How To Get Kathmandu To Bardiya National Park

Bardiya National Park is one of the most peaceful and beautiful conservation areas in the western region of Nepal. It is the largest and undisturbed National Park in Nepal’s Terai region, occupying 968 square kilometres. The national park borders the Karnali River in the west and the Churiya Hills in the North. In this article, we will explore how to get Kathmandu to Bardiya National Park.

In 1988, the area was declared Royal Bardiya National Park, probably for the then royal family. At that time, the royal members, especially the kings, were fond of hunting. This park provides a great experience to its visitors, providing wilderness and probably more astonishing than the Chitwan National Park.

Exploration of extinct and endangered wildlife like the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, and many other mammals and reptiles makes your trip more amazing. This could be the best option instead of going on a long and gruelling trek like the Everest Three Passes Trek or the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek.

There are several things to do in Bardiya National Park. Some of them include elephant rides, jeep safari, rafting, bird watching, and fishing in the Karnali and the Babai Rivers.

So, let’s learn how to get Kathmandu to Bardiya National Park to explore its rich biodiversity.

How To Travel from Kathmandu to Bardiya National Park?

Bardiya National Park is located in western Nepal’s Bardiya district, which is nearly 561 km (349 miles) away from the capital, Kathmandu. Airways and roadways make it possible to get to Bardiya National Park from Kathmandu, but the distance depends on the visitors’ time, budget, and interest.

By Flight

Flight: 50 minutes and then a 3-hour drive.

Taking a Nepalgunj flight from Kathmandu airport is the easiest way to reach Nepalgunj, which is the gateway to Bardiya National Park. The park is just about 74 km (46 miles) away from Nepalgunj.

Thus, we recommend you take a 3-hour drive from Nepalgunj once you land at Nepalgunj airport. About an hour’s flight and then a 3-hour drive on a luxury private car or the jeep is an amazing experience.

If you fly, try to get a window seat so that you can enjoy panoramic views of the natural forest and the Himalayas.

We suggest you stay overnight in the town of Thakurdwara, the headquarters of Bardiya district. The locals provide you with accommodation with all the basic requirements, but it might not be as luxurious as the ones in major cities.

Roadways

Time: 10-12 hours

Although it is a long and tiring journey of about 10-12 hours, it’s an adventurous and exciting trip, offering panoramic views of diverse landscapes, snow-capped mountains, beautiful forests, rivers, and valleys.

It is quite rare to find luxury tourist buses like in the Pokhara tour or Chitwan Visit, but the local/public buses in recent days are not less comfortable. You might get obsessed with the loud Nepali or Hindi music on the buses, but they easily stop or play it if you request.

The road passes along the Prithvi Highway, which is the same road that connects Kathmandu to Pokhara. Then, it turns to Terai from Mugling via Narayangadh/Butwal.

You will experience several towns and rural villages of southern Nepal until you reach the final destination, Bardiya National Park.

How To Travel from Pokhara to Bardiya National Park?

Bardiya National Park is about 453 km (281 miles) from Pokhara, the second-biggest city in Nepal and a tourist hub. Travelling to Bardiya is comparatively tougher than travelling to Chitwan from Pokhara or Kathmandu.

Flight: Pokhara-Kathmandu-Nepalgunj (30 min. + 50 min.)

You cannot have a direct flight from Pokhara to Bardiya. If you prefer to fly, you should take the flight to Kathmandu and then take the Nepalgunj flight. Although it is more expensive if you require a double flight, it is mostly recommended.

Reaching Nepalgunj in just one and a half hours saves much of your time, so you can spend long hours in Bardiya exploring the national park.

Roadways

Time: 10+ hours

Travelling from Pokhara to Bardiya by bus is nearly a 10 to 13-hour drive, but it is budget-friendly and far cheaper than the flight. However, we recommend taking the flight to our clients as it saves a lot of time that can be utilized to explore the national park. 

The buses might not be as comfortable as those on the Kathmandu-Pokhara or Kathmandu-Chitwan route. However, a few buses leave for Nepalgunj every day from Pokhara. You travel through Tansen and Butwal and finally reach Nepalgunj. From there, you need to take another bus to Thakurdwara, Bardiya.

Things to Consider While Travelling from Kathmandu to Bardiya National Park

For a better travelling experience, there are a few things to consider. Like:

• The best time to visit the national park is from October to March. This season provides pleasant weather and sightings of diverse wildlife.
• Especially during peak season, it is better to book flights and accommodation in advance for better options.
• There is no particular packing list for the Bardiya National Park. However, it is essential to carry mosquito repellents, lightweight clothes or clothes according to season, and binoculars to observe wildlife far away.
• Visit the Tharu Cultural Museum to explore native Tharu culture.