Dudhwa National Park: A Complete Guide to the Wildlife Paradise of India

Are you looking for a wildlife adventure that will take you to the heart of nature and make you witness some of the most magnificent and endangered animals in the world? If yes, then Dudhwa National Park is the perfect destination for you. Dudhwa National Park is one of the finest wildlife destinations in India, with rich biodiversity, scenic beauty, and conservation efforts. It is home to tigers, rhinos, elephants, birds, wetlands, grasslands, and forests, and offers a variety of safari options, accommodation options, and travel tips. In this article, we will provide you with a complete guide to Dudhwa National Park, covering everything you need to know before you plan your trip.

Wildlife of Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa National Park is a wildlife lover’s paradise, as it boasts of a diverse and abundant fauna, with more than 450 species of birds, 38 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles, and numerous species of insects, fish, and amphibians. The main attraction of Dudhwa National Park is the endangered and rare species, such as tigers, rhinos, elephants, swamp deer, leopards, fishing cats, and otters. Here are some of the highlights of the wildlife of Dudhwa National Park:

1. Tigers: Dudhwa National Park is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, which is one of the most important tiger habitats in India. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has a population of around 100 tigers, which are protected and monitored by the forest department and the Wildlife Institute of India.

2. Rhinos: Dudhwa National Park is also the site of the Dudhwa Rhino Reintroduction Project, which aims to restore the population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros in its former range. The project was initiated in 1984, when five rhinos were translocated from Assam to Dudhwa.

3. Elephants: Dudhwa National Park is also home to a large number of elephants, which are mostly migratory and move between Dudhwa and Nepal. The elephants of Dudhwa are mostly seen in the grasslands and wetlands of the park, where they feed on grass, bamboo, and aquatic plants.

4. Swamp Deer: Dudhwa National Park is the only place in the world where you can see the swamp deer, also known as the barasingha, in its natural habitat. The swamp deer is a subspecies of the red deer, which is adapted to live in wetlands and marshes. The swamp deer of Dudhwa are distinguished by their large antlers, which can have up to 12 points.

5. Leopards: Dudhwa National Park is also a good place to see leopards, which are the most elusive and secretive of the big cats. Leopards are mostly nocturnal and solitary, and prefer to hunt in the dense forests and hills of the park.

6. Fishing Cats: Dudhwa National Park is also one of the few places in India where you can see the fishing cat, which is a medium-sized wild cat that specializes in fishing. Fishing cats are semi-aquatic and have webbed feet, which help them to swim and catch fish.

7. Otters: Dudhwa National Park is also a haven for otters, which are small and playful mammals that live in and near water. Otters are members of the weasel family, and have thick fur, long tails, and webbed feet, which help them to swim and dive. Otters are also very social and intelligent, and can be seen in groups of up to 15 individuals.

Safari in Dudhwa National Park

One of the best ways to experience the wildlife of Dudhwa National Park is by taking a safari, which can give you a chance to see the animals in their natural habitat and observe their behavior and interactions. Here are some of the details of the safari options in Dudhwa National Park:

1. Jeep Safari:

Jeep safari is the most popular and convenient way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can cover a large area and reach the core zones of the park.

The timings of the jeep safari are from 7 am to 10 am and from 3 pm to 6 pm. The zones of the jeep safari are Sonaripur, Kishanpur, and Bankati, which are the best places to see tigers, rhinos, elephants, and other animals.

The fees of the jeep safari are Rs. 1500 per jeep for Indians and Rs. 3000 per jeep for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per jeep for guide fee.

2. Elephant Safari:

Elephant safari is another exciting way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can give you a different perspective and a closer encounter with the wildlife.

The timings of the elephant safari are from 7 am to 9 am and from 3 pm to 5 pm. The zones of the elephant safari are Sonaripur, Kishanpur, and Bankati, which are the same as the jeep safari.

The fees of the elephant safari are Rs. 600 per person for Indians and Rs. 1200 per person for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per elephant for mahout fee.

3. Walking Safari:

Walking safari is a unique and adventurous way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can give you a chance to experience the wilderness and the thrill of being on foot.

The timings of the walking safari are from 7 am to 9 am and from 3 pm to 5 pm. The zone of the walking safari is the rhino enclosure, which is a fenced area of 27 sq km within the park, where you can see the rhinos and other animals.

The fees of the walking safari are Rs. 300 per person for Indians and Rs. 600 per person for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per group for guide fee.

4. Boat Safari:

Boat safari is a relaxing and enjoyable way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can give you a chance to see the aquatic and avian life of the park.

