Bardiya, Lumbini Province, Nepal

🇳🇵 Bardiya District (बर्दिया जिल्ला), one of the seventy-seven Districts of Nepal, is part of Lumbini Province of Nepal. The district, with Gulariya as its headquarters, covers an area of 2,025 km² (782 sq mi).

Geography Bardiya lies in Lumbini Province in midwestern Nepal. It covers 2025 square km and lies west of Banke District, south of Surkhet District of Karnali Province, east of Kailali District of Sudurpashchim Province. To the south lies Uttar Pradesh, India.

Most of Bardiya is in the fertile Terai plains, covered with agricultural land and forest. The northernmost part of the district extends into the Churiya or Siwalik Hills. Bardiya National Park covers 968 km² (374 sq mi) occupies most of the northern half of the district. This park is the largest undisturbed wilderness in Nepal's Terai. It provides forest, grassland and riverine habitat for endangered mammal, bird and reptile species. More than 30 species of mammals and more than 250 of birds have been recorded.

Most people living in this district are farmers. The district headquarter Gulariya lies on the Babai River. The Karnali, one of Nepal's largest rivers, divided into multiple branches when it reaches the Terai. The westernmost branch forms the boundary between Bardiya and Kailali districts. An eastern branch is called the Geruwa. The endangered Gangetic dolphin was often seen in its waters, but populations have been declining.

History Nepal lost it to the East India Company after Anglo-Nepalese war (1814–1816) between the then Kingdom of Nepal and East India Company followed by territorial concessions of Sugauli Treaty. Later during the administration of Jang Bahadur Rana, it was returned to Nepal along with Banke, Kailali and Kanchanpur. In the early twentieth century, Bardiya was still covered with forest and sparsely populated with indigenous tribal people called Tharu. Additional Tharus immigrated west from Dang and Deukhuri Valleys. Tharu from Dang and Deukhuri make up a majority of Bardiya's population. Other tribes called Sonaha live near the Karnali River and western periphery of Bardia National Park, who are historically engaged in extracting golden ores from sediments of river and fishing.

Administration The district consists of eight municipalities, out of which six are urban municipalities and two are rural municipalities. These are as follows: • Gulariya municipality • Rajapur municipality • Madhuwan municipality • Thakurbaba municipality • Basgadhi municipality • Barbardiya municipality • Badhaiyatal rural municipality • Geruwa rural municipality

Former village development committees Prior to the restructuring of the district, Bardiya District consisted of the following municipalities and Village development committees: • Badalpur Nepal • Baganaha • Baniyabhar • Belawa • Bhimapur • Deudakala • Dhadhawar • Dhodhari • Gola • Jamuni • Kalika • Khairapur • Khairi Chandanpur • Magaragadi • Mahamadpur • Manau • Manpur Mainapokhar • Manpur Tapara • Mathurahardwar • Motipur • Naya Gaun • Neulapur • Padanaha • Pasupatinagar • Patabhar • Sanesri • Shivapur • Sorhawa • Suryapatawa • Taratal • Thakudwara.