The Royal 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 as 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 harbours 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, egret, storks,
geese, jungle fowls, king-fishers and endangered species such as
the Bengal florican, silver-eared mesia and the 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…? |