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Lake · 2,990 m
Rara Lake
Nepal's largest lake, a deep blue sheet of water ringed by pine forest in the remote Karnali hills.
Far Westबर्दिया राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज
Bardiya National Park
A large, quiet national park in the western Terai, with tigers, wild elephants and river dolphins.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Type
- National park or conservation area
- District
- Bardiya, Lumbini
- Suggested stay
- 3-4 days
- Budget per day
- about US$50-60 a day (indicative, excluding park fees and activities)
- Permit
- Entry fee
Higher seasonal exposure: flooding (Jul-Sep), heat (Apr-Jun).
Why go
Bardiya National Park covers about 968 square km of sal forest, riverine grassland and river channels in the western Terai, between the Karnali river on the west and the Babai river valley, with the Siwalik hills marking its northern edge. It is the largest and least disturbed national park in Nepal's lowlands, and together with the neighbouring Banke National Park it forms a large protected landscape for tigers and other wildlife.
Most visitors stay in and around Thakurdwara, the village at the park's main entrance and headquarters. Activities centre on guided jungle walks, jeep safaris and rafting or canoe trips on the Geruwa, a branch of the Karnali. Bardiya is best known for Bengal tigers, and sightings are possible though never guaranteed. Greater one-horned rhinos, reintroduced from Chitwan from the 1980s onwards, wild Asian elephants, several deer species, mugger crocodiles and gharials live here, and the Karnali is one of the few places in Nepal where the endangered Ganges river dolphin can still be seen.
Because it is far from Kathmandu, Bardiya receives far fewer visitors than Chitwan. The pace is slower, groups are smaller and much of the wildlife viewing is done on foot, which suits travellers who want a more immersive experience. Plan at least two or three full days in the park.
The story
The Karnali is one of Nepal's great rivers, and the Tharu people of Bardiya still make offerings to Ban Devi, the forest goddess, before entering the jungle. Some naturalists will not go out tracking without a quiet word to her first.
History and culture
This part of the Terai, known as Naya Muluk or the new country, was ceded to the British East India Company in 1815 and returned to Nepal in 1860. A royal hunting reserve was created here in 1969, which became the Royal Karnali Wildlife Reserve in 1976, was renamed Royal Bardia Wildlife Reserve in 1982, extended to the Babai valley in 1984, and gazetted as a national park in 1988. About 1,500 people living in the Babai valley were resettled elsewhere, and the abandoned farmland has since regenerated into prime wildlife habitat.
The villages around the park are home largely to the Tharu people, whose mud-walled houses, painted granaries, dances and festivals such as Maghi in January are a big part of a visit. Community homestays in Tharu villages near the park give a chance to share meals and daily life.
Things to do in Bardiya National Park
Full-day guided walkWith a guide
Walking safaris with licensed naturalists, often waiting at river crossings where tigers come to drink. February to May tends to give the best sighting chances after the grass is cut. Arranged through a licensed local operator.
indicative, about US$40-55 a day
Karnali river tripWith a guide
A half-day trip on the Karnali, looking for river dolphins, gharial and birds. Arranged through your lodge or a licensed local operator.
indicative, about US$25-35
Tharu village homestayBookable locally
Community homestays near Thakurdwara offer meals and an evening of local culture.
indicative, about US$20-30 a night
Jungle walk
Full-day or half-day walks with licensed park guides, often waiting at river crossings and watchtowers for tigers and other wildlife.
Jeep safari
Day trips by jeep cover more ground, including the grasslands and river channels in the west of the park.
River trip
Rafting or canoe trips on the Geruwa and Karnali give a chance to see dolphins, crocodiles and birds.
Tharu culture
Visit local villages, watch a stick dance, or stay in a community homestay around Thakurdwara or Dalla.
Weather and the best time to visit Bardiya National Park
Weather in Bardiya National Park (representative point)
Forecast for 335 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are pleasant after the monsoon, though tall grass can hide wildlife early in the season.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is mild by day and cold and foggy in the mornings; wildlife viewing improves as grass is cut.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is hot, but this is the best time for tiger sightings as animals gather near water and the grass is short.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September brings heavy rain, flooded rivers and leeches; many lodges close and park activities are limited.
Where to stay
LodgesResortsHomestaysGuesthouses
Lodges and homestays in Thakurdwara, close to the park headquarters.
Lodges and small resorts cluster around Thakurdwara; community homestays operate in Tharu villages nearby.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Eat and drink
Homestay dal bhat, river fish and Tharu dishes such as ghonghi (river snails).
Getting there
Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and drive to Thakurdwara, or take a long-distance bus along the East-West Highway to Ambassa and transfer.
Nearest hub: Nepalgunj
- flightKathmandu to Nepalgunj, about 55-65 minutes, then roughly 90-100 km by road to Thakurdwara, about 2-3 hours.
