Until recently, this 305 square km stretch was a royal hunting domain. It is dominated by Sal trees, along with asna, semal, karma, khair and sissoo sub-species. There are also phanta grasslands. This is a prime habitat for swamp deer and home to wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chittal, hog deer and wild boar. Reptiles include the marsh mugger, monitor lizard, Indian python, cobra, krait and rattle snake. There are also over 300 varieties of birds in the reserve.

Activities include wildlife viewing on elephant back. Accommodation is available at jungle lodges.

Access by road is 8 km from Mahendranagar (which is 695 km from Kathmandu). Alternatively, you can fly from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi and conclude the remaining 51 km by road.

The best time to visit Suklaphanta is between February and March (when temperatures range around 22-25 degrees celcius). Between December and January the climate tends to be cold and foggy, whereas between April and June, the weather is hot (up to 42 degrees celcius).