- Address: Bardia National Park Thakurdwara-6, Bardia, West Nepal
- Phone: +977 084-429719
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09: 00-20: 00
- Area: 968 square meters. km
- Year of foundation: 1988
One of the largest national parks in Nepal is Bardia (Bardia National Park). It is located in the south-western part of the country in the Terai region.
general information
In 1969, this territory housed the royal hunting reserve, which occupied an area of 368 square meters. km. After 7 years, it was renamed Karnali. In 1984, the valley of the Babai River was included in its structure. The official opening and appropriation of the modern name and status of the National Park took place in 1988. Local residents (about 1,500 people) were moved from here.
Today, the Bardiya square in Nepal is 968 square meters. km. Its northern border runs along the mountain ridge of the Sivalik peak, and the southern one runs along the highway connecting Surkhet and Nepalganj. On the western side of the reserve, the Karnali River flows.
The reserve administration together with the neighboring national park Bank carries out the project on protection of tigers, which is called Tiger Conservation Unit. The total area of the territory is 2231 square meters. km and includes humid subtropical deciduous forests and grassy plains.
Flora National Park
In Bardiya in Nepal grows 839 species of plants, of which 173 species of vascular plants, which are divided into:
- dicotyledons (140);
- Monocotyledons (26);
- ferns (6);
- gymnosperms (1).
The territory of the park is covered with dry sandalwood forests on the Churia hill and high grass (bamboo, reed) in the area of Bhabara. Approximately 70% of the area is covered with forests and impassable wet jungle, where grow silk trees, karma, simal, sisu, khair, siris and other plants. The remaining 30% of the earth is covered with shrub thickets, savannas and fields. Here grows 319 varieties of orchids.
Fauna of the National Park
There are 53 species of different animals in Bardiya in Nepal : gang dolphin, barassing, Asian elephant, Serau, Indian rhinoceros, jackal, antelope nilgau, small pandas, bear and other mammals. The pride of the national park is the Bengal tiger, there are about 50 of them.
On the territory of Bardiya, you can meet about 400 migratory birds and the same number of birds that live here all the time. The brightest of their representatives are the beautiful peacocks. In the institution there are 23 species of reptiles and amphibians: the Gang of Gavial, the marsh crocodile, snakes, all kinds of frogs and lizards. In the waters of local rivers, there are 125 species of fish and 500 butterflies.
Features of visit
The Bardiya National Park in Nepal is difficult to access, and local groups often block off the road, so tourists in these parts are rare. You can travel through the territory of the institution on jeep safari, swim by boat or on an elephant. In the latter case, you will end up in intractable corners, and in this case you will not frighten wild animals and birds. True, predators are afraid of large mammals and hide from them.
Come to the national park is best from March to October, at which time the average air temperature is + 25 ° C, plants please the eye with their riot of colors, and the flowers produce stunning aromas. In summer there is unbearable heat, and then the rainy season begins.
The territory of Bardia is surrounded around the perimeter by a wire through which an electric current is passed. The voltage in it is small, only 12 volts. This is done to scare away wild animals.
The National Park is open from Monday to Friday, from 09:00 until 20:00. On its territory there are lodges where you can spend the night.
How to get there?
Aircraft fly from Kathmandu to the nearest town of Nepalganj. The journey takes 1 hour, and the distance is 516 km. From here, Bardia will need to drive 95 km by car along the Schurkhead Highway and Mahendra Highway. In the national park you can get to the river Karnali during the rafting tour .