Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Bihar's only tiger reserve, in the forest along the Nepal border
What it is
Nearly nine hundred square kilometres of sal forest and grassland in West Champaran, against the Himalayan foothills and the Nepal border. Tigers, leopards, sloth bear, gaur and a great many birds. Safaris run from Valmiki Nagar.
Why it matters
Bihar is not thought of as a wildlife state and this is the reason it should be. It is also on the same road as the Gandhi circuit, so a Champaran trip can be two days of history and one of forest.
How it works
- Stay at Valmiki Nagar. Safaris leave at first light and again in the afternoon.
- Permits and a forest guide are compulsory and are arranged ahead.
- The reserve closes in the monsoon, as most do.
- Who it is for
- Anybody. Early starts.
- Not for
- Anybody expecting a guaranteed tiger. This is a real forest.
- Best season
- Nov - Mar
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Entry, vehicle and guide, set by the forest department.
- When
- Open roughly October to June. Closed in the monsoon.
- Booking
- Permits ahead. Tirtham arranges them with the stay.
- Book ahead
- Two weeks
- Languages
- Hindi, English
Rules
- No getting out of the vehicle
- No plastic carried in
- Silence in the forest
What to bring
- Layers — mornings are cold
- Binoculars
- Muted clothing
Where
- Bettiah Catholic Church: Catholics come for worship at north India's oldest Catholic foundation; notably, hundreds of...
- Lauria Nandangarh: It is the best-preserved standing Ashokan pillar with its capital intact, visited on the Buddhist...
- Ashokan Pillar, Lauriya Areraj: It is one of the surviving inscribed Ashokan pillars, visited on the Buddhist circuit and in...
- Rampurva Ashokan Pillars: Visited on the Buddhist and Mauryan heritage circuit of Champaran; note that both capitals have been...
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