Chitwan Gaida Lodge

The surroundings are lovely, and this seems like a better spot for nature lovers. The owner was friendly when we stayed with classmates for two days on a tour. Our room had a broken bathroom mirror that they hadn't replaced, the flush button didn't work, and the AC wasn't working either. The food wasn't good enough for me, but else everything was fine.

The campus is full of trees, and bird watchers will love it. Get up early and look at the jamun and berry tree beside the restaurant, where flocks of birds gather. Cottages are the better room choice, though there are lots of insects as you'd expect in a forest, so keep the door shut. The bathtub doesn't work, and there's a post beside the cottages. We stayed two days with family. The first impression on arrival wasn't exciting, but we liked the place more as time went on. It's opposite the Forest museum entry gate. If you want luxury, this isn't for you, but nature lovers may find it a great place to stay. Mr Sagar Giri runs the lodge and handles bookings and packages. He was helpful and accommodating, and even lent us his Lica binocular without hesitation after we lost ours during travel.

Service was very slow, and the rooms and restaurant need to be kept cleaner. At breakfast there was cat poop on the table and a street dog sleeping in the restaurant. I asked for hot water and got unfiltered tap water, hot, in an oily glass. I'll never recommend this lodge.

This is a base for jeep safaris with guides, canoe rides on the Rapti River, and bird-watching trips. Chitwan Gaida Lodge is in the middle of the Tharu villages in Sauraha, giving visitors a mix of local culture and jungle adventure. It's an eight-minute walk from the entrance to Chitwan National Park, and the Wildlife Display & Information Centre is just steps away. It seems popular with families.