Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) is situated in Chitwan Dun (‘dun’ means ‘a valley in the lowlands) on the boundary between the Siwalik Hills and the flat Terai regions of southern Nepal. The climate is subtropical monsoon, characterized by intense rains and extremely hot temperatures in the summer (from mid-June to late September) followed by dry cool fall, winter, and spring.

Chitwan includes many habitat zones ranging from jungle forests to grasslands. The four major vegetation types are Sal forest, riverine forest, khair-sissoo forest and tall grassland:

"Sal forest, dominated by sal (Shorea robusta), grows on the slopes of Churia hill (in the south of the park) and nearby foothills."

"Riverine forests extend along watercourses with species like Trewia nudiflora, Bombax cieba Lisea monopatela, Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia catechu and Bahunia spp. Forming the canopy layer."

"Khair-sissoo forest is more common in relatively old islands of (the) Narayani river system with Dalbergia sissoo and Acacia catechu as dominant tree species."

"Tall grasslands are stretched along (the) Rapti, Reu and Narayani river systems. Saccharum spontaneum, S. bengalensis, Narenga porphyrocoma, Phragmites karka and Themeda arundinacia are common graminoides (grasses) found in the tall grasslands." Jnawali (1999).

In additional to the above 4 vegetative types, 3 different forest and 5 different minor grassland types have been recognized. Within the park, 3 gymnosperms, 13 pteridophytes, 424 dicotyledons, 137 monocots, and have been recognized.

In addition to the great diversity in plant species, RCNP has a profound number of birds (526 species), mammals (over 50 species), reptiles (over 50 species of reptiles and amphibians) and fish (over 120 species), including:

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