Bihar
Of all India's states, Bihar is the one most intimately linked to the Buddha's life, resulting in a trail of pilgrimages which have come to be known as the "Buddhist Circuit". The very name Bihar is derived from the word vihara, which means Buddhist monastery.
Bihar is also a religious center for Jains and Hindus. Despite having areas of great beauty and historic religious links, Bihar is India's poorest state, with a low per capital income.
The literacy rate is one of the lowest in the country. And yet, the state is strategically located and naturally rich. Bihar has an international border with Nepal, and also borders the states of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. The River Ganges flows across it from west to east.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve
Valmiki Tiger reserve is located in the northern-most part of the West Champaran district of the Indian state of Bihar. The tract is broken and undulating, often showing highly fragile geological formations. As a result, there are steep ravines, knife-edge ridges and precipitous walls formed by land slips and soil erosion.
