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Uttar Pradesh

Dudhwa National Park

Terai sal forest with swamp deer, rhino and Tharu villages

WildlifeOffbeat

Best time to visit Dudhwa National Park

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to March
  • Shoulder: April and November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to October

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchDecember

Dudhwa National Park season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak: 4 °C dawns in an open gypsy, barasingha herds on the Sathiana grassland and rhino at Salukhapur.

Summer March to May Prime time

April is strong at the waterholes, but May pushes 44 °C in the terai and the park shuts on 15 June for rain.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Closed Jul-Oct: tracks flood, the Suheli and Mohana break their banks and Palia's road links go under.

Autumn October to November Shoulder

Shut until 15 November so October is a write-off; the last fortnight of Nov is crisp, green and quietest.

What Dudhwa National Park is actually like

Forest rest houses at Dudhwa and Sathiana plus Tharu homestays near Palia; expect to share or fund a jeep

Things to do in Dudhwa National Park

The local places worth your time in and around Dudhwa National Park, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Salukhapur Rhino Area

    Wildlife · 15 km out

    Fenced grassland in Sonaripur range holding the reintroduced rhinos; ask at the gate the evening before to add it on

  • Banke Taal

    Lake · 12 km out

    Reedy lake inside the park, good for storks and swamp deer at first light; jeeps stop here, so carry binoculars

  • Sathiana Grassland

    Wildlife · 20 km out

    Open phanta grassland with a forest rest house, the best odds for barasingha; the morning safari turns back here

  • Jhadi Taal

    Wildlife · 40 km out

    Swamp deer lake in Kishanpur sanctuary, part of the same reserve; its own gate and permit, so start before dawn

Getting to Dudhwa National Park

Slow metre-gauge trains to Palia Kalan or Dudhwa, 4 km to the gate; Lucknow 230 km by road, about 6 h

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
155 m
State
Uttar Pradesh
Coordinates
28.5083, 80.6800

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Dudhwa National Park?

December to March is peak season in Dudhwa National Park. April and November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to October. Peak: 4 °C dawns in an open gypsy, barasingha herds on the Sathiana grassland and rhino at Salukhapur.

How many days do you need in Dudhwa National Park?

2 days is the usual stay. Forest rest houses at Dudhwa and Sathiana plus Tharu homestays near Palia; expect to share or fund a jeep.

How do you get to Dudhwa National Park?

Slow metre-gauge trains to Palia Kalan or Dudhwa, 4 km to the gate; Lucknow 230 km by road, about 6 h. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Dudhwa National Park expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Dudhwa National Park?

Salukhapur Rhino Area, Banke Taal, Sathiana Grassland and Jhadi Taal. Fenced grassland in Sonaripur range holding the reintroduced rhinos; ask at the gate the evening before to add it on.

Nearby, and where to go next

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