Bihar Public Grievance Redressal System

Bihar government has come up with a new website using that you can your grievances and complaint.

Following is url for the same:

http://www.bpgrs.in/

You can also call the Janta Darbar Helpline number to register your complain or raise your concerns.

BPGRS/Janta Darbar Helpline No. 0612-2201000

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The Wildlife Population

Chitals and sambars, often depicted as an ‘integral component of the Indian jungle scenery’, were once the largest group of animals in Bihar, and could be found almost everywhere. Today chitals are confined to sanctuaries at Palamau, Hazaribagh, Gaya, Champaran and Monghyr, while sambars are concentrated around Palamau, Hazaribagh, Monghyr, Koderma and Parasnath. The Birsa Mrig Vihar at Kalamati (23km from Ranchi) is a breeding farm for these two species of deer that have multiplied considerably in the past six years. April-May is the best time to look out for chitals with well-developed antlers. Moreover, it is around this time of the year that they move in groups.

The smaller species like Hog deer once overran the Gangetic valley. They do not have beautiful white spots like the chitals and are rarely seen in herds. Chasing the hog deer was a popular sport among the indigo planters during the British Raj. Reclaiming grassy land for agriculture contributed to the factors that nearly led to the extinction of this deer. The Valmikinagar Sanctuary in Champaran is the only place in Bihar where one can locate the hog deer today. Unlike the hog deer, the barking deer is widely found in the sanctuaries of Dalma, Rajgir, Topchanchi, Lawalong, Udaipur, Koderma and Parasnath. The smallest in the deer family – the mouse deer (Indian Chevrotain) is not rare, although it is certainly too shy and retiring to be easily spotted. Its brown coat helps the tiny creature camouflage itself. However, you could try your luck at the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Tiger Attraction

Tigers in Bihar were once on the brink of extinction. However, the persistent and concerted efforts of Project Tiger saved the situation. The number of tigers at the Betla National Park was as dismal as 22 in 1974. By 1984 it had multiplied to 62. Once again it has dropped to 50. officials however believe that tigers often migrate to neighbouring states. Tigers are found in almost all the sanctuaries in Bihar, but their largest concentrations are at the Palamau Tiger Rerserve and the Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary in Champaran.
Despite its sleek coat and extraordinary hunting prowess, the panther still seems to be shadowed by the image of the tiger and the lion. However, most wildlife enthusiasts feel that this graceful animal certainly outsmarts the tiger, and at times appears fiercer than the lion. Panthers can be seen at the Hazaribagh, Valmiki, Bimbandh, Topchanchi and Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The Wolves
Wolves do not rate too high on the wildlife popularity chart, though at one time, hunting wolves was at par with hunting lions and tigers, especially with royalty. Wolves love to live and hunt in packs and the group is led by a dominant pair. Despite the animal’s ability to adapt to the changing environment, its number has greatly diminished. Thanks to the efforts made by the Mahuadhar Wolf Sanctuary(63sq km, close to the Palamau Tiger Reserve), the number of wolves in and around Hazaribagh, Gaya and Palamau has risen.

Great Indian Elephant
Elephants, the largest living land mammals are confined to the Palamau and Singhbum districts in Bihar. It was believed that there were no elephants in Bihar till the end of the nineteenth century, and that they suddenly appeared around 1920. However, medieval history is replete with references to elephants from Bihar. The Mughals loved to acquire elephants from this region. In the Makhzan-i-Afghani there is a precise reference to a white elephant, Shyam Chandra owned by the tribal king of Palamau. The elephant had a peculiar habit of not throwing dust upon his head. The Afghans reckoned this to be a symbol of power that could help pave their way to the throne of Delhi. Thus, Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan invader, forced the king to surrender along with his elephant.

Dalma Sanctuary
Close to Jamshedpur, the Dalma Sanctuary (193sq km) is the best elephant habitat in Bihar. The pachyderms love to spend their summer here. Unlike Palamau that usually reels under a scorching sun, it continues to be pleasant at Dalma with temperatures mostly under 300C. Elephants migrate to this sanctuary because of the availability of water during summer. The next best choice for getting the closest possible view of elephants is the Betla National Park, and the most appropriate time for doing this would be Feb-March.

