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Voykit pocket guide · India
Begusarai
बेतगुड़िया
Spend a half‑day in Begusarai to see Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary; add a quick temple visit if you have extra time.
Begusarai is a small city in Bihar's Mithila region, known for agriculture and the nearby Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary. One half‑day covers the main natural attraction; a full day allows a temple stop and a taste of local markets.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- बेतगुड़िया
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat above 40 °C (104 °F)), Jul–Sep (monsoon)Apr–Jun (heat above 104 °F (40 °C)), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹500–800 excl. bed · Mid ₹800–1,200 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance) 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (street stall) | ₹10–20 |
| Snack (samosa) | ₹15–30 |
| Auto-rickshaw (5 km (3.1 mi))Auto-rickshaw (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹50–80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PAT · Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna
- Nearest airport, about 120 km (75 mi) west; taxi or train onward to Begusarai (check)Nearest airport, about 75 mi (120 km) west; taxi or train onward to Begusarai (check)
Typical fares
- Auto-rickshaw city centre → Kanwar Lake
- about ₹150, 15 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws cover the centre and the road out to Kanwar Lake; agree the fare before you get in. Begusarai has a railway station on the Barauni line.
See and do
Known for
- Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary
- Jai Mangla Temple
- Naulakha Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary | Auto-rickshaw from the city centre, about 15 min | About 30 min each way |
| Naulakha Temple | Auto-rickshaw or cycle-rickshaw within the city | About 15 min |
| Jai Mangla Temple, Kanwar Lake | Same road as the sanctuary; ask the driver to wait | About 30 min |
Sleep
- Near Begusarai railway station
- Basic guesthouses and lodges, the practical choice for one night.
- City centre (Kalyanpur and the main bazaar)
- A few hotels within walking distance of food and the bus stands.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | कितना है?kitnā hai? |
| I would like water | पानी चाहिएpānī chāhiye |
| Please take me there | कृपया वहाँ ले चलेंkripayā vahān le chalen |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer temperatures can exceed 40 °C; carry water.
- Mosquitoes near the lake; use repellent.
- Kanwar Lake is a protected bird sanctuary: no boats, no loud noise, no litter (check current rules at the gate).
Begusarai is generally safe for daytime visits; stay alert after dark and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Begusarai yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary
- Jai Mangla Temple
- Naulakha Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Begusarai, revision 5274898 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5274898
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Begusaraiबेतगुड़िया
कृपया वहाँ ले चलें
Please take me there
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)112
US consulate in Patna (check address); other embassies in New Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/begusarai). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.