Banke National Park is tenth introduced national park of Nepal. The national park was established in 2010 AD. Being a natural heritage, this park is recognize as ‘gift to the earth’. Banke National Pak covers the area of 550square km. and it is a new protected area of Nepal. It is established under the commitment of government of Nepal for the biodiversity conservation at the level of landscape, conservation of species of tigers, plants & animals. Its buffer zone is 343 square km.
Location of Banke National Park
The national park is located in the mid-western region of Nepal. The national park is located in Banke, Salyan and Dang districts of Nepal. This is nearest to Kohalpur city. The Park is adjoining to Kamdi corridor. It joins Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary in India through national, community forests. This National park is connect to Bardia National Park in west.
Flora and Fauna
Banke National Park is home of the 113 species of trees, 85 species of shrub and climber and 107 species of herbal normally. The trees like Sal, axle wood are its symbolic priority .The protected area have tiger, one horned rhino etc. Rudy mongoose was recorded for the first time in 2014. The national park is protecting many endangered animals like Bangal Tiger, One horn Rhino and many birds.
Banke National Park contains an array of eight ecosystem types such as Sal forest, deciduous Riverine forest, savannahs and grasslands, mixed hardwood forest, flood plain community, Bhabar and foot hills of Chure range. It is a home to 124 plants, 34 mammals, more than 300 birds, 24 reptiles, 7 amphibians and 58 fish species. 90% natural forest coverage composed of mainly Sal, Karma, Khair and Sissoo.
Three species of mammals (tiger, striped hyaena, four-horned antelope), four species of birds (giant hornbill, black stork, Bengal florican, and lesser florican) and two species of reptiles (gharial crocodile and python) residing in the Park are protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973.
The habitat of flood plain, foot hill and Churia hill are of prime concern to conserve major focus species such as royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic wild elephant and four-horned antelope. Furthermore, the Rapti River on the south and Babai River on the north forms the life line of the Park.
Climate
Banke National Park has three different seasons: summer, winter and monsoon.
Best Time to Visit
We can visit Banke in every seasons. The best time to visit Banke is autumn, winter and early summer. Autumn season falls on the months of September, October and November, winter season falls on December, January, February, March and Summer season falls under the months of April, May, June, July and August.
How to Reach Banke National Park?
Banke is connected by flights and land transport. There are daily flights to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu which takes an hour to reach by air. Road transportation are available too. It takes about 12 hours to reach Banke from Kathmandu by car/jeep from Kathmandu. Due to the plain land of Terai, jeep safari inside the park is possible.
There are regular flights and tourist coaches from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. It takes approximately an hour drive on a regular or hired bus/taxi from Nepalgunj to Park’s head office. It takes about eight hours bus ride (270 Km) from Mahendranagar and seven hours (250 Km) bus ride from Dhangadi to reach Banke National Park’s head office.
An entry permit is required to enter in to the Banke National Park that can be purchased at entry points with the payment of Rs 500 (foreigners), Rs 200 (SAARC), and Rs 20 (Nepalese) per person per day.
Things to Do in Banke
- Jungle Safari tour
- Bird watching
- Tiger Tracking
- Boating
- Cycling
- Photography
- Fishing
- Village Tour
Jungle safari Package
