Katerniaghat

1 dayBest: Nov–AprForests#gharials#boat safari#birds

Gharial river sanctuary

Why this weekend?

Gharial sightingsGirijapuri barrageBoat safaris

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The river wildlife
- Boat safari
- Sandbank stops
- Forest walk
- Bird hour
- Return

Geography & terrain

Katerniaghat lies in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, 70 km from Bahraich and 140 km from Lucknow — the gharial sanctuary of the Girwa river, its boat safaris, the forests and the birds set on the border with Nepal.

History & culture

The sanctuary's story runs with the 1976 conservation of the gharials — the river reserve of the Girwa, with the sanctuary's history of the turtle and the gharial breeding and the riverside forests; the sanctuary's modern role in the region's birding and the river safaris, with the Ghaghra's confluence and the Nepal's border country, gives Katerniaghat its gharial-river character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–3,500/night

Mid-range

₹3,500–7,000/night

Comfort

₹7,000+/night

Things to do

Gharial river
Boat safaris
Riverine forests
Winter birds
Border country

Eat & drink

Tunday kebab
Petha
Jalebi
Nihari
Navratan korma

Getting there

Fly: Lucknow (LKO) / Varanasi (VNS) / Delhi (DEL)
Train: Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi junctions
Road from Delhi: varies — 200–700 km by district
Getting around: Autos, e-rickshaws, app taxis

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹6,000–12,500 (1 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,500–7,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities: ₹2,500–2,900

Month by month

Jan · Best: 7–21°C · Light rain
Feb · Good: 10–25°C · Light rain
Mar · Good: 15–31°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 21–38°C · None rain
May · Hot: 26–42°C · None rain
Jun · Pre-monsoon: 28–40°C · Moderate rain
Jul · Monsoon: 27–35°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 26–34°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 25–34°C · Moderate rain
Oct · Good: 18–33°C · Light rain
Nov · Best: 12–28°C · None rain
Dec · Best: 8–23°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Nov–Apr
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

The season (Nov–Apr) holds the birding and the safaris
The boats run the sanctuary's counters
Pairs with Dudhwa for the region's wildlife circuit

Frequently asked questions

What is Katerniaghat?

The gharial sanctuary of the Girwa river.

What is there to do?

The boat safaris and the birding.

How long is the visit?

A full day.