The timings of the boat safari are from 7 am to 10 am and from 3 pm to 6 pm. The zones of the boat safari are Suheli, Katarniaghat, and Girwa, which are the rivers and lakes of the park, where you can see otters, fishing cats, crocodiles, turtles, and birds.

The fees of the boat safari are Rs. 500 per boat for Indians and Rs. 1000 per boat for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per boat for boatman fee.

5. Canoe Safari:

Canoe safari is a fun and adventurous way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can give you a chance to paddle your own canoe and navigate the waterways of the park.

The timings of the canoe safari are from 7 am to 10 am and from 3 pm to 6 pm. The zones of the canoe safari are Suheli, Katarniaghat, and Girwa, which are the same as the boat safari.

The fees of the canoe safari are Rs. 300 per canoe for Indians and Rs. 600 per canoe for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per canoe for canoeist fee.

6. Night Safari:

Night safari is a rare and thrilling way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can give you a chance to see the nocturnal and elusive animals of the park, such as leopards, hyenas, jackals, civets, and owls.

The timing of the night safari is from 7 pm to 10 pm. The zone of the night safari is the buffer zone of the park, which is outside the core zones, but still has a good wildlife density.

The fees of the night safari are Rs. 2000 per jeep for Indians and Rs. 4000 per jeep for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per jeep for guide fee.

7. Camera Trap Safari:

Camera trap safari is a novel and innovative way to explore Dudhwa National Park, as it can give you a chance to see the images of the animals captured by the camera traps installed in the park.

The timings of the camera trap safari are from 7 am to 10 am and from 3 pm to 6 pm. The zone of the camera trap safari is the core zone of the park, where the camera traps are placed in strategic locations, such as waterholes, trails, and dens.

The fees of the camera trap safari are Rs. 1000 per person for Indians and Rs. 2000 per person for foreigners, plus Rs. 100 per person for entry fee and Rs. 500 per group for guide fee.

Hotels in Dudhwa National Park

If you want to stay in Dudhwa National Park and enjoy its beauty and tranquility, you have a range of accommodation options to choose from, depending on your budget and preference. You can stay in hotels, resorts, lodges, or camps, which offer comfortable and cozy rooms, with amenities such as hot water, electricity, wifi, and room service. Some of the best hotels in Dudhwa National Park are Dudhwa Jungle Lore, Dudhwa Forest Rest House and Dudhwa Tiger Huts.

How to Reach Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa National Park is well-connected by road, rail, and air, and can be easily reached from different cities and states of India. Here are some of the ways to reach Dudhwa National Park:

By Flight: The nearest airport to Dudhwa National Park is Lucknow Airport, which is about 250 km away. Lucknow Airport is connected to major cities of India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, by regular flights.

By Road: Dudhwa National Park is well-connected by road to nearby towns and cities, such as Palia, Lakhimpur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, and Sitapur. You can take a taxi or a bus to Dudhwa National Park from these places, which will take about 2 to 4 hours.

By Train: The nearest railway station to Dudhwa National Park is Dudhwa Railway Station, which is about 4 km away. Dudhwa Railway Station is connected to nearby towns and cities, such as Palia, Lakhimpur, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, and Sitapur, by regular trains. From Dudhwa Railway Station, you can take a taxi or a rickshaw to Dudhwa National Park, which will take about 10 minutes.

Dudhwa National Park is a place that can make you fall in love with nature and wildlife, and make you feel the joy and wonder of being in the wild. Dudhwa National Park is a place that can offer you a memorable and unforgettable experience, and make you want to come back again and again. If you are looking for a wildlife adventure that will take you to the heart of nature and make you witness some of the most magnificent and endangered animals in the world, then Dudhwa National Park is the perfect destination for you. So, what are you waiting for? Book your tour package, safari, or hotel today, and get ready to explore the wildlife paradise of India.

