Experience the Magic of Terai

From your comfortable base at Camp Tigerlily, you can explore these magical forests through guided jeep safaris, nature walks, and bird watching excursions. Our knowledgeable guides will help you appreciate not just the obvious charismatic species but also the intricate ecological relationships and stunning beauty that make Dudhwa such a special place.

Join us in experiencing one of India's most authentic wildlife destinations and perhaps its most beautiful forest landscape—where ancient trees whisper secrets, mist hangs like gossamer veils over dew-kissed grasslands, and nature still holds dominion in all its enchanting glory. Here, wild encounters happen on the forest's terms, creating memories that will stay with you long after you've returned home.

Introduction

Located on the Indo-Nepal border in the district Lakhimpur-Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, Dudhwa National Park, together with Kishanpur and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuaries, represent the best natural forests and grasslands left in the Terai region of India.

Dudhwa offers visitors an authentic wildlife experience far from the beaten path of more commercialized parks. These magical forests are arguably among the most beautiful in all of India—a hidden paradise where time seems to stand still and nature reveals itself in its most enchanting form.

History & Conservation

The thick jungles of the Terai were long uninhabitable for humans, with the exception of the indigenous Tharu people, whose genetic resistance to malaria allowed them to survive in its unforgiving environment. As a result, the jungle remained untouched by human development until malaria was largely brought under control during the 1950s. Partly as a result of this, the jungles of the Terai have remained an enclave for some of the world’s rarest and most iconic species of wildlife, including perhaps the most charismatic of all: the Bengal tiger, and the highly endangered Greater One-Horned Rhino (Indian Rhino) and the critically endangered Bengal florican, to name a few.

Dudhwa owes much of its preservation to the tireless efforts of conservationist Billy Arjan Singh. His dedication to protecting the area's rich biodiversity, particularly its tiger population, was instrumental in securing the park's protected status.

In 1997, Dudhwa was integrated with Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary to form the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve—an expanded conservation area of immense ecological significance covering approximately 1,284 square kilometers

Zones

Dudhwa Range

The original and central section of the reserve features magnificent sal forests interspersed with extensive grasslands and wetlands. This zone is renowned for its tiger, rhinoceros, and swamp deer populations and offers the most developed visitor infrastructure.

Sathiana Range

Located in the southwestern part of Dudhwa National Park, Sathiana is known for its rich biodiversity and excellent wildlife sighting opportunities. This range features beautiful grasslands and dense sal forests with a healthy population of tigers, leopards, and various deer species. Sathiana's watchtowers offer some of the most spectacular views across the grasslands, making it a prime spot for wildlife photography.

Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary

Located about 30 kilometers from the Dudhwa area, Kishanpur is characterized by its beautiful grasslands and rich wildlife, including a significant tiger population, and a large water body which is a focal point for barasinghas and migratory birds. Its relatively compact size (203 sq km) makes it excellent for wildlife sightings and is most popular with wildlife photographers.

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary

Situated along the Nepal border and divided by the Girwa River, Katarniaghat is distinguished by its lush riverine ecosystem. It's one of the few places where the endangered Gangetic dolphin can be spotted, along with gharials and numerous migratory birds while on a river sarari.

Buffer Zones

Surrounding the core areas are buffer zones that help maintain ecological balance while allowing for controlled human activities. These areas serve as vital corridors for wildlife movement between protected regions and are also open during monsoons when the rest of the park is shut to visitors.

Ecological Significance

Dudhwa National Park represents one of the last intact representations of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands that once extended along the Himalayan foothills. Its ecological importance stems from:

Biodiversity Hotspot: The unique combination of wet and dry habitats creates niches for numerous specialized species
Watershed Protection: The park's forests and wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining water quality and preventing floods
Carbon Sequestration: The dense forests serve as significant carbon sinks
Research Value: As one of the last representatives of the Terai ecosystem, Dudhwa provides invaluable scientific research opportunities
Cross-Border Conservation: Its location adjacent to Nepal's protected areas creates a larger transboundary conservation landscape

Remarkable Biodiversity

Dudhwa's diverse habitats support an equally diverse range of vegetation, creating what many consider to be among the most breathtakingly beautiful forests in India. The vegetation is of the North Indian Moist Deciduous type, containing some of the finest examples of Sal forests (Shorea robusta) in India, as well the most extensive tracts of moist grasslands that remain in this region.:

Towering sal forests dominate the landscape, with trees reaching heights of 30 meters, their canopies creating ethereal light patterns on the forest floor
Extensive grasslands featuring varieties like imperata cylindrica and saccharum that shimmer like golden oceans in the morning light
Marshy wetlands with aquatic vegetation supporting numerous bird species, creating mystical misty landscapes at dawn
Riverine forests with jamun, sheesham, and khair trees forming enchanting corridors along waterways
Over 450 plant species have been documented within the reserve, each contributing to the magical tapestry of this extraordinary ecosystem

WildLife

The fauna includes, apart from sizable populations of Tiger (Panthera tigris) and Leopard, a viable population of a nominate sub-species of the Swamp deer or Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli duvauceli), a growing population of Indian One-horned Rhinoceros successfully reintroduced in 1984, and certain critically endangered species like the Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) the Hispid Hare (Caprolagus hispidus), adding to the marvel of Dudhwa.

Of the nearly 1300 birds found in the Indian subcontinent, over 450 species can be seen in the Reserve. During winter the vast and varied water bodies attract a large variety and number of migratory birds making the reserve a favourite haunt of bird watchers.

Mammals:

Bengal tigers (approximately 130-160 in the reserve)
Indian one-horned rhinoceros
Swamp deer (barasingha) - Dudhwa hosts one of the world's largest populations
Asiatic elephants
Leopards, sloth bears, and different deer species
Small Indian civet, fishing cats, and jungle cats

Birds:

Over 450 bird species recorded
Bengal florican, an endangered grassland specialist
Great hornbill, black-necked stork, and sarus crane
Substantial populations of waterfowl and migratory birds
Paradise flycatcher, woodpeckers, and numerous raptors

Reptiles:

Mugger and gharial crocodiles
Indian python, king cobra, and various other snake species
Monitor lizards and freshwater turtles