Katerniaghat

Katerniaghat is a town in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, India, located on the Gandak River near the Nepal border. It is best known for the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, a riverine and forested landscape that protects a section of the Gandak floodplain and wetlands. The sanctuary is part of the broader Terai Arc landscape and functions as an important wildlife corridor between India and Nepal.

The protected area encompasses a mosaic of riverine forests, marshes, and open water habitats that support a range of species adapted to the Gandak floodplain. It is noted for its biodiversity, including populations of large mammals such as elephants and various deer, as well as a rich and seasonally migratory bird life. The sanctuary plays a key role in regional conservation efforts and in maintaining ecological processes of the Gandak ecosystem.

Conservation and tourism are coordinated by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. The area is managed to balance biodiversity protection with eco-tourism, research, and education. Visitors can engage in birdwatching, boat safaris on the river, and guided forest walks under regulated conditions to minimize disturbance to wildlife.

Accessibility is primarily by road from Bahraich. The nearest major railhead is Bahraich, and the closest airports are Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow and Gorakhpur Airport, offering regional connections. Katarniaghat remains a designated site for conservation and nature tourism in northern Uttar Pradesh.