Dudhwa National Park Reviews

Arvind Passey

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A foggy morning is so full of possibilities… there is intrigue literally hanging from every square inch around you. The entire world seems so far away despite being where it always has been. Even familiar objects loom large suddenly and the suddenness makes your imagination run amuck… and you see witches in trees and dragons in place of lively bushes! This is the sort of adventure I had on the morning of the sixth of February as we went on our way to the DudhwaNational Park. ‘You don’t need a horn in the forest,’ said Ashraf from WTI (Wildlife Trust of India), and then went on with a chuckle, ‘I remember a time when there was a tiger sitting right in the middle of the forest path and all we could do was to stop, remain alert, and wait for him to get up and move away!’ ‘So, will we be seeing tigers today?’ one of us asked him. ‘Every morning is a good morning for tiger sighting, but tigers move fast and can cover more miles than we can imagine,’ replied Ashraf. Later, when we reached the forest office of Dudhwa National Park and shifted from the covered SUV to an open jeep, the immensity of the forest came as a realization. We were told that the forest has tree-covered areas as well as wetlands and grasslands… and the animals that we were to look for could be just anywhere and that it is always destiny that leads a tourist to sight them. ‘The trees all around are Sal,’ informed our guide helpfully, ‘though on your way to the forest there was a mix of naturally existing trees and man-planted trees. So on the fringes you can find Teak too.’ The fringes, of course, are interesting places because it is there that most of the small villages are. That is where the human-animal conflicts take place. That is where most of the work of the 9 Primary Response Teams is. We are not talking of a small effort here. We are talking of over 69000 people being impacted in the 28 identified conflict hot spot villages. And if the cases of conflict have come down from 27 in 2008 to 11 in 2013, the effort put in by the Forest Department, WTI, and Aircel as the Corporate partner is worth an applause! But let me back to my adventure… of course these knowledge bits happened throughput the day but the most interesting moments were when we came to within striking distance of a one-horned Rhino! This Rhino wasn’t really agitated to have five humans on an elephant looking at him with strange devices in their hands that went click and whirr and click and whirr! Our mahout told us that Rhinos are generally shy and like other animals, avoid unnecessary conflicts. Even this one was there for just a few seconds and then hurried headlong into the 10 feet high grass and bushes and disappeared into the dark forest. We were later informed that the Rhino Rehabilitation Project began in 1984 and that their strength is now 31 in this park. ‘Why rehabilitate Rhinos here in UP?’ I asked, though what I really wanted to ask was if Rhinos could be used to frighten away the goon elements from the State. Well, I was told that Dudhwa was being primed as one of the major back-up zones for the Rhino in case some major tragedy happens in Kaziranga. ‘This park has a designated 27 sq km area protected by wires that have a 12 V current pulse passing through them. This is enough to keep the Rhinos safely inside,’ informed an official, ‘though tigers are able to jump over the wires. The tiger is a restless animal and keeps moving in search of prey.’ By the way, the second phase of the Rhino Rehabilitation Project will see the installation of ‘camera traps’ all over. There will also be yet another enclosure for this animal and thus another 14 sq kms dedicated to their rehabilitation. Now if you think if this seemingly armoured animal really needs protection, the answer is yes. Even the Rhino, like other animals that are now endangered, need resolutions. Only a few days back two Rhinos had a fight and one died. Obviously, the response teams had rushed to the spot and managed to save one. Yes, we did see the spot where that infighting took place and where the Rhino was finally buried. But coming back to our adventure, let me tell you that though we were sitting on an elephant, the trees towered way above us and, at times, even the termite hill tops were within grasping distance. The bone-chilling moment came as our elephants sauntered out of the wooded area and into what everyone said were the grasslands. ‘Grasslands? How can sauntering over grass be bone-chilling?’ ‘Well, when the grass blades rise to heights that can cover even elephants, it is time to get alarmed.’ So yes, all sorts of animals can be lurking in those thickly set grasses but our elephants plodded on creating a path through this seemingly invincible grass universe! There were times when I could see just the heads of my friends on the elephant a few feet behind us. Eyes carefully scanned the area to see if any animal movement could be detected. Our silence also meant that we were trying to listen to any tell-tale rustle betraying an animal, or more significantly, a tiger stealthily walking towards us. And suddenly we approached a water body and saw a magar or a crocodile basking in the sun. I saw the magar twitch and think and then slowly and discreetly slip into the water to swim away. ‘Are magars afraid of elephants?’ someone asked. The Mahout simply snorted a stifled laugh and said, ‘Animals don’t get into unnecessary conflicts.’ Well, this was great jungle philosophy and I loved every bit of it. Just some distance away from this spot we sighted two bara-singhas sitting some distance away from each other. ‘Both are males,’ said the Mahout, ‘and they are watching us carefully.’ We noticed the imperceptible movement of their eyes as they followed us moving from their right to their left and away. ‘Male bara-singhas sitting together in the forest,’ I chuckled, ‘and our SC is creating such a hullaballoo about human males wanting to live together.’ Well, as I said, the jungle does give you all sorts of insights. Yes, we did sight the hornbill, alexandrine parakeets, a few other birds, spotted deer, a fox, and a lot of fresh tiger pug-marks. Our adventure on a foggy morning also included watching the sun filter through the forest to create intriguing patterns and being perched on an elephant as it swayed through intimidating grassland and waded through a couple of feet of marshy land and even through innocent looking but crocodile-inhabited water bodies. Yes, the morning was adventurous!

