Pilibhit, Dudhwa tiger reserves reopen for tourists
LUCKNOW : The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) and the Dudhwa National Park, two prominent tiger habitats in Uttar Pradesh, reopened for visitors on Monday after two tourist seasons were cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Located in the Terai region, these reserves are spread across Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts in the north western part of UP bordering Nepal. In PTR, a special rally of safari vehicles was organised from Mustafabad to Chuka as part of the reopening ceremony and children were invited as guests.
“PTR has reopened for tourists. They can now avail almost all of our facilities including safari tours and book their stay at our guests houses. We are hopeful that a large number of tourists will visit the reserve this season. Forest minister of the state, Dara Singh Chauhan, will visit PTR on Tuesday”, said
Naveen Khandelwal, deputy director, PTR.
The two previous tourist seasons in March 2020 and April 2021 were cut short after the spurt in Covid cases across the country. The tourist season from November 15 ends usually around mid-May.
“As per government directives, the Dudhwa National Park has also been reopened for tourists. However, due to heavy water-logging in Sathiyana, tourist activities will not be allowed in the area would till further instructions,” said Sanjay Kumar Pathak, field director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Principal chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Pawan Kumar Sharma inaugurated the tourist season after
prayers.
Pathak and Kumar visited the safari booking area of the reserve and held a meeting with forest officials. “We have made all arrangements for safe and fruitful tour for visitors. We are requesting our visitors to follow Covid-19 protocols and have also made it mandatory for visitors above age of 65 to carry their vaccination certificate with them,” he added.
Besides the national animal, PTR and DNP house leopards, wild boars, cheetah and over 400 species of birds. Several migratory birds also land in the water bodies in the reserves and are the prime attraction for bird watchers.
Details about bookings at PTR and Dudhwa National Park have been uploaded on their respective websites. The same can also be accessed from the website of UP forest department. According to officials, tourists can book their tours on these websites.