About the Gandak
The Gandak River (Narayani in Nepal) is sacred to Hindus as the Shaligram River — the black river stones (shaligrams) found in its bed are venerated as natural representations of Vishnu and collected by pilgrims. The river descends from the Mustang plateau of Nepal through the Chitwan national park landscape before crossing into India at Valmiki Tiger Reserve. The river's upper Nepalese reaches are the habitat of the famous one-horned rhinoceroses of Chitwan National Park.
In India, the Gandak flows through the terai forests of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar that represent the last remaining habitat fragments of the Gangetic plain's original forest ecosystem. The river corridor between Valmiki Tiger Reserve and the UP terai is an important wildlife movement corridor. The river also harbours gharials and Gangetic dolphins in its cleaner sections, and its banks in Bihar are home to traditional Tharu fishing communities who have lived in relationship with the river for centuries.
Banganga · Masan