The Dudhwa National Park and Tiger reserve in located in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. With a diversity of flora and fauna, the Dudhwa National Park is one of the finest examples of the rich eco-systems still surviving in India.
History of Dudhwa National Park
The Dudhwa National Park was once grasslands, which were the habitat of the largest kind of Indian deer- the Barasingha, or the swamp deer. However when their numbers declined, a small area named Sonaripur Sanctuary was set aside in 1958 for the conservation of this rare species of deer. Later, it was upgraded to cover an area of 212 sq km and was renamed the Dudhwa Sanctuary. In 1977, the area was further extended to include over 614 sq km and was declared a national park. Eleven years later, in 1988, when Dudhwa became a part of Project Tiger, the area of the Kishanpur Sanctuary was added to create the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. About 1,800 Barasingha live in the reserve now and their majestic herds are often seen, especially in the grassy wetlands of the Sathania and Kakraha blocks. 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. Five rhinos were relocated from Assam but two of the females died due to the strains of transportation. Four more females from Nepal replaced these in 1985.
Tourist attractions of Dudhwa National Park
The attractions of Dudhwa National Park are undoubtedly the flora and fauna here. Apart from the swamp deer, there are at least 37 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles and 400 species of avifauna. Dudhwa is said to have 101 tigers and four leopards. Hispid hare and elephants are an added attraction. Dudhwa also boasts of the Indian one horned rhinoceros that thrives in the grasslands. The seven rhinos that were brought from Assam and Nepal in 1984-85 to Dudhwa have now increased to thirteen. Besides the marshes of Dudhwa are home to the many local and migratory birds.
At Dudhwa you may spot an amazing array of Owls and Storks. There are the great Indian horned owl, forest eagle owl, brown fish owl, tawny owl, dusky horned owl, scops owl, brown wood owl and the jungle owlet. Among the storks there are the black-necked stork, white-necked stork, black stork, painted stork, white stork, open-billed stork and the adjutant stork. At Dudhwa you cannot miss out on the woodpeckers, orioles, pittas, kingfishers, minivets and sunbirds.
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 various types of forests throughout the park are interrupted by wide stretches of mesophyllous grasslands locally called the phantas.
Excursions from Dudhwa
From Dudhwa National Park you can make an excursion to the unique Frog Temple at Oyal, 10 km from Hurgaon on the route to Lakhimpur-Kheri.Built by the former Maharajahs of the Oyal State and dedicated to Lord Shiva, the base of the stone temple is in the shape of a large frog. Surat Bhawan Palace near the Dudhwa National park is worth visiting. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the palace is set in a large green, nine-acre retreat.
Best time to visit the Dudhwa National Park
Like the rest of north India, Dudhwa also has an extreme type of climate. Summers are hot with the temperature rising up to 40°C. During winters, the temperature hovers between 20°C and 30°C. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm.
All visitors to Dudhwa National Park have to get entry permits from the Director of the Park, whose office is at the district headquarters of Lakhimpur Kheri.
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