Bardiya National Park

Area : 968 sq km
Altitude : 152m to 1441m

Introduction

Bardia National park is the largest national park in Nepal's lowland Terai covering an area of 968 sq km. The park is situated in Nepal's Western Terai and was established to protect representative ecosystems and conserve tigers and its prey species.Hotel and Resort In Bardia National Park are available for the domastic and foreign Tourists. Hotel in Bardia National Park and Resort in Bardia National Park provide jungle walk, Elephant safari, Jeep safari as well as the rafting in Karnali River

History

1969 it was made a Hunting Reserve,
1976 gazetted as the Karnali Wildlife Reserve.
1984 it was extended to include the Babai valley.
1988 the reserve was given the status of a National Park. 1997, an area of 327 km2 surrounding the park was declared as a buffer zone, which consists of forests, private lands Hotel and Resort in Bardia National Park.
Bardia National park and local communities jointly manage the buffer zone. Together they initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the buffer zones.
Greater One-horned Rhinoceros were translocated from Chitwan National Park in 1986, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

The Babai Valley

The Babai valley extending from Parewa Odar to Chepang (bridge) was included into the park in 1984. The pristine valley is characterized by a rich biodiversity. The major vegetation and forest characteristics are wooded grassland and Riverine forest. The Babai river valley extends to the north easten border of the park providing an excellent habitat and corridor for several other wildlife species.

Eco-System

Flora
The park offers a variety of experiences in its vast undisturbed wilderness. About 70% of the forest consists of Sal trees with a mixture of grassland and riverine forests. Sal leaves are used in festivals and as religious offering.
Fauna
More that 32 different mammals, 350 Species of bird
Large Mammals
Species include, Asian elephant, Greater one-horned Rhinoceros, Swamp deer, Spotted deer, Hog deer, Barking deer, Sambar deer, Black Buck, Blue bull, Wild Boar, Royal Bengal tiger, Leopard Golden Jackel, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear and Gangetic dolphin.
Smaller mammals Langur monkey, Rhesus Macaque, Indian fox, Large Indian civet, Small Indian civet, Asian Palm civet , Jungle cat, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Yellow- throated Marten, Smooth-coated Otter, Common Indian Mongoose, Indian Hare, Hispid Hare, Indian Porcupine, Giant Flying Squirrel, Indian Flying Fox Short-nosed Fruit bat, Indian Pipestrelle, Common Yellow bat, Hoarybellied Himalayan Squirrel, Five-striped Palm Squirrel, Fulvus Fruit Bat, Chinese Pangolin, Honey Badger, Grey Musk Shrew.
Reptiles
Gharial-Crocodile, Marsh mugger Crocodile, Indian Rock Python, King cobra,common cobra, rat snake, bandit Krait, common krait, Russll's viper,green pitviper.
Birds
Endangered birds found in the park are Bengal florican, lesser florican and sarus crane, the are to many species of birds list here. owls, small birds, water birds, birds of prey and Several migratory birds visit the park every year.

Seasons

Spring season
From mid February to mid April is the most pleasant weather of the year. It is the best season for visiting the Terai and Bardiya, when There are few Mosquitoes and the tall elephant grasses have been cut making good visibility for Good animal sighting.
Dry season
From late April the temperature and humidity increases and can peak up into the 40c in late june just before the rains. Tiger sightings become more predictable around this time and there are more Mosquitoes, sun hats and light cloving.
Monsoon season
From mid July the hot sticky days are broken by the monsoon rains that lasts until late September. Village life is verdant and slow at this time of year and the least number of visitors come. there are Mosquitoes, and can be hard to stay, being quite hot and humid day and night, when it dos not rain, it is the rice planting time and deeper parts of the jungle are harder to access due to the rivers swell.
Autumn season
Through late september to November the heat and humidity quickly dissipates to make a much milder and pleasant climate, making it much easyer to take long walks through the jungle, it is the rice harvest time and and wheat planting time.There will still be some mosquitos about and the nights cooler.
Winter season
From early December to mid February The days are warm and the nights are cold. It can often be misty untill late in the mornings, some times for a few days at a time there can be cloud cover, which makes for chilly days spent near the fire, but no so bad when your walking, grass cutting time in the jungle, next to zero Mosquitoes, good animal sightings, bring Warm clothing.
Grass cutting time in bardiya
When?

The Karnali river

Starting its journey from near Mt Kilash and eventually merging with the Ganges, the longest river of Nepal. It's blue waters also provide the western boundary of the park, creating Riverine forests, it is the prime habitat for endangered wild life like the Gangetic dolphin, Crocodile, many water birds, fish and crustaceans. River activities
The fast flowing waters of the upper mid Karnarli also provide excellent rafting expeditions, as the boat leave the steep mountain valleys behind and enter the Terai the waters calm down and the expedition ends by or in the park. Jungle Boat rides specially for amimal sighting and seasonal Game fishing permits are also available on the river.

Culture

The Tharu ethnic group is native to this area. There are four differant of sub groups of tharu with there own distinct customs and langudges. Traditionally once they were jungle dwellers, beleved to be immune to malairia, living in the moqueto ridden flat lands (the thari) where few people daired travel. In the 1950s there was a succesful anti malairia program which opened up the Thari for settlers to move in, since that time slowly the jungle habitats and cultures have declined. Today many Tharu still live in there traditional long houses and live as subsistence farmers. They still continue to practise have their own hindu tribal religion and beliefs. Some of the Hotel In Bardia National Park and Resort In Bardia National organized cultural and traditional tharu activities.