Chitwan was declared a national park in 1973, following approval by the late King Mahendra in December 1970. The bye-laws (Chitwan National Park Regulations) were introduced on 4 March 1974. Substantial additions were made to the park in 1977 and the adjacent Parsa Wildlife Reserve was established in 1984. The habitat had been well protected as a royal hunting reserve from 1846 to 1951 during the Rana regime. An area south of the Rapti River was first proposed as a rhinoceros sanctuary in 1958 , demarcated in 1963 and later incorporated into the national park. Chitwan was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984.