NATIONAL PARKS OF INDIA

Dudhwa National Park is located in Uttar Pradesh in the Terai belt which is also referred to as sub-Himalayan region. It is nestled in the Lakhimpur Kheri District in the Indo-Nepal border. Along with the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary it forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

History
The park was initally set-up as a wildlife sanctuary for Swamp deer in 1958. However, with the efforts of 'Billy' Arjan Singh, the region was deemed a national park in 1977. The park came under the purview of 'Project Tiger' initiative in 1987 and was declared a Tiger Reserve.

Flora
The main floras of the park include sal, shisham, asna, jamun, sehore, gular, and bahera. Grassland comprises around 19% of the national park.

Fauna
Swamp Deers, Barasinghas and tigers are main attraction of Dudhwa National Park. Some other faunas of the park are Indian Rhinoceros, Ratel, Leopard Cat, Fishing Cat, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear, Civet, Jackal and the endangered Hispid Hare.

Avian-fauna
Black Crested Baza, Great Indian Hornbill, Osprey, Peafowl, Red Headed Merlin and different Floricans are some of the bird species of the park. Certain migratory birds such as Great Slaty Woodpecker, Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican, Sarus Crane, etc. can be sighted in winter.

General information
Accommodations inside the park are available in the forest lodges, dormitory, forest hut and resorts that are maintained by the National Park administration. The tourists can hire a jeep or a mini bus or use elephant safari to explore the nooks and corner of the park.

How to get there
The closest airport is at Lucknow, which is about 232 km away from the park. The closest railway station is Dudhwa, which is about 4 kilometers. Regular bus services are available between Lucknow and Dudhwa.

Tourist information
Address: Dudhwa National Park, State Highway 90, Palia Kalan, Lakhimpur Kheri, UP-262902, India.
Contact number: 05872 252 106
Ideal time to visit: November to May.
Visiting hours: 7:00 am - 10:00 am & 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm (daily)
Entry fee applicable