Chitwan or Bardia: Which one is better?
A destination most famous for its diverse wildlife and natural splendor, Nepal ‘s national parks offer a true feel of nature. Nepal aims to preserve wildlife beauty. Chitwan and Bardia National Parks are famous for jungle tourism or jungle safaris with different specialties.
This blog post seeks to compare the two parks based on their amenities, wildlife, and possibilities of a safari, and access. At the end of the article, you would be in a position to decide which park is most suitable for your next visit.
Overview of Chitwan National Park
It was established in 1973 as the first national park in Nepal, and it has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s heritage sights. Chitwan National Park is located in hilly geographical area of Sothern Nepal that has subtropical lowland cover with extensive forests, grass lands and rivers measuring 932 sq.km.
It is the house for one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild boar, and many birds etc., so it is a wonderful place to see wildlife and exploring ; Terai region of Nepal.
Options regarding Safari in Chitwan
Some of the safari options available in Chitwan include the following:
Jeep Safaris: This has got the highest popularity as this will help you to explore large areas of the park and watch wildlife in style. Elephant Safaris: Probably one of the most traditional ways of looking for the rhino, tiger, and other animals. These offer a vantage view on how the park looks like but the recent years, people have raised several concerns on the animal rights aspect of these tourism.
Canoe Rides: It is a gentle chance to spy on the aquatic animals that inhabit the park and these are crocodiles, freshwater dolphins and birds. Nature Walks: Peculiar guided nature walks with the help of specialist offer a wide range of chances of gaining more extended knowledge of flora and fauna which can be observed as the trails are located within the territory of the given forest area.
Chitwan is fully developed in terms of tourist infrastructure, and many comfortable places are provided there. But with this popularity, you find that it attracts many visitors and tourists especially during some specific months.
Source- Google
Overview of Bardia National Park
Another first-rate destination for a jungle safari is the Bardia National Park in western Nepal. Less crowded and visited compared with Chitwan, Bardia offers many remote and quiet perspectives. This wide park extends up to 968 square kilometers and includes varied habitats like grasslands, riverine forests, and sal trees.
Bardia is known for conservation, especially in the protection of the Bengal tiger, among other endangered species. It is part of the Bardiya Conservation Area and also involves community-based efforts to help protect the local wildlife and ecosystem.
Safari Options in Bardia
Bardia National Park offers similar safari options to Chitwan but, with fewer crowds, so much more tranquil and natural:
Jeep Safaris: Most suitable to cover large areas of the park where tigers, rhinos, elephants, and wild boar can be spotted. Nature Walks: Guided nature walks taken by well-trained naturalists take you further into the wilderness to experience the flora and fauna.
Canoe Rides: Much like Chitwan, Bardia also provides canoe rides along the Karnali River where one should be able to catch glimpses of crocodiles, too, with a wide variety of bird species.
Elephant Safaris: Although they are available it is not as common as in Chitwan as the popularity for Bardia has grown due in part to their more tranquil setting than that compared to Chitwan.
Source- Google
Wildlife Experience: Chitwan vs. Bardia
Chitwan and Bardia both have spectacular wildlife to offer, however the experience we get in both the parks are totally distinct.
Out of these seven forest regions, Chitwan has received much attention due to frequentation by the one-horned Rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger. This means that Chitwan in its physical qualities has relatively improved and it has higher chances of sighting famous animals and the more tainted experience. There could be more number of tourists and animals could be comfortable with people or tourist around them.
But, the National Park of Bardia is more solitary, authentic, and comparatively much more submerged than Suklaphanta. However, there are movements of tigers more often than in Chitwan National Park. Bardia is one of the best areas for tiger conservation while the region claims the most natural Bengal tiger reserve. Fewer visitors, distant location mean more wildlife encounters at ‘arm’s length’.
Ease of Access and Visitor Experience
Chitwan National Park lies about 150 kilometers to the south of Kathmandu, and therefore popular with most tourists. It is just a few hours’ drive or one- or two-hours domestic flight from Nepal’s capital city. Sauraha town located nearby has developed as the tourism hub complete with numerous hotel, restaurants and other related facilities. That is why a clearly observable concentrations of tourists occurs in Chitwan, which is explained by warmer and somewhat busier climate during October- March.
On the other hand, Bardia National Park is developed in the far-western region of Nepal which is one of the isolated zones of the country that is about 600 km far from Kathmandu. Bardiya can be reached by flight to Nepalgunj and then by jeep, but the place is less discovered hence experiencing lesser crowd though it is quite peaceful.
Best Time to Visit
Both parks are fantastic for game viewing, and virtually all year round but is at its peak between October to March, which is the dry season. This is because, during this time of the year, most animals are close to the water sources, making it very easy to see an animal. For the same reason the climate is also advisable during this time as the temperatures are cooler.
The monsoon which is from June through to September. At that time, you observe a lot of rains, which makes the parks less suitable for wildlife watching experiences. Also, a good number of places may be shut down or opened with restrictions during the monsoon period.
Conclusion
Chitwan vs. Bardia—Which Is Best? Chitwan with little ambition is rapidly being outclassed by Bardia – so I decided to make a judgment about which of the two was the better destination. If interested into jungle safari, two most remarkable places one can go are Chitwan National Park as well as Bardia National Park. However, they themselves are as well quite opposite in a way, offering something that is different to and satisfies different people’s preferences.
In case you like it quiet, with fewer tourists, and a very high chance of spotting tigers in their natural environment, then Bardia will be an ideal choice for you. This off-track place gives you a sense of adventure and exclusiveness that you won’t find in Chitwan.
Both parks provide unique wildlife encounters, making an excellent choice for your Nepal jungle safari adventure. If you want to more about this. You can contact us at Happy Mountain Nepal, on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
FAQs
1.Which national park is better, Chitwan or Bardia?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Chitwan offers more accessibility and infrastructure, while Bardia provides a quieter, more remote experience with fewer tourists.
2.What wildlife can I see in Chitwan National Park?
Chitwan is home to one-horned rhinoceroses, Bengal tigers, leopards, wild boars, and various bird species.
3.What are the safari options in Chitwan?
Chitwan offers jeep safaris, elephant safaris, canoe rides, and guided nature walks.
4. Is Bardia National Park less crowded than Chitwan?
Yes, Bardia is far less crowded and offers a more tranquil, off-the-beaten-path experience.
5. What wildlife can I see in Bardia National Park?
Bardia is known for its Bengal tiger conservation and also houses rhinoceroses, elephants, and a variety of bird species.
6.Which Park has better infrastructure?
Chitwan has more developed infrastructure, including hotels, restaurants, and other tourist facilities.
7. How do I get to Chitwan National Park?
Chitwan is around 150 km from Kathmandu and can be reached by a few-hour drive or a short domestic flight.
8. How do I get to Bardia National Park?
Bardia is located about 600 km from Kathmandu. You’ll need to fly to Nepalgunj and then drive to the park.
9. What is the best time to visit these parks?
The dry season between October and March is the best time for wildlife viewing, with cooler temperatures and more animals near water sources.
10. Is Bardia a good choice for tiger sightings?
Yes, Bardia is one of the best places for spotting Bengal tigers in their natural habitat. The park is quieter, giving you a more intimate wildlife experience.