LUCKNOW, Dec. 27 -- The Lucknow-Dudhwa AC bus service has been extended to Gauriphanta, as better road connectivity and reliable public transport gradually transform eco-tourism in Uttar Pradesh's Terai region, said officials on Friday.

Earlier, the service operated only till Dudhwa National Park and largely served wildlife tourists. With the route now running through Dudhwa and Katarniaghat to Gauriphanta, the state aims to link the entire Terai forest belt into a single, well-connected tourism circuit.

The decision was motivated as much by connectivity gaps as by tourism demand, said officials. Previously, many visitors relied on private vehicles or irregular local transport to reach forest-edge destinations. The extended bus route no...