Reasons why Dudhwa National Park should be on your winter wish list

Up in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh lies Dudhwa National Park, stretched over an area of 490.3 sq km, 190 sq km of which is a buffer zone. The park, also a tiger reserve, lies very close to the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur Kheri District.

Read more: Reasons why you need to have Sundarbans National Park in your travel bucket list

Billy Arjan Singh, the iconic hunter-turned-conservationist, played a tremendous role in establishing Dudhwa as a national park. In 1977, due to his relentless efforts in the conservation of the forest and its denizens, the area was declared a national park. And in 1987, Dudhwa National park, along with Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, became Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Ever since, Dudhwa has been a safe home to many species of flora and fauna. However, many years before that, in 1958, Dudhwa was first established as a wildlife sanctuary for the barasingha or the swamp deer.

Here are some of the reasons why Dudhwa National Park should be on your winter travel wish list.

Dudhwa National Park extensively and exclusively works towards the conservation of the Terai ecosystem. The grassland areas, which are now facing the threat of extinction all across the country due to the rapidly developing urban spaces, are protected aggressively here.

The marshy grassland is a fantastic habitat for so many species, especially the endangered swamp deer; and the dry tall riverine grassland of Dudhwa is one of the last habitats of the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican.

The Big Five of Dudhwa – Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, barasingha or the swamp deer, gharial, and one-horned rhinoceros, are the stars of Indian wildlife. Though all of them are in the endangered list of species, they have found a home in Dudhwa.

One of the biggest success stories at Dudhwa National Park is the re-introduction of the one-horned rhinoceros. There was a time when the original rhino population was completely wiped out from the face of Uttar Pradesh. Reason being – poaching. Then in 1984, five rhinos were brought to Dudhwa, all the way from Assam, under the Rhino Rehabilitation Project.

After a few failures and more careful handling of the rhinos, fast forward several decades, Dudhwa is now home to more than 42 rhinos in the wild.

With more than 350 species of birds, Dudhwa National Park and Tiger Reserve is every birder’s favourite field. Of all the bird species found in the area, migratory and residents, the most important ones are the critically endangered white-rumped vultures, Bengal florican, swamp francolin and the great slaty woodpecker.

The region is home to hundreds of species of migratory birds, including the famous Amur falcons.

When we say Dudhwa forest is beautiful, it is said with utmost sincerity. Most of the forests in the plains of northern and central India look similar in appearance. All are beautiful, no doubt, but similar in appearance. Whereas in Dudhwa, you will be surprised by the variety.

One time you are passing forest trails with giant sal trees, so tall that sun rays are barely penetrating the foliage; the next moment you come to vast open rolling grasslands with river banks full of crocodiles. The tall elephant grass hiding the elephants and tigers from the plain sight is a totally different experience to have.