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Nepal

Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)

Nepal's wildest tiger country, along the Karnali River and its Tharu villages

WildlifeOffbeat

Best time to visit Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to April and October to November
  • Shoulder: May and December to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to September

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarchAprilOctoberNovember

Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Foggy cold mornings but quiet trails; Maghi, the Tharu new year in Jan, brings dancing and feasts to the villages.

Summer March to May Prime time

Best tiger odds: the grass is cut short and animals come to the rivers in Mar and Apr, but May gets very hot.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Avoid: rivers flood, park roads close and most lodges shut or run only short walks until the rains end.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Green and lush after the monsoon with pleasant days; tall grass hides animals, so river trips and walks work best.

What Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara) is actually like

Family-run jungle lodges, Tharu homestays and food, walking safaris with local guides and very few tourists.

Things to do in Bardia National Park

The local places worth your time in and around Bardia National Park, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Thakurdwara Temple

    Temple · in town

    Old temple that gave the village its name, near the park gate and the cluster of jungle lodges.

  • Crocodile Breeding Centre

    Wildlife · 1 km out

    Park headquarters centre for gharial and mugger crocodiles and turtles, beside the small visitor centre.

  • Karnali Bridge

    River · 22 km out

    Where the Karnali leaves the hills at Chisapani, with rafting take-outs and a chance of river dolphins.

Getting to Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)

Nepalgunj airport is about 90 km, 2 to 3 h by road; Nepalgunj sits on the border at Rupaidiha in Uttar Pradesh.

Practical ways in: flightroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
159 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
28.4499, 81.2433

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)?

February to April and October to November is peak season in Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara). May and December to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to September. Green and lush after the monsoon with pleasant days; tall grass hides animals, so river trips and walks work best.

How many days do you need in Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)?

3 days is the usual stay. Family-run jungle lodges, Tharu homestays and food, walking safaris with local guides and very few tourists.

How do you get to Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)?

Nepalgunj airport is about 90 km, 2 to 3 h by road; Nepalgunj sits on the border at Rupaidiha in Uttar Pradesh. Practical ways in: flight and road.

Is Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Bardia National Park (Thakurdwara)?

Maghi, Tharu new year (Jan). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Bardia National Park?

Thakurdwara Temple, Crocodile Breeding Centre and Karnali Bridge. Old temple that gave the village its name, near the park gate and the cluster of jungle lodges.

Nearby, and where to go next

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