India, July 3 -- LUCKNOW Escaping the city's hustle and bustle will soon take less than an hour for residents of the state capital. Located just 45 km from Lucknow, the Niyamatpur forest in Barabanki is being rapidly developed into Uttar Pradesh's newest eco-tourism destination. Promising a serene retreat featuring dense forests, soothing bird calls and immersive biodiversity walks, the site is gearing up to welcome visitors during the next eco-tourism season.

Officials said nearly 95% of the Rs.52.50-lakh project has been completed. Developed as a low-impact eco-tourism destination, the project aims to combine recreation with conservation by allowing visitors to experience nature while promoting biodiversity protection and responsible t...