Sarda River forms part of the border between the nations of India and Nepal. It is called the Mahakali River in Nepal and Kali Gad by local pahari people . This boundary was established by the 1816 Sugauli treaty, but a portion of this border near China has been in dispute.After leaving the border, the river flows southeast across the Ganges basin until it merges into the Ghaghara River, an affluent of the Ganges. India has proposed building a dam across the Sarda in Nepalese territory, but this plan has proven controversial.
The Sarda originates from the Greater Himalayas at Kalapaani (there is a long lingering dispute over territory with Nepal) at an altitude of 3600 m, in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, India, joins with the Gori Ganga at Jauljibi, which in turn joins the Saryu River at Pancheshwar. (The area around Pancheshwar is called 'Kali Kumaon'). Kalapaani is situated on the route of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra(Pilgrimage) tour and it is said that it was here that the Great Sage Vyasa meditated and spent his life, thus, giving the valley its name, the Vyasa valley. The river is named after the Goddess Kali whose temple is situated in Kalapaani near the Lipu-Lekh pass at the border between India and Tibet (China).
The river borders the Nepalese Mahakali Zone and the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It was the site of the Nepalese military base prior to the Gurkha War (Anglo-Nepal War of 1814-16). The Sugauli Treaty signed by Nepal and British India in 1816 after the end of the war, locates the Mahakali River as Nepal's western boundary with India. The river flows in a gorge section in the upper region. The Mahakali after it descends into the plains into India is known as Sarda, which meets the Ghaghara (Karnali in Nepal) in Indian Territory at about 323.5 km 1 & 6 from the existing Upper Sarda Barrage at Banbasa.
Mahakali flows for a length of 223 km length in Nepal and 323.5 km in India up to its confluence with Ghaghra river.
Mahakali (Sarda in India) is one of the five major river basins of Nepal which is shared with India and has a total basin area of 14871 km2 up to Upper Sarda Barrage, about 34 per cent of which lies in Nepal. The total catchment area is 17,818 km2 up to Lower Sarda Barrage
In Nepal, It lies entirely in the Far Western Region of Nepal and in the Mahakali Zone which has four administrative districts - Baitadi District with Baitadi as its headquarters, Dadeldhura District with Dadeldhura as its headquarters, Darchula District with Darchula as its headquarters and Kanchanpur District with Mahendranagar as its headquarters.
Kumaon of Champawat district and part of Udham Singh Nagar district fall under the Sarda basin. No large tributary joins the Sarda between Upper Sarda and Lower Sarda barrages in India. In Uttar Pradesh, part of Lakhimpur Kheri district is also under the Sarda basin.
The important national parks are a) the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal and b) the Dudhwa National Park at the Indo-Nepal border in India.
a) Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal has evolved over the years from a Hunting Reserve In 1969, to the gazetted Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in July 1976 with .an area of 155 km2 to protect Nepal's last remaining herd of swamp deer (Cervus duvaucalli). Now it stands extended to the current size of 305 km2. It is bounded Kanchanpur District in the extreme south-western section, has a common boundary with the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the south and west which is formed by the Mahakali (Sarda), River, and is bordered on the east by the Chaudhar River and in the north by a forest belt and cultivations. The reserve supports a wide range of biodiversity, which is nationally and globally important. Primarily the vegetation types are Sal forest, Sal savanna, which is part of continuum between climax forest and grassland that is maintained by fire and floods. The reserve supports the largest population of Bengal florican Houbaropsis bengalensis and swamp deer Cervus duvauceli . It is also home to 14 species of Fish. 350 species of birds and 24 species of Mammal.
b) Dudhwa National Park is located at India-Nepal border, in Uttar Pradesh in India. The northern edge of the Park lies along the Indo-Nepal border, and the southern boundary is formed by the Suheli River. The terrain of the Park varies from mosaic grasslands, dense sal forests and swampy marshes. It has diverse wildlife population. Another reserve area "Kishunpur Pashu Vihar" sanctuary located about 30 km from Dudwa. spread over about 204 sqr.km, lies on the banks of river Sharda and is surrounded by Sal forest of adjoining reserve forests. In 1987 Dudwa National Park and Kishunpur Pashu Vihar were merged to form the Dudwa Tiger Reserve (DTR). Although the Tigers at the Park are numerous, sightings are rare due to the thick forest cover of the area. Besides Tigers, Leopards, Hispid Hares, Swamp Deer (Barasingha) and Rhinos thrive amidst the vegetation, it is home to 400 species of resident and migratory birds, 37 species of mammals and 16 species of reptiles Main Wildlife found are Swamp Deer, Chital, Hog Deer, Sambar, Rhino.
As the river flows down from the Nepal border through Kumaon hills and as the kali and Gori Rivers meet at Jauljibi, with increased water volume, it offers great river rafting adventure to professionals, for a length of 117 km, from Jauljibi to Tanakpur. In rafting parlance, in this stretch, the rapids in the river are of Grade IV and more, which could be covered in 3 days. Below Tanakpur, Lower down among the frosted slopes, the river becomes calmer offering the amateur a sporting challenge.
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