Bardia National Park, situated in the mid-far Western region, is the largest and most unspoiled wilderness area in the Terai, covering an area of 968 sq. km. The park, a sub-tropical jungle, is thickly forested by Sal trees and carpeted with grass, savannah, and riverine vegetation. The north is bordered by the Churia hill range, the west by the Karnali river, while the Babai river cuts its course almost through the middle of the park. On the southern fringe of the park are the villages of the unique and indigenous Tharu people of Western Nepal. Considered one of the most picturesque national parks in Asia, it teems with rich and diverse flora and fauna.
The park is home to more than 30 different mammals, including the langur and rhesus monkeys, civets, hyenas, wild dogs, sloth bears, otters, blue bulls, deer, and wild boars. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered animals like the tiger, rhinoceros, wild elephant (the park harbors the biggest wild tusker in Asia), and black buck, Gharial, and marsh mugger crocodiles the great game fish-masher, and the Gangetic dolphin cavort in the river waters.
The unique birds which number over 350 species include cormorants, egrets, storks, geese, jungle fowls, kingfishers, and endangered species such as the Bengal florican, Silver-eared Mesia, and Saurus crane thus making the park truly a bird watchers paradise. Within the park are several open grasslands (plants) where game viewing is excellent. Many of the forest tracks throughout the park also offer excellent game viewing. And when you can take in the sights and sounds of the wild without necessarily having to give up on your creature comforts, what more could you ask for…?
