Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Bahraich district, Utter Pradesh state in India. It was established in 1975 and declared as a Project Tiger reserve in 1987. It is located in the Upper Gangetic plains in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Bahraich city is the nearest city to this wildlife sanctuary.

Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dudhwa National Park are the two nearby tiger sanctuaries to Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Katarniaghat sanctuary acts as a corridor between two other nearby tiger habitats. Another tiger habitat, Bardia National Park in Nepal, is also connected with the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Thus, this corridor acts as an international tiger corridor, too.

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 400.6 square kilometers.

This wildlife sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna. Flora is a mixture of Teak forests and sal tree forests (Shorea robusta) along with lush grasslands, many swamps, and wetlands. As per the Jain religion, Saint Mahavir alias Vardhamana, the 24th Tirthankar, achieved enlightenment under the Sal tree.

Fauna of this wildlife sanctuary includes Gharial, Tiger, Rhino, Gangetic Dolphin, Swamp Deer, Hispid Hare, Bengal Forican, White-backed vultures, and Long-billed Vultures. One of the best places to see Gharials in its natural habitats is the Girwa River, a tributary of the Karnali River. Mugger can also be seen along with Gharials in this river. Gharials can also be seen frolicking with the Ganges dolphins in this river.

How do I Go to Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary?

There are buses to Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. The nearest railway station is Bichhiya in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh. The station code of this station is BIC. It is a small station with just one platform. Four trains halt at Bichhiya railway station. Lucknow is the nearest airport to the wildlife sanctuary.