- roadKathmandu to Ambassa on the East-West Highway by bus, about 13-16 hours, then about 30-40 minutes to Thakurdwara.
Getting to Bardiya National Park, by mode
Nearest hub: Nepalgunj. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.9-1.1 hNepalgunj
Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, a sealed lowland airport that is also the hub for the remote western airstrips, then continue about 90-100 km by road to Thakurdwara.
By busfrom Kathmanduabout 13-16 hTourist and local buses
Night buses on the Mahendra Highway set down at Ambassa, from where local jeeps and autorickshaws run the last stretch to Thakurdwara.
When to set off: Long-distance buses to the far west leave Kathmandu in the late afternoon and evening and run overnight.
By car or jeepfrom Nepalgunjabout 2-3 h
Sealed Mahendra Highway north-west from Nepalgunj to Ambassa, then a short unsealed link to Thakurdwara on the park edge.
Road: Sealed single-lane highway, with the far-western sections in poor repair, then an unsealed village road to the park gate.
By motorbikefrom Nepalgunjabout 2-3 hEasy riding
Flat and straightforward on the highway; the last village roads are unsealed and dusty, and April to June is punishingly hot.
Road: Flat sealed highway with rough patches, then unsealed village roads to Thakurdwara.
When to set off: Ride early to avoid the worst of the pre-monsoon heat.
Where people go next
- Lumbiniby busEast along the Mahendra Highway towards Lumbini; no sourced hour band.
- Khaptad National Parkby car or jeepWest along the Mahendra Highway and up to the Silgadhi road head.
- Rara Lakeby airBack to Nepalgunj for the Talcha or Jumla flight.
Permits and fees
Entry fee
A national park entry permit is required for entering the park, and activities inside must be done with licensed guides. Check the latest rules and fees.
- Bardiya National Park entry permit: Sold at the park office in Thakurdwara; check the latest rules and fees.
- Licensed guide: Jungle walks and other activities inside the park must be done with licensed guides.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Bardiya National Park
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Floodinghigh in a typical yearJul-Sep
The rainy season runs from July to September and the park is bisected by the Babai and bounded by the Karnali, so river levels and flooded ground limit movement inside it.
Heathigh in a typical yearApr-Jun
April to June is the hot season, with temperatures reaching about 42 C; it is also when animals gather at water and tiger sightings are most likely, so plan around the middle of the day.
Road blockagesmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
The Mahendra Highway approach crosses more than 500 bridges and many monsoon-swollen rivers, and the western sections are in poor repair, so journeys can be slowed in the rains.
Seasonal closuremoderate in a typical yearJul-Sep
October to March is the recommended season; during the July to September rains grass is tall, tracks are wet and park activities are limited.
Landslideslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
This is a lowland park on the Terai plain below the Siwalik hills, so landslide exposure is low; water, not slope failure, is the monsoon hazard here.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Walking safaris carry real risk from wild elephants, rhinos and tigers; always go with licensed guides and follow their instructions.
- Wear neutral colours, carry water and use mosquito and tick repellent.
- ATMs are limited near the park; withdraw cash in Nepalgunj or Kohalpur.
- Mobile signal is available in Thakurdwara but patchy inside the park.
- Ask before photographing people in Tharu villages.
Safety
Walk in the park only with licensed naturalist guides and follow their instructions. Wild elephants are a real danger in and around the park, including at night near villages. Use insect repellent; it is very hot from April to June.Questions about Bardiya National Park
How do I get to Bardiya National Park from Kathmandu?
Fly to Nepalgunj and drive about 2-3 hours to Thakurdwara, or take a 13-16 hour bus to Ambassa and transfer.
Can you see tigers in Bardiya?
Bardiya has a healthy tiger population and sightings are possible, especially in spring, but never guaranteed.
When is the best time to visit Bardiya?
October to April; March to May is hot but best for wildlife. The monsoon months bring floods and many closures.
Do I need a permit for Bardiya National Park?
Yes, a park entry permit is required, and activities inside the park must be with licensed guides.
Is Bardiya better than Chitwan?
Bardiya is quieter and wilder with better odds for tigers, while Chitwan is easier to reach and has more facilities.
Is Bardiya better than Chitwan for tigers?
Bardiya is quieter and many visitors go for the tiger-tracking walks, but sightings are never guaranteed in either park.
When should I go?
February to May for wildlife sightings, when the grass is short, though April and May are hot. October and November are pleasant but the grass is tall.
Nearby
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 150 m
Lumbini
The birthplace of the Buddha in the Terai, a sacred garden with an Ashokan pillar, ringed by monasteries from across the Buddhist world.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Bardiya National Park, Wikipedia, Bardiya National Park, Wikivoyage, Wikipedia: Bardiya National Park, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation