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Voykit pocket guide · India
Bettiah
Half a day is enough for Bettiah: see Bhitiharwa Ashram, eat sattu and dahi-chura, then move on to Sasaram or Motihari.
Bettiah is a small city in Bihar with a Gandhi-era ashram and access to Valmiki National Park. Most travellers pass through on the way to Sasaram, Raxaul or Motihari. One night covers the main sights and local food.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (heat), Jul–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 excl. bed · High ₹4,000+ 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
- Police 112 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Sattu drink (glass) | ₹20–40 |
| Dahi-chura with mango | ₹50–80 |
| Vegetarian thali | ₹100–200 |
| Auto-rickshaw ride (within town) | ₹50–100 |
| Bus to Patna | ₹250–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PAT · Jay Prakash Narayan Airport, Patna
- About 4–5 h by road; the nearest airport.
Typical fares
- Bettiah → Patna by bus
- about ₹300, 4–5 h (check)
- Bettiah → Sasaram by train
- about ₹100–200, 1 h (check)
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 town; a ride across Bettiah costs ₹50–100. For Valmiki National Park, hire a taxi or take a bus from the main stand.
See and do
Known for
- Bhitiharwa Ashram
- Valmiki National Park
- Sattu and dahi-chura
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Valmiki National Park | Taxi from Bettiah, about 1 h 30 min | About 2 h |
| Sasaram | Train or bus, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Motihari | Bus or taxi, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Lal Bazar
- Central area with most hotels; near the market and bus stand.
- Supria Road
- Quieter, a short walk from the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना?kitna? |
| Where is the bus stand? | बस स्टैंड कहाँ है?bus stand kahan hai? |
| I need a doctor | मुझे डॉक्टर चाहिएmujhe doctor chahiye |
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
- Valmiki National Park has armed patrols: check the current entry rules at the forest office.
- Last trains from Bettiah station are around 22:00; confirm departure times at the station.
- Street food is safe if freshly cooked; avoid tap water.
Bettiah is generally safe for travellers. The main risks are heat, monsoon flooding and touts at the bus stand. Keep valuables out of sight and avoid walking alone after dark in isolated areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bettiah yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bhitiharwa Ashram
- Valmiki National Park
- Sattu and dahi-chura
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: Bettiah, revision 5319152 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5319152
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Bettiah
मुझे इस पते पर ले चलिए
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Delhi; the nearest consulate for many countries is in Kolkata.
Hindi and Bhojpuri are widely spoken; English is understood at hotels and the station.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bettiah). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.