A plain land in Bihar’s northeastern part, Katihar’s geography has been primarily affected by the rivers of Righa, Koshi, Ganges and Mahananda. While these rivers have turned Katihar’s western and southern parts sandy, they have also made this region rich for cultivation. Katihar prospers as an agro-based district--rice, maize, banana and pulses are some of the major agricultural products here. Once a center of flourishing jute mills, it shaped the town’s characteristics and the lives of the locals to a great extent. Production of edible ‘Makhana’ is the latest business opportunity that seems to have caught the attention of the locals here.
One of Bihar’s major railway junctions today, Katihar was once dominated by landlords and Nawabs, before getting passed on to first the Mughals, and later to the British. From being a part of Bengal in 1872, Katihar once again was returned to Bihar after Bengal’s partition. Legends from Hinduism have given rise to a number of temples and the nearby Manihari remains a religiously significant place for most locals. Sikhism has also taken hold here and Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurudwara is a must-visit to see some preserved sacred scriptures. Visit Katihar between the relatively cooler months of January and February and use it as a base for exploring the rest of Bihar.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurudwara is dedicated to the revered Ninth Guru of Sikhism. It is considered that the Sikh Saint once stayed at the same spot where this Gurudwara has been constructed. Among the most impressive aspects of this Gurudwara are the old scriptures and preserved edition of Guru Granth Sahib.
Among the city's best-known temples is the Gorakhnath Mandir. Dedicated to the Shaivites sect, the temple hosts a major celebration during the Mahashivratri festival.
Katihar’s cloth markets are famous for their colorful cotton sarees, and they continue to supply to neighboring districts and border nations of Bangladesh and Nepal.
State-run buses are available throughout the city of Katihar. You can opt for auto-rickshaws, as well, to explore the city. The most comfortable way to travel would be to hire a private cab or car, and sightsee at your own leisure.
On a daily basis there are approximately 8 flights that operate at Biratnagar Airport.خطوط ياتي الجوية is the popular airline brand that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Katihar through train.Katihar Jnis one of the most popular train stations in Katihar.On an average about 100+ trains pass through Katihar on a daily basis.Naugachhia to Katihar, Khagaria to Katihar, Kishanganj to Katiharare some of the most popular routes to Katihar with 68, 64, 47 trains weekly respectively.
By road Katihar is surrounded by Purnia, Sahibganj, Banmankhi Bazar which are 16.97 km, 21.6 km, 33.11 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.