Nardah Museum-Bihar

Nardah Museum-Bihar
About:
District Magistrate of newly created district of Nawada Shri N. P. Singh, I.A.S. the Nardah Museum was established. Almost all the exhibits were collected and made over to the Deptt. of Art, Culture & Youth, Govt. of Bihar by Shri Singh himself. Nardah Museum is a multi-purpose museum and the mention-worthy artifacts and art-objects include Pal stone sculptures, coins and manuscripts. Besides, contemporary painting, metal and stone art-pieces have also been preserved in the museum. The entire collection is housed in a magnificent building of its own.
Location info:
Address:Nardah Museum,Nardah,Patna,Bihar,India
District:Patna
Nearest City:Nawada
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate/Weather:
The climate of the state is tropical with hot summers and cold winters. Monsoon brings medium to high rainfall and floods several areas in north Bihar. Humidity levels remain high in north and central Bihar throughout the summer and monsoon season, making them quite uncomfortable. The best time to visit the state is from October to March.
History:
Nardah Museum was established in the year 1974.It is located in the Nawada district of Bihar. It was the brainchild of District Magistrate of Nawada Shri N. P. Singh. He donated all his personal collection to the museum. The museum houses stone sculptures, coins paintings metal objects stone art-pieces and manuscripts.
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
Kakolat:
It is a magnificent waterfall in Gobindpur police station, about 33-kms from Nawada. Just below the fall there is a deep natural reservoir. The fall is about 150 to 160-ft high from the ground level.A legend about this place is that in Treta Yuga a king named Nigas was cursed by a Rishi and had to take the shape of a python and lived here. The Pandavas visited the place during their exile and the accursed king got salvation from the damnation. The king after getting rid of the curse proclaimed that one who would bathe in the waterfall will not take the yoni of snake and that is why a large number of people from far and near bathe in the river. Kakolat is a most popular picnic spot too, visited by thousands of people almost every day.  

Gonava jee:
Gonava village is situated about one kilometer north of Nawada on Patna-Ranchi road. It is a place of pilgrimage for the Jains of both sects. The Digambar Jain temple is just by the side of main road while the Shwetamber Jain temple is behind it. The Digambar Jain temple built in 1925 is quite beautiful. It has a large marble idol of Lord Mahavira. The Shwetambar Jain temple was built some 800 years ago and has an impressive approach road. The temple has got a marble idol of Lord Mahavira flanked by a granite idol of Sudharmaji and idol of Panch Parmesthi made of Asthadhatu. The temple is famous and known as place of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira’s first disciple, Gautam Gandharva.

Sitamarhi:
This is a small village about 32-kms from Nawada and is a place of great religious and mythological importance. There is an elliptical cave carved inside a huge hemispherical block of granite rock. The legend has it that it was in this cave that Sita had to take refuge after having been exiled by Rama. Built by Vishwakarma, the divine builder at the behest of saint poet Valmiki, as the legend goes, it was the heaven for Sita and provided her protection in the dense forest, which was infested with wild beasts. One and a half kilometers northeast of Sitamarhi there is a village called Barat, where the saint poet Valmiki is said to have lived when Sita was exiled. It was on the wide high level ground near this cave that Sita’s sons Lav and Kush are said to have fought against Ram’s army.

Had-Hadwa Waterfall:
At a distance of about 6-kms from Kawakole of Nawada district, there is a popular picnic spot having picturesque situation. A seasonal waterfall of this name in Macchaudra village is the main attraction.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Nawada Railway Station
Nearest Airport:Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (112kms)
Road Transport:Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.uto-rickshaws,Cycle-Rickshaws,Tangas.
Nearest Visiting places:
Maner:
Located just 29 kilometers away from Patna, Maner is an Islamic pilgrim destination. Maner houses a shrine of 13th century Sufi Saint Maneri. His cenotaph at Bari Dargah is a popular tourist destination among his followers. There is one tomb of his disciple Shah Daulat which also attracts a number of tourists.  

