Tourists visiting Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), the only such reserve in Bihar, located around 290km northwest of Patna and home to 35 tigers besides other animals, will now have to pay less to avail various facilities developed for them.

Also, two new facilities — a trip to Manguraha from Valmikinagar and back, and sightseeing on e-rickshaw at Manguraha — have been added.

A formal announcement in this regard was made during deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi’s visit to the reserve on Wednesday. Modi heads the state environment and forest department.

Sharing details with The Telegraph on Thursday, VTR field director S Chandrashekhar said: “The rates have been revised to attract more tourists to this place.”

He said a tourist information centre had been set up at Bettiah and one could call 6207283609 for detailed information about the facilities and revised rates. “We’re also in the process of updating our website, where tourists can make book online for facilities they want to avail of during their visit,” he said.

The state government has been trying to promote VTR as an eco-tourism destination since 2012-13 and the reserve has witnessed a constant rise, except one year, in terms of number of visiting tourists and revenue generated from their visit.

The tourist season here starts from October 1 and continues till June 20.

Tourists are not allowed to visit the reserve from June 20 to September 30 as per a norm one needs to follow at wildlife reserves.

The VTR director said facilities had been improved for organising corporate meetings and other such events at this picturesque place. Even the auditorium has been refurbished with necessary facilities and can be booked at a reduced rate (see chart ) now.

In addition to the forest department, the state water resources department, which too has land just outside the reserve area, is developing an eco park in front of the jungle camp for the benefit of tourists.

Telegraph infographic