Bardia Homestay

Set in Shivapur village, two kilometres south of Thakurdwara and a short walk from the entrance to Bardia National Park, this homestay works as a base rather than a destination in itself. Rooms are simple and private, each with a fan, Wi-Fi and its own bathroom. The garden runs to mango and litchi trees, and a veranda looks out over the grounds toward the park's tree line. Meals are served in a small on-site restaurant, mixing Nepalese dishes with international ones, and there's a modest library for evenings between excursions. Guides here were born and raised in Bardia district, and they lead jungle walks, jeep safaris and rafting trips on the Karnali and Babai rivers, tracking wildlife by sound and footprint rather than by chance. Full-day walks run 15 to 20 kilometres through grassland and riverine forest. Bardia is home to Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinos and more than 400 bird species, and the surrounding countryside is Tharu territory, with its own language, farming rhythms and festivals guests can join. You can also reach a treehouse stay, a jungle campsite, or the Elephant Breeding Center, ten minutes on foot. Longer trips extend west to Rara, Khaptad and Shuklaphanta national parks. It is a working base, not a resort, and it is run by the same family who set it up in 2014.