Bardia Park is becoming the choice of domestic tourists along with foreigners

Along with that, the tourism sector of Bardia district is also expanding. In the past, tourism centered around the Bardia National Park headquarters has now become district-wide. Along with this, along with diversity in the tourism of the district, the areas of choice for tourists have also expanded.

Tourism business in Bardia has been officially started by Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge located in Thakurdwara next to the National Park . Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge was established by Sabik Thakur in 1988 at the Chitkaiya of Gavis at the request of the Government of Nepal when the tourist activity in Western Nepal is almost zero. After the establishment of a well-equipped lodge outside the park, Tiger Tops has worked to provide information about safari tourism to the general public and conservationists. For many years, Tiger Tops operated a tent camp near Lalmati within the park in an agreement with the Nepalese government. When foreigners began to pay attention to the camp on the banks of the Karnali river, it became the main choice. Along with the establishment of the

hotel, Tiger Tops, which has also started tourism services such as elephant safari, jungle drive, and water rides, was also provided a separate entrance to enter and exit the park from the Karnali Lodge in Chitkaiya. To make Bardia known to the world and bring in foreign tourists, Tiger Tops has started it. The lodge, which is the global 'branding' of Bardia Park, is still in operation. Apart from that lodge, till 2049/50 there was no hotel in Thakurdwara to accommodate people from outside the district.

Due to the park, domestic/foreign guests kept coming but there was no hotel for them to eat/stay, on the advice of Rampreet Yadav, the then Chief Conservation Officer of Bardia Park, local Khadka Bahadur Khadka 'Premi' named the hotel 'Bardia Jungle Cottage' and operated the hotel in his own house . After that, tourism businessmen from Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan started investing in hotel business. Locals here also operated a hotel. However, the effect of the Maoist armed conflict in the country also affected the tourism here. At that time, the hotel became dilapidated after the number of guests stopped.

After the end of the armed conflict in the country, the tourism sector of Bardia has started to pick up speed again. The dilapidated hotels were repaired and started to operate, while the big hotels with many investments also started to open slowly. On the other hand, the definition of tourist has also changed. Recently, there has been an increase in welcoming domestic tourists as well. Now more than two dozen hotels are operating in Thakurdwara for tourist services. Many hotels are being built outside by Thakur. Homestays have been established and operational in various places. As a result, the service has reached the domestic and foreign tourists visiting Bardia. At present, the number of foreign tourists visiting Bardia National Park has reached 7,000 and the number of domestic tourists has reached 15,000. As the road quality is not good, it is very difficult for tourists to travel by car from Kathmandu to Bardia. Due to unequal fare rates, foreign citizens have to pay almost twice as much as Nepalese when traveling by air.

Tourist activities

Most of the foreign tourists who come to Bardia are interested in watching wild animals and birds including tigers, elephants, rhinos. Since the elephant safari is closed, most of the tourists go on jeep safaris and hikes to observe the wildlife. Although the Babai Valley within the park is very attractive for wildlife and scenic views, most of the tourist activities take place in the Karnali/Geruva riverside area. Babai Valley is very far from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Butwal, so very few tourists visit it because they have to spend the night there. If the quality of the forest path leading to Babai Valley is improved and a safe tented camp is arranged, Babai Valley can be a great destination for tourists in the future.

Bardia National Park is also a major tourist spot in Lumbini Province. However, the tourist businessmen here complain that the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Tourism and Tourism Board of the Government of Nepal have been biased towards Bardia for the development and promotion of tourism in this area. So far, there has been a failure to address Bardia in national and international tourism activities from the mentioned bodies. The state government organized a special program at Thakurdwara on the occasion of the opening program of Visit Nepal Year 2020 and the 44th International World Tourism Day 2023.

Possibilities and challenges

In terms of wildlife-based tourism, there are many possibilities in Bardia. Important wildlife like tigers, rhinos, elephants can be observed in Bardiya National Park in a single day . Bardia is famous for deer herds, dolphins and bird watching. In addition to this, the original lifestyle, costumes and culture of the local tribal Tharu community have attracted tourists. These activities may be sufficient for short-term tourists. But it seems necessary to search for some new tourist products for the tourists who come for a long time . For this, it is necessary to establish and operate a safe and orderly tented camp in Geruwa riverside area and Babai valley.

At present, tourists who want to go on a boat trip to Bardiya are not able to get proper service . In the near future, after the completion of the Bheri Babai diversion work and the increase in the water level in the Babai river, Bardia is sure to become a center of attraction for boaters. Since the water flow is regular in Geruwa Bhangalo, another attraction will be added if boating or rafting is conducted even in Khauraha. A new dimension will also be added if the hiking route from Karnali Chisapani to Gaynekanda, Telpani to Amreni is opened.

As tourist activities have started in Banke National Park, it may affect Bardia . Secondly, increasing noise pollution in the surrounding area by Thakur and thirdly, human-wildlife conflict can also become a challenge for tourism here. At present, four problematic tigers are kept in cages in Bardia. It is necessary to properly protect such problematic tigers by keeping them in a large natural enclosure. Such problematic wildlife and anti-wildlife physical structures such as roads and canals built within the park are also adding to the challenge . In addition to this, the increasing jurisdictional dispute between the park office and the local government in the central area is also a serious challenge.

Tourists and local communities benefit from tourism activities only if tourism promotion is worthwhile. In this regard, it is necessary to get the attention of all concerned . Some of the tourist-oriented hotels here have purchased locally produced pulses, rice, fish, meat, eggs, vegetables, milk, ghee etc. . However, due to the non-availability of quality products in the proper quantity required by the hotel, most of the goods have to be purchased from outside. Therefore, there is a need to provide proper support and facilities for tourism-friendly agriculture and animal husbandry to the local community. Recently, Thakurbaba Municipality has conducted a 10-month cook training with the aim of developing the capacity of local manpower based on tourism and providing support in increasing income and livelihood. It is hoped that this will help the local community to develop their capacity to achieve prosperity through tourism and to some extent to create employment opportunities. In order to make the tourism of Bardia organized and effective, the coordination and cooperation between the concerned bodies is also the need of today .

(Thapa is the former Chief Conservation Officer of Bardia National Park .)