ATTRACTIONS & PLACES TO VISIT IN DUDHWA

One of India’s best-kept wildlife secrets, Dudhwa National Park forms part of the Terai ecosystem - a mosaic of dense sal forests, wetlands and expansive grasslands - that is home to all five Indian deer species along with tigers and a reintroduced population of one-horned rhinoceros. Beyond the park, the surrounding Tharu villages offer a landscape rooted in nature and traditional lifeways.

DUDHWA NATIONAL PARK

Located in Lakhimpur Kheri district along the Indo–Nepal border, Dudhwa National Park was once a hunting ground during the British era. Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958, it was upgraded to a national park in 1977 and became a tiger reserve in 1987. It is among the few places in India where all five species of deer - swamp deer (barasingha), sambar, spotted deer (chital), barking deer and hog deer—can be found, along with the critically endangered hispid hare and over 450 bird species, including the Bengal florican. Visitors can explore the park on safaris to spot Bengal tigers and a reintroduced population of one-horned rhinoceros in a marvellous Terai landscape where the Himalayas meet the Indo-Gangetic plains.

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KISHANPUR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Set along the banks of the Sharda River, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary forms part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Its open meadows and water bodies, including Jhadi Tal, attract a rich diversity of birdlife, with over 450 resident and migratory species such as red-crested pochard, mallard, pintail, shoveler, river tern and spoonbill. Visitors can opt for jeep safaris or guided walks through sal, teak and jamun forests in the Padariya Beat, a key buffer zone known for excellent birdwatching and potential tiger sightings.

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THARU VILLAGES

Home to the indigenous Tharu community, over 40 settlements - including Surma, Golbojhi and areas near Belrayan, Bankati and Chandan Chowki - are situated in and around the core and buffer zones of Dudhwa National Park. The Tharu trace their lineage to Rajput ancestry in local tradition and worship Lord Shiva. Their homes are adorned with intricate murals created using clay and cow dung. Guided visits offer insights into their close relationship with the forest and community-based way of life.

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ELEPHANT SAFARI

Conducted within Dudhwa National Park, elephant safaris provide an elevated vantage point (approximately 9 feet high) across the dense Terai grasslands and forests. Traditionally used by forest departments for patrolling and tracking, these rides enable access to tall grass and marshy terrain that are often inaccessible by vehicles. Operated in limited numbers and typically during early morning hours, they are associated with sightings of species such as swamp deer, one-horned rhinoceros and occasionally, tigers.

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BIRDWATCHING TRAILS

Birdwatching trails across the wetlands and sal forests of Dudhwa National Park offer an opportunity to spot over 450 recorded bird species, including a significant number of migratory visitors. Key areas include Banke Tal, frequented by kingfishers, egrets and river terns, the Sharda riverbank for waterfowl sightings,and the Dudhwa grasslands, which provide habitat for species such as the Bengal florican, swamp francolin and a range of raptors.

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SAL FORESTS

Among the defining features of Dudhwa National Park, its extensive sal (Shorea robusta) forests form a dense, high-canopy woodland. Characterised by tall, closely spaced trees, these forests support a variety of smaller fauna and birdlife. Interspersed with grasslands and wetlands, they play a crucial role in the park’s ecosystem, providing habitat and cover for deer, leopards and numerous birds.

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