Bodh Gaya:
Located 125 kilometers away, Bodh Gaya is a major tourist attraction near Patna. Bodh Gaya was the place where Bautam Buddha attained enlightenment under the peepal tree. Known as the Bodhi Tree, it is one of the most sacred sites for Buddhists across the world. The Bodhi tree is enshrined in a temple called Bodhi Temple. A huge statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is another major tourist attraction at Bodh Gaya. Bodh Gaya is a part of Buddhist Circuit that connects all the places associated with Buddha and Buddhism.

Nalanda:
Located 90 kilometers away from Patna, Nalanda houses the ruins of the famous Nalanda University. Nalanda was once the seat of higher learning but was devastated by a Turkish invader in the twelfth century. Wide spread campus of the university shows the grandeur and versatility of Nalanda University. According to Chinese traveler, Hiuen Tsang, Naland University housed more than ten thousand students and one thousand faculty members.

Rajgir:
Rajgir holds great importance for Busshists and Jains. Situated amongst lush green hills and at a distance of 102 km from Patna, Rajgir was the ancient capital of the Magadha Empire before Lord Buddha. Major tourist attractions at Rajgir are Gridhakuta, Pipphali House, Venuvana, Tapodarama and Saptaparni cave.

Vaishali:
Vaishali is said to be the first republic in human history. Vaishali had the concept of republican government much before the Greeks. Vaishali is located at a distance of 55 kilometers from the capital city of Patna. Lord Buddha stayed here for quite some time during his search of truth. Vaishali is also associated with Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Petrol Pump:Nawada,Bihar,Idia
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Hotel Krishna Palace:Nawada,Bihar,India

Hotel Galaxy:Nawada,Bihar,India  
Mukhiyaji Ka Hotel:Nawada,Bihar,India
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Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:Sadar Hospital:Nawada,Bihar,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
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Patna Museum

About:
Patna museum has a large collection of sculptures of the Gandhara and the Mathura style art. These sculptures belong to the Kushana period. The Gandhar style sculptures, also known as ‘Greeco-Buddhist Art’ are made of blue-schist of Swat valley and the collection includes figures of Buddha. Other than Lord Buddha, several statutes of Bodhisattvas have also been kept in the Patna Museum. Patna Museum preserves holy relic casket of Lord Buddha containing his ashes.  

Patna Museum houses many historic items found during excavations in different parts of Bihar. Some belong to the pre-historic phase and some are from early centuries of first millennium. Post-excavation, archeologists found many things including some historic objects, stone sculptures, bronzes, terracotta, paintings – miniature and thanka paintings and coins, which all are important to know the history and development of Bihar.

The museum at Patna has some pre-historic objects of great interest including of Palaeoliths, microliths and neoliths. These objects were found from different parts of India. Certain objects like Paleolithic tools found at Bariar (M.P.) and Lalitpur (U.P.), Attirampakkam (Tamilnadu) have also been kept in display in the museum.

Thus, the ancient Kusumpura metamorphosed through Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad and now into Patna , a continuous history ranging from 6th century BC to present times – a record claimed by few cities in the world. It was Ajatshatru the Magadha king who first built a small fort in Pataligram on the bank of the Ganga in 6th century BC, which later blossomed into the ancient glory still to be seen in the neighboring archaeological sites at Kumrahar. Bhiknapahari, Agamkuan, Bulandi Bagh and Kankar Bagh. Pataliputra dominated the political fortunes of the whole of north India between 6th century BC and 5th century AD, a fact established by archaeological excavations. After a temporary eclipse, in 16th century, Sher Shah Suri returned the city to its former glory and established the present Patna . After the decline of the Mughals, the British too found Patna a convenient regional capital and built a modern extension to this ancient city and called it Bankipore. It was in Gandhi Maidan in this area, that Mahatma Gandhi held his prayer meetings.
Location info:
Address:Patna Museum,Patna,Bihar,India
District:Patna
Nearest City:Patna
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate/Weather:
The climate of the state is tropical with hot summers and cold winters. Monsoon brings medium to high rainfall and floods several areas in north Bihar. Humidity levels remain high in north and central Bihar throughout the summer and monsoon season, making them quite uncomfortable. The best time to visit the state is from October to March.
History:
Patna Museum was established in the year 1917. The aim behind the establishment of the museum was to impart a scientific vision to understand the evolution of history, culture and art tradition of the land. Patna archaeological museum boasts a huge collection of artifacts found during the excavations of ancient sites in Bihar.
Interesting things to do:
Sonepur Mela: 
One of the most astonishing cattle fairs to be held in Asia in terms of its size and scale. The sleepy little town of Sonepur (22 km form Patna) is thrown into frenzy on Kartik Purnima , a fortnight after Diwali , as people from all over the world congragate to participate in this huge festival and is enjoyed by all.During the period Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation provides facilities in traditional huts.

