Dudhwa National
Park
Location : Indo-Nepal Border
Area :
49,029 hectares / 614 sq. km.
Established : 1958 as a wildlife sanctuary
1977 as a national
park, 1988 as a tiger reserve.
Dudhwa lies on the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalaya
and the plains of the ‘terai’. The main attractions of the park
are its Swamp Deer (population over 1,600) and tiger (population 98 in
1995). 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 birdlife,
with over 350 species, including the Swamp Partridge, Slaty-backed
Woodpecker and Bengal Florican.
Season
: Mid November-mid June, the best period being
February-April.
Access :
Drive
from Delhi (8-9 hours) or take the train to Shahjehanpur and drive to Dudhwa
(3 hours). Alternatively fly to Lucknow and drive to Dudhwa (245 km, 6
hours).
Nearest Railway Station : Dudwa (4 km.), Palia (10 km.),
Mailani (37 km.)
Nearest Airport : Lucknow, Dhangarhi (Nepal, 35
km.)
General Details
Headquarters : Lakhimpur (Kheri), UP, India
Altitude
: 150-183 meters Nearest Town: Palia (10 km.) Nearest petrol pump!
Hospital / market /bank / Post & Telegraph Office are at Palia
Temperature : Max Min Summer : 40°C 20°C Winter : 30°C
4°C
Clothing:- Summer:
Cottons
Winter: Light woollens *Preferably 'khaki',
olive green, grey or other inconspicuous clothing which does not alarm or
scare away the animals.
Accommodation
and facilities : At the southern edge of the park lies
the well-known TIGER HAVEN, the residence of ‘Billy’ Arjan Singh
and open to tourists. It is a rustic farm house with good accommodation and
is well placed for productive safaris inside the park. Safaris are by 4-
wheel drive motor vehicles and by elephants. There is also a Forest Rest
House inside the park. At Dudhwa, Forest Rest Houses, Log Huts, Dormitory
and Tharu Huts. Forest Rest Houses at Sonaripur, Sathiana, Bankati,
Belrayan, Kila, Chandan Chauki.
Mammals
:
Suggested
Itinerary : Day 01 : Depart by surface from Delhi to
Dudhwa ( 460 km; 09 -10 hrs driving time approx.). Upon arrival, check-in to
your hotel Tiger Haven for six nights. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02-06 : Enjoy your morning and afternoon jeep-safaries in the
Park. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 : Depart by surface
from Dudhwa to Delhi. Upon arrival you will be transferred to a nearby hotel
airport for lobby use & facilities (meal & accommodation not
included). Later in the evening, transfer to the International airport to
connect your flight for onward destination.
Wildlife in India
