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Tharu Huts in Dudhwa |
Entry to Dudhwa National Park |
Entry Gate to Forest Rest House |
Reception of Dudhwa National Park |
Main Park Entry |
Dudhwa
National Park or Dudhwa
Tiger Reserve(DTP) is divided into 3 Sanctuaries ie. DTP, Kishanpur Sanctuary
& Katernghat Sanctuary. This is my 2
visit to DTP, this second visit has happened after good long 18 years. In
detail I would try to provide information about DTP as the same is not
available on website.
DTP has got area of 680s sq km & is a dense jungle.
Wildlife includes Tiger, Sloth Beer, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, Spotted Deers,
Crocs etc.
Best way to travel to DTP is by own vehicle, traveling time
from nearest major station Lucknow is 5 hours though only distance is 248 kms.
Ideal route to be taken is Lucknow-Sitapur-Lakhimpur-Palia-Dudhwa. While
entering Palia there is one single bridge on which both Train & Vehicle
run. As through this bridge 12 train passes in 24 hours & this is a narrow
bridge where only one vehicle move at time, hence waiting time ranges from 45
mins to 60 mins here. Though there are trains which come from Bareilly/Lucknow
to Palia/Dudhwa. These trains are passenger ones but one can enjoy wildlife
beauty as these trains passes from mid of Jungle. One can get down at Palia
& take a bus/taxi for DTP which is only 10 kms away. If boarding down at
Dudhwa be ready to cross 4 kms in Jungle on foot as hardly there are
Taxis/Public Transport available here, but if you book taxis in advance they
can pick you up directly from Dudhwa Station.
DTP is open from mid November till end of March. Best time
to visit is from February end till May end as during this time Grasslands are
cut & burnt by Jungle authorities(annual
exercise) this helps in better sighting of Wildlife.
Accommodation in & around DTP is a big challenge as this
place is not commercialized like other National Parks. One can get rooms as
Tiger Den-Palia (thru UP Govt Website). Best place to stay is in various Forest
Rest House(FRH) inside DTP. There are around 9 FRH’s in DTP to stay & best
among them is Dudhwa Forest Rest House. The names of all FRH’s are as – Dudhwa,
Sathiyana, Salukapur, Kila, Bankati, Belrayan & Sonaripur. Let me tell why
I am mentioning that Dudhwa FRH is best. Only Dudhwa FRH is having canteen
where you can get cooked food, tea/coffee & mineral water. Rest all FRH’s
are not having canteen facility but you can carry your provisions & helper
will cook them for you. Basic crockery
is available for cooking. But this does not mean other FRH’s are not good all
of them have some specialty. Charges for
FRH’s are @ Rs. 300/- per person. Details of them are as below
Salukapur & Kila are located near Rihno reintroduction
area & is a beautiful place t stay amid nature. This is the only place
which hosts 7 elephants which are used for riding in Rhino area. Tigers
sighting is good out here.
Bankati is the farthest in DTP & is near Tharu Tribal
Villages, provides a good opportunity to understand tharu lifestyle.
Sathiyana & Sonaripur are ideal place to stay in
tranquility & best place for tiger sighting.
Belrayan- is located amongst dense Sal Jungles & a very
god place for Nature lovers. Sambhar & other deers can be seen in herds
& hunting ground for Tiger.
Dudhwa- consists of 18 rooms in form of Tharu Huts/Rooms and
other 25 beds as dormitory. Geeting booking here is tough task, as people only
with right connections/contacts can get room in here. Waiting list is quite
long 45 days, best is send fax/letter in advance so you can get the booking.
(Fax No- 05872-252106). Only 2 rooms are having hot water facility &
definitely they are out of bounds for Normal
public. These are meant only for VIP’s.
Best way to travel in DTP is by open jeeps which are easily
available & charge around 1000 Rs for one trip. There are 2 trips in a
day-Morning 7 am till 11 pm and Evening 3 pm till 5.30 PM. These open jeeps
would take you across the DTP passing through dense Sal Jungles, Grasslands
(Elephant Grassland). There are 3 routes
on which these Jeep will go.
Route 1- towards Sathiyana
Route 3- towards Salukapur
Route 2- towards Chandan Chauki.
Best routes are 3 & 1 as maximum tiger sightings are
reported here. We were lucky enough to sight a tiger only in our 10 mins of
tour on route 3, even before I can even click a snap tigress vanished in
grassland. Our second sighting happened on route 1 next day only after 30 mins.
Here we saw a pair together. There are around 98 Tigers in DTP & chances of
sighting them is better as compared to Corbett as this is Terai region which
naturally increases ones vision/sight as Corbett is a hilly area.
Elephant safaris can only be taken from Salukapur area &
charge is Rs. 600 per elephant. Elephant Safarai’s are only in morning so be
the first one to reach & book it on spot, on advance booking. Though there
are 7-8 elephants available but for
safari purpose only 3-4 are used in 2 shifts. 1 Shift 7.00 AM to 8.30 AM and 2
Shift 8.30 AM to 10.00 AM. These elephants will take you to Rhino Area.
One-horned rhino can be watched from Elephant back. We are luck enough to see 4
rhinos in our visit. There are around 27 rhinos in DTP.
Overall visiting DTP
was a good & satisfying experience, though facilities are here not
upto mark, but that’s the Jugle is all about. I can keep on writing on same
pages & pages but let me know wold like to help any of you wild denizens
who would like to visit.
Imp contact nos for Dudhwa National Park-
For Bookings
05872-252106/252893