Chhath Festival: 
The festivities accompanying the celebreation of freshly harvested paddy and its offerings made to the Sun God have to be seen to be believed. Joy and colour mark the Chhath festivities as thanks are offered to the lord of Crops and the creator of the seasons. Devotional songs to the Sun God and fasting all day long make the Chhath Festival a day of thanks giving. Devotees walk barefoot in the penance to the venue of the celebrations. Lighted earthen lamps are floated down the river at evening time.
Interesting things to Visit:
Arts and Crafts: 
Madhubani paintings are indigenous to the state. The renditions by rural women, these village paintings have a large market in the urban areas as well as on the export front. Created strictly by the women of Mithila. they are etched in primary colours of natural origin on paper and cloth. Their subjects are mythology and religious events.

Tomb of Yahya Maneri:
The Tomb of Yahya Maneri lies in a mosque to the east of a large tank, with masonry walls and ghats, and pillared porticos, which is connected with the old bed of the Son by a tunnel, 400 feet long. The tomb is situated in an enclosure half filled with graves and ancient tress. On the north and west of which are three domed mosque and some quaint little cloisters build by lbrahim Khan.

Ganga river:
The Ganga has an exalted position in the Hindu ethos. It is repeatedly invoked in the Vedas, the Puranas, and the two Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Ganga is a goddess, Ganga devi, one of two daughters of Meru (the Himalayas), the other being Uma, consort of Shiva. In her youth, Indra had asked for Ganga to be given to heaven to soothe the Gods with its cool waters. The story of its descent to earth appears in slightly different forms in Ramayana, Mahabharata and in the Puranas. These myths are variously dated between 2000 to 400 BC

Ganga River Basin:
The Ganga River basin is affluent with perennial rivers and streams having special significance in the region it flows. Some of the important rivers in the Ganga River Basin are as follows The approximately 260 km long distributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal, India. The river divides from the Ganges as a canal in Murshidabad District at the Farakka Barrage. The town of Hugli-Chinsura was formerly known as Hooghly. This town is located on the river, in the Hooghly (district). The origins of the name of Hooghly River are not known, whether the city or the river derived the name first.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Patna is connected by rail to Bombay, Calcutta, Guwahati, Ranchi, Varanasi.
Nearest Airport:The flights of Indian Airlines, Sahara India, Air Deccan and Jet Airways connect Patna with Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Lucknow, Ranchi and many other major cities.
Road Transport:All – weather motorable roads connect Patna with the rest of Bihar. There are also regular inter – state bus services.By road Patna to Nalanda-95 km, Rajgir-110 km, Pawapuri-90 km, Gaya-120 km, Bodhgaya-135 km, Raxaul-210 km, Ranchi-335 km, Muzzafarpur-78 km, Sasaram- 152 km, Vaishali-56 km, Calcutta-653 km, Delhi-997 km. Bus : Regular direct bus services connect Patna to Calcutta, Rajgir, Nalanda, Pawapuri, Vaishali, Gaya-Bodhgaya, Ranchi, Raxaul, Muzzafarpur, Sasaram.
Nearest Visiting places:
Golghar: 
Alarmed by the famine of 1770, captain John Garstin built this huge granary for the British army in 1786. The massive structure is 29 m high and the walls are 3.6 m wide at the base. The winding stairway around this monument offers a brilliant panoramic view of the city and the Ganga flowing by.Golghar or the roundhouse, the huge granary was built in 1786 by Captain John Garstin, at the behest of the then administrator, Warren Hastings. Bihar experienced severe draught that resulted in acute famine in the year 1770. Alarmed by the situation faced by the people, this massive granary was constructed for the British army.The enormous structure is 29 m high and is 3.6 m wide at the base. Overlooking the river and the plains, it looks like the upper half of a gigantic, decorated Easter egg, with the spiral stairway winding around this monument, adding to its embellishment. It offers a magnificent breathtaking view of the city and the river Ganges, flowing nearby.