One of the boldest and biggest denizens of the jungle, gaurs prefer to remain close to elephants as they love to share the clumps pulled down by the tall tuskers. Gaurs usually move in herds except for the monsoon when they disperse and often fall prey to tigers.

The black buck, one of the fastest animals, also known for its beautiful corkscrew horns, has not been as lucky as the chital while adapting to the changing environment. Today black bucks have survived only in Bhojpur and are confined to the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wild dogs, often held responsible for the depredation of wildlife, are confined to Hazaribagh and Palamau sanctuaries. It is said that once a pack of wild dogs enters a forest, all wild animals, including tigers, leave it. The dogs consume sambar fawns, chitals and almost all herbivores in sight. In fact, wild dogs are despised even by hunters who hold them responsible for scaring game away.

Muggers and gharials are the two species of crocodiles found in Bihar. With the receding water levels of the Kosi River, the number of gharials (gavial) has greatly diminished. However, going by earlier reports from the village, numerous gharials cruise along with the floodwater and arrive at Madhepura town. Though gharials are found in the Ganges and the Gandak River, they mainly abound on the banks of the Kosi. Muggers (marsh crocodiles) have a wider distribution, as they inhabit stagnant water like jheels, reservoirs and rivers with slow currents. People at bathing ghats are always wary of these animals. The Karmanasa River in Rohtas, the Mohana River in Hazaribagh and the Bhera River near Ranchi are said to be infested with muggers. The Mutta Mugger Breeding Centre near Ranchi took off with three muggers from Bihar and two from Madras. Today the count has touched nearly fifty!

Dolphins
Dolphins were once popular in the Ganges, though they are rare today. The 50km stretch of the Ganges from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon has been declared the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. Zoologists from Patna University claim to have sighted about 40 dolphins in the sanctuary.

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Bhimbandh Sanctuary

Close to Bhagalpur, the Bhimbandh Sanctuary (682sq km) is yet another home to a variety of wildlife. Besides tigers, panthers, wild boars, sambars, chitals and nilgais, the forests here are famous for hot water springs said to contain traces of radioactive matter.
In most wildlife sanctuaries primarily meant for mammals flourishes a spectacular bird life that often goes unnoticed. However, there are sanctuaries exclusive to birds where reptiles go unnoticed. The Kanwar Lake at Begusarai, a ‘ dream spot’ in the words of the great ornithologist, the late Dr Salim Ali, is one such haven. It is three times the size of the Bharatpur Sanctuary. The lake is home to about 106 species of resident birds and around 60 migratory birds that come all the way from Central Asia in winter

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The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary

The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary (186sq km) and its surroundings continued to be the royal reserve of the Raja of Ramgarh until 1950. The densely forested plateau of Hazaribagh is rich in flora, and fauna that include leopards, Jungle cats, sambars, nilgais, Barking deer, chitals, wild boars, wolves, etc. Numerous observation towers in the sanctuary makes it easier to take a closer look at the wildlife. The jungles in Hazaribagh are teeming with a variety of trees like the sal, asan, dhow, salai, kend, and bamboo, to name just a handful from a long list. Like Koderma, Hazaribagh too is full of picturesque spots and offers leisure activities like boating at Salparni. In the heart of Hazaribagh is the Kunhary Hill, now referred to as the Canary Hill. Don’t expect to see canaries but maybe you could settle for the similar looking Golden Orioles.


To Reach : Hazaribagh is accessible by the National Highway 33, while the nearest railhead is the Hazaribagh Road. Ranchi, the nearest airport is 107km away. Besides cottages and dormitories at Rajaderwa, Forest Rest Houses are available at Rajaderwa, Salparni and Harhad. Halfway between the Betla National Park and Hazaribagh is the Lawalong Sanctuary that was once a prized place for hunters who gathered here in a big way for big game.

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Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary

In the heart of Bihar lies the Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary (36sq km), bordered by a stretch of small historic hills associated with Jain and Buddhist history. A typical monsoon climate prevails over this region full of tropical dry deciduous forests. The sanctuary is rich in leopards, hyenas, barking deer and nilgais. The neighbouring Gautam Buddha Sanctuary (259sq km) in Gaya has similar climes. Further south, en route to Hazaribagh is the Koderma Wildlife Sanctuary (177sq km) situated on the Patna-Ranchi highway. Besides its rich wildlife, the place is famous for its scenic beauty. The most popular one amongst these is the Fhwajadhari Hillock.

