Valmiki National Park is located at the India-Nepal border in the West Champaran district of Bihar, India. It is situated on the bank of the river Gandak. This is also a tiger reserve and a wildlife sanctuary. In the north, the protected areas share its border by Nepal’s Chitwan National Park and the Indian state Uttar Pradesh borders the sanctuary from the western side. It is only Indian tiger reserve in Bihar.
Flagship Animal: Royal benga tigerNotified Area: 335.64 km2.
Notified in the year 1990.
India’s biggest grassland of India encompassing an area of 800 ha present in this National Park.
Flora
The important tree species found in Valmiki national Park are Sal (Shorea robusta), Karam (Adina cardifolia), Asan (Terminalia tomentosa), Bahera (Terminalia balerica), Asidh (Lagestromia parviflora), Bhelwa (Semecarpus anacardium), Harra (Terminalia chebula), Bodera (Eugenia operculata), Simal (Salmelia malaberica), Satsal (Dalbergia latifolia), Piyar (Buchanania lanzan), Mandar (Dillenia aurea), Banjan (Anogeissus latifolia), Mahulan (Bauhinia vahlii) Mahai (Butea parviflora), Panilat (Vitis repanda), Ramdatwan (Smilax parviflora), and Arar (Acacia pinnate). etc. The grasses found in this park are munj (Saccharum munja), Choranth (Heteropogon contortus), Sabai (Eulaliopsis binata), Kans (Saccharum spontaneum), Elephant grass (Typha elephantina), Narkat (Phragmites karka), Vitiveria zizanioides, Imperata cylindrica.
Fauna
Mammal
Prominent flagship mammal species are Royal Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, Indian leopard, wild dog, buffalo, black bear, Indian sloth bear, hyena, leopard cat, wild cat, fishing cat, langur, monkey, flying squirrel, Clouded Leopard, Indian gaur, otter, boar. barking deer, spotted deer, hog deer, Sambar, and blue bull etc.
Avifauna
241 bird species have been reported from this park. Interesting birds found in this park Nepal kalij pheasant, green barbet, waders, ibises, storks, snipes, pied hornbill, three-toed quail, pitta, plovers, paradise flycatcher, white eye warbler, grey shrike, green willow warbler, tree pipit, White-eared night heron, emerald dove.
Reptiles
Gharial, monitor lizard, pythons, king cobras, krait, banded kraits and domuha snakes (sand boas)
Butterfly
Glassy Tiger, club beak, grey pansy, Common Mormon, lime butterfly, great Mormon, great egg fly, common crow can easily be sighted in the park.
Approach
Nearest Airport: Patna (295km)
Nearest Railway Station: Valmiki Nagar (5km).
Road: Bettiah ( 70km) the nearest town.