Valmiki Tiger Reserve:Deputy C.M. inaugurated the ambitious Eco Tourism project and launched jungle safari, elephant safari and bullock-cart safari

Valmiki National Park is located in the West Champaran district of the state of Bihar. The national park is one of the tiger reserves in the country and it is the only place where one can see tigers in the state of Bihar. It was first started in the year 1990. There are ten tigers that are left in the Valmiki National Park and these are being protected by the government. Camera trapping is being used extensively in the park. One can also see the civet dog and the wild dog in the sanctuary.

Some of the other animals that can be spotted in the national park are wolves, deer, sloth bears, and reptiles like pythons, leopards, nilgai, hyenas, jungle cats, Indian bison and rhinoceros. However the main attraction of the park is the Bengal tiger and most visitors travel to the place to catch a glimpse of this elusive and endangered animal. Forest safaris are the best way to see the place and these can be arranged through the forest department. There are several villages that are located along the periphery of the park as well.

The flora of the park includes deciduous forests, alluvial grasslands, swamp forests and Sal forests. 

State: Bihar
District: West Champaran
Famous for/as: Wildlife
Languages: Bihari, Hindi
Best Season: Oct - June
Weather: Summer 30-36°C, Winter 8-20°C
Altitude: 880 m
Pincode: 845438
STD code: 06254

The great Gandak and the Masan rivers collect all the water from their numerous tortuous tributaries. These rivers and streams keep changing course from side to side, facilitated by the erosion prone sandy and immature soil of the banks. Seasonal rivers like Panchanad, Manor, Bhapsa and Kapan display the peculiar behaviour of erosion at one place and deposition of transported soil at another place.

The hill system is a continuation of the Siwalik Range, largely made of imperfectly compacted and ill-formed sandstone dotted with pebbles and boulders. Owing to the fragile nature of the parent rock material, the soil produced at the foothills is immature, loose sand and erosion sheet. The menace is further aggravated by maltreatment of the forests by the people in general and frequent fires and heavy grazing.

Conservation History

Valmiki is the 18th Tiger Reserve of the country and the second in Bihar. The core area of the Reserve was declared as a National Park in 1989. The Government of Bihar had notified 464.60 sq. km. area as Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978. Later, in 1990, an area of 419.18 sq. km. was added to the Sanctuary. Thus, the Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary embraces a total area of 880.78 sq. km.

Archaeological Richness

Lauriya Nandan Garh	:	There is a lion pillar of Ashoka, which is a single block of polished sand stone, 32′-9.5″ in height with a diameter of 35.5″ at the base and 26.2″ at the top. This pillar is over 2000 year old and in excellent condition. Nanadan Garh is a huge mound composed of bricks and is about 80 feet high. According to an authoritative source, it is an Ashoka Stupa in which ashes of Lord Buddha’s funeral pyre are enshrined.
Bawan Garhi	:	A name meaning 52 forts. It is also known as Tripan Bazar. The remains of 52 forts and Tripan bazar are at Darubari.
Someshwar Fort	:	Someshwar Fort is situated in Narkatiagani sub-division, near Nepal border, on top of the someshwar hill at 2884 ft above M.S.L. It is in a ruined state but its remains are well defined.
Triveni	:	It is a holy place of the Hindus. The name is derived from the fact that three rivers – Gandak, Sonha and Pachanad – merge here soon after they emerge from the hills. Triveni is also believed to be the site at which the fight commenced between the Lords of Forest and Water (the Elephant and Crocodile).

Main Flora

Sal (Shorea robusta), Asan, Karama, Semal, Khair, Cane (Calamus tenuis), Jamun, Siccharrum, Mahulan, Teak etc.

Main Fauna

Tiger, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Chital, Sambar, Hog Deer, Black Buck, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Langur, Rhesus Monkey.

Eco Development

Eco-development activities were initiated in the Reserve in 1997-98. Activities such as distribution of fruit bearing plants, installation of hand pumps, construction of ponds, shed, irrigation channel were undertaken. Eco-awareness programmes were conducted. The response of the villagers has been overwhelming. The inhabitants of some of the villages are coming forward voluntarily to assist forest staff in the protection of forest as well as in developmental activities.

Valmiki Nagar (West Champaran): Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi  inaugurated the ambitious Eco Tourism project and launched jungle safari, elephant safari and bullock-cart safari at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve. "The initiative will not only help us attract tourists but also provide employment to the locals," 
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Modi recalled the area didn't have facilities to fascinate tourists. Yet, tourists came to see the Gandak barrage. "But now we have a Valmiki Vihar with 12 two-bed rooms and also a guesthouse and 'Eco Huts' for those wishing to stay," he said and added adventure buffs on safari could go inside the reserved forest area.
The reserve forest is spread over 901 sqkm with almost 899 sqkm coming under protected area. Taking up the issue of displacement of Tharu tribes, the deputy CM said more than 10 lakh Tharus were living in the area. "We will not displace a single of them," he asserted and added the state government in fact planned to provide electricity through solar energy to the Tharu villages.

The state government is also working on a proposal to arrange paying-guest accommodation for tourists wishing to stay in villages to know about our culture. "This will also generate income for the locals," he said and suggested to the locals to invest in vehicles and hire them out to tourists for jungle safari.

The deputy CM said details about the tiger reserve have been uploaded to valmikitigerreserve.com and an information centre would also be opened at the tiger reserve to facilitate tours to the reserve. He also assured to do the needful to get repaired the dilapidated 25-km stretch of road leading to Valmiki Nagar.
Also present at the occasion were Bettiah MP Sanjay Jaiswal, Ramnagar MLA Bhagirathi Devi and principal secretary (forest) Santosh Tiwari.