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The Royal Bardia National Park,
situated in the mid-far Western region, is the largest
and most unspoiled wilderness area in the Terai,
covering an area of 968 sq. km. The park, a sub-tropical
jungle, is thickly forested by sal trees and carpeted
with grass, savannah and riverine vegetation. The north
is bordered by the Churia hill range, the west by the
Karnali river, while the Babai river cuts its course
almost through the middle of the park. On the southern
fringe of the park are the villages of the unique and
indigenous Tharu people of Western Nepal. Considered as
one of the most picturesque national parks in Asia, it
teems with rich and diverse flora and fauna.
The park is home to more than 30 different mammals,
including the langur and rhesus monkeys, civets, hyenas,
wild dogs, sloth bears, otters, blue bulls, deer and
wild boars. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered
animals like the tiger, rhinoceros, wild elephant ( the
park harbours the biggest wild tusker in Asia) and black
buck, Gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles the great game
fish-masher and the Gangetic dolphin cavort in the river
waters. The unique birds which number over 350 species
include cormorants, egret, storks, geese, jungle fowls,
king-fishers and endangered species such as the Bengal
florican, silver-eared mesia and the saurus crane thus
making the park truly a bird watchers paradise.
Within the park are several open grasslands (plants)
where game viewing is excellent. Many of the forest
tracks throughout the park also offer excellent game
viewing. And when you can take in the sights and sounds
of the wild without necessarily having to give up on
your creature comforts, what more could you ask for
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