Mr B's Place: Why Bardia?

Why Bardia?

Bardia is very different to other parks in Nepal, the pace of life here is slow, relaxed and peaceful, and despite a few touts near the main road in Ambassa, it is much less commercial than other parts of Nepal and Thakurdwara still feels pretty much like it did 25 years ago.

Since the introduction of electricity in 2003, a few people now have TV's, although the small NGO funded internet café is still in a traditional mud construction hut, and most of the electricity is only used for lighting.

There are many things to do, many of them cost no money at all and trekking in the park is affordable and quiet. You are unlikely to see any other tourists and have an excellent chance of tracking and seeing elephant and rhino as well as many types of deer and hundreds of birds. Depending on the season, you also have a good chance of seeing the elusive Tiger, an animal who's footprints you will see everywhere but that is so well camouflaged it can be almost impossible to see.

We would encourage you to wander around the village(s) and explore, visit some of the other lodges for meals and enjoy your experience here. The village people are very friendly and welcoming and there are many independent walks that we can advise you on.

Other reasons to come to Bardia:

If you are coming or going to Himachal Pradesh or Uttaranchal in India via the western-most border post at Mahendrenagar (only 140km away), then Bardia makes an ideal place to have a rest.

If you are rafting on the Karnali the trip will finish at Chisapani which is only 28km from our hotel. Ring us and we can come and get you.

If you're getting cold anywhere in Nepal, especially in December, January and February then come down to the Terai. At only 270m above sea level it is a lot warmer and this is also an excellent time to see tigers as all the grass has been cut.

If you've been overwhelmed by the noise and smells of India then head north to Bardia for some peace and quiet.

If you fancy trekking in the less visited western most areas of Nepal such as Dolpo, Khaptad, Rara Lake or Humla (plus others) then Bardia is an excellent place to start many treks or unwind from your trek when you have finished.

If you're sick of the commercialisation of some areas of Nepal, then come and stay immediately.

Read the testimonials for other reasons to come and we can also put you in touch with the other guests who would be happy to explain why Bardia is so good.

