Covering about 968 km² along the eastern bank of the Karnali River, Bardiya National Park is the largest and most undisturbed national park in Nepal’s Terai. Its Sal forests, grasslands and riverine habitats form a wilderness that feels raw and uncrowded, far from busier reserves.

Once a royal hunting ground, the area was protected as a national park in 1988 and is now known for its wildlife. It shelters the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephants, swamp deer and Gangetic dolphins, along with over 400 bird species. The Karnali and Babai rivers and the foothills of the Siwalik range add to the setting, making it a favorite for nature lovers and wildlife photographers.

Bardiya is also a place of culture. Indigenous Tharu communities in the buffer zone welcome visitors into traditional village life, with mud-walled houses, local cuisine and generations of conservation knowledge. Whether on foot, by jeep or by canoe, Bardiya offers an authentic wildlife experience with a human side.