Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Valmiki Tiger Reserve is Bihar's only tiger reserve, located in Valmikinagar in West Champaran district along the India-Nepal border adjoining Chitwan National Park. Spread over about 899 sq km along the Gandak River, it comprises Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary. Notable for its dense sal forests, grasslands, tigers, leopards, rhinos and diverse birdlife, it is a key ecotourism destination in Bihar.

Visitors can expect dense sal and mixed forests, open grasslands and riverine landscape along the Gandak River on the Indo-Nepal border. The reserve offers guided jeep safaris through core and buffer zones for wildlife viewing including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, deer, wild boar and over 250 bird species. Facilities include watchtowers, interpretation centre, forest rest houses and boating near Gandak Barrage. Tharu tribal villages and Valmiki Ashram add cultural interest to the natural setting.

Notified as Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978 and Valmiki National Park in 1989-90, it was declared Valmiki Tiger Reserve in 1994 under Project Tiger. It is the 18th tiger reserve in India and the only one in Bihar, forming a contiguous tiger landscape with Nepal's Chitwan National Park. The area is traditionally associated with sage Valmiki who is believed to have written the Ramayana here.

The reserve is culturally significant for the indigenous Tharu tribe who inhabit villages in and around the forest and maintain distinct traditions, crafts and cuisine. The nearby Valmiki Ashram on the banks of the Gandak is revered as the hermitage of sage Valmiki and associated with Sita and Luv-Kush, attracting pilgrims and cultural visitors.