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Voykit pocket guide · India
Katihar
Skip Katihar unless you have a specific reason to be here: it's a rail junction with one wetland reserve and little else for a traveller. Half a day for Gogabil Lake, then move on.
Katihar is a small city in north-eastern Bihar, close to the Nepal border and the West Bengal line. It functions as a railway junction for trains heading into Assam and the north-east. The only draw for a traveller is Gogabil Lake, a wetland and bird sanctuary about 20 km south-west of the centre. The city itself has no major sights, and most visitors pass through on the train.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon, heat)
- 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 ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,000 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 and 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 |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall | ₹10–20 |
| Thali meal | ₹100–200 |
| Auto-rickshaw ride within town | ₹50–150 |
| Train ticket to Bhagalpur (general class) | ₹50–100 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- check · Nearest airport: Bagdogra (IXB)
- About 180 km (112 mi) north; 4–5 h by road. Or Patna (PAT), about 250 km (155 mi) west.About 112 mi (180 km) north; 4–5 h by road. Or Patna (PAT), about 155 mi (250 km) west.
Typical fares
- Auto-rickshaw Katihar Junction → Gogabil Lake (one way)
- ₹400–600 (check)
- Train Katihar → Bhagalpur (general)
- ₹50–100 (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. For Gogabil Lake, hire an auto for the round trip (about ₹800–1,200, check).
See and do
Known for
- Gogabil Lake (bird sanctuary)
- Katihar Junction railway station
- Gateway to north-east India
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gogabil Lake | Auto-rickshaw from Katihar, about 30–40 min | About 1 h round trip plus time at the lake |
| Darbhanga | Train from Katihar Junction, about 2–3 h | About 3 h |
| Bhagalpur | Train from Katihar Junction, about 1.5–2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Near Katihar Junction
- Handful of budget hotels within walking distance of the station; basic but fine for a night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्तेnamaste |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
| How much? | कितना?kitna? |
| Where is the lake? | झील कहाँ है?jheel kahan hai? |
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
- Touts at the railway station: ignore anyone offering unsolicited help.
- Gogabil Lake is best visited early morning for birdwatching; carry water and insect repellent.
- Monsoon (Jun–Sep) floods roads and makes the lake area muddy.
Katihar is generally safe, but standard India precautions apply: avoid empty streets after dark, keep valuables out of sight, and use only prepaid or app-based taxis/autos from the station.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Katihar yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Gogabil Lake (bird sanctuary)
- Katihar Junction railway station
- Gateway to north-east India
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Gogabil Lake official site: www.gogabil.in/
- Wikivoyage: Katihar, revision 4534441 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4534441
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/katihar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.