Aparajita

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The sight of the fallen leaves carpeting the forest floor and the canopy of trees overhead evokes a sense of abandonment from the material world. The silence is music to ears hammered by the constant sounds of the city- blaring horns, jostling people, vendors selling their wares....As soon as one enters the forest, it is like entering an entirely different world. Welcome To DudhwaNational Park! An official tour took us to the sleepy little town of Shahjahanpur. But it was curiosity and a desire to break away from city life that lured us to Dudhwa National Park, a mere 125 km from Shahjahanpur, just a 3 hours drive away. On reaching here, we had lunch in their canteen( a very reasonable Rs. 200 for two people), walked around a little, spotted 3-4 deer lapping up water from a small puddle. It was a little surprising to see deer in an area inhabited by humans but a local kid informed us that animals often crept up to the rest house, even tigers! We had some time to kill till 3 PM when the safari at Dudhwa National Park would start, so we climbed up the(broken) watch tower. At the top awaited a splendid view of the water surrounding the park, with the ghostly limbs of the trees rose up from the foreboding grey river, giving it a mysterious aura. In distance, we could barely make out a crocodile sunbathing. There is also a small museum at Dudhwa National Park which gives information about the flora and fauna of the park and has some very interesting models and specimens. One can spend some time looking at the Rhino and Tiger which stand guard there(stuffed of course!) At 3 we booked ourselves a jeep(costing about Rs. 2000 for two people). Our guide informed us that elephant safari at Dudhwa National Park was only available in the morning from 7AM to 10 AM for visiting the Rhino area. Dudhwa National Park has a special area dedicated to Rhinos where they are protected and conserved. Our guide told us that we had to exchange 16 elephants with Nepalin return for 1 Rhino!(Don't know how far it's true). Inside the forest at Dudhwa National Park, not even a leaf stirred. It felt like we were creating havoc, with our loud voices and humming vehicles. We saw majesti termite houses, which look as though they are made of wood. The teak trees have been artificially planted while the Sal trees form the natural vegetation of the area. We spotted some spotted deer, which frisked around playfully, walked with a lot of style, looked at us, posed for the camera and then bounded back into the bushes. We spotted langurs, and once we left the forest and entered the grasslands, we spotted hog deer(btw, only male deer have antlers). But the most exciting spotting of the day was a herd of wild elephants crossing into the jungle. When we reached, a huge elephant with her (2 month old as told by the guide) tiny child were crossing. Another elephant was meandering around. Our guide told us that it was a miscreant and had been banished from the herd, because of its ill temper and its habit of causing problems for the whole herd. So it would follow some distance behind. The guide showed us some uprooted trees, informing us that the elephants had brought them down so that their children could eat without any problems(Again...the males have tusks while the females don't) We tried to find a tiger at Dudhwa National Park, which had been spotted by one of the groups, but we weren't lucky enough to catch sight of that magnificent beast that day. We only spotted few more deer and in the end, a jackal. But animal spotting was only half the fun. The rest was the amazing experience of entering the forest and forgetting the world outside. Some Info: 1. Where is Dudhwa National Park? The tiger reserve is situated in northern Uttar Pradesh. 2. You can easily travel from Lucknow to Dudhwa National Park. Lucknowis the nearest major city and the nearest airport. One can also take a train to Shahjahanpur and drive to Dudhwa National Park(like we did) 3. Dudhwa National Park remains closed in the monsoon between 15th June and 15th November(exact dates of opening may be confirmed before going). 4. Safari can be reserved on the spot. The vehicles are private but their service is governed by the forest authorities. The timings are 7Am to 10 AM in the morning and 3PM to 6 PM in the evening. Elephant safari is available only in the morning(Rs. 400 per person and 4 people on 1 elephant). The elephant safari is specially for going into the protected Rhino area and seeing the Rhinos from close quarers. The elephant safari is available from Sonaripur, which is some 12 km inside the jungle 5. Dudhwa National Park booking of accommodation: Guest houses inside the jungle as well as in Dudhwa are available. Some of them can be booked from Palia, Lakhimpur or Lucknow. For a few rooms, online booking is also available. The guest house in Sonaripur doesn't have canteen facilities while the other guest houses do. 6. Saturdays and Sundays are quite crowded so getting turn for safari may take some time.