Martyr’s Memorial: 
A memorial to seven freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the Quit India Movement of August 1942, the Martyr’s Memorial is a modern sculpture facing the Secretariat, where they were shot in their attempt to host the national flag. Life-size statues in front of the aged secretariat compound have been put up in memory of seven brave young men who faced bullets for the freedom of the country and sacrificed their lives in August 1942 in the historic struggle for India’s independence during “Quit India” movement. It is a modern sculpture with life dimension statues of the seven martyrs’, in front of the Secretariat where they were shot in their attempt to hoist the national tricolor.

Har Mandir Takht: 
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, was born in 1660 in Patna. The Har Mandir Takht, one of the four sacred shrines of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site. The original temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and contains belongings of the Guru and Sikh holy texts. The Harmandir Takht, one of the four holy shrines of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site, The original temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and contains belongings of the Guru and Sikh holy texts. As a sign of reverence, it is also called Patna Sahib by the Sikhs. The Harmandir Temple, also referred to as Patna Sahib, is the second most important pilgrimage of the Sikhs after the Golden Temple of Amritsar. The Takht Harmandir was built by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs. The gurudwara is made of white marble and is a great piece of art. The Harmandir Temple Located in Patna City, the elder part the city, it also houses a museum on it’s third floor.

Patna Museum: 
The Patna Museum houses a First World War cannon, metal and stone sculptures of the Mauryan and Gupta periods, Buddhist sculptures and quaint terracotta figures. A 16 m long fossilised tree is one of its special features.Patna museum was established in the year 1917 by the British Government.The building of the museum was built in the style of Rajput and Mughal architecture.It is a multipurpose museum.The museum is the storehouse of archaeological objects, coins, art objects, paintings, instruments, textiles, paintings, thankas, bronze images and sculptures and terracotta. Patna museum is divided into 11 different sections.

Pathar ki Masjid: 
Adjacent to Har Mandir Sahib, on the bank of the Ganga, is this beautiful mosque built by Parwez Shah, son of Jehangir, when he was the governor of Bihar. It is also called Saif Khan’s mosque, Chimmi Ghat mosque and Sangi Masjid.Stone Mosque or Pathar Ki Masjid was built in 1621 by Parvezshah, son Emperor Jahangir when he was the Governor of Bihar. Adjacent to Har Mandir Sahib, this beautiful mosque was built by Parwez Shah when he was the governor of Bihar. It is situated on the bank of the Ganga, it is also called Saif Khan’s mosque, Chimmi Ghat mosque and Sangi Masjid.

Sher Shah Suri Masjid: 
Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1545 to commemorate his reign. Built in the Afghan architectural style, it is one of the many beautiful mosques in Bihar, and one of the impressive landmarks of Patna.Khuda Baksh Oriental Library: Founded in 1900, a magnificent one-man collection of rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal paintings, oddities like the Koran inscribed in a book only 25mm wide and an assortment of old and new books from the University of Cordoba, Spain. It is one of the national libraries in India. The library also contains the only books to survive the sacking of the Moorish University of Cordoba in Spain.Sher Shah Masjid was built by Sher Shah Suri, to commemorate his reign. Built-in Afghan architectural style, it is one of the many beautiful mosques in Bihar and a landmark in Patna. An Afghan chieftain, who defeated Mughal Emperor Humanyun to rule Delhi. Locally known as Shershahi, the mosque was built in 1545, making it the oldest mosque in Patna.