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The Valmiki National Park

The Valmiki National Park (335sq km) has been created amidst 544sq km of the Valmiki Sanctuary in the West Champaran district of Bihar, bordering Nepal. The magnificent Himalayas provide a backdrop to the sanctuary. Adjacent to the sanctuary, in the forests of Nepal, is the historic Valmiki Ashram in the Chitwan National Park of Nepal. The One-horned rhinoceros and Indian bison often migrate from Chitwan to Valmikinagar. The forest here is a mix of extensive Savannah lands and swamp forests. The forest in the sanctuary is rich in Bhabar-Dun sal, dry Siwalik sal, khair, cane etc. The extensive forest area of Valmikinagar was owned by the Bettiah Raj and Ramanagar Raj until early 1950s. Tigers dominate the wildlife landscape while other attractions include chitals, sambars, nilgais, leopards, hyenas, Indian civets, Jungle cats, Hog deer and wild dogs. As far as the density of the tiger population is concerned, Valmikinagar ranks fourth in the state.

To Reach : Valmikinagar can be reached via Bettiah, with Patna as the nearest airport (105km). The best time to visit Valmikinagar is between October and June. A number of rest houses manned by the Irrigation Department are usually available.

Wildlife Attractions
Rich in black bucks and nilgais, the Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (134sq km) is the largest and one of the best faunal areas of Bihar. Its other wildlife denizens include chinkaras, tigers, leopards, hyenas, sloth bears, etc.

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Betla Wildlife Reserves

Betla is easily accessible by road. It is 25km from Daltonganj and 175km from Ranchi, the nearest airport. The best time to visit Betla is in October-November and February-March. For accommodation, one can opt for B.S.T.D.C’s Ban Vihar or the Forest Department’s Rest Houses, besides other tourist lodges, cottages and dormitories.

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Palamau Tiger Reserve

The Reserve is spread over an area of 1026sq km in the Chotanagpur Plateau. The dense and dry deciduous forest of Palamau is replete with the finest bamboo groves, sal, mahua, bel and khair trees. The sixteenth century fort alongside the Auranga River adds a touch of history to this forest. The other rivers that drain Palamau are the Koel and Burha that eventually empty themselves into the famous Sone River.

Palamau shot to fame way back in 1932 for the tiger census – the first of its kind in the world – that was carried out here. In 1974, it became one of the country’s earliest tiger reserves. The core area of the sanctuary has been declared as the Betla National Park (232 sq km), famous for its wild elephants, tigers, gaurs (Indian wild ox), chitals (spotted deer), sambars (Asiatic deer), panthers, wild dogs and boars.

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Festival in Bihar

Makar Sankranti Paus Mid January

Sarhul Chait March/April

Holi Fagun February/March

Mahavir Jayanti Vaisakh April/May

Buddha Jayanti Vaisakh April/ May

Deogarh Pilgrimage Shrawan July/August

Nag Panchmi Shrawan July/August

Pitrapaksh Mela Bhado September/October

Sonepur Cattle Fair Kartik October/November

Deepavali Kartik October/November

Chaath Kartik 6 days after Deepavali

Deo Deepavali Aghahan 10 days after Deepavali

Buddhist congregation
(dalai Lama’s session) December

Rakhi Purnamasi Shrawan July/August

Shiv Ratri Fagun February

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Education System of Bihar

Historically, Bihar has been a major centre of learning, home to the universities of Nalanda (one of the earliest universities of India dating back to the fifth century) and Vikramshila. Unfortunately, that tradition of learning which had its origin from the time of Buddha or perhaps earlier, was lost during the medieval period when it is believed that marauding armies of the invaders destroyed these centres of learning.
Bihar saw a revival of sorts during the later part of the British rule when they established a University at Patna along with a few other centres of high learning, viz. Science College, Patna, Prince of Wales Medical College (Now Patna Medical College and Hospital), and Bihar Engineering College (Now National Institute of Technology, Patna). However, this early lead got lost in the post independence period when the politicians from Bihar lost out in the race of getting centers of education established in Bihar.
Modern Bihar has a grossly inadequate educational infrastructure creating a huge mismatch between demand and supply. This problem is further compounded by increases in population. The craving for higher education among the general population of Bihar has led to a massive migration of the student community from the state. This has led to a "flooding" of students to seek educational opportunities in other states, such as New Delhi and Karnataka, even for graduation level college education.
In spite of the meager investment on education in Bihar, compared to other poorer Indian states, owing to class based reservation (of which Bihar's Pupils have been the main beneficiaries) the students have as a result done very well. Famed national institutes of learning such as IIT, IIM and AIIMS have always had a good representation from Bihar. There is also thought to be growing discontentment among students of other classes who claim however that pure merit has taken a back seat in the nation's education system as a result of giving reservation to people of backward classes. Other institutions of higher learning and coveted positions in the government also show a greater share than the percentage of their population. A recent survey by Pratham rated the absorption of their teaching by the Bihar children better than those in other states.

