The region was ceded by Nepal to the East India Company after the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816) under the Sugauli Treaty, and remained under British India for 45 years before being returned to Nepal during Jang Bahadur Rana's administration along with Banke, Kailali and Kanchanpur - in recognition of Nepal's support in suppressing the 1857 uprising; the annexed area is still called 'Naya Muluk' (new country). In the early twentieth century Bardiya was still covered with forest and sparsely populated by the indigenous Tharu, with additional Tharu immigrating west from the Dang and Deukhuri valleys, and the Sonaha tribe living along the Karnali River extracting gold ore from river sediments and fishing. A royal hunting reserve of 368 sq km was set aside in 1969, gazetted as the Royal Karnali Wildlife Reserve in 1976, proclaimed the Royal Bardia Wildlife Reserve in 1982 and extended to include the Babai River Valley in 1984, before finally being gazetted as Bardiya National Park in 1988. Bardiya today is one of the 77 districts of Nepal in Lumbini Province, with eight municipalities (six urban, two rural).
Researched by the ChillNepal team from published sources. Spot something out of date? Tell us from the place's page.
