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> Wildlife Sanctuaries in India
> Dudhwa |
| Dudhwa National Park |
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Terrain |
| Dudhwa's terai belt abuts the Nepal border. The
habitat is nurtured by the Sharada river and its tributaries.
The Mohana arm to the north flanks the Park and from there one
can see the Himalayas, a mere 30 km away. The Suheli river forms
the Southern boundary and both eventually flow into the Ganges.
The park covers an area of 498.29 km and the topography is
rather flat, with a small 32-metre drop differentiating the
extreme northern and southeastern corners. An unusual absence
of surface stones and rocks typify the soil structure. The
forest soaks in 1,600 mm of rain annually and because it is
well vegetated, ground water level is high along most of the
forested terai.
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Waterholes and Trails |
| In Dudhwa, the spotlight is understandably on
the swamp deer. The largest numbers of grazing barasingha appear
in the wet grasslands, especially in the Sathiana and Kakraha
regions. Sathiana is the wetter area and each season offers
sights of deer in different phases of their life.
They spend the monsoons in the adjoining crop fields and
swamps, possibly to escape biting flies that swarm over the
grasslands. In the swampy areas of Ghola and Gajrola, the
annual rut begins at the end of October. Wallowing is an intrinsic
part of the breeding ritual and stags with mud-caked bodies
will almost invariably be found near jheels and swamps. During
the rut, the deer tend to roam less so as to establish breeding
herds. At such times, the congregation of buck parties is
most impressive. By the end of January, the swamp deer return
to the park and gather to feed on the new shoots emerging
on recently burnt grasslands (part of the annual management
practice). Adult stags now sport massive branched antlers
and does move about with ever-hungry fawns at their heels,
butting their mothers for access to milk. This is the ideal
time for a tourist to catch a glimpse of the large herds.
When summer returns, the stags begin shedding their antlers
and their long dark winter pelage begins to reveal lightly
spotted chestnut coats. In these months, isolated deer are
the order of the day as the great herds have long dispersed.
Barasingha will visit waterholes at least twice a day in the
hot season, usually at dawn and in the late afternoon. In
no other season is the drinking as regular and frequent. Waterholes
in the southern grasslands offer visitors guaranteed deer
sightings. Basking crocodiles can also be seen on the sandy
banks of the Soheli-Neora river and with luck, swimming otter
and perhaps a rhino wallowing in the mud.
Tigers have most often been spotted by vehicles on the road,
or from a machan. Navalkhand is a good place to chance your
luck with both the tiger and the Bengal Florican as Dudhwa
has virtually no buffer area at all.
Banke Tal is another popular haunt. Egrets, cormorants, herons
and several species of waterfowl, including mallards, geese
and teal can be spotted here.
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Vegetation |
| Dudhwa brims over with fresh plant life --grasslands,
thick forests, marshes and wetlands. In the rains, seasonal
floods are a common feature. The North Kheri Forest Division,
in which the park is located comprises moist deciduous forests
and possibly has the finest sal wood in India. The grasslands
lying south of the sal woods reach their zenith after the rains.
The tall and coarse grasses are often difficult even for elephants
to negotiate. The region is characterised by dense thickets
as well as swampy depressions. Moisture-loving Jamun trees flourish
along the rivers and streams. Large strands of Imperata cylindrical
and sisam trees abound. Commercially valued timber species include
semal, khair, sirsa, haldu and tun. Protecting such trees from
timber poachers is a full time job for the park authorities.
Agricultural crop fields, mainly sugarcane, encircle the
forest. Teak, sisam and eucalyptus, all aliens to this region,
were planted for commercial gains. The floral scene is highlighted
by the silvery munj and the dry red retwa petals that give
way to the golden blossoms of narkul or cotton-like kans,
near the waterbodies. Dew-laden flowers add to the freshness
of early morning outings.
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Take a Break |
The drive from Dudhwa to Sathiana is a splendid
excursion: the avenue lined with stunning sal and huge, intricate
termite mounds. The unique Frog Temple, constructed by the former
Maharajas of the Oyal State, must be visited. The temple, dedicated
to Lord Shiva, is unique, built in the shape of a large frog
at the base! It lies in Oyal village, 10 km from Hargaon, en
route to Lakhimpur-Kheri and Dudhwa.
On the Lakhimpur-Nighasan-Dudhwa route lies the Surat Bhawan
Palace, which is located in a nine-acre green expanse. It was
built in the exquisite Indo-Saracenic architectural style by
the Singhai rulers. It is one of the most famous palaces in
this region teeming with lavish lawns, fountains and a swimming
pool. The Palace can be visited with permission from the Manager.
You can combine a visit to Dudhwa with Corbett National Park.
The Kishanpur Sanctuary (area: 200 sq km) located about 30 km
from Dudhwa, also forms part of the protected reserve.
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Contacts |
Uttar Pradesh Tourism,
3, Naval Kishore Road,
Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh.
Tel: 0522-228349, 225165.
Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife),
17, Rana Pratap Marg,
Lucknow - 226001.
Uttar Pradesh.
Tel: 0522-283902
Dy Director, Project Tiger,
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve,
Palia, Distt. Kheri.
Uttar Pradesh.
Tel: 05871-33485.
Field Director, Project Tiger,
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve,
Lakhimpur-Kheri - 262001.
Uttar Pradesh.
Tel: 05872-52106.
NGO
'Billy' Arjan Singh,
Tigerhaven Wildlife Trust,
POB Palia, Box 8,
District Kheri - 262 902.
Uttar Pradesh.
India
Irfan Husain, Field Director,
Tiger Trust Society,
14, Civil Lines,
Faizabad - 224 001.
Uttar Pradesh.
Tel: 05278-23872. |
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