Dudhwa National Park

Area: 490 Sq. km.
Altitude: 150-183 meters
Rainfall : 1,600 mm.
Climate:Summers are hot with the temperature rising up to 40 °C.
During winters, the temperature hovers between 20 and 30 °C.
Best Time to Visit: November to April
Location: India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh, India

History of Dudhwa National Park

From mosaic grasslands and dense sal forests to swampy marshes, the terrain of Dudhwa National Park is as diverse as the wildlife population it harbors. While the northern edge of the Park lies along the Indo-Nepal border, the River Suheli marks the southern boundary.

A Tiger Reserve since 1879, Dudhwa became a National Park in 1977 and adopted the Project Tiger in 1988. 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.

 

Sightseeing in Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve lies on the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalaya and the plains of the 'terai'. The park is spread over an area of around 811 sq. kms of marshes, grasslands and dense forests. The main attractions of the park are its Swamp Deer (population over 1,600) and tiger (population 98 in 1995). It is a home for over 38 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles and numerous species of birds. It has two core areas: Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur wildlife sanctuary. They are 15 kms. apart with agricultural land between them. The park is famous for the untiring efforts of 'Billy' Arjan Singh, one of India's leading conservationists, who was instrumental in the creation of Dudhwa as a sanctuary of the Swamp Deer. Later he successfully hand-reared and re-introduced zoo-born Tigers and Leopards into the wilds of Dudhwa.

The forests here are reminiscent of the forests of Bardia on the Nepal side, with huge Sal trees, tall termite mounds, patches of riverine forests and large open grasslands. Its lakes offer excellent opportunities for observing Swamp Deer and birds from 'machans'. In the mid 1980s, Indian Rhinoceros was reintroduced into Dudhwa from Assam and Nepal. The park has a rich bird life, with over 350 species, including the Swamp Partridge, Slaty-backed Woodpecker and Bengal Florican.

 

Excursion(Dudhwa Tiger Reserve)

En route to Dudhwa, the unique Frog Temple at Oyal can also be visited. The only one of its kind in India, it was built by the former Maharajas of the Oyal state in the district of Lakhimpur-Kheri. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the base of the stone temple is built in the shape of a large frog. The temple is at a distance of 10 km from Hargaon on the route to Lakhimpur-Kheri and Dudhwa.

Built in the Indo-Saracenic style by the rulers of the Singhai state, Surat Bhawan Palace is one of the famous palaces of the Terai area. Not far from the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve on the Lakhimpur-Nighasan-Dudhwa route, the palace is set in a large green, nine-acre retreat. Expanses of lush lawns, fountains, a swimming pool and interesting architectural details make a visit to the palace worthwhile.

 

Flora in Dudhwa National Park

Sal Shorea robusta, asna Terminalia tomentosa, shisham Dalbergia sissoo, bahera Terminalia balerica, khair Acacia catechu, jamun Syzygium cumini.

Main Fauna in Dudhwa National Park

Mammals: Tiger, leopard, swamp deer, rhinoceros, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar and ratel.
Birds: Around 400 species including Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork identified.
Fish: 90 species of fishes identified.
Endangered Species : Tiger, swamp deer, leopard, ratel, hispid hare, Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork.

How to Reach Dudhwa National Park

 By Air: Lucknow is the nearest airport. Many airlines operate a number of flights to Lucknow from major cities across India. Outside India, Nepal at a distance of 35 kms is the nearest airport.

By Rail: The nearest railheads are Dudhwa (4 kms), Palia (10 kms) and Mailani (37 kms), though the most convenient way would be to travel to Lucknow and then reach Dudhwa by road or train.

By Road: Bus services link Palia to towns such as Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly and Delhi. You can get regular buses between Palia and Dudhwa.

Travel Tips/Important Information

 * Park timings are from 7 to 10 AM and 3 to 6 PM.

 * The best point to start your park trip is at the Dudhwa Forest Office, where you can get information from the foresters about everything ranging from accommodation to safaris.The entire park is administratively divided into nine ranges of which only Sathiana, Bankati, Sonaripur, Salukhapur, Belrayan and Kila have accommodation facilities.

 * Elephants can be hired from the office near the park gate or from the Salukhapur Chowki for Rs. 100/head for about 3 hours.

 * A library at the Dudhwa office provides information about the park. A nature shop located near by sells books and other souvenirs.

* All visitors to the park require an entry permit, which can be obtained from the director of the park, district headquarters, Lakhimpur-Kheri. The queues may