Jalan Museum: 
Built on the foundations of Sher Shah’s fort, Qila House contains an impressive private collection of antiques, including a dinner service that once belonged to George III, Marie Antoinette’s Sevres porcelain, Napoleon’s four-poster bed, Chinese jade and Mughal silver filigree,.It is a private collection, and prior permission is required for a visit.Jalan Museum, also known as Quila House, is constructed at the old site of Shershah’s Fort, in Patna of Bihar.The museum houses private collections of Chinese porcelains, paintings, jade and silver filigree work of the Mughal period.Prior permission is required to enter the museum.

Sadaqat Ashram: 
The Ashram is the headquarters of Bihar Vidyapeeth, a national university. India’s first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad lived here after his retirement and there is a small museum here showcasing his personal belongings. The beautiful bungalow of Sadaqat Ashram in Patna is situated at the bank of the river Ganga. This fantastic location of the Sadaqat Ashram attracts many tourists every year. Here people visit the museum to learn more about the last days of Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s life

AgamkuanAgam Kuan: 
Agam Kuan (Unfathomable well) is one of the most important early historic archeological remains in Patna. It is situated just close to Gulzarbagh railway Station, which is proposed to be associated with the Mauryan Emperor Ashok. The Agam Kuan refers to an “abysmal well” and it is situated on the eastern part of the capital of Bihar, namely Patna. It was built during the Mauryan Empire and ‘Ashoka the great’. Agam Kuan in Patna, Bihar This magnificent monument in Bihar is 105 feet deep and 20 inch in diameter. Half of the well is made of ornamented bricks. One of the spectacular things in this well is its arch-shaped windows

Padri Ki Haveli: 
Built in 1772, the Padri Ki Haveli in Patna is the oldest church in the state of Bihar. The Padri Ki Haveli has an interesting history behind its inception. The church is seventy feet in length, forty feet wide and fifty feet in height. The magnificent monument was designed by Tirreto, the venetian architect who came from Calcutta. The church has withstood many attacks and act of destruction. The soldier of Nawab Mir Kasim, the ruler of Bengal looted the Padri Ki Haveli following their quarrel with the English traders. In the process, the ancient records kept inside were destroyed and burnt. The church suffered another attack during the Sepoy mutiny in 1857.
Deer at Sanjay Gandhi Biological ParkBiological Park: 
Owing to its huge size, Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park is considered among one of the biggest zoos in India. The park houses more than three hundred species of trees including of orchids, ferns and roses. Each of these species has been kept in different houses and even their names have been given accordingly. The presence of the rare white tiger makes Sanjay Gandhi Biological park unique. Other than white tiger, the park has single male zebra, rhino of single horn, hippopotamus, and many cubs and tigers. The population of leopard is expected to rise in coming year for they have started breeding now. There are some 70 species of animals. Some rare species of animals such as clouded leopard, crocodile, Himalayan bear, lion-tailed macaque, leopard cat, hog deer, and white peacock, etc. have been kept here. The total population of animals is around 800. The park is excellent exhibition of wildlife.

PlanetoriumModern Planetarium: 
Indira Gandhi Science Complex is one of the must visiting places in Patna. This is among few Planetarium’s (Taramandal) in India.A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation. A dominant feature of most planetariums is the large dome-shaped projection screen onto which scenes of stars, planets and other celestial objects can be made to appear and move realistically to simulate the complex ‘motions of the heavens.

Kumhrar 80 pillar HallKumhrar: 
Kumhrar, site of the ancient city of Patliputra, lies 5 kms from Patna railway station. Archaeological findings in this area establish Patna’s claim to over a thousand years of political glory – 600 BC to 600 AD. Very little of this grandeur remains though, except for the remains of a huge Mauryan hall supported by 80 sandstone pillars dating back to 300 BC.Kumhrar, located in the city of Patna, is the site that consists of the archaeological excavations of Patliputra and marks the ancient capital of Ajatshatru, Chandragupta and Ashok. The remains of the ancient city of Patilputra have been uncovered in Kumhrar, south of Patna. It is six kms from the railway station, on the Kankarbagh Road. Excavations here have releaved relics of four continuous periods from 600 BC to 600 AD. An important find is the 80-pillared huge hall of the Mauryan dynasty.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
IOC Petrol Pump:Patna,Bihar,India Petrol Pump:Patna,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Hotel Chanakya:Beer Chand Patel Marg,Patna,Bihar,India,Ph:0612 2223141

