Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary

The Katarniya Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Upper Gangetic plain falling in the Terai of Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Katarniya Ghat Forest provides strategic connectivity between tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and Nepal. The sanctuary has a mosaic of Sal and Teak forests, lush grasslands, numerous swamps and wetlands. It is home to a number of endangered species including gharial, tiger, rhino, Gangetic dolphin, Swamp deer, Hispid hare, Bengal florican, the White-backed and Long-billed vultures.

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is part of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Lakhimpur Kheri. The total area of Katarniya Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary is 400.09 sq. km. which is a part of the core area of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. There is a buffer area of 150.03 sq. km. contiguous to the sanctuary mostly in Motipur and Kakrha ranges of the division. The forest area of the Sanctuary has its characteristic complex of sal forests tall grasslands and riparion ecosystem of Girwa and Kaudiyala streams of Ghaghra river. The Sanctuary having mosaic of diverse habitats is very rich in biodiversity and is have various endangered species of mammal, plants and avifauna

Climate

The whole of the area is subject to the climatic variations typical of the plains of Northern India with their extremes of heat and cold. The winter nights are very cold and foggy and heavy dews fall regularly, with the result that the vegetation remains damp for most of the day. The days at this time of the year are cool and bright. Forests occur generally in January. The nights remain cool and the dew falls until late in the spring, the hot weather commencing in April and lasting and lasting until the rains break towards the end of June. Heavy monsoon rains fall from then onwards until October and give, with the winter rains, and average annual fall of about 1300 mm. The prevailing winds are from the east, but during the hot weather there are often strong west winds, and mild hurricanes from the north and west accompanied by showers.

Fauna

Mammals - Panthera pardus (Guldar), Panthera tigris ( Tiger), Felis viverrina (Fishing cat), Macaca mulatta (Monkey), Presbytis entellus (Langur), Heprpestes edwardsi (Mongoose), Herpestes auropunctatus ( small Indian Mangoose), Viverricula indica ( small Indian civet), Canis aureus (Jackal), Mellivora capensis (Honey Badger), Lutra perspicillata ( smooth Indian Otter), Boselaphus tragocamelus ( Blue bull), Axis axis ( Spotted Dear), Axis porcinus (Hog Dear), Muntiacus muntjak ( Barking Dear), Cervus duvaceli (Swamp Dear), Cervus unicolor ( Sambar), Sus scrofa ( Wild Boar), Rhinoceros unicornis (Great Indian Rhino), Elephas Maximus (Asian Elephant), Lepus nigricollis (Hare).

Birds- Podiceps ruficollis (Dabchick), Pelicnus philipensis (spot-billed pelican), Phalacrocorax carbo ( Large Cormorant), Phalacrocorax niger (Lillte cormorant), Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron), Ciconia ciconia (White Stork), Ciconia nigra ( Black strock), Threskiornis aethiopica (White Ibis), Gyps indicus ( Indian Longbilled Vulture), Pandion haliatus ( Osprey), Gallus gallus ( Red jungle Fowl), Grus antigone (Sarus Crane), Amaurornis phoenicurus ( whit Breasted water hen), Ninox scutulata ( Brown Hawk owl).

Reptiles – Magar, Ghariyal, Python, Sandboa, Banded crate , Rusel viper , Rat snake and all kinds of Fishes.

Flora

Katarniya Ghat Wildlife Division Bahraich has been declared Sanctuary in the year 1976 and was also included in Project Tiger in the year 2003. In the flora, it is dominantly Sal Forest with its associate's tree species like Terminalia alata (Asna), Lagerstroemia parviflora (Asidha), Adina cordifolia (Haldu), Mitragyna parviflora (Haldu), Gamelina Arborea (Gamhar), Holoptelea integrifolia (Kanju), Acacia catechu ( Khair), Pterocarpus marsupium (Vija sal), Kydia calycina (Poola), Lannea coromandelica ( Jhingan), Toona ciliata ( Toona). Shrubs like- Murraya koenigii (Kadi neem), Grewia hirsuta (Van Tulsi), Mallotus philippensis (Rohini). Grass-like – Phragmites karka(Nakul), Cynodon dactylon (Doob), Vetiveria zizanioides (Khus Khus), Erianthus munja (Munja), etc.

Area Geographic

The total area of Katarniya Ghat wildlife division is 551.02 sq. km.

Visitor Facilities

The tourist campuses at Motipur and Kakraha are jungle theme locations offering a treat of nature and thrill to adventurous tourists visiting the place. There are a total of four cottages available at each place for now, and all cottages promise a magnificent view of the sal forest making the traveler's visit a memorable one. In order to preserve the sanctity of the jungle environment and to maintain the delicate balance of the forest ecosystem, we do not have televisions in the rooms and we cannot guarantee the mobile phone or internet connectivity at the resort. We request our guests to respect the jungle environment.

Safe & Secure Campus

The visitors are housed in newly built air conditioned ‘Tharu huts’ located at Motipur and Kakraha campuses in the sanctuary. The campuses are properly walled and provide complete safety to the visitors.

Food & Canteen

Canteens are located at Motipur and Kakraha campuses, where food is served on fixed menu basis at specified timings. The visitors are requested to place their orders for dining after arrival with the canteen manager/reception. Charges for breakfast are included in room tariff, while other meals are chargeable extra.

Nature Guide Facilities for Interpretation

Trained nature guide are available at both Motipur & Kakraha campuses for the purpose of guiding tourists and interpretation of the sanctuary while on visit inside. These guides have been registered with the UP Forest Department and are helpful in spotting wildlife during the trip. As per the regulations for the visitors, taking one such guide per vehicle is mandatory for all tourists.

Boating/Jungle Safari

The tourists can also enjoy boating in Giriwa river and jungle safari facilities, during the visit. Our safari takes you through the sanctuary in an open 4x4 gypsy, with some of the most knowledgeable guides at the wheel. Keep your eyes peeled for pugmarks, and mobile phones off. There's plenty to see: Gharials, crocodiles, herds of spotted deer, peacocks in frenzy, paradise flycatchers, and crested serpent eagles. Pray hard enough and you may just earn an audience with the reigning big cats in this area.

Cottage for Evening Movie Shows and Other Events

The campus houses a grand cottage for evening film shows and other events, e.g. meetings, birthday celebrations etc. The cottage is provided to the guests free of cost.

Cultural Aspect

In vicinity of this sanctuary there are Tharu villages . Tharu are tribal people residing here from ages. They have the own culture and living methods which may be point of attraction for visitors.

Ideal time to visit

15th November to 15th June.

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