The homestay accommodation at Bardiya is basic, but meets travellers’ essential needs. The houses you stay in are made the traditional way out of mud and wood, so you will really feel like you’re having a rural adventure. As with all Community Homestays across Nepal, you will have your own private room, separate from your hosts, who stay nearby.
Toilets are located outside the accommodation, but not far away. Western-style toilets and toilet paper are available, for your comfort and convenience.
Rooms come equipped with mosquito nets and fans. For much of the year it can get very hot in the Bardiya area, and the best tiger-spotting season coincides with the hottest time of year, so guests will welcome the presence of the fan.
The Bardiya Community Homestay is run by local women of the community. Running the homestays gives them valuable skills and self-confidence, as well as an independent source of income. It also gives guests an opportunity to interact with ordinary Nepali women, which can be hard in other parts of the country as businesses, accommodation, and tour activities are more often than not dominated by men.
About Bardiya
The major drawcard of the area around the Bardiya Community Homestay is Bardiya National Park. Less frequently visited than Chitwan National Park (mainly because it’s further from Kathmandu and Pokhara), travellers who do make the effort to venture out here are richly rewarded. There is a greater chance of spotting the King of the Jungle here, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Other animals also abound in Bardiya, including wild elephants, one-horned rhinoceros, and various kinds of deer.
Travellers interested in nature, wildlife, and traditional culture are in luck at the Bardiya Community Homestay, as there are various ways to experience these in the national park and the buffer zone surrounding it. From guided forest walks where you can spot animals and birds, to easy Jeep safaris, to traditional Tharu dance performances, there are a range of activities to keep you interested, entertained, and learning new things. A particular highlight of this area is the opportunity to spend a night in a machhan (watchtower) in the forest, to experience the jungle and its wildlife at night, yet from a safe distance above the ground.
Some Major Attractions in Bardiya
- Bardiya National Park
- Khairpur Blackbuck Conservation Area
- Animal Breeding Centers
- Karnali Bridge Chisapani
- Thakur Baba Temple
Climate and Weather
The climate of the Bardiya area is more akin to North India than the Nepali hills: extremely hot between March and September (upwards of 35° C), uncomfortably humid during the monsoon (June-September), and cool in winter (as low as 7° C, although daytime temperatures are usually much warmer).
Best Time to Visit
Most travelers will feel most comfortable visiting between October and February, when the weather is cool or warm. The best months for spotting tigers, however, are February-July, when the animals come down to the watering holes for relief from the hot weather. It can get very hot at this time of year, so be prepared.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Bardiya: Rustic living at Dalla’s Tharu Community by Marianne Heredge
Tiger Hunting in Bardiya – Marianne Heredge
A Homestay In Nepal Changed My Life – Michelle Welsh
10 Good Reasons to go to Bardiya – by Marianne Heredge
Diary of a visit to Bardiya Community Homestay