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Valmikinagar Barrage

Champaran, Bihar, India
Sub Place Details: The Valmikinagar Barrage, also known as the Gandak Barrage, is a massive civil engineering marvel built across the Gandak River. Commissioned in the late 1960s as part of the Gandak Project, it serves as a joint venture between India and Nepal to provide irrigation and hydroelectr ic power to both nations. The barrage has 36 gates and stretches impressively across the river, creating a large reservoir that looks like a vast lake. It is the point where the Gandak River enters India from the mountains of Nepal. The sight of the gushing water released from the gates is both terrifying and beautiful. Historically, it was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who termed such projects the "Temples of Modern India." The area around the barrage is exceptionally scenic, with the foothills of the Himalayas providing a majestic backdrop. It is a popular spot for locals and tourists to enjoy the breeze and the vast expanse of water. The barrage also supports a large hydroelectric power station that lights up many parts of the district. Beyond its utility, it has become a major recreational zone where people come for picnics and to witness the engineering scale of the project. The bridge over the barrage connects India directly to the Triveni region of Nepal, making it a symbolic link of friendship between the two neighbors.

General information

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    Ideal Duration:
    1 to 2 Hours
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    Place Type:
    Engineering & Sightseeing
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    Entry Fees:
    Sub Place Entry Fees: There is No Entry Fee to walk on the barrage. However, vehicles crossing into Nepal may be subject to minor Toll or Permit Fees of approx Rs. 50 to Rs. 100. ...
    Sub Place Entry Fees: There is No Entry Fee to walk on the barrage. However, vehicles crossing into Nepal may be subject to minor Toll or Permit Fees of approx Rs. 50 to Rs. 100.
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    Timing:
    Sub Place Timings: Open 24 Hours, but visiting between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM is recommended for safety and visibility.

    Ideal Visit Time: Late afternoon (4:00 PM) to catch the sunset. ...
    Sub Place Timings: Open 24 Hours, but visiting between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM is recommended for safety and visibility.

    Ideal Visit Time: Late afternoon (4:00 PM) to catch the sunset.
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    Special Events:
    Sub Place Special Event: Makar Sankranti is a major event here, where thousands of people gather for a holy dip in the river near the barrage.

    Engineer's Day: Celebrated with local significance to honor the builders of the project. ...
    Sub Place Special Event: Makar Sankranti is a major event here, where thousands of people gather for a holy dip in the river near the barrage.

    Engineer's Day: Celebrated with local significance to honor the builders of the project.
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    Best Photo Spots:
    Sub Place Best Photo Spots:

    Center of the Barrage: For a symmetrical shot of the gates stretching to both sides.

    River Bank: For a side-profile shot of the entire structure with the hills in the background. <...
    Sub Place Best Photo Spots:

    Center of the Barrage: For a symmetrical shot of the gates stretching to both sides.

    River Bank: For a side-profile shot of the entire structure with the hills in the background.

    The Spillway: Capturing the white foam of the water being released.

Photo Gallery

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Darjeeling
Queen of Hills • Tea Gardens

Things To Do

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    Sub Place Things to Do:

    Walk on the Barrage: Walk across the structure to feel the power of the river beneath you.

    Photography: Capture the symmetry of the gates and the vast water reservoir.

    Bird Watching: The reservoir attracts many water birds and migratory ducks during winter.

    Sunset Viewing: Watch the sun go down over the river, painting the water in shades of gold.

    Visit the Power House: Observe the external structures of the hydroelectric project.

    Picnic: Enjoy a family outing in the nearby landscaped gardens.

    Cross-Border Peek: Look over into the Nepal side of the river banks. ...

Resturants

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Information

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    Why Famous:
    Why Famous Sub Place: Famous as one of the largest barrages in North India, critical for the region's agriculture.

    Indo-Nepal Link: It is a key transit and cooperation point between India and Nepal.

    Scenic Beaut...
    Why Famous Sub Place: Famous as one of the largest barrages in North India, critical for the region's agriculture.

    Indo-Nepal Link: It is a key transit and cooperation point between India and Nepal.

    Scenic Beauty: Renowned for the spectacular views of the Gandak River and the distant Himalayan peaks.
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    Architecture:
    Sub Place Architecture: The barrage is a gravity-dam style structure made of reinforced concrete.

    Gates: It features 36 vertical lift gates, each roughly 40 feet wide.

    Dimensions: The total length of the bar...
    Sub Place Architecture: The barrage is a gravity-dam style structure made of reinforced concrete.

    Gates: It features 36 vertical lift gates, each roughly 40 feet wide.

    Dimensions: The total length of the barrage is approximately 2,425 feet (739 meters).

    Engineering: It includes two main canal head regulators, the Eastern Gandak Canal and the Western Gandak Canal, which irrigate millions of hectares of land in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The design ensures flood control while maintaining a steady water level for the power plant.
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    How To Reach:
    Sub Place How to Reach:

    By Air: Patna Airport (295 KMS).

    By Train: Valmiki Nagar Road Station (5 KMS away).

    By Road: Well-connected to Bettiah and Bagaha via state highways. ...
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    Near Tourist Places:
    Valmiki Ashram - 3 KMS, Nara Devi Temple - 7 KMS.

Tourism Tips

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    Sub Place Tourism Tips:

    Health & Safety: Do not lean over the railings of the barrage; the water current is extremely strong.

    Packing: Carry sunglasses and a camera with a good zoom lens.

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Reviews

Note:-

Information provided here in good Faith and for reference only.

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