School
Bihar has had a system of district schools (called Zila schools), located at the headquarters of the older districts of Bihar. These schools have an excellent reputation and were centers of excellence. In addition, there were several private and semi aided schools which were run and administered by local village communities. Several of them were known for their high quality education.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the state government took over management of most privately run schools. This adversely affected school education in the state since the state government was ill equipped to manage the schools through its bureaucrats who were trained for law and order duties. Though the state accorded them government recognition, the standard started to fall. Thankfully, the state did not take over the schools run by the Christian missionaries and these schools provided a fillip to quality education in Bihar.

As in other states, the central government runs a number of Kendriya Vidvalayas (Central Schools) and Jawahar Navodaya Schools for rural students.Jawahar Navodaya Schools started by the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi have been particularly successful in providing quality education to the weaker sections of the society.
The number of Private schools, including school-chains and Missionary Schools run by Christian Missionaries as well as Madrasas, or schools run by Muslim clerics, has increased in the post liberalisation era.
Most of the schools in Bihar are affiliated with the Bihar School Examination Board, while the Kendriya Vidyalay and a few other elite schools including the Christian Missionary Schools are affiliated to the ICSE and CBSE boards..
In spite of the poor condition of schools in Bihar, students from there are performing excellent with respect to other economically better off states of India thanks to the law of affirmative action which provides for reservations in jobs and education for people of backward classes. The people of Bihar have also made considerable gains economically, more so than people of other states over the last decade as a result.

Universities and Colleges :-
Bihar has twelve universities recognized by the states:
1. Patna University, Patna
2. Magadh University, Bodh Gaya
3. B.R.Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur
4. Tilka Manihi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur
5. Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga
6. Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit university, Darbhanga
7. Jaiprakash University, Chapra
8. Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Madhepura
9. Veer Kunwar Singh University, Arrah

10. Nalanda Open University, Patna
11. Rajendra Agriculture University, Samastipur

The University of Patna, established in 1917 and among the oldest university on the Indian subcontinent, is the most prominent among these. It has 11 colleges, including the Science College, Patna, B.N.College, Patna, Patna Women’s College, Patna College, Patna and Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna. Magadh Mahila College.

Engineering Colleges in Bihar:


1. National Institute of Technology, Patna(1924)
2. Bhagalpur College of Engineering, Bhagalpur (1960)
3. Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Muzaffarpur(1954)

Private Institutions:

1. Maulana Azad college of Engineering and Technology, Patna(1990)
2. BIT Mesra Extension Centre Patna(2006)
3. R.P Sharma Institute of Technology, Patna

The list of the Medical colleges in Bihar:
1. Patna Medical College and Hospital and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital at Patna.
2. Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital at Muzaffarpur
3. Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital at Gaya.
4. Bhagalpur Medical College and Hospital at Bhagalpur
5. Darbhanga Medical college and Hospital at Darbhanga

Management Institutes in Bihar:
1. Lalit Narayan Mishra Institute of Economic Development and Social Change.
2. ICFAI National college, Patna, BP Kiorala Marg (Bank Road), Patna – 800001
3. Gaya College (Affiliated to Magadh University), Gaya Bihar.
4. Indian Institute of Business Management (Recognised by AICTE, New Delhi), Buddh Marg, Patna
5. A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Sciences, Patna.
6. Shanti Sewa Samiti’s Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Patna

Law Institutes in Bihar:
1. Chanakya National Law University(A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Sciences campus) , Patna.
2. A. N. Law College (Affiliated to Magadh University), Gaya, Bihar.
3. S.K.J. Law College Muzaffarpur (Affiliated to B.R.A. Bihar University)

