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Where it's at
A paradise for nature lovers, the Royal Bardia National Park
is a land of unexplored wilderness, perfect to explore high
adventure and natural beauty at its best.
The park was initially a Royal hunting reserve. In 1976 it
was gazetted as Royal Karnali Wildlife Reserve with
an area of only 250 square miles. In 1982 it was renamed as
Royal Bardia Wildlife Reserve, which also included
the Babai River Valley. Only in 1988 was it granted
a status of National Park in order to preserve the dwindling
species and rare ecosystem.
Meet the wildlife
At present, there are more than thirty different mammals,
over 400 species of birds, many snakes, lizards, and fish
have been sighted and recorded in the park's forest, grassland
and river habitats. Among these are the Langur Monkey,
hyena, jackal, Sloth Bear, Blue Bull or Nilgai and the
Sambar Deer.
The top animal that attracts tourists from all over the world
is the matchless, and most elusive animal in the world: the
Bengal Tiger. Big game hunters shot tigers to the brink
of extinction. It wasn't until the park was set up that some
of them could be saved. Now there are about 40 tigers here.
Trekkers can spot them occasionally; the chances are almost
80% depending on the season.
Getting there
Getting to Bardia National Park is not difficult. There are
regular daily flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. Upon arrival
at the Nepalgunj Airport you have to drive for two
hours to reach to Bardia Jungle Cottage. There is also
a bus drive but it takes 16 hours one-way form Kathmandu to
Nepaljung and Bardia. By private vehicles the drives is about
12 hours. This nature sanctuary is best visit between October
and April.
Remember to bring
A word of precaution: all visitors to the park should wear
camouflage clothes that blend with the natural surroundings.
Wearing clothes that contrast with the environment could invite
trouble from the wild life. Also opt to wear comfortable shoes
for easy movement while on safaris. Don't forget to bring
insect repellent, sunhat and some swimwear. A flashlight is
necessary if you are travelling at night-time.
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