The Bardia National Park was established in 1969 as a Royal Hunting Reserve. In 1976 it was announced as the Karnali wildlife reserve with an area of 368 sq. km and in 1982 it was renamed as Bardia National Park. In 1988 it was extended to cover the whole Babai Valley to 968 square kilometres and now the area has been doubled up.

It is situated in the mid-far western region on the eastern bank of the Karnali River, about 600 km west of Kathmandu.

It is the largest and the most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai of Nepal. It is thickly forested by Sal trees and is carpeted with grass, Savannah, and riveting forest. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered species like the rhinoceros, wild elephants, tigers, swamp deer, black bucks, crocodiles and the Gangetic dolphin.

Endangered birds include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, Silver-eared media, and Sarus Crane. More than 30 different mammals, over 300 species of resident and migratory birds and many reptiles and fishes have been found to be thriving here.