Hotel Satkar International:Fraser Rd,Patna,Bihar,India,Ph:0612 2220551
Hotel Nand:R. K. Bhattacharya Rd,Patna,Bihar,India,ph:0612 2322732
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Kurji Holy Family Hospital:Sadaquat Ashram,Kurji,Patna,Bihar,India,ph:0612 2262516
Dr Akhori Shashi Bhushan Sahaya:146,Shree Krishna Nagar,Boring Road,Patna,Bihar,India,ph:0612 2533469
Society/Community Phone Number:
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Sarnath Museum-Bihar

Sarnath Museum-Bihar
About:
Peaceful Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first sermon more than 2500 years ago has a site museum whose prize exhibit is the enormous lion capital. Now the emblem of independent India, this capital once surmounted an Ashokan pillar erected to mark the spot where the Buddha preached. Carved in pale yellowish-grey sandstone with black flecks, the sculpture has the characteristic highly polished surface. At the entrance hall are two figures of Buddha, one of which portrays the historic events at Sarnath.  

There are many other Buddha and bodhisattva figures on view. Among these the most outstanding is the Gupta period Buddha with hand raised in Abhaya or protection. Archaeological museum Sarnath is the oldest site museum of Archaeological Survey of India. In order to keep the antiquities found from the site, a decision was taken in 1904 by the Government to construct a site museum adjacent to the excavated site at Sarnath. It was due to initiative of Sir John Marshall the then Director General of Archaeology in India, that this museum was created.

Sarnath became a prominent center of Buddhism in the Gupta period. It has been eloquently told by the profusion of exquisitely carved sculptural art, which got a new dimension in the hands of the Gupta artists, and it became a main center of Gupta art. The Sarnath School of Art is known for its elegance, simplicity of forms and sublimity. The images of Buddha, displayed in Shakyasimha gallery, represent this school of Art. Standing figure of profusely ornamented Tara is one of the best specimens of Late Gupta sculptural art of Sarnath. The single most famous exhibit of this museum is the lion capital which has four back-to-back lions.

The Lion capital of Ashoka has been adopted as the National symbol of India. Below this are representations of a lion, an elephant, horse and the bull.The Sarnath Museum has a small but amazing collection of Buddhist artifacts. Among the things to see is a beautiful sculpture of the Buddha from the 5th century. The Buddha sits cross-legged, with eyes downcast in deep meditation, and a halo around his head.

The stone sculptures from the site of Sarnath are divided in several museums, the major chunk being in the local museum. The Director General of Archaeological Survey of India has loaned some pieces discovered from Sarnath to this museum. They represent deities of the Buddhist and Brahmanical pantheons.Of other Buddhist remains there is an impressive and amazingly beautiful, life-size standing Bodhisattva and a delicate image of the Bodhisattva with a lotus and yet another bronze sculpture showing the Bodhisattva with multiple arms
Location info:
Address:Sarnath Museum,Bodhgay,Bihar,India
District:Bodhgay
Nearest City:Bodhgay
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate/Weather:
Summer- Max. 43, Min. 21. Winter – Max. 20, Min. 6. Rainfall: 120 cms.
History:
The museum atSarnath also houses an excellent collection of figures and sculptures from the Mauryan, the Kushana and the Gupta periods. Prominent of them is the earliest Buddha image found at Sarnath and many images of Hindu Gods dating from the 9th to 12th centuries. Sarnath has yielded a rich collection of sculptures, artifacts and edifices comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisattva images and other ancient remains.  
To house all the findings and excavations at Sarnath, the Archaeological Survey of India established a site Museum at Sarnath. Finest specimens of Buddhist art and other important remains have been housed at the museum. While the single most famous display of this museum is the lion capital, the Sarnath museum has a small but awe-inspiring collection of Buddhist artifacts. Among the things to see is a beautiful sculpture of the Buddha from the fifth century. The Buddha sits cross-legged, with eyes downcast in deep meditation, and a halo around his head. Also worth exploring are several beautiful figures of the several beautiful bodhisattvas.
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
Chaukhandi Stupa:
Chaukhandi Stupa is an impressive earthen mass covered by brickwork. The square base structure surrounded by an octagonal tower. It is believed that Emperor Ashoka erected the original structure.  

