Day Jungle safari during summer in Bardia National Park

The best time to visit Bardia National Park is from January to May month. More possibilities to see Tiger and other wildlife inside National park on your Jungle walking. We only had a suitable time in August month, so we start our journey for 2 nights 3 days.

Nepal Highland management Team immediately plan to visit Bardia during our less working days on August 5, 2019. We followed a man from the Bardia Jungle cottage. We took evening flight of Shree air to Nepaljung airport and drive to Bardia which took 2 and a half hours. The pristine jungles of the Bardia are the best jungle safari in Nepal. After increasing number of Tiger in Nepal, Bardia is the one where Tiger can be seen every day during Safaris. Bardia is home to the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger and one-horned rhinoceros beside the many other mammals and reptiles. The park located in the far western district of Bardia is bordered by Karnali River in the west, the Churia range in the north while the Babai River flows right through. The best way to explore the Jungle, its animal and bird are by jungle walking. We found a couple in this hotel staying 9 days and every day going for Jungle walking. Most of the days they were able to explore Tiger from near. They felt staying in the simple lodge is a homely environment and not much cost. This couple was thereafter their Nepal treks tours for long days. Reaching there in Bardia is far from the main cities of Nepal like Kathmandu and Pokhara.

It is a simple homestay type of accommodation in Bardia. Bardia Jungle Cottage is just in a key location. Peace and cool place. More benefit is the entrance gate of Bardia National park is just in front of this hotel.

We accommodate in Bardia jungle cottage. Owner Premi warm welcomed us. The lodge is family running all complete by Premi and looking after by three generations his son and grandson too. It is in a key location. The entrance gate of Bardia National park is just in front of this hotel. No need to drive hours and hours just to reach the National park entrance gate. We were told to be ready tomorrow at 7 am for jungle walking day tour. The evening temperature was 32, which was not much feeling of a hot under room fan. Karnali River is flowing in its many branches inside the National park. We had to cross one of its branches to start our day Jungle walking. Since we were not much experience of swimming, our guide requests to cross all of us by wood carving small boats. It was much scary boating the first time. The day began with good sign. We show a crocodile at another side of the River.  Subash from Bardia Jungle cottage brief about Crocodile, it is kind, and how dangerous it is. 

We came to know from Subas, the park hosts 30 different mammals, more than 250 species of birds, several verities of reptiles and water animals. Till this year there are 87 tigers and about 45 Rhinos and about 120 Elephants inside this national park. There are more findings of Tigers here than on other national parks which attracts visitors, this reason there is everyday tourist flow in Bardia National park. The national park was established in 1988 as Royal Bardia National Park. It covering an area of 968 km2 (374sa m). Because of raining season elephant back safari, Jeep safari and Rafting in the River was stopped by National park office with the reason of safety. The second best way to explore animals of National park and Birds is by rafting inside the park, said Subash. We also get a good briefing about the jungle walking from him. About 7 hours of our tour was not entirely walking. Is was a total of about 3 hours of walking and the rest of the hours were staying in the main spots, stay silent and expect to see wildlife. Our second spot was able to see Rhino for a long time. Several typical wooden towers are stand in the middle of the jungle. Climb and stay there for hours to wait for wildlife around. 

The wooden tower also called Tiger station inside Bardia National Park. Climb to stay at the top and explore wildlife by staying quite. There are Newly build a cemented tower which looks ugly inside the Park.  

We were 6 peoples a group accept us, we did not see any other peoples. When we nearly reach our third waiting station, we met a guy from National park with his elephant and he briefs us on a Tiger point he recently saw. Subash and Kumar told us to be fast walking with silence. We reached the spot and subash pointed us a Tiger. He was about to move from there after staying a long time. We felt lucky enough to explore Tiger for 30 seconds. I had a good picture of him. Our mission was a success today. Now we felt to return back Hotel. We enjoyed our bird lunch packed and carried by them. It is hard to guide in Jungle. Carrying enough food and water is not so easy for the guide team.  

He was about to leave the place. We were lucky to see him for 30 second 

Reaching to Bardia
Reaching to Bardia from Kathmandu by route bus Daily buses run from Kathmandu to Mahendrenagar (Stop at Ambassa). The bus takes around 15 hours and is a beautiful though long journey as you pass through mountains and forests and then through the mainly flat and rural Terai. Bus Ticket cost is about USD 18 to 25. Night buses also operate 2/3 pm daily from Kathmandu Gongabu Bus park (New Bus Park) and reach at Ambassa around 4/5 am next morning. Everyday bus service from Kathmandu to Thakurdwar also operates in the morning time. The best option is to get night bus of Mahendra Nagar and get off at Ambassa

By private car: Private car from Kathmandu to Bardia takes 9 hours. The entire road from Kathmandu to Bardia is well paved. Kathmandu, Muglin, Naranghat, Butwal, Lamahi, Kohalpur is the regular driving route for private cars.  

Kathmandu to Bardia by flight: four different flight companies do operate about 10 flights every day from Kathmandu to Nepaljung. From Nepaljung, it is another 2 and the half hour drive to reach Bardia. The flight operates from morning 8 am till evening at 6:00.    

From Nepalgunj: Two buses per day go to Thakudwara at 11 am and 2.30 pm, taking 3-4 hours and costing around 200 Nepali rupees. The private car from Nepaljung airport to Bardia is about 2 and a half hours only. It cost you rupees 5500 can seat up to 7 peoples. 

From Mahendranagar: Daily buses run from Mahendrenagar to Kathmandu (stop at Ambassa), the bus takes around 4-5 hours to reach Ambassa and another half an hour to Thakurdwar where most of the Hotels are situated. 

Traveling Bardia from India: You can travel to Bardia from India by coming to Banbassa-Mahendranagar or Rupidha-Nepalgunj border between Nepal India. It is an option to reach by your own vehicle or use Nepali one.

Travelling Bardia from Chitwan or from Pokhara is by local bus or by Private car only. 

*Ambassa: The actual park entrance is situated close to the small village of Thakurdawa, 14km southwest along the newly paved road from Ambassa on the Mahendra Highway. A handful of buses run each day from Ambassa to Thakurdwara. The journey takes around 30 minutes. You also can get shared TUKTUK at any time. Shared transportation costs you about 100 Nepali rupees.  

Temperature in Bardia
The best visiting time of Bardia National park is in hot season. You can expect following temperature by months. While you are for Jungle safari, you can expect all-day sweating, you may lose your weight as all toxins and fats gone with sweats.

Bardia National Park: Temperature in Degree  

Things to do in Bardia
Jungle walking
Elephant back safari
Jeep safari
Wildlife Rafting
Fishing
Bird watching
Tharu Cultural Dance
Village tour
Wildlife camping
Volunteer 

2 Nights 3 daysstay in Bardia is minimum stay we suggest. For real wildlife lovers, staying longer as much as they can is also not good enough. Bardia fewer tourists visiting National park comparing Chitwan National park has got much remote wildlife activities. There is only a government elephant allow in National park so that the Elephant back safari tour will be only for an hour. Since all the Hotels should use elephant from National park, these activities some time is not enough for all Should wait for next days or book previously. Bardia tour also can include your other plans like Trekking in Nepal.    

Site visit in Bardia
Karnali Bridge
Dalla homestay village
Thakurdwar temple  
Thalurdwar village 

Thakurdwar Temple in Bardia walking distance from Bardia Jungle cottage through Thakurdwar Bazar.