Valmiki Tiger Reserve and National Park

Valmiki National Park occupies the core area of 335.64 sq.km, of more than 800sq. km of the Valmiki Sanctuary located in the West Champaran district of Bihar bordering Nepal. Valmiki was established as the 18th tiger reserve in 1990 and ranks fourth in the density of tiger population. The park is bounded by the Royal Chitwan National Park of Nepal in the north and the river Gandak on the western side with the Himalayan Mountains as a backdrop. Adjacent to the sanctuary, in the forests in Chitwan National Park of Nepal, is the historic Valmiki Ashram. 

The park consists of moist Sal bearing forests, dry Sal bearing forests, moist mixed deciduous forests without Sal, cane and tropical seasonal swamp forests containing reed beds and wet grasslands. The species found in the park include tiger, sloth bear, wolf, various species of deer, serow, leopard, python, peafowl, chitals, sambars, nilgais, leopards, hyenas, Indian civets, Jungle cats, Hog deer, wild dogs etc. One horned rhinoceros and Indian bison often migrate from Chitwan to Valmikinagar. There are 8 villages in the buffer area but no habitation in the core area.