Arindam Aditya

81 Followers

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Dudhwa national park, maintaining her friendship forest corridor with Nepal is located in Lakhimpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Nearest town (10 km), Palia is waiting for you with enough facilities. Gauri Fanta, last location of India is located at the end of Dudhwa road and on the other side of the border Dhangadi town is ready to welcome you with a warm and delightful Nepali welcome. • How to reach there: Frankly speaking nearest railway station is not so near. Lucknow railway station (LJN, LKO), 240 km away from Dudhwa, is maintaining its second position after Shahjehanpur railway station (SPN) which is just 110 km away from Dudhwa. But if you are low budget traveler, no need to worry, Buses services of UP will never let you down. From Lucknow: Station to Charbagh bus stop (by Battery rikshaw) to Lakhimpur - Lucknow bus stop (by Bus) to Lakhimpur – palia bus stop (by Battery rikshaw) to Palia bus stop (by Bus) to Dudhwa NP (by Auto rickshaw or Tata magic) From Shahjehanpur: Station to Bus stop (by Rickshaw) to Palia bus stop (by Bus) to Dudhwa NP (by Auto rickshaw or Tata magic); If direct bus Palia is not available in emergency, take a bus upto Khutar, by asking to bus conductor,change bus for Palia. If you want to visit with your vehicle, National and state highways, maintaining their good condition are well connected with Delhi, Bareilly, Lucknow, Kanpur and other major cities. Google map will guide you appropriately. All you just need to maintain your controlled speed and careful driving. Nearest Airport is Lucknow. • Accommodation, food and Jungle safari: “Jungle is not your home. Kindly don’t try to make it a dustbin” I always prefer to book accommodation after visit rather than pre-booking. Tigerhino resorts, Tiger’s den, The Jungle Lore etc are always ready to pay their service with standard charges. But in my opinion, try forest guest houses and accommodation at first. After Dudhwa main gate you will find many accommodations including dormitory rooms with various range and comfort. If you want pre-booking then go through Dudhwa NP official website and other mentioned resort's websites. Canteen is available for food in Dudhwa accommodation campus and every resort have their own kitchen to increase your saliva in your mouth.

Wanderer Atif

56 Followers

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The Dudhwa National Parkis a national park in the Terai belt of marshy grasslands of northern Uttar Pradesh, India. It is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve covering the areas of Kheri and Lakhimpur districts. It was the first trip after I came back to my hometown Lucknow CRITICAL INFORMATION: COST FOR FOUR : 14000(Lucknow to Nepal border VIA Lakhimpur then to resort and returning). Diesel car - 2500 For Diesel Toll + food - 400 STAY: Dhoodhwa fun resort, location at bottom DURATION: 210 kms , 5 hrs from Lucknow to Resort direct, if you want to go till Nepal border then it will be additional 1st april 2018 A bright day, we started our journey from lucknow to Doodhwa National park @ around 11 am in the morning via car. Filled with sheer excitment we decided not to limit ourself only till doodhwa and extend our trip and you all will be thrilled to know till where we extended because we were too 🙂, we decided that as we have little time we can extend our trip til Nepal Border, yes you read it write till Nepal Border. The turn from where the road to nepal border started was approx a 30 to 50 kms stretch and kind of offroad. Both sides covered with green dense forest , single lane road added to our excitment and thrill. We reached Nepal border at around 6:45, we were allowed to park our vehicle on border and cross d border but we were allowed only for sometime and were asked to return back by 7:30 pm else we will be allowed to come back to india and cross d border. we went there had tea , it was dark and was some small village their where we spent little time and came back.We were literally starving as we didn't get much to eat their at tha time, we had only tea and some namkeen. As we were already late and it was risky to stay dere at border we were headed towards our hotel. ABOUT HOTEL It was a good stay, would recommend it definitely, we got dinner @11 pm which usually other deny, they arranged morning safari too for us. We got tea snacks in morning and went for safari @ 5:30 am

Pritha Puri

4298 Followers

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Time to go deep into the rich wildlife of the Dudhwa National Park, which is home to several endangered species. Dudhwa's charm is inexplicable and all you need to do here, is let yourself be a part of nature and surrender to the many enriching experiences that will follow. At the edge of the Indo-Nepal border, you will see many tiny villages that are nestled in the jungle. Meet the local folks of the Tharu Tribe and learn about their culture. December is the best time to spot wildlife in the national park as most animals bask in the sun and go to the river for water. Click hereto connect with your personal travel guide and get expert assistance in planning your next getaway to Dudhwa National Park. Ideal for:Travellers looking to experience the wilderness at its best Things to do in Dudhwa National Park:Take an early morning jungle safari and spend a night in the forest lodge for a hands on tryst with the wild. How to reach Dudhwa National Park:Dudhwa has its own railway station. You can also drive down to the national park. You can reach Lucknow and hire a vehicle from there to Dudhwa. Tip:The park has several restricted areas entering which is not only a punishable offence by law but also means putting your life at risk.