"Wildlife Paradise" Bardiya by DaveJi

Bardia National Park is spread over 968 sq. km and located in the Western Nepal Terai. It is easily the largest and least disturbed wilderness spread in the Terai, and is predominantly Sal forest sprinkled with tall grasslands. It is bound on the north by the Chure hills and is skirted on the West by the Geruwa river.

It is here that your chances of spotting a tiger in Nepal are the highest. Other animals include the rhinoceros, swamp deer, leopards, jungle cats, blue bull (nilgai) sloth bears, barking deer and langurs.

There are a few wild elephants, and one of the males is considered the largest in Asia!

The Geruwa river that rushes in through a break in the hill range is home to the famous masher game fish, gharial, mugger crocodile and the freshwater Gangetic dolphin. The park also has cobras, kraits and pythons.

The park boasts more than 250 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal florican, Sarus crane and many species of geese, ducks and parakeets.

The activities include jungle safari on elephant back, walks, boat rides and Jeep drives. The best time to visit is from October-March.Royal