Dudhwa Tiger Reserve: The Last Terai

As you tread into Dudhwa, you will find yourself surrounded by an aura which is at once mystifying and suggestive. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is not only one of the few remaining dense forests at the foothills of Himalayas; it is also one of the few places that are home to some of the rarest animal species threatened across the rest of India.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve – Entrance Gate (Photo: DP Mishra)

Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary – Entrance (Photo: Deepak Verma)

Location

Situated towards the north of Suheli River, it stretches over an area of 884 sq. km (approx.) on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh. Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary are the two core areas of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, created in the year 1987-88.

Fauna

Butterflies in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Sambhar in National Reserve

Deers in National Reserve (Photo: Deepak Verma)

Cranes in National Reserve

As many as five species of deer co-exist here- Sāmbhar, chital, muntjac, hog deer and the endangered swamp deer. Owing to the huge prey base, the place has a sizeable tiger population. Besides, the talsand jheels of Dudhwa are some of the best spots to bird watch! Among the 400 avian species that abound in the region, the Bengal Florican remains a star attraction, known for its spectacular mating displays. Among the others are: painted storks, sarus cranes, owls, barbets and woodpeckers.

Flora

Flora in the Reserve (Photo: Srikanth)

Field under water in the Reserve (Photo: Deepak Verma)

Major flora includes: Sal, Ashna, Shisham, Bahera, Khair and Jamun. Large parts of the reserve are under flood waters; hence extensive tracts of moist grasslands remain in this region. Some of the grasslands are infested with dense mats of inedible weed-varieties that have made the affected areas unsuitable for grazing by herbivores.

Problems in the Recent Past

Tigers in the Reserve

Recently, Dudhwa had been facing problems of poaching and encroachment, both of which are having an adverse effect on the region’s ecology. Flood waters make patrolling by guards difficult; besides posing a threat to the region’s endangered species, especially tigers and swamp deer. For this reason, the reserve had not been able to provide proper and adequate accommodation to wildlife enthusiasts and hence its rich biodiversity had gone mostly unnoticed for a very long time.

Rhinos in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Post-independence, large parts of this Terai-belt have been reclaimed and since the land here is fertile, most of it had been put to agricultural use. However, care has to be taken so that the agricultural practices do not put undue pressure on the natural ecosystem of plants and animals.

Special Projects

Apart from the creation of Village Forest Protection Committees, eco-development through village-level micro planning was initiated in 1988-99. For increased viability, resources have been obtained from Tiger Conservation Programme (WWF).

Best Time to Visit

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

The best time to visit would be from mid-November to mid-June, when the park remains open to the public. By June, it usually gets very hot to be comfortable. Do not forget to carry your woollens if you plan to visit the place between December-January. It gets pretty chilly during winters.

How to Get There

One can hire coaches and jeeps from the National Park office at Dudhwa because the grasslands are impenetrable on foot. One can also capture the park’s splendour on elephant back. Lucknow is the nearest airport (238 kms), Dudhwa is the nearest Railway-Station (4 kms).

Nearest Town: Palia (10 Kms).

Timings:The Park is open for visitors between 6:00 am in the morning to 6:00 pm in the evening.

Other Sites

Frog Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in Oyal which is 10 kms from Hargaon enroute Lakhimpur- Kheri. The temple has its base shaped like a large frog and so the name. Overnight trips can be organised to places in Nepal like Bardia National Park etc. One can also stay at any of the forest’s own rest houses inside the park.

With its varied topography, wide wetlands and spectacular biodiversity, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is undoubtedly a paradise on earth. So nature-lovers, what are you waiting for?

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