Dhamek Stupa:
Dhamek Stupa is the most remarkable stupa at Sarnath. Cylindrical in shape, the stupa is 28 m in diameter at the base and 43.6 m in height. The stupa is built partially of stone and partially of brick. The stone facing the lower part is embroidered with delicate floral carvings in Gupta style.

Mulgandha Kuti Vihar:
Mulgandha Kuti Vihar is a modern temple erected by the Mahabodhi Society. Japan`s best painter, Kosetsu Nosu, painted the beautiful murals in the temple. The temple has a expensive collection of the Buddhist literature. The ancient Mulagandha Kuti temple is among the brick remains of Sarnath.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Sarnath itself has a railway station that is connected to Varanasi and Gorakhpur by passenger trains
Nearest Airport:Varanasi Airport at Babatpur is near about 30 kilometers from Sarnath.
Road Transport:Sarnath is well connected to the rest of Uttar Pradesh by roadways. The nearest mega terminus is at Varanasi that is 10 kilometers from the downtown Sarnath. Varanasi in turn is well connected by bus to cities like Lucknow, Bareilly, Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra and Mathura. Both Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation as well as Private players operates these buses
Nearest Visiting places:
Gaya:
The ancient town of Gaya, located 100 kms south of Patna, is of great significance to Hindus and Budhhists. It is on the bank of Phalgu river. Here Lord Budhha preached the essence of life and Lord Vishnu preached the reality of death. It is believed that this place has been blessed by Lord Vishnu with purificatory powers to the “Atma”.The well known Vishnupad temple is situated at Andhargaya on the bank of river Phalgu and about 3 Kms from the heart of the town whereas Bodhi briksha (Bodhi tree) and Mahabodhi temple is situated at Bodhgaya which is about 11/ 13 Kms from the heart of the town.Legend has it that a gentle demon named Gaya, appalled by the sorrow caused by death, complained to Vishnu, and as protest died for the world. Impressed by his resolve, Vishnu blessed Gaya with the power to absolve sinners. Like Varanasi, and many other riverside towns, Gaya is a “tirtha” – a crossing across the celestial divide.  

Pawapuri:
Pawapuri is also known as Apapuri, it is believed that all sins for a devout Jain end here. Lord Mahavira who was the last Tirthankar breathed his last here around 500 B.C and was cremated on the bank of a large lake, overflowing with beautiful lotuses. Pawapuri, the place where Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, attained his enlightenment is located 38 kms from Rajgir and 90 kms from Patna.Legend has it that after the cremation of Mahavira, in order to meet the demand for his ashes, a large amount of soil was removed from around the funeral pyre, creating the water-tank. The beautiful marble Jalmandir was later built in the middle of the tank. Jal Mandir, the white marble temple in the middle of this lake, blooming with beautiful lotus flowers affords a breathtakingly enchanting sight. A large number of Jain pilgrims throng here. Samosharan, another Jain temple, is also located here. There are five other temples in the vicinity.

Vaishali:
The world’s first democracy with a duly elected council– Vajji, had its seat of administration in Vaishali. Being associated with Buddha and Jain Tirthankars, Vaishali has emerged as a historical and scenic place. Lord Buddha came thrice here and also gave his last sermon at Vaishali. Amrapali, a courtesan, gifted a mango grove to Buddha and later she became a Buddhist nun. Vaishali was also the venue for the second Buddhist council, 100 years after the death of Buddha.Vaishali is also considered to be the birthplace of Jain Tirthankar, Mahavira, by the Swetambar sect of Jains. Many historical monuments and material were found in the excavations at Vaishali

Barabar caves:
The Barabar caves, generally found in the shape of a cottage or hut, open on one side with other three sides walled with stone. With their interiors smooth and soothing, these caves also served as retreats for the Jain and Buddhist monks. Among the Buddhist caves, the Lomas Rishi cave is the finest example of the world famous Indian Buddhist Chaitya arch style.

