Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Located in the lowland region of Terai in Uttar Pradesh, bordering India and Nepal, the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is a protected area covering an area of approximately 1,230 square kilometres. The Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is made up of the Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary. As the name indicates the reserve is a haven for tigers, but it is also home to leopards, Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, swamp deer, rhinoceros, elephants, cheetals, hog deer, barking deer, sambars, wild boar and over 450 species of birdlife. Aside from the incredible wildlife and flora and fauna, you can visit the villages of the Tharu tribe and gain insight into their ancient customs and traditions.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is famous for conservationist Billy Arjan Singh’s successful reintroduction of zoo-born tigers and leopards into the wilds of Dudhwa, and the reintroduction of Indian Rhinoceros from Assam and Nepal in the mid-1980s. The park is also a stronghold of the barasingha (12-horned deer), also called swamp deer, and roughly half of the world's population of barasinghas are found in the park. It is also one of the few parks in India inhabited by five types of deer; other than the barasinghas, there are sambar deer, barking deer, spotted deer and hog deer.

Combine the thrill of a rewarding safari in a less-explored national park with a relaxing stay at the The Ultimate Travelling Camp's fourth property, Jaagir Lodge, which has set up in a lovely 1940’s lodge in Dudhwa Tiger Rerserve. Begin with a tour of Billy Arjan Singh's conservation initiatives at Tiger Haven, track the one-horned rhino from the back of an elephant at Dudhwa National Park, explore the swamps of Katarniaghat Sanctuary and spot the Indian crocodile and the highly endangered barasingha. You can see Dudhwa National Park at its best between November and June.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson