Luxury Travel In Nepal: The Postcard Hotel Launches A Wildlife Retreat In Chitwan

Nepal is often associated with the Himalayas, but its southern Terai region offers a different kind of wilderness. Here, dense sal forests, expansive grasslands, and winding rivers form the habitat of one-horned rhinoceroses, Bengal tigers, gharials, and hundreds of bird species. It is this lesser-explored side of the country that The Postcard Hotel is bringing into focus with its upcoming Nepal debut. Scheduled to open in November 2026, The Postcard on the Rapti River, Chitwan, will be a 22-room-and-suite luxury retreat overlooking the forests and hills surrounding Chitwan National Park. The opening will mark the brand’s entry into its fourth country, following its presence in India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.

A Wilderness Address

Located along a bend of the Rapti River, the property adjoins the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. One of Nepal’s most important wildlife habitats, the park protects an extensive landscape of grasslands, sal forests, and riverine ecosystems. It is home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, and endangered gharial, among other species.

Chitwan is particularly significant for its rhinoceros population. Nepal’s 2021 national rhino census recorded 694 rhinoceroses in Chitwan and its surrounding areas, making it the country’s principal stronghold for the species. The region is also an important destination for birdwatchers, with more than 525 recorded bird species. Against this ecological backdrop, the new hotel has been designed to make its natural surroundings an integral part of the guest experience.

The property will feature 22 rooms and suites, with accommodation starting at 1,300 sq ft. Each comes with a private sit-out overlooking either the river or the forest. Wildlife sightings may also be possible from the property, with rhinoceroses and crocodiles occasionally spotted along the riverbanks. The two-bedroom Presidential Suite, spread across 5,000 sq ft, will feature a private swimming pool. Guests will enter through a Temple Court built around a stupa, an architectural detail that introduces the property's connection with its setting.

Dining By The River

The hotel's dining spaces have also been planned around the surrounding landscape and local culinary traditions. Tree Tops, an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar, will sit on an elevated deck overlooking the forest. It will offer The Postcard Hotel's signature anytime breakfast, allowing guests to choose when they wish to begin their day rather than follow fixed breakfast hours.

Evenings will bring a different dining experience at Tribal Circle, where an open-air barbecue around a bonfire will draw inspiration from the culinary traditions of the Tharu community, indigenous to Nepal's Terai region. The hotel will also have a swimming pool, spa treatment rooms, a steam room, and a sauna. An elevated viewing deck beside the pool will offer panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness, with opportunities to spot wildlife.

Beyond the property, guests will be able to explore Chitwan through naturalist-led jeep safaris, guided forest walks, canoe excursions along the Rapti River, and birdwatching outings. Visits to nearby Tharu villages will offer an introduction to the region's cultural heritage and the communities that have lived alongside its forests and waterways for generations. These experiences place equal emphasis on the area's wildlife and the people whose lives remain connected to the landscape.

Expanding The Portfolio

The Nepal opening adds another wildlife destination to The Postcard Hotel's portfolio, which already includes The Postcard Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. The brand also has future properties planned in Jawai, Kanha, and Pench, indicating a growing interest in destinations where nature and wildlife form the foundation of the travel experience.

The property is accessible via Bharatpur Airport, approximately 25 minutes by air from Kathmandu, followed by a 40-minute drive to the hotel. For travellers planning a stay, prices will start at INR 85,000 per suite, inclusive of the brand's anytime breakfast and anytime check-in and check-out.

The opening follows a successful year for the hospitality group. In September 2026, The Postcard Hotel received 12 honours at the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in the Maldives, including the title of Asia's Leading Boutique Hotel Brand for another consecutive year. Founded in December 2018 by Kapil Chopra, the brand currently operates 13 hotels across India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, with five additional properties scheduled to open over the next six months.

With its Nepal debut, The Postcard Hotel is extending its presence into the Terai, a region that offers a different perspective on the country's natural heritage, beyond its better-known mountain destinations.

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