Bardia
National Park (968 sq km)
The Bardia National park is the
largest and most undisturbed protected area in the Terai and is home to the
endangered Royal Bengal tiger and Nepal’s famous one-horned rhinoceros. The
national park located in the far western district of Bardiya, is borded by the
river Karnali in the west, the Churia range in the north, while the River Babai
flows right through the park.
The varied geographical factors
together with the thick cover of Sal, savannah forests and grasslands render
this region ideal as wild animal habitat. The park hosts 30 different mammals,
more than 250 species of birds, and several varieties of reptiles and water
animals.
Some of the other animals found
where are elephant, swamp deer, blackbuck, gharial crocodile and marsh mugger
crocodile. The exotic Gangetic Dolphin is also sometimesseen in river Karnali.
Birds include endangered varieties of Bangel florican, lesser florican,
silver-eared mesia and sarus crane.
The park offers the rare opportunity
of fishing at River Karnali and River Babai.
- Activities: Jungle safari on elephant-back, jungle walk, jeep drive
- Accommodation: Jungle lodges
- Access: Three hours by jeep (95km) form Nepalgunj which is 1hour 10 minute by air or 531 by road from Kathmandu
- Best Season: Oct-Mar; Apr-Jun (hot, 45 degrees Celsius), Jul-Sep (rainy)
- Park headquarters: Thakurdwara, Tel: 084-429719
