Things to do in Bardiya National Park

This time we are back with the things to do in Bardiya National Park.

Bardiya National Park, located in the heart of the Karnali River in southwestern Nepal, is flocked by wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts every year. Covering an area of 968 sq km, this park extends from the Churia hills southward to the fair slope of the Bhabhar area. The western end of the park is bordered by the numerous waterways of the rushing Karnali River, creating many large and small islands.

The tour to Bardiya National Park offers a fascinating glimpse of animals, many of inhabits in and around the National Park. It is home to more than 30 species of birds, 200 species of mammals and plenty of snakes, fish, and lizard species. Likewise, home to more than 350 species of bird, this national park of Nepal is truly a bird watcher’s paradise. Both resident and migratory inhabits within the park’s boundaries.

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Here is the list of the Things to do in Bardiya National Park

6. Sport Fishing

You can go sport fishing with the locals in the Karnali and Babai rivers. Naturalists will also accompany you. Enjoy your time will the locals, observe and learn the traditional ways of fishing in the remote part of Nepal.

5. Stay at a Local Community Homestay

This is one of the best things to do in Bardiya National Park. Staying at a local community homestay enables you to observe the culture and tradition of the rural part of Nepal. The homestay accommodation at Bardiya is simple and basic but meets travelers’ essential needs. The houses you stay in are made up of the traditional way out of mud and wood. So, you will really feel like you’re having a rural adventure. As with all Community Homestays across Nepal, you will have your own private room, separate from your hosts, who stay nearby.

The Bardiya Community Homestay is run by local women of the community. Running the Homestays empowers them with valuable skills and self-confidence, as well as an independent source of income. It also gives guests an opportunity to interact with ordinary Nepali women, which can be hard in other parts of the country as businesses, accommodation, and tour activities are more often than not dominated by men.

Check out the beauty of Bardiya National Park in our weekly vlog

4. Enjoy the Tharu Culture

Be entertained by the traditional song and dance of Tharu villagers in their cultural dress, and end the evening on a high by joining in the dancing yourself.

Enjoy an evening’s entertainment while learning more about the local Tharu culture of the Bardiya area. Young Tharu men and women will perform traditional folk music and dances in their ethnic dress. The stories told through music and dance revolve around rural and cultural life, such as the animals, the harvest, and religious festivals. This is another good thing to do in Bardiya National Park that, you should not miss out.

Things to do in Bardiya Community Homestay — Tharu Cultural Dance in Bardiya Community Homestay

3. Witness the Magical Sunset

The best way to end a day in a state of complete serenity is to watch a wonderful sunset on the Karnali river where you can see a few dug-out canoes crossing the golden reflection of the sun on the water. Even more interesting, is to watch some domestic buffalos crossing the river. The sound and magical atmosphere created by these animals walking on the gold colored water stays in your memory for a long time. Even though you are not a sunset lover, you will probably enjoy the magical beauty of the golden hour.

2. Night stay at a Tree House (Machhan)

Be surrounded by the wildness of the forest by spending a night in a watchtower, high above the forest floor, while animals and birds meander by. To really immerse yourself in nature and feel the wild all around you, spend a night in a ‘machhan’ in the community forest, in the buffer zone beside the Bardiya National Park. A machhan is a watchtower, located high above the forest floor on stilts or built like a treehouse. From the balconies, you can sit, watch, and listen to animals like rhinos, elephants, and tigers in safety.

Things to do in Nepal

1. Jeep Safari

Jungle Safari is one of the Major Highlights at Bardiya National Park in general. It is one of the best sites for National Park activities and Jungle experiences. Lesser known to foreign travelers, this top national park of Nepal is probably the best place to see Bengal Tigers, alongside more than 30 species of mammals and 250 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal florican and sarus crane.

Best time to visit Bardiya National Park

As it lies in the Terai region of Nepal, autumn, winter, and early summer are the best seasons to visit Bardiya National Park. This time the weather will be warm and dry.