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Voykit pocket guide · India
Pilibhit
Skip Pilibhit unless you have a specific reason to visit the tiger reserve or are passing through on the Bareilly–Lucknow route. Half a day is enough for the town itself.
Pilibhit is a small city in Uttar Pradesh, 48 km from Bareilly, known for the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and its green surroundings. The town itself has limited sights, so most travellers use it as a stopover or a wildlife day trip from Bareilly.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (very hot), Jul–Sep (monsoon, tiger reserve may close)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a roadside stall | ₹10–20 |
| Vegetarian thali | ₹100–200 |
| Auto-rickshaw ride within town | ₹50–100 |
| Taxi from Bareilly to Pilibhit | ₹1,500–2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BUP · Bareilly Airport
- About 48 km (30 mi) away; taxis available, about 1 hAbout 30 mi (48 km) away; taxis available, about 1 h
- LKO · Lucknow Airport
- About 250 km (155 mi), 6 h by roadAbout 155 mi (250 km), 6 h by road
Typical fares
- Bareilly → Pilibhit by bus
- about ₹50–100, about 1 h
- Pilibhit → Lucknow by train
- about ₹200–400, about 6 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws cover the town. For the tiger reserve, hire a taxi or take a shared jeep from the bus stand.
See and do
Known for
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
- Green landscape
- Meter-gauge railway
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bareilly | Bus or train, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Pilibhit Tiger Reserve | Taxi or shared jeep from town, about 30 min | About 30 min |
| Lucknow | Train or bus, about 6 h | About 6 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Near the bus stand and railway station; basic hotels and guesthouses.
- Near Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
- Forest rest houses and a few eco-lodges; book ahead.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना?kitna? |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bus stand kahan hai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Tiger reserve safaris need advance booking on the official website.
- Meter-gauge trains from Lucknow are slow (6 h for 250 km); check if broad-gauge alternatives exist.
- Monsoon (Jul–Sep) can flood roads and close the reserve.
Pilibhit is generally safe, but avoid walking alone after dark in isolated areas. Keep valuables out of sight and use registered taxis.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pilibhit yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
- Green landscape
- Meter-gauge railway
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve official site: pilibhittigerreserves.com/
- Wikivoyage: Pilibhit, revision 5332100 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332100
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pilibhit). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.