Barabar hills:
Barabar hills located at a distance of 20 kilometers from Gaya in Bihar, comprises numerous temples constructed from black granite stones. Built for the first time during Ashoka’s reign with contributions in the later period also, these caves look like wood from a distance.

Nagarjuna caves:
The Nagarjuna caves, large in size, depicts the Jataka tales. An excellent work of architecture, these caves includes bow shaped arches at the entrance, circular halls and mini caves, all polished from inside. The Sudama cave, a two chambered structure with polished interiors, is the perfect example of this type of cave. Towards the north of the Sudama cave lies Karan Choper or Supriya cave, which is a single chambered structure with a vaulted roof and small gate. Secondly, the caves of the five Pandavas form another part of the Barabar caves. THese caves, used by five brothers, the Pandavas in their exile in the Mahabharata period, are small in size.

Swarna Bhandar:
The Swarna Bhandar or the King Bimbisara’s treasury, is also known as the twin rock cut caves in Rajgir. a major tourist destination, two cave chambers were hollowed out of a single massive rock, one of which is believed to have been the guards’ room. The rear wall or the doorway which has two straight vertical lines and one horizontal line cut into the rock, is supposed to lead to king Bimbisara’s treasury. The inscriptions carved on the wall in Sankhalipi or shell script has not be deciphered yet and considered to be the clue to open the golden treasury.

Bodhi Tree:
This tree is worshipped as holy, divine and as a giver of enlightenment and wisdom. It is under this banyan tree (a pipal tree) that Lord Buddha meditated after renouncing all worldly pleasures and attained wisdom and divine enlightenment.The present Bodhi Tree is probably the fifth succession of the original tree under which the Buddha had attained enlightenment. Vajrasana (the posture in which he meditated), the seat of stability, is a stone platform on which the Buddha is supposed to have sat in meditation gazing east, under the Bodhi tree.

Mahabodhi Temple:
Buddhism is today a world renowned religion. It is this temple that witnessed the divine enlightenment of Gautama Siddartha who renounced all worldly pleasures to find the answers to the questions that stirred his soul. He meditated under a pipal tree here and attained insight and wisdom that he preached to the world. This tree is also referred to as the “Bodhi tree”. A visit to this holy place will explain to you why the UNESCO declared it as a World heritage site in the year 2002.The Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya built around 6th-7th centuries, is the largest but is a later structure constructed on the site of the Bodhi Shrine of Buddha. This temple was constructed by the famous Emperor Asoka who embraced Buddhism after feeling guilty of leading a life of war and destruction.
The temple is 170 ft high consisting of nine storeys of pyramidal towers. The structure has a stupa-shaped dome at the top. At the base of the main tower are four towers at each of the four corners. On the edifice are several niches with Buddha images depicting scenes from his life. As you enter the temple you can see the main shrine which is built where Buddha attained Enlightenment. The place is called “the Navel of the Earth” (puthavinabhim) where Buddha gained wisdom, knowledge and light and later experienced this joy of liberation for the next seven days sitting there.

TARA STHAN:
It is situated at a distance of about 16 Kms west of Saharsa in village Mahishi where an ancient temple of Bhagwati Tara is built. The idol of Bhagwati Tara is said to be very old and draws devotees from far and wide. On either side of the main deity, there are two smaller female deities which are worshipped by the people as Ekjata nad Nil Saraswati.

Chandika Sthan at BIRATPUR:
Biratpur village under Sonebarsa block of this district is famous for an ancient temple of goddess Chandi. This village is also associated with King Birat of the Mahabharat age. During exile the Pandavas had lived here for 12 years.The tantric Scholars and devotees attach much significance to this Chandi temple, which is said to form an equilateral triangle (TRIK) WITH Katyayani temple near Dhamhara ghat and Tara temple at Mahishi. