BIRGUNJ: Officials have reported a notable increase in both domestic and foreign tourists visiting Parsa National Park.

According to Santosh Bhagat, Information Officer of the National Park, there has been a rise in the number of Indian and domestic tourists compared to previous periods.

In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, Parsa National Park welcomed 613 tourists, a significant leap from the 140 visitors recorded during the same period last fiscal year.

To enhance the tourist experience, a community homestay operates in the Sunakhari buffer zone area of the national park. Here, tourists are treated to local cuisines and delicacies.

Apart from its diverse wildlife, Parsa National Park boasts religious and natural heritage sites such as Kaminidaha Lake, Halkhoriyadaha, and Laukidaha. The park also features religious landmarks like Mayamandir and Dugdheshwor Mahadev Mandir.

With abundant water sources and an increasing number of Royal Bengal tigers and other animals, Parsa National Park has seen significant growth. The tiger census conducted in 2022 reported a count of 41 tigers in the park.

Recognizing its potential for tourism and infrastructure development, Parsa Wildlife Reserve was designated as a national park in 2074 BS.