UP eyes infra upgrade at forest rest houses to push ecotourism | Lucknow News
Lucknow: In the tourism workshop on ‘Viksit Uttar Pradesh @ 2047′ on Thursday, one of the key discussions was centred on the Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad bird sanctuary in Unnao, which has emerged as a major nature destination with more than 12 lakh visitors in the current year. Originally known for its diverse birdlife, the sanctuary is now recognised for its butterfly richness, with close to 80 species documented across its wetlands, grasslands and wooded patches.Experts noted that butterfly movement into the central plains increased over the last few years, supported by studies from Lucknow University and the UP biodiversity board. This shift strengthened the ecological character of regions such as Nawabganj, Pilibhit and Katarniaghat. The ecotourism session in the workshop brought together experts from the UP forest department and representatives from Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Katarniaghat field teams. Participants highlighted the need for improving visitor amenities at forest rest houses and jungle lodges to encourage longer stays. The group also spoke about strengthening the visibility of natural attractions such as the prehistoric cave painting belts of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur and the year-round potential of experiences like the Vistadome Jungle Safari.The Etawah Lion Safari was mentioned as an example of a high-quality wildlife experience that can be positioned more strongly within the state’s ecotourism offerings.Director, tourism (Eco), Pushpa Kumar K shared the department’s approach to strengthening nature tourism under the 2047 vision. He said UP’s ecotourism roadmap for 2047 focuses on building a resilient green network across forests, wetlands and wildlife corridors, supported by standardised eco-infrastructure and trained naturalists. He highlighted UP ecotourism development board’s push for net-zero eco-sites, expanded bamboo cottages, floating restaurants and youth-led nature programmes, adding that these efforts aim to position UP as a national model for responsible and community-linked nature tourism.
