Bardiya National Park is a protected area in Nepal that was established in 1988 as Royal Bardia National Park. Covering an area of 968 km2 (374 sq mi) it is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in Nepal's Terai, adjoining the eastern bank of the Karnali River in the Bardiya 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 1,437 km2 (555 sq mi) represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Bardia-Banke that extends over 2,231 km2 (861 sq mi) of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests.
About 70% of the park is covered with forest, with the balance a mixture of grassland, savannah and riverine forest. The flora recorded in the park comprises 839 species of flora, including 173 vascular plant species comprising 140 di-cots, 26 monocots, six fern, and one gymnosperm species.
The park has three distinct seasons, each providing a unique experience. From October through early April the weather is dry. The days are warm, and the nights are cool and pleasant. From April to June the temperatures warm up, are peaking up to 450c in May. The hot sticky days give way to the monsoon rains that lasts until September.
The park offers a variety of experiences in its vast undisturbed wilderness. About 70% of the forest consists of Sal trees with a mixture of grassland and riverine forests.Sal leaves are used in festival and religious offering. The park is home to endangered animals such as the Royal Bengal tiger, wild elephant, Greater one-horned rhinoceros, swamp deer, and black buck, The other endangered species include gharial-cr tocodile, marsh mugger and Gangetic dolphin. Endangered birds found in the park are Bengal florican, lesser florican and sarus crane, More that 30 different mammals, over 230 species of birds and several species of snakes, lizard and fish have been recorded In the park's forest, grassland and river. In addition to the resident species, several migratory birds visit the park.
Current checklists include 407 bird species, among them the Bengal florican, white-rumped vulture, peafowl, and bar-headed geese, which are symbolic of the park. Lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and Sarus crane have also been sighted.
Museum and Tharu culture are available for visitors at HQ. The wireless radio communication facility at the park headquarters, could be used in emergency, If you are traveling by private vehicle make sure that you have ample amount of fuel. Be advised to carry a comprehensive first-aid kit including medicines for intestinal problems. There is a community health post at Thakurdwara. You can spend your nights at the lodges surrounding the pork. These lodges provide service to tourists too.
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