Discover India's Wild Heritage
Explore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksExplore the diverse ecosystems and magnificent wildlife across India's national parks
Explore ParksThe Terai Frontier
Uttar Pradesh
Image: Abhishek Shastri / CC BY-SA 2.0Welcome to Dudhwa National Park! Use the resources below to plan your adventure in one of India's most treasured wild spaces.
Safaris, bird watching, nature walks, and more
Safari timings, open seasons, and park schedules
Entry fees, safari charges, and camera fees
How to reach by air, rail, and road
Official booking links, permits, and offline reservation guidance
Nearby stays, forest rest houses, and booking resources
Book Dudhwa forest stays and listed ecotourism packages through Uttar Pradesh Ecotourism where slots are available.
This link opens Booking.com, a third-party site.
Flat terrain makes jeep safaris fairly smooth. Elephant safaris require mounting from platforms. The park gate area is accessible. Forest rest houses are basic with limited accessibility features. The remote location means medical facilities are distant.
Dudhwa National Park, located in the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh along the India-Nepal border, is a sweeping landscape of dense sal forests, vast grasslands, marshes, and river systems. The park is intimately connected to the legendary conservationist 'Billy' Arjan Singh, who dedicated his life to protecting Dudhwa's wildlife and famously hand-raised leopards and tigers. In 1984, Indian rhinoceroses were translocated from Assam and Nepal, and a small breeding population now thrives in the Sonaripur area. Dudhwa's swamp deer (barasingha) population is among the largest in the world.
| Season | Morning Safari | Evening Safari |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Nov - Feb) | 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM | 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
| Summer (Mar - Jun) | 5:30 AM - 9:30 AM | 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
The park has three ranges: Dudhwa, Kishanpur, and Katarniaghat. Dudhwa range has the best infrastructure. Elephant safaris available in the Sonaripur rhino area.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Entry Fee (Indian) | INR 50 per person |
| Entry Fee (Foreigner) | INR 500 per person |
| Jeep Safari | INR 2,500 - 4,000 per trip |
| Elephant Safari (Rhino area) | INR 1,500 per person |
| Guide Fee | INR 300 per trip (mandatory) |
Dudhwa is one of the more affordable parks in India. Elephant safaris in the Sonaripur rhino enclosure are the best way to see the reintroduced rhinoceros population.
Dudhwa National Park, Lakhimpur Kheri District, Uttar Pradesh 262902
28.5981° N, 80.6282° E
Nearest airport is Lucknow (Chaudhary Charan Singh International, 230 km). Taxis and buses available from Lucknow.
Nearest railway station is Dudhwa (inside the park!) or Palia Kalan (10 km from the park gate). Mailani Junction (35 km) has better connectivity.
230 km from Lucknow (5-6 hours). 430 km from Delhi (8-9 hours). State buses to Palia Kalan from Lucknow and other UP cities.
Auto-rickshaws from Palia Kalan to the park gate. Safari vehicles arranged at the park office. Most accommodation provides transfers.
Dense sal forests, tall savanna grasslands (some over 6 meters high), marshlands, and riverine habitats. The Terai ecosystem is one of the most productive in the world. Tropical moist deciduous forests dominate.
Approximately 50-60 tigers, a growing population of reintroduced Indian rhinoceros, one of the world's largest swamp deer populations (2,000+), Asian elephants, hispid hare (extremely rare), fishing cats, gharial crocodiles, and Gangetic dolphins in the rivers.
Dudhwa was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1965, largely due to the efforts of legendary conservationist 'Billy' Arjan Singh, who spent decades protecting the forest and its wildlife from his farm 'Tiger Haven.' The sanctuary became a national park in 1977. In 1984, Indian rhinoceroses were reintroduced from Nepal and Assam into a fenced enclosure at Sonaripur — they are now breeding successfully. The park, along with Kishanpur and Katarniaghat sanctuaries, forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
