Dudhwa National Park
From mosaic grasslands and dense sal forests to swampy marshes, the terrain of the 500 sq km Dudhwa National Park is as diverse as the wildlife population is harbors. While the northern edge of the Park lies along the Indo-Nepal border, the River Suheli marks the southern boundary. A Tiger Reserve since 1879, Dudhwa became a National Park in 1977 and adopted the Project Tiger in 1988. Although the Tigers at the Park are numerous, sightings are rare due to the thick forest cover of the area. Besides Tigers, there are at least 37 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles and 400 species of avifauna which include Leopards, Hispid Hares, Swamp Deer (Barasingha) and Rhinos.

It was here in 1984 that a major rhinoceros rehabilitation project was started since these forests had been the habitat of the rhinoceros 150 years ago.

Dudhwa’s birds, in particular, are a delight for any avid bird watcher- plenty of painted storks, sarus cranes, owls, barbets, woodpeckers, Swamp Partridge, Great Slaty Woodpecker, minivets and many more, including some rare species like the Bengal florican. Much of the park’s avian fauna is aquatic in nature, and is found around Dudhwa’s lakes- especially Banke Tal.

The major vegetation types in this region are tropical semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, riparian and swamp forest and dry deciduous forest. The dominant tree species are Shorea robusta, Terminalis tomentosa, Adina cordifolia, Terminalia belerica, Eugenia jambolana, Dalbergia sissoo, and Bombax malabaricum. The various types of forests throughout the park are interrupted by wide stretches of mesophyllous grasslands locally called the phantas.

The best time to visit Dudhwa is between November and May. The park remains open to the public from November to June, but by June it’s too hot for comfort.