Good Time
Dudhwa National Park in January
Uttar Pradesh, India
January is Dudhwa's wildlife peak. At 150 metres in the Terai belt of UP, temperatures range 5-22°C, the grasslands are dry and golden, and the animals concentrate around shrinking water sources. This is when tigers, rhinos, and swamp deer become visible because the vegetation has thinned to reveal them.
The January story
Dudhwa is the only national park in India where you can see both tigers and Indian one-horned rhinoceros (reintroduced from Assam in 1984). January's dry grasslands force wildlife to water, making jeep safaris (₹2,500-4,000 per vehicle) genuinely productive. The Sathiana and Suheli ranges offer the best tiger sighting probability. The rhino enclosure at Dudhwa South (Kishanpur) almost guarantees sighting — these are wild rhinos in a protected habitat, not a zoo. Birdlife is extraordinary: over 450 species recorded, with winter migrants including Bengal florican and swamp francolin. Forest rest houses inside the park charge ₹1,000-3,000/night. Book through UP Forest Department — it is bureaucratic but worth it.
Why January scores 4/5
Weather
Cool 8-22°C. Good tiger and rhino sighting odds as grasslands thinning. Elephant safaris operational. Morning fog burns off by 9am. Book jeep safaris ahead.
Roads & Access
self drive: Easy to park gate. No private vehicles inside.. road condition: State roads fair. Last stretch through sugarcane fields.. public transport: Dudhwa railway station inside park. Buses from Lucknow to Palia. Lucknow airport 240km.. from nearest city: Lucknow→Dudhwa: 240km 6hrs. Palia Kalan→Dudhwa: 10km.. last km difficulty: easy
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 4/5. rescue: Forest dept, SDRF UP. helpline: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve: 05872-252106. ambulance: 108 (slow). police station: Forest ranger office. nearest hospital: CHC Palia Kalan 10km. District Hospital Lakhimpur 90km.
Network
VI: No, JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. Weak signal in park. Jio patchy. BSNL at ranger stations.
Kids
Kid-friendly (4/5) — Rhino sighting is extraordinary, Elephant safari gentler than jeep for young kids, Less crowded than Corbett — personal experience
Elevation
150m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓Serious wildlife enthusiasts — tiger + rhino in one park is rare
- ✓Birdwatchers — 450+ species, winter migrants peak now
- ✓Photography safaris wanting dry-season visibility
Who should think twice
- ✗Casual tourists expecting Ranthambore-level infrastructure
- ✗Visitors uncomfortable with basic forest rest house accommodation
- ✗Anyone expecting guaranteed tiger sighting — probability, not certainty
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 4/5 | Cool 8-22°C. Good tiger and rhino sighting odds as grasslands thinning. Elephant safaris operational. Morning fog burns off by 9am. Book jeep safaris ahead. |
| February | 5/5 | Best month, 10-25°C. Driest conditions — animals concentrate at waterholes. Swamp deer, tigers, rhinos most visible now. All zones open. Peak safari season. |
| March | 5/5 | Warm 15-32°C. Grasslands at thinnest — excellent wildlife visibility. Tigers easier to spot. Afternoons getting hot but morning safaris superb. |
| April | 4/5 | Hot 22-38°C. Animals crowd remaining water sources — good sighting odds. Safari jeeps hot by 10am. Dawn drives essential. Park closing mid-June. |
| May | 2/5 | Very hot 28-42°C. Terai heat brutal on open jeep safaris. Animals stressed. Park may close early if conditions deteriorate. Last chance before monsoon. |
| June | 0/5 | Park closed for monsoon season. Gates locked mid-June. Rivers flood grasslands. No access permitted. Staff conducting wildlife census. |
| July | 0/5 | Park closed. Peak monsoon floods vast grassland areas. Sharda and Suheli rivers in spate. Essential breeding and recovery period for wildlife. |
| August | 0/5 | Park closed. Monsoon continues. Entire Terai belt waterlogged. Roads inside park washed out. No infrastructure operational. |
| September | 0/5 | Park closed until mid-October. Post-monsoon recovery — trails being repaired. Grasslands at maximum height (6+ feet). No visitor access. |
| October | 3/5 | Park reopens mid-Oct, 18-30°C. Fresh season, lush grasslands. Wildlife harder to spot in tall grass but landscape beautiful. Limited zones initially. |
| November | 5/5 | All zones open, 12-28°C. Grasslands starting to thin. Swamp deer herds visible. Tiger sighting odds improving weekly. Excellent birdwatching. Book ahead. |
| December | 4/5 | Cool 7-22°C. Good wildlife sightings as vegetation thins. Morning fog adds atmosphere but limits visibility early. Rhino zone excellent now. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Lucknow→Dudhwa: 240km 6hrs. Palia Kalan→Dudhwa: 10km.. Roads: State roads fair. Last stretch through sugarcane fields.. Self-drive: Easy to park gate. No private vehicles inside.. Public transport: Dudhwa railway station inside park. Buses from Lucknow to Palia. Lucknow airport 240km.. Last stretch: easy
Elevation
150m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
budget
Permits required
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Nearby in Uttar Pradesh scoring high in January
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