Bardia National Park is historically a former hunting reserve of the Nepali royal family. Far from mass tourism like that of Chitwan, it is renowned for the numerous species it shelters.

Description

Bardia National Park, also spelled Bardiya, is a protected area in Nepal established in 1988. With an area close to 1,000 km², it is the largest and most intact national park of the Terai plains. It is bounded to the north by the ridge of the Siwalik Hills. The Nepalgunj-Surkhet highway forms part of its southern boundary, though it seriously disrupts the protected zone. The area borders Banke National Park to the east.

The park is today controlled by three government entities:

Rangers from the National Park Headquarter, the Nepali army, and volunteers from the National Trust for Nature Conservation.

The park is famous for its biodiversity: With forest coverage exceeding 70%, no fewer than 839 plant species and 642 animal species have been documented.

Notable inhabitants include the Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, gharial, Ganges dolphin, Indian leopard, Asian elephant, and hundreds of bird, reptile, and insect species.

What sets this reserve apart is its visitation level: Due to its remoteness, both the park and the villages bordering it have preserved their authenticity.

Activities

To explore the jungle, you have several options:

Jeep for a tour through the park's rugged tracks:

Advantages: Reach areas where wildlife has been spotted quickly. Protection against predators.

Disadvantages: Due to the low number of visitors, animals are not all accustomed to engine noise and tend to flee.

Canoe to drift with the current

Advantages: Silent mode of transport, ideal for not startling animals.

Disadvantages: Mosquitoes.

By bicycle or on foot: With a guide armed only with a stick, immerse yourself in this wild nature to discover the country's fauna.

Access

By plane: From Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (100–200$ round trip). Then head to Takhudwara by bus or 4x4, depending on your budget.

By bus: Since 2017 you can travel directly from Kathmandu to Bardia National Park: Via the Metro company, for example, from Kathmandu to Takhudwara—16 hours of travel awaits.

Pricing

It's difficult to estimate a price. Everything depends on how long you stay, which accommodation you've chosen, and which activities you've planned. One thing is certain: it remains more expensive than Chitwan National Park.