The Chitwan Elephant and Tourism Festival is organised by the Regional Hotel Association of Chitwan with the local elephant owners' cooperative, to promote tourism in Sauraha and celebrate the role of elephants in the area. The 19th edition ran from 26 to 28 December 2025 at the Baghmara community forest grounds, with around 80 elephants taking part. Dates are set each year by the organisers, so check current status before you travel.
The programme mixes Tharu culture with elephant events. A parade of painted elephants opens the festival, followed over three days by elephant races, elephant football, an elephant beauty contest, Tharu stick and peacock dances, music and food stalls. The last day traditionally includes the worship of the elephants and an elephant picnic, when the animals are fed large meals of fruit, rice and molasses. Crowds are mostly Nepali and Indian holidaymakers.
We think travellers should know the other side too. Animal-welfare organisations have criticised races, football and the training that makes such displays possible, and they argue that captive elephants are best kept away from crowds and performance. Some visitors enjoy the parade and Tharu dances and skip the contests. We do not sell elephant rides at any time of year, and if you visit Sauraha during the festival we will plan your safaris around it and let you choose which parts, if any, to attend.
Tips
- Book Sauraha hotels early; the festival overlaps with the Indian winter holidays and Christmas.
- Watch the parade and Tharu dances from a distance and leave the crowded contest areas to others if you prefer.
- Keep well back from the elephants, which can be stressed by crowds and noise.
- Late-December mornings are foggy and cold, around 7–10 °C, so plan safaris for later in the morning.
- Read up on captive-elephant welfare before deciding whether to attend; we are happy to talk it through.
Questions travellers ask
Is the Chitwan Elephant Festival still held?
Yes. The 19th Elephant and Tourism Festival took place in Sauraha from 26 to 28 December 2025, with around 80 elephants. It has been held regularly since the late 1990s, though dates and programmes change. Check current status before you travel, as the organisers announce dates each autumn.
What happens at the Sauraha elephant festival?
An elephant parade, elephant races and football, an elephant beauty contest, Tharu cultural dances, music, food stalls and, on the final day, the worship of the elephants followed by an elephant picnic of fruit and rice. Events take place at the Baghmara community forest grounds near Sauraha.
Is the elephant festival ethical?
It is debated. Organisers present it as celebrating elephants and Tharu culture. Animal-welfare groups criticise races, football and the training behind them. We do not sell elephant rides and leave it to each traveller to decide whether to attend, with honest information. Many people watch only the parade and dances.
Can I combine the elephant festival with a safari?
Yes. The festival runs alongside normal park activities, so you can do jeep, canoe and walking safaris in the mornings and see parts of the festival in the afternoons. Hotels are busy, so book early. Late December is cool and foggy, with good wildlife viewing later in the morning.
