Are you in quest of adventure? Carry your camera and get going to the dream destination of Dudhwa. The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh is home to a large number of rare and endangered species. In fact the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is renowned for its Terai eco-system and the Barasingha or Swamp Deer.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve covers an area of 614 sq km along the Indo-Nepal border on one side and the river Suheli on the other. There are tall coarse grass, swampy depressions and lakes that offer the suitable breeding grounds for the barasingha - the swamp deer. Dudhwa is home to approximately 37 species of mammals, 16 species of reptiles and 400 species of avifauna.

The home of tiger, leopard, swamp deer, hispid hare, Bengal floricans- the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is for sure one of the most important wildlife preserves in India. Besides there is nature at its best with the fantabulous flora and fauna following!

For all you wildlife freaks Dudhwa offers elephants to roam in the reserve. For alternatives there are coaches and jeeps can be hired from the office at Dudhwa. The ride will explore the best opportunities to spot the sloth bear, jackal, wild pig and the lesser cats - the fishing cat, leopard cat, jungle cat and civet.

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.

In terms of vegetation there are the tropical semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forest, riparian and swamp forest and dry deciduous forests. Indeed Dudhwa is an experience in itself!

The nearest airport is at Lucknow that connects Dudhwa with Delhi and Mumbai by regular flights. In terms of rail transport the Dudhwa, Palia and Mailani are suitable. Uttar Pradesh State and private transport buses cater to the transportation by road to Dudhwa. While planning your tour to Dudhwa Tiger Reserve remember that the preserve is open for general public from November To June.

The tiger reserve offers comfortable accommodation options of the forest homes; log huts, dormitory, tents and rest houses at Dudhwa, Sathiana, Bankatti, Sonaripur, and Kila. Thus you may take your pick that suits your budget. Though the environment is clean the facilities are minimum. The stay nevertheless is apt for your wildlife adventure tour. At Dudhwa you should try to maintain the ecological balance of the wildlife and not indulge in any activity that does the opposite.

On your way to the Dudhwa tiger reserve you may plan an excursion to the Frog Temple at Oyal. It is a prime attraction for tourists to the wildlife preserve owing to it’s the shape of base of the stone temple that is built as a large frog. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. The other must visit place is the Surat Bhawan Palace with the lush lawns, fountains and swimming pool it is a refreshing retreat. For doubling the adventure you can combine the visit to Dudhwa tiger reserve with Corbett National Park.

Dudhwa beckons all you nature, animal and bird lovers along with the adventure seekers for whom the experience of the tiger reserve will be ecstatic!