Family Camp Valmiki Nagar, Bihar 2026

Valmiki National Park sits in West Champaran, on the India-Nepal border, bounded to the north by Nepal's Chitwan National Park and to the west by Uttar Pradesh. Its forests cover about 900 sq km - 880 sq km of wildlife sanctuary and a 335 sq km national park - across the foothills of the Sivalik range, a mosaic of cliffs, ridges and gorges, streams and valleys, dense forest, open woodland, grassland, swamp and riverine fringe.

The Gandak river forms the western boundary. It enters India at Valmikinagar, where the Sonha and Pachnad rivulets join it at the holy confluence of Triveni. This is also the site of Valmiki Ashram, where Maharishi Valmiki, author of the Ramayana, is believed to have spent time.

The Shahabad Unit runs this family camp from the Jungle Camp at Bhaisalotan, on the banks of the Gandak beside the barrage, where the Forest and Environment Department maintains guest houses, bamboo houses, tree houses and tents. You sleep to the sound of the forest and wake to birdsong.

Organised By

• Shahabad Unit - Bihar State Branch, YHAI
• Program Coordinators: Ramakant Sinha and Kamlesh Kr. Singh
• Contact: 9304905507, 9504236443
• Email: yhaishahabadunit@gmail.com
• Ramakant Sinha, Dayal Lane, near HDFC Bank, Sapna Cinema Road, Shital Tola Road, Ara, Bhojpur 802301

Places Covered

• Jungle Camp, Bhaisalotan - the Gandak barrage and river front
• Valmiki Tiger Reserve - jeep safari
• Nardevi Temple, Jata Shankar Temple and Kauleshwar Temple
• Valmiki Ashram and Triveni Ghat, across the border in Nepal
• Shish Mahal and Gajendra Moksha Dham, Nepal

Inclusions

• Accommodation for 2 nights - one room per family
• All meals: morning tea, breakfast, packed lunch, evening tea and dinner - simple vegetarian food
• Jeep safari inside the Valmiki Tiger Reserve
• Bonfire night at camp

Exclusions

• Travel to and from the base camp
• The optional Lumbini visit on Day 3
• Anything of a personal nature

What to Carry

• Woollen jerseys and a muffler - December nights in the terai are cold
• Cotton and warm clothing, walking shoes
• Water bottle, lunch box, glass, plate and tiffin box
• Towel and personal medicines

Accommodation

• Tent house, bamboo house or guest house at the Jungle Camp, Valmiki Tiger Reserve
• One room per family

Food and Water

• Morning tea, breakfast, packed lunch, evening tea at camp and dinner
• Simple, good quality vegetarian food

Who Can Join

• Any YHAI member, on a first come first served basis
• A family means husband, wife and two children up to the age of 8 years. A copy of each child's birth certificate must be attached with the application form.

How to Reach the Base Camp

• Nearest railway station: Bagaha (49 km). Bettiah is 120 km. On the New Delhi - Muzaffarpur line via Gorakhpur.
• Nearest airport: Gorakhpur Airport
• Nearest bus stand: Valmiki Nagar (Bhaisalotan) - the base camp is 1 km away.

How to Join

• Booking for this camp is offline. Send an enquiry through this page and the Shahabad Unit will come back to you with the formalities.
• The participation fee may be deposited directly to the Shahabad Unit account: UCO Bank, Ara - account 10720110019344, IFSC UCBA0001072.

Safety and Security

• Our experienced camp leaders visit the area in advance to check the arrangements, and every care is taken to keep participants safe.

Camp Rules

• Alcohol is banned in Bihar.
• Stick to the schedule - no personal deviation is allowed during the camp.
• This is an eco-friendly camp. Carrying non-biodegradable material into it is a punishable offence.

Crossing into Nepal

• Several places on the itinerary - Valmiki Ashram, Triveni Ghat, Shish Mahal and Gajendra Moksha Dham - lie across the border in Nepal. Please carry a government photo ID, and check the current requirements with the coordinators before you travel.

Cancellation

• 50% of the program fee is refunded if you are unable to join, provided the request reaches the Shahabad Unit office by email at least 15 days before the reporting date.

Cancellation Method

• Participants booked online must cancel online a minimum of 05 days prior to the reporting date.
• Participants booked offline must email trekking@yhaindia.org a minimum of 05 days prior to the reporting date.
• Requests received less than 05 days before the reporting date are not eligible for credit shell or refund.

Credit Shell

• 100% credit shell of the participation fee, valid till 31st December 2026, usable on any YHAI adventure program.
• If the next program is cheaper, the balance can be used on another trek; if costlier, pay the difference.
• Seats may be transferred to family or friends (transferred seats cannot be re-transferred or cancelled).

Refund

• Alternatively, participants may opt for a 50% refund instead of the 100% credit shell, subject to the same notice conditions.

Note: If a program is cancelled due to natural calamity, government restriction or withdrawal of permission, YHAI is accountable only for the program fee and not for other expenses incurred by participants.