Overview: The Terai Success Story of Project Tiger
Stretching along the international border between India and Nepal in Pilibhit district of northern Uttar Pradesh, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve encompasses 730.24 square kilometers of towering alluvial Sal forest, expansive riverine grasslands (*Chaurs*), and the deep reservoirs of the **Sharda River** and **Mala River**.
Initially notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 2008 and formally declared India's 45th Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in June 2014, Pilibhit earned international acclaim in 2020 by winning the inaugural **TX2 Global Award** (conferred by WWF, UNDP, and the Global Tiger Forum) for doubling its wild tiger population from 25 individuals in 2014 to over 65 tigers in 2018 — accomplishing the 10-year global target in just four years.
The reserve serves as a vital trans-boundary ecological corridor within the **Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)**, connecting Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Dudhwa National Park with Nepal's **Shuklaphanta National Park**. Beyond its thriving tiger population, Pilibhit shelters **Indian Leopards**, **Swamp Deer (Barasingha)**, **Hispid Hares**, **Fishing Cats**, **Sloth Bears**, and the critically endangered **Bengal Florican**.
Terai Sal Forest Ecology & Chuka Eco-Beach
Pilibhit's habitats transition seamlessly across river valleys and upland Sal groves:
Ecosystem Stratification of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
| Forest Complex |
Geomorphology & Hydrology |
Dominant Flora |
Flagship Wildlife Guilds |
| Moist High-Alluvium Sal Canopy |
Flat, fertile Gangetic alluvium with high soil moisture. |
Sal (Shorea robusta), Asan, Bahera, Rohini, Kusum. |
Breeding territory for Tigers, Leopards, Sambar, Barking Deer. |
| Sharda Sagar Reservoir & Chuka Beach |
Broad, pristine 22 km freshwater impoundment with sandy shores. |
Riparian grasses, submerged aquatic weeds, water hyacinth. |
Mugger Crocodiles, Smooth-coated Otters, Osprey, wintering diving ducks. |
| Tall Riverine Grasslands (Chaurs) |
Seasonally flooded alluvial flats along the Mala and Sharda rivers. |
Elephant grass (Typha), Kans (Saccharum), Vetiver. |
Swamp Deer herds, Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Bengal Floricans, Hispid Hares. |
| Mala River Swamp Corridor |
Slow-moving, spring-fed marsh stream cutting through deep Sal forest. |
Jamun, Cane brakes (Calamus), Arjun, water ferns. |
Fishing Cats, Asian Elephants, Pythons, Lesser Adjutant Storks. |
A unique tourism highlight is **Chuka Beach**, a serene eco-tourism complex nestled on the sandy shores of the massive Sharda Sagar reservoir, featuring wooden treehouses and thatched bamboo huts overlooking the placid lake waters.
Faunal Diversity & TX2 Tigers
Pilibhit is renowned for its dense tiger prey base and thriving predator populations:
Royal Bengal Tiger
Panthera tigris tigris • Apex Predator
Over 65 wild tigers roam the high Sal woods and tall grasslands, frequently spotted along fire lines and river waterholes.
Swamp Deer (Barasingha)
Rucervus duvaucelii • Terai Flagship
Splendid 12-tined stags browse the marshy grassland clearings along the Mala River and Sharda floodplains.
Bengal Florican
Houbaropsis bengalensis • Critically Endangered
Rare grassland bustard performing spectacular vertical jumping courtship displays over tall Terai grasses in spring.
Indian Leopard
Panthera pardus • Co-Predator
Skilled hunter sharing the dense Sal forest canopy, stalking cheetals and monkeys in quieter forest ranges.
Smooth-coated Otter
Lutrogale perspicillata • River Carnivore
Playful packs forage in the clean waters of the Sharda reservoir and Mala stream, diving for freshwater fish.
Hispid Hare
Caprolagus hispidus • Endangered Lagomorph
Secretive nocturnal hare dependent on unburnt tall thatch grasslands for food and predator shelter.
Over **326 bird species** have been documented in Pilibhit, including the **Great Slaty Woodpecker**, **Pallas's Fish Eagle**, **White-eyed Buzzard**, **Lesser Adjutant Stork**, **Black-necked Stork**, and **Sarus Crane**.