Bardia National Park hotel hostel accommodation Bardiya National Park Western Nepal wildlife camping trekking khaptad rara jumla humla homestay excellent ensuite bathrooms garden flowers jungle tigers tiger rhino rhinoceros black buck blue bull antelope ornithology ornithologists bird watching guide nature guide wildlife guide jungle tracking rafting dug out canoe Other biodiversity A total of 37 species of mammals has been recorded in the national park (Upreti 1994). Globally threatened species of wildlife include the Ganges River Dolphin Platanista gangetica, Asiatic Wild Dog Cuon alpinus, Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, Tiger Panthera tigris, Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Barasingha Cervus duvauceli, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, Gharial Gavialis gangeticus and Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris (Upreti 1994, Hilton-Taylor 2000). The Indian Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis has been re-introduced from Chitwan and 50 individuals survive here (Shiva Raj Bhatta verbally 2000). Bardia Jungle safari white water rafting culture tharu people>Rara National Park in the far north western part of Nepal offers a representative sample of the region's flora and fauna. Sprawled over Mugu and Jumla districts, the heart of the park is the country's biggest lake, Lake Rara, from where the park gets it's name. The lake is as deep as 167m in places and drains into the River Mugu Karnali via Nijar Khola. The park is mainly covered by coniferous forest while the area around the lake is dominated by blue pine. Rhododendron, juniper, spruce, oak and cypress are found around 3000m, while at higher altitudes pine, spruce and fir are more common. he rich vegetation of the park is home to the endangered red panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, jackal, Himalayan tahr, wild yellow-throated martin, wild dog, wild boar, common langur, rhesus maqaque and common otter. During winter the park abounds in 272 species of birds such as coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe, red crested pochard, mallard, common teal, merganser and gulls. Migrant water fowls and gallinaceous birds can be seen during certain seasons. As for water life in the lake three species of snow trout are recorded so far.Many fantastic treks can be organised in this area, ranging from 3 days up to 30 days. Trekking here is completely unlike trekking in the more popular areas of Nepal. It is possible to fly into several local airports in the area to reduce trekking time or to use the airports to leave at the end of a longer trek starting from Bardia National Park We are a small family business based at Bardia National Park with many years of experience of organising treks in the remoter areas of Rara, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpo and Khaptad. We are all trained wildlife guides and also qualified trekking guides. We rely on personal recommendations for most of our business. Khaptad National Park General Information Khaptad National Park in West Nepal is the home of the late Khaptad Swami, the renowned scholar and also a hermit. The park, with its rolling hills of grasslands, and forests of sub-tropical, temperate and sub-alpine vegetation is also a rich natural habitat. Flora and Fauna The park boasts 224 species of medicinal herbs and offers excellent bird watching opportunities, with 270 species of birds, the common ones being different varieties of impheyan pheasant, partridges, flycatchers, bulbuls, cuckoos and eagles. Animals in the park are barking deer, wild boar, ghoral, Himalayan black bear, yellow throated marten, rhesus monkey and langur monkey. Cultural Sights The park also offers religious sight-seeing at Tribeni on the way to it's headquarters. There are several historical temples surrounding this area and an annual celebration of Ganaga Dashhara is held here every Jestha Purnami. Another religious site is Sahashra Linga at 3200m, the highest point of the park. Other religious areas in the park include Ganesh temple, Nagdhunga and Kedardhunga. These areas are ideal places for meditation. Towards the Northeast of the park is Khaptad lake where a festival is held every August and September Best Season: Mar-May and Oct-Nov Jun-Sep (rainy) Dec-Feb (snow)Trekking Many fantastic treks can be organised in this area, ranging from 7 days up to 15 days. With all the wildlife and cultural opportunities in the area it makes a very interesting place to trek. We are a small family business based at Bardia National Park with many years of experience of organising treks in the remoter areas of Rara, Jumla, Mugu, Khaptad and Dolpo. We are all trained wildlife guides and also qualified trekking guides. We rely on personal recommendations for most of our business. There are about 1.5 million Tharu people in Nepal (about 7% of the population) and most of them speak a mixture of local languages and dialects. Thakurdwara is a predominantly Tharu village. Origins The Tharu were probably the original inhabitants of the Terai region, although some scholars think that the women migrated from Rajasthan in India when the Muslims invaded, taking with them their servants who were eventually assimilated into the 'new' Tharu culture. Economy They rear cows, buffaloes, goats, chickens and pigs as well as clearing and cultivating land in the forest, growing dahl and rice.Women also catch fish using small nets in rivers, streams and pools. In the past many Tharu people were enslaved, had their land taken from them and were treated very badly by local landlords who just claimed and registered their land and then made them pay rent to continue to use it. Our History with the Tharu During the Malaria eradication campaign many of the landless people in the surrounding hills came down to the Terai and mixed and intermarried with the Tharu. This is when our families' came to Thakudwara. Some of B's family still live in the hills above Bardia. At the age of 10, B's mother was left with B's Father's family when her own family were migrating from the mountains...she never saw her family again and spent the rest of her life in the Thakurdwara area assimilating with the local Tharu culture. Religion Tharu people practice their own religion which involves spirit worship but also take freely from Hindu traditions and in Thakudwara you will see many small Hindu temples. Visiting the villages Kali (Shakuntala) can guide you around the local villages introducing you to local people and it's also possible to arrange overnight stays in local homes if you are interested. All our family speak the Tharu language and their is also more information available at the park headquarters just a few minutes walk from our camp. Our children will also give you an insight into the local culture and can take you on half day walks around the village when they aren't in school. Swamp Francolin Francolinus gularis Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Pallas's Fish-eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis Lesser Florican Sypheotides indicus Sarus Crane Grus antigone Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda Grey-crowned Prinia Prinia cinereocapilla Great Himalaya Trail Crocodile Breeding centre Elephant rehabilitation centre Western food dhal bhat great food amazing food Mr B email contact details wildlife Bardia National Park is located in the Far-Western Region, Nepal and was established in 1988 as Royal Bardia National Park. Covering an area of 968 km2 it is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai, adjoining the eastern bank of the Karnali River in the Bardia District. The northern limits of the protected area are demarcated by the crest of the Siwalik Hills. The Nepalgunj-Surkhet highway partly forms the southern boundary, but seriously disrupts the protected area. Natural boundaries to human settlements are formed in the west by the Geruwa, a branch of the Karnali River, and in the southeast by the Babai River. Together with the neighboring Banke National Park, the coherent protected area of 1,518 km2 represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Bardia-Banke The park provides excellent habitat for endangered animals like the rhinoceros, wild elephant, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial, marsh mugger crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. Endangered birds include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and Sarus crane. More than 30 different mammals, over 200 species of birds, and many snakes, lizards and fish have been recorded in the park's forest, grassland and river habitats. A good number of resident and migratory birds are found in the park. It is also the home of two of the last known herds of wild Indian elephants. natureway.in khaptad bardia national park www.natureway.in jumla Nepal khaptad national park maximum altitudes bardia Nepal sarus cranes small internet cafe national geographic bardiya national park jungle drive spiny babbler black kingfisher bardia park hideaway cottage philosophy of nature nature's way bardia nature's way to beautiful kurtresimi spinny babbler resident birds saras crane tharu dress mugu nepal materials used for building fixed charge female guide humla nepal nepal jumla sarus crane bengal birds bardia national park nepal humla jumla thakurdwara black-capped kingfisher black capped kingfisher tharu people rare birds saurus crane birds in winter by pass muguand khaptad national park nepal nature's hideaway rara national park nepal birds of spring maximum altitude birds in spring khaptad nepal naturway.in humla birds of bengal swamp francolin floricon tiger

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Why Bardia?