Spread the love

Kathmandu, November 29: Bardiya National Park, known as the largest protected area in Nepal’s Tarai region, has gained significant attention and interest. Initially established as the Karnali Wildlife Reserve, it was later renamed Bardiya Wildlife Reserve before being declared Bardiya National Park on 5 December 1988 (2045 Mangsir 20 BS).

The park also includes certain sections of the Karnali and Babai rivers that flow through Bardiya. Its total area spans 968 square kilometers, while the buffer zone covers 507 square kilometers. The buffer zone was declared in 1996 (2053 BS) to allow local communities regulated access to forest resources.

In the upper Chure region of the park, some pine forests can be found, but most of the Tarai section is dominated by sal forests with large grasslands in between. As this area is a prime habitat for tigers, the park was established with the aim of conserving the prey species essential for the survival of Bengal tigers.

According to the 2022 census, Bardiya National Park is home to 125 tigers, said Rajan Chaudhary, Chair of the Bardiya Conservation Area. He noted that globally, there are about 4,800 tigers across 13 countries. Emphasizing Bardiya’s unique role as tiger habitat, Chaudhary said the area has developed as a global learning site. “Because of the tigers, the world’s attention has turned to Bardiya. Large-scale research and several documentaries on tigers have been produced here,” he added.

Along with tigers, the park is home to a wide variety of wildlife and diverse vegetation, making it a prominent eco-tourism destination both nationally and internationally. Bardiya National Park hosts more than 62 species of mammals, including elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses. The park also shelters more than 515 species of birds, various reptiles, and 121 species of fish, said tourist guide Manju Mahtara. She added that the number of domestic and international tourists visiting the park is increasing each year due to its vast tourism potential.

The park charges an entry fee of NPR 100 for Nepalis, NPR 750 for SAARC-country tourists, and NPR 1,500 for foreign visitors. Additional fees apply for jeep safaris and tourist guides. She noted that large numbers of foreign tourists visit Bardiya because it is one of the few places in the world where tigers can be spotted relatively easily, and recent years have seen a rising trend of domestic tourism as well.

The park currently operates through three sectors, eight range posts, and 24 sub-posts, carrying out conservation, management, and public service activities. As Nepal’s second-largest effective tiger conservation area, Bardiya succeeded in doubling its tiger population by 2022 and was honored with the TX2 Award for this achievement.

Bardiya is also renowned as a successful site for rhinoceros translocation. According to Mahtara, the park currently has 38 one-horned rhinos and more than 120 elephants. It is also home to species such as the swamp deer and gharial crocodile. Tourists visiting the park are especially attracted to tigers, rhinos, elephants, gharials, birds, and overall biodiversity.

Tourism entrepreneur Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, who has been operating Jungle Heaven Hotel & Cottage for 31 years in the area, said the park has greatly contributed to boosting tourism. He mentioned that quality food and lodging services are available for visitors. Tourism—especially domestic travel—has significantly increased since 2005–06 (2062/63 BS), and both domestic and international arrivals have been steady in recent years. The park has also become a valuable educational destination for students.

High-quality tourist hotels and homestays ensure that visitors face no difficulty with accommodation or food. Local tourism operators said the sector was thriving before COVID-19, suffered a temporary setback during the pandemic, and is now recovering strongly.

Tigers remain the main attraction of Bardiya, which is known as one of the most productive tiger habitats. According to Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Chair of the Thakurdwara Tourism Development Forum, the park hosts 96 species of tiger prey per square kilometer. In 2019, Bardiya National Park was listed among the must-visit destinations in the world.

Several organizations—including the National Park Authority, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nature Guide Association, community-based wildlife crime control units, Bird Conservation Clubs, buffer zone committees, Nepal Tourism Board, and Thakurbaba Municipality—are active in conservation and promotion of the park.

The cultural heritage surrounding the park is also unique. The lifestyle, culture, and cuisine of the Tharu community attract many visitors. Domestic tourists enjoy a variety of activities such as jeep or walking safaris, fishing, rafting, birdwatching, elephant rides, camping, museum visits, and observing crocodile and elephant breeding centers. Domestic tourists typically spend one night in the area, and local tourism entrepreneurs are focusing on ways to increase their length of stay.

Another tourist guide, Resham Thapa, explained that Bardiya National Park is a rare destination where one can observe tigers from riverbanks without human disturbance. He said the park is equally important for bird tourism. “Visitors can explore wildlife and vegetation on foot,” he said. “If one wants a thorough experience, four to five days are ideal for exploring Bardiya.” He also mentioned that the park has been featured in several documentaries produced by national and international organizations.

Bardiya National Park is emerging as a key bird tourism destination, said Manashant Ghimire, President of Pokhara Bird Society. According to him, tourists often travel by boat from Karnali’s Chisapani to Geruwa River, observing many bird species along the way. He said the boat trip from Chisapani to Geruwa usually requires a full day.

Thakurbaba Municipality Mayor Tilak Lamsal said they are continuously working to promote the natural richness of the area. He emphasized the need for collaboration among all three levels of government and stressed that both the state and citizens have responsibilities in conservation.

Recently, tourism entrepreneurs from Lekhnath–Pokhara visited Bardiya National Park through the “Let’s Go Begnas-Pokhara” program organized by Hotel and Restaurant Association Lekhnath, with support from Nepal Tourism Board and Pokhara Visit Year 2025. According to NTB Gandaki Province Chief Maniraj Lamichhane, such promotional activities aim to strengthen domestic tourism and enhance business partnerships between different tourism destinations. “Bardiya and Pokhara are both important destinations,” he said. “We believe these programs will help bring Indian tourists arriving via border points and third-country tourists to Pokhara.”

With direct flights operating between Pokhara and Nepalgunj, there is potential for tourists visiting Bardiya to travel directly to Pokhara and vice versa. As tourism is a key pillar of the economy, the state must prioritize the promotion and development of such important destinations within the country.

People’s News Monitoring Service