The TX2 Global Award & Community Coexistence
Pilibhit's rapid tiger recovery is regarded as a global benchmark in wildlife management. The transformation was achieved through intensive solar-powered wireless patrol systems (M-STrIPES), 24x7 all-terrain vehicle monitoring, extensive camera-trapping grids, and strict voluntary anti-snaring sweeps conducted alongside local village youths (*Bagh Mitras*).
Because Pilibhit features an elongated linear geometry with over 250 agricultural villages bordering the forest perimeter, the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department pioneered the innovative **Bagh Mitra Program**, training over 500 local farmers as first responders to track tiger movements near sugarcane fields and resolve human-wildlife encounters peacefully without retaliatory harm.
Eco-development committees across the buffer zone receive a substantial percentage of safari ticketing revenues, supporting solar fencing installations around farmland and funding community water wells.
Safari Planning, Chuka Beach & Practical Details
Pilibhit offers an extraordinary, peaceful safari journey:
Safari Planning & Practical Details
- Open Tourism Season: November 15 to June 15 annually. Winter (November–February) offers crisp morning mists and great birding; summer (March–May) yields premier tiger sightings around waterholes.
- Safari Shifts: Morning (06:30 AM – 10:00 AM) and Afternoon (02:00 PM – 05:30 PM).
- Safari Ranges & Gates: Mahof Gate (Main Entry), Mustafabad Gate, Neoria Gate, and Chuka Eco-Tourism Gate.
- Chuka Beach Resort: Managed by UP Forest Corporation; offers thatched bamboo treehouse huts overlooking the Sharda Sagar reservoir.
- Accommodation: Forest Rest Houses in Mahof, Barahi, and Chuka; comfortable hotels available in Pilibhit city (35 km) and Bareilly (85 km).
How to Reach Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Conveniently accessed from Bareilly, Lucknow, and New Delhi:
Gateway Transit Routes
- From Pilibhit City (District HQ): Approx. 35 km northeast via Madhotanda road to Mahof / Chuka (approx. 45 minutes by car).
- From Bareilly City: Approx. 85 km northeast via Pilibhit highway (approx. 1.8 hours).
- From New Delhi / NCR: Approx. 320 km east via Moradabad, Bareilly, and Pilibhit (approx. 6 hours).
- From Lucknow (State Capital): Approx. 260 km northwest via Sitapur and Shahjahanpur (approx. 5 hours).
- From Dudhwa National Park: Approx. 110 km west via Mailani and Puranpur (approx. 2.5 hours).
- By Train: Pilibhit Junction (PBE) (~35 km) connects direct express trains to Delhi, Bareilly, Lucknow, and Gorakhpur; Bareilly Junction (BE) (~85 km) connects high-speed Rajdhani and Shatabdi express trains.
- Nearest Airport: Bareilly Airport (BEK) (~75 km) offers daily commercial flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru; Lucknow Airport (LKO) (~275 km).
Explore Pilibhit District — Flute Making Capital, Sharda Sagar & Gauri Shankar
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is the wild crown of northern UP. Visit the world-famous bamboo flute (*Bansuri*) artisans in Pilibhit city, explore the 250-year-old Gauri Shankar Shiva temple, and relax amidst the serene waters of Sharda Sagar Dam.
View Pilibhit District Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pilibhit Tiger Reserve famous for?
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is famous for its 730 sq km Terai Sal forests, winning the international TX2 Award for doubling its wild tiger population to over 65 tigers, and the serene Chuka Beach resort on Sharda Sagar Dam.
Where is Pilibhit Tiger Reserve located?
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is located in Pilibhit district of northern Uttar Pradesh, along the international border with Nepal, approximately 35 km northeast of Pilibhit city and 85 km from Bareilly.
What is the TX2 Award?
The TX2 Award is an international conservation honor presented by WWF and the Global Tiger Forum to tiger reserves that successfully double their wild tiger population within a decade. Pilibhit achieved this feat in just four years.
What is Chuka Beach?
Chuka Beach is an eco-tourism forest retreat located on the shores of the massive Sharda Sagar reservoir inside Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, featuring picturesque treehouses and serene water views.