Bardiya National Park is one of the best mysteries in Nepal. The Terai zone is the biggest national park and protected area in Nepal. It contains 968 km2 of salt wood, grassland, savannah and riverine forests. It is border by the Karnali Riverand is cross by the Babai River in the Bardiya District. The foot of the Siwalik Hills is the northern border of the reserve.

It is not crowd with visitors so there are outstanding chances to find threatened species of wildlife. The King of Bardia is the Tiger of Bengal. The number of tigers is increasing steadily and counts about 60 species. Yet Bardia is also a sanctuary for the endangered Asian elephant and the bigger one-horned rhinoceros.

The park is surround by idyllic villages and fields populated by an ancient ethnic community named ‘Tharu’ . They have their own special tongue, customs and rituals.

Don’t be in too much hurry if you just want to experience Bardia. You’re welcome for a limited period, but we encourage you to live for at least 4 to 5 days. This offers you the ability to explore in a number of forms and improves your likelihood of seeing the wildlife.

Life at Bardiya National Park

With an seasoned guide like Budhi or our Manmohan guide, a little bit of luck and endurance, there’s a fair chance to see the big three, the Bengal Tiger, the Asian elephant and the massive one-horned rhinoceros. Gharial crocodile, Forest mugger crocodile, leopard, swamp deer and gray langur monkeys are among the other 50 species of animals live in Bardia. Rare Gangetic river dolphins are regularly on rafting trips along the Geruwa Channel, the eastern canal of the Karnali Channel.

With more than 400 species of animals, including the threatened Bengal florican and Sarus cranes, Bardiya is a haven for bird lovers. Anglers will enjoy fishing on the river Karnali or Babai.

Best time to visit

The perfect time to visit Bardia National Park and Shuklaphanta National Park is from mid-September to mid-December. Also from February to the end of May. During these months, daytime temperatures range from 25 to 37 degrees. Animals travel to the water to drink, which allows you greater chances to find them. It can be colder from mid-December until the end of January, and often we have foggy conditions. The monsoon brings hot and humid days which begins in June which continues until the end of August. Upward rises of the river will render entry to the park difficult.

It is possible to visit Khaptad and Rara National Park from mid-September to December and from the beginning of March to the end of May. From December to February, winter starts and temperatures decline. The two national parks will be coated in snow and the paths are not available. Between June and September, the monsoon brings a lot of storms, rendering it impossible to travel to both parks.