Lucknow: Nature-based tourism in and around Dudhwa National Park is set to receive a significant boost with the extension of the special AC 2×2 bus service operated by UPSRTC from Lucknow’s Kaisarbagh Bus Station to Gauriphanta, located near the Indo-Nepal international border. Earlier, the service was limited only up to Dudhwa and primarily catered to wildlife and nature enthusiasts.
The extension comes at a time when Dudhwa National Park is witnessing a surge in tourist interest, especially due to the recent birth of a one-horned rhinoceros calf, which has become a major attraction for visitors of all age groups. During the winter season, Dudhwa remains a preferred destination for tourists keen to spot tigers, one-horned rhinos, elephants, deer, swamp deer (barasingha) and leopards.
Under the revised schedule, the bus will depart from Kaisarbagh at 8:00 am and reach Gauriphanta at 2:00 pm. On the return journey, it will leave Gauriphanta at 2:30 pm, reach Dudhwa at 3:00 pm, depart from Dudhwa at 3:30 pm and arrive back at Kaisarbagh at 9:00 pm. The fare has been fixed at ₹487 from Lucknow to Dudhwa and ₹536 from Lucknow to Gauriphanta. The new arrangement is expected to greatly benefit nature lovers visiting Dudhwa, Katarniaghat and Gauriphanta forest regions.
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that the initiative is the result of a coordinated vision of the Uttar Pradesh Eco-Tourism Development Board and the Forest Department. “The entire Terai region comprising Dudhwa, Katarniaghat and Gauriphanta is rich in biodiversity. With this bus service extension, tourists will now be able to explore not only the forests and wetlands of Dudhwa but also Gauriphanta, located about 20 km ahead, along with its surrounding natural landscapes. This will be extremely useful for nature lovers, researchers and students,” he said.
Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, H. Rajamohan, said that Dudhwa National Park attracts a large number of tourists during winter, especially as rhino calves have become a major draw. The reserve’s dense sal forests, grasslands and marshy zones place it among India’s richest natural habitats. Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, an integral part of the Dudhwa Reserve, is known for its unique ecology, rivers, wetlands and diverse wildlife, including elephants, tigers, leopards and rare bird species.
He also informed that recently, during a three-day operation, forest department teams and experts successfully tranquilised and removed radio collars from a male rhino, Nakul, and a female rhino, Deepika, allowing them to roam freely in the wild after positive monitoring results. The collar of another female rhino, Vijayashree, will be removed later depending on weather and field conditions.
With improved connectivity, tourists visiting Dudhwa will now be able to easily travel onward to Gauriphanta, an emerging hotspot for nature lovers and bird watchers. The forest department believes that the extended bus service will encourage exploration of forests, wetlands and rare species in border areas, further strengthening eco-tourism in the region.
