It is generally known as the best place where your chances of spotting a tiger in Nepal are the highest (even Chitwan comes a second!). Other animals include the rhinoceros, swamp deer, leopards, jungle cats, blue bulls (nilgai), sloth bears, barking deer and langurs. There are a few wild elephants here and one of the males is considered the largest in Asia!

The Geruwa river that rushes in through a break in the hill range, silt laden and full with snowmelt, is home to the famous Mahseer game fish, gharial, mugger crocodile and the freshwater Gangetic dolphin. The park also has cobras, kraits and pythons. The park boasts more than 250 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal florican, Sarus crane and many species of geese, ducks and parakeets. The activities here include jungle safari on elephant back, jungle walks, boat rides and jeep drives. The best time to visit the park is from October through March. The months of April-June are unbearably hot while July-September is monsoon time.

Access and Accomodation
To reach the Royal Bardia National Park there are daily flights as well as public buses from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. The park office is situated at Thakurdwara, 20 km southwest along a dirt road from Anbassa on the Mahendra highway. The drive from Nepalgunj takes less than 2 1/2 hours, although local buses take much longer. For Thakurdwara, there are a couple of direct buses from Nepalgunj at 11 am and 2.30 pm, taking three to four hours and costing Rs.70. Night buses from Kathmandu to Mahendranagar can drop you at Anbassa, although they get there in the wee hours of the morning. Buses to Mahendranagar cost Rs.150 and to Pokhara Rs.350. There are a number of Chitwan style lodges and hotels that have sprung up in the recent past, so there is no real problem for accommodation. However, in the season, it may be advisable to make a booking before heading out there.