![]() Geography of Surat Bhawan Palace Constructed by the monarchs of Singhai, Surat Bhawan Palace is located on the Terai region, near the Nepal border, and is spread over an area of 9 acres. The palace contains fountains, lush green lawns, pool etc. Surat Bhawan Palace is almost 8 km away from the popular Dudhwa National Park. Under ideal conditions, the Himalayan range is visible from the roof of the palace. Architecture of Surat Bhawan Palace Surat Bhawan Palace, built in 1894, contains numerous bedrooms, dining room, and a lounge area on both the floors. Moreover, servant quarters are also present at the rear end. It was constructed over an area of 36,000 sq. ft. There are 2 floors in the palace, containing 10 Bedrooms, a Dining Hall with Pantry, and 2 lounge areas. It is located near the Frog temple at Oyal and the Tharu Tribe and their settlements, which are also heritage sites. The nearby Dudhwa National Park, served as a hunting ground for the Maharajas of Singhai. During the 1930s, a study was conducted by the National Geographic Society, on the wildlife of the region. The team of researchers had resided in the palace. Currently, Surat Bhavan Palace is not in good condition and in urgent need of repair and renovation as the palace has not been maintained properly since 1975. Under the tourism development scheme, recently launched by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, the area will be covered in the map of popular tourist destinations. There is an airstrip 22 km from Surat Bhavan Palace, in Palia, which is being developed to promote tourism. The area is also being promoted as a leading destination for adventure tourism. The weather is generally pleasant throughout the year. Surat Bhavan Palace is presently co-owned by Raja Akshay Shah and Rani Bibha Singh. There are plans for converting the place in to heritage hotel in the near future. There is also a possibility that it might be developed into a biological research centre. The area is a perfect place for adventure tourism. Fishing and trekking are the pleasures one can enjoy apart from the thrills of flora and fauna of Dudhwa National Park. |