Bardia National Park is situated about 400 km west of Kathmandu on the eastern bank of the Karnali River. About 70% of the park is dominated by Saal forest. The park covers the total area of 968 sq kms. It extends from the Churia hills southward to the gentle slopes of the "Bhabhar'. Numerous waterways of Karnali have bounded the western end of the Bardia which have created many large and small gravel islands. A mosaic of grassland and riverine forest of acacia, sisam and the large buttressed silk cotton trees can be found in the islands and the lower ground area of Bardia. The forest comes alive with the scarlet flowers during spring when the silk cotton blooms.
It is the home of a wide variety of animals, many of which live in and around the Phantas. Baghora and Lamkoili are the best places to view animals. The most conspicuous of which include spotted deer, black buck, hog deer, samber deer, wild boar and barasingha or swamp deer. Two species of monkeys, the langur and the rhesus macaque are also available in this park. The park also harbors a small population of the rare gharial, the marsh mugger crocodile and the Gangetic dolphin and elephants. Moreover, this park boasts not less than 350 bird species .There is no denying the fact this is truly a bird watcher's paradise.
