwan as a national and international tourism destination. The Elephant Festival is being effective in making Chitwan known nationally and internationally, internationally and in the current context for promoting domestic tourism and destination branding.

The organizer says that the festival will be organized according to international standards, prioritizing the complete safety of elephants. It has been claimed that any kind of cruel treatment of elephants is prohibited. Around 80 elephants will participate throughout the festival. Elephant procession, cultural tableau, elephant decoration display, elephant feeding program, elephant health camp, elephant-friendly games, local level sports competitions, safari tourism promotion program and interaction program on human-wildlife coexistence will be the main attractions of the festival.

In addition, the organizers believe that the festival will also play a role in the conservation and promotion of local art, culture, language and tradition, and the marketing of women entrepreneurs and local agricultural products. On the occasion of the festival, up to 10 percent discount has been arranged on food and accommodation in hotels and restaurants in Sauraha from Poush 11 to 13 (Dec 26 to Dec 28. The organizers have stated that due to the festival, tourist arrivals have increased by 25 to 30 percent every year.