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Geography and Climate

The land of Bihar is very fertile flat. It has several major rivers: Ganga, Son, Baghmati, Kosi, Budhi, Gandak, Chandan, Orhani and Falgu. It has also several hiils: The Rajgir hills. The Himalayan Mountains are to the north, in Nepal. To the south is the Chota Nagpur plateau, which was part of Bihar until 2000 but now is part of a separate state called Jharkhand.The climate of Bihar is mildly cold in the winter (the lowest temperatures being around 2 to 3 degree Celsius, highest around 43 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Winter months are December and January. It is hot in the summer (43 to 50 degree Celsius). April to mid June is the hot months. The monsoon months of June, July, August, and September see good rainfall. October & November and February & March have pleasant climate.

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Modern History of Bihar

After the Battle of Buxar(1764), the British East India Company obtained the diwani rights for Bihar, Bengal and Orissa. In 1935, certain portions of Bihar were reorganized into the separate province of Orissa. Again, in 2000, 18 administrative districts of Bihar were separated to form the state of Jharkhand. Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur and his army’s as well as countless other persons from Bihar, contributed to the India’s First war of Independence 1857. Baikuntha Shukla another great nationalist from Bihar who was hanged for murdering phanindranath Ghosh who had become a government approver which led to hanging of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru a key member of the revolutionary party. Baikunth was commissioned to plan the execution of Ghosh as an act of ideological vendetta which he carried out successfully on November 1932. He was arrested and tried for the killing. Baikunth was convicted and hanged in Gaya Central Jail on May 14, 1934. He was only 28 years old.
Mahatma Gandhi started the freedom movement in India by his Satyagraha in the champaran district of Bihar at the request of Raj Kumar Shukla – against the British. Raj Kumar Shukla drew the attention of Mahatma Gandhi, who had just returned from South Africa, to the plight of the peasants suffering under an oppressive system established by European indigo planters. Gandhiji’s entry into the India’s Struggle for freedom. On his arrival at Motihari, the district headquarters Gandhiji along with his team of eminent lawyers comprising of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Anugrah Narayan sinha, Brajkishore parsad and Ram Nayami parsad which he handpicked participate in the satyagraha were ordered to leave by the next available train which train they refused to do and Gandhiji was arrested.
Raj Kumar Shukla has been described by Gandhiji in his “Atmakatha”, as a man whose suffering gave him the strength to rise against the odds. Gandhiji reached Patna on 10 April, 1917 and on 16 April he reached motihari accompanied by Raj Kumar Shukla. Under Gandhiji’s leadership the historic "Champaran Satyagraha" began. The contribution of Raj Kumar Shukla is reflected in the writing of Dr. Rajendra parsad, first President of India, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Acharya Kriplani and of course, Mahatma Gandhi himself. Mahatma Gandhi received the spontaneous support of a cross section of people, including Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who ultimately became the first President of India, Bihar Kesari Sri Krishna Sinha, who became the first Chief Minister of Bihar, Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, who ultimately became the first finance minister of Bihar and Brajkishore Prasad.

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Ancient History of Bihar

The central region is now known as Bihar was called Magadha in ancient days. Its capital Patna, then called Pataliputra, was the capital of the Mauryan Empire which ruled over much of the Indian Subcontinent and extended as far as Iran and Afghanistan to the West. Just north of Magadha across the river Ganges is the Vaishali region. To the north east of vaishali is Mithila, the kingdom of the legendary king Janak. Sitamarhi in Mithila is said to be the birth place of King Ram’s Queen Sita. Bihar is important as the centre of Indian culture and education outlived its importance as the center of Power by another five hundred years. Out of the three ancient universities of India, tow Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities were located in Bihar.

Buddha
Bihar is also the birthplace of many religions including Buddhism and Jainism.The word “Bihar“, its origin in the Sanskrit word “Vihara”, meaning Buddhist Monasteries. The Buddha started Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, now a town located in the modern district of Gaya. Buddha started spreading his teaching after attaining the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.

Muhammad Bin Bakhtiar Khilji, a General of Muhammad Ghori captured Bihar in 12 century and destroyed the ancient seats of learning of this region. During the medieval period, Bihar saw a brief period of glory for about six years during the rule of Sher Shah Suri, who hailed from Sasaram.

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Rajgir

Rajgir
Rajgir, "House of the King", is an important religious place for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. This ancient town has reference in Mahabharata, Buddhist and Jain texts. Rajgir was also developed as health and winter resort with its warm water ponds.
History of Rajgir
Rajgir was the ancient capital city of the Magadha kings until the 5th century BC. Jarasanadh who hailed from this place had defeated Krishna 18 times. Mahabharata reco unts a wrestling match between Bhima and Jarasandh, the then king of Rajgir. Jarasandh was invincible as his body could rejoin any dismembered limbs. According to the legend, Bhim split Jarasandh into two and threw the two halves facing opposite to each other so that they could not join.
It was at this place the Gautam Buddha spent several months meditating, and preaching at Griddhkuta,(Hill of the Vultures'). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and converted King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to his religion. Rajgir is also famous for its association with Maurya Kings Bimbsara and Ajatashatru. Ajatshatru kept his father Bimbsara in captivity here. On one of the hills is the cave of Saptparni where the first Buddhist Council was held under the leadership of Bhikshu Kashyap. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Today an aerial ropeway provides the link with a hilltop stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by the Japanese.

Famous Place in Rajgir
Amaravana (Jivaka's Mango Garden)
Jivaka, the royal physician during the times of Ajatshatru and Bimbisara used to practice here. It is said that lord Buddha was also brought here for a cure of a wound.

Swarna Bhandar
The twin Rock-cut caves, are supposed to be the doorway to the treasury of King Bimbisara. One of the caves is said to be the guard room. While the other is supposed to be the passage to king Bimbisara's treasury. The treasure, according to folklore, is still intact.

The Cyclopean Wall
The 40 km long wall encircles ancient Rajgir. Built from massive pieces of stones, it was constructed before the Mauryan rule.

Griddhakuta (Vulture's Peak)
At the top of Ratnagiri hill, where Lord Buddha preached many inspiring sermons, a Peace Pagoda has been built by the Buddha Singh of Japan. There is a roapway which takes around 8 minutes to take tourists on the top. It gives a splendid view of Rajgir.

Jain Temples

There are more than 25 Jain temples around Rajgir. Situated on mountains, they are approached easily by those who love trekking.

Hot Springs
The hot springs are major tourist attractions. They are at the foot of the Vaibhava Hill. The hot water is supposed to come from the 'Saptaparni Caves', situated on top of the hill. Brahmaputra is the hottest spring with water temperature being 45 degree C. Separate bathing places for men and women have been organised.

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Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur, the city of eastern Bihar, is famous worldwide for its silk production. The city has major road and rail connections and trades in agricultural produce and cloth. Major industries include rice and sugar milling and woolen weaving. The silk industry in this city is hundreds of years old. There is also a Silk Institute and Agricultural college here, as well as a University, and Engineering, Medical and Homeopathy colleges. The language used in Bhagalpur is Angika, one the oldest languages of the World.

Geography of Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga River. Situated 220km east of state capital Patna and 410 km North West of Calcutta is well connected by rail and road.
The Gangetic plains are very fertile and the main crops include rice, wheat, maize, barley, and oilseeds. The economy of Bhagalpur is dependent mainly on agriculture and silk.

History of Bhagalpur
References to Bhagalpur can be found in Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata where Bhagalpur has been described as the kingdom of Anga. Mandar Hill, situated 52 km south from Bhagalpur, is believed to have been used as Churner during Samudra-Manthan by God and Danav according to Hindu mythology. Ancient cave sculptures of Emperor Ashoka's regime are found in the neighborhood and at Sultangunj, 20 km west of Bhagalpur, a temple of the Gupta period still exists. The tomb of Suja, brother of Moghul emperor Aurangzeb, in the heart of the town is reminiscent of the city's association with the Mughal period. Ruins of ancient Vikramshila University are located 44 km east of Bhagalpur. It was the medieval centre to the conservation and propagation of Buddhist education, established by King Dharampal of Bengal at the end of the 8th century.

Famous Place in Bhagalpur:-

Mandar Hill
A small hill about 30 km from Bhagalpur is the very same hill which was used for the Sagar Manthan. The marks of the snake around the hill used for mathan can be seen. Foot prints of Lord Vishnu can also be seen on this hill. The most attracting feature of the hill is the lake at its peak.

Vikramashila
Founded in the latter part of the eight century A.D by Dharmapala, the Buddhist University of Vikramashila is located at the famous Patharghat Hill on the right bank of the Ganga, about 38 kilometers to the southeast of Bhagalpur. It was patronized by the Pala Kings who helped the University of Nalanda also. For a number of years, this university was a well known center for Tantricism.

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History of Patna

Legend ascribes the origin of Patna to a mythological king Putraka who created Patna by magic for his queen Patali, literally Trumpet flower, which gives it its ancient name Pataligram. It is said that in honour of the first born to the queen, the city was named Pataliputra. The city came into prominence in the early years of the 5th century when Ajatshatru, the second king of the Maurya dynasty shifted the capital of the Magadha Empire to Patliputra. Over the next 1000 years, the city grew in stature as one of the foremost cities of the Indian Subcontinent. Chandragupta who was the founder of Mauryan Empire established himself in Patliputra in 321 B C. His grandson Ashoka the Great, expanded the limits of his empire. To facilitate the Indo-Hellenic trade the Mauryans built a Royal Highway from Patliputra to Taxila in Pakistan, which later became the Grand Trunk Road and the similar highway reached towards the Bay of Bengal and along the sea -coast. After Mauryans ruled Patliputra, the two powers emerged are the Guptas and mighty Sher Shah Suri. The first Gupta emperor Chandra Gupta, made Patna his capital early in the 4th century A D and it was rebuilt by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri about 1000 years later in 1540- 45, who constructed the Sher Shah Mosque in the east of the city. In 1764, after the battle of Buxar, it was passed to the British.


Places of Interest in Patna

Golghar

The huge, beehive structured building was built to store grains, following a terrible famine in 1786. The 29 meter high building offers a scenic view of river Ganga and Patna city. This granary was never used for the desired purpose.

Museum
The city museum is a collection of metal and stone sculptures of the Maurya and Gupta Periods, terracota figurines and archaeological finds from different sites in Bihar. It has the Ashes of Buddha, image of Yakshi (3rd century BC), and a 16 meter long fossilized tree.







Har Mandir Sahib

A holy shrine of Sikhs, this is said to be the second-most important Gurudwara in India. The Gurudwara was built by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs. Built in white marbles, with kiosks on the terraces, it consecrates the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.

Khuda Baksh Oriental Library

One of the national libraries of India, it has a rare collection of Persian and Arabic manuscript. It also host paintings during Rajput and Mughal rule in India. A very unique collection; a One-inch wide Quran is also kept here.

Martyrs Memorial

The memorial in front of the old secretariat, shows seven young men facing the bullets and sacrificing their lives during the '1942 Quit India movement'.

Hanuman Mandir

The favorite Deity of the Patnaite. It is situated right in front of the Patna Junction, the central railway station of the City. Long winding queues can be seen at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays, the traditional worshipping days of the deity.

Qila House (Jalan House)

This houses an interesting museum famous for its jade collection, Chinese paintings and other far eastern work of art, Collected by Diwan Bahadur Radhakrishan Jalan.

Darbhanga House

This is also called as Nav Lakha building which was built by Maharaja Sir Kameshwar Singh of Darbhanga. This beautiful building on the banks of Ganges now houses the post graduate departments of Patna University. It houses the Kali Mandir, which has been a place of worship of the goddess. The Maharaja himself was a great devotee and the students of the Patna University rarely take an exam without offering a prayer.

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History of Bihar

The History of Bihar is very rich and eventful. It is due to the fact that Bihar was a center of power, learning and culture. It has been a cradle of Indian civilization and the birth place of two of the major religions that have emanated from India: Buddhism and Jainism. The first known republic, a state without a sovereign king, existed in this region more than two thousand years back.

Geography of Patna

Patna is located on the south bank of the Ganges River and it has a very long river line. It is surrounded by rivers—the Ganga, the Son, and the Poonpun. In the north of Patna, flows another popular river, the Gandak. The bridge over the river Ganga, named after Mohandas Gandhi, is 5850m long and is said to be the longest single river bridge in the world.

The history of the land mass currently known as Bihar is very ancient. In fact, it extends to the very dawn of human civilization. Earliest myths and legends of hinduism the Sanatana (Eternal) Dharma - are associated with Bihar. Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, was a princess of Bihar. She was the daughter of King Janak of Videha. The present districts of Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Samastipur, Madhubani, and Darbhanga, in north-central Bihar, mark this ancient kingdom. The present small township of Sitamarhi is located here. According to legend, the birthplace of Sita is Punaura, located on the west-side of Sitamarhi, the headquarters of the district. Janakpur, the capital of King Janak, and the place where Lord Rama and Sita were married, lies just across the border in Nepal.

It was here that Prince Gautam attained enlightenment, became the Buddha- at the present Bodh Gaya- a town in central Bihar; and the great religion of buddhism was born. It is here also that Lord Mahavira, the founder of another great religion, Jainism, was born and attained nirvana (death). That site is located at the present town of pawapuri, some miles to the south east of patna, the Capital of Bihar., it is here that the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh was born and attained the sainthood of sikhism, that is became a Guru. A lovely and majestic Gurudwara (a temple for Sikhs) built to commemorate his memory - the harmandir- is located in eastern Patna. Known reverentially as the Patna Sahib, it is one of the five holiest places of worhip (Takhat) for Sikhs.

In medieval times Bihar lost its prestige as the political and cultural center of India. The Mughal period was a period of unremarkable provincial administration from Delhi. The only remarkable person of these times in Bihar was Sher Shah, or Sher Khan Sur, an Afghan. Based at Sasaram which is now a town in the district of the same name in central-western Bihar, this jagirdar of the Mughal King Babur was successful in defeating Humayun, the son of Babur, twice - once at Chausa and then, again, at Kannauj (in the present state of Uttar Pradesh or U.P.) Through his conquest Sher Shah became the ruler of a territory that, again, extended all the way to the Punjab. He was noted as a ferocious warrior but also a noble administrator - in the tradition of Ashok and the Gupta kings. Several acts of land reform are attributed to him. The remains of a grand mausoleum that he built for himself can be seen in today's Sasaram.


Bihar is most famous places – the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centers of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and pawapuri are all nearby to Patna. Patna is known as a holy city for Sikhs, the tenth human guru “Guru Gobind Singh”, was born here. Bihar is also the birth place of the first president of India, Dr. Rejendra Prasad and freedom fighters like Babu kunwar Singh, swami sahajanand saraswati, Basawon Singh, Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha and Maulana Mazharul Hague.

During most of British India, Bihar was a part of the Presidency of Bengal, and was governed from Calcutta. As such, this was a territory very much dominated by the people of Bengal. All leading educational and medical centers were in Bengal. In spite of the unfair advantage that Bengalis possessed, some sons of Bihar rose to positions of prominence, by dint of their intelligence and hard labor. One such was Rajendra Prasad, native of Ziradei, in the district of Saran. He became the first President of the Republic of India.
When separated from the Bengal Presidency in 1912, Bihar and Orissa comprised a single province. Later, under the Government of India Act of 1935, the Division of Orissa became a separate province; and the Province of Bihar came into being as an administrative unit of British India. At Independence in 1947, the State of Bihar, with the same geographic boundary, formed a part of the Republic of India, until 1956. At that time, an area in the south-east, predominantly the district of Purulia, was separated and incorporated into West Bengal as part of the Linguistic Reorganization of Indian States.

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Bihar

Bihar is a state of the Indian union situated in central eastern india. Bihar is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at 38,202 sq mi (99,200 km²) and 3rd largest by population. On its other three sides Bihar is surrounded by the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the west, Jharkhand to the south and West Bengal to the east. Culturally, it is a part of the Bhojpuri heartland of India. It spans an area of about 94,164 km² and its population is over 82998,509. The Bihar plain is divided into two parts by the river Ganga which flows through the middle from west to east. Hindi and Urdu are the official languages of the state, whilst the majority of the people speak one of the Bihari languages — Angika, Bhojpuri, Magadhi or Maithili.

Its capital is Patna and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. Its capital Patna, earlier known as Pataliputra, was an important center of Indian civilization. Nalanda was a centre of learning established by the 5th century CE in Bihar. Being the capital of Bihar, Patna is known for its magnificent past and the historical buildings. Patna is serving by three rivers Ganges, Son and Gandak. Capital city is located on the banks of river Ganges. Patna is the gateway to the Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centers of Vaishali, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Pawapuri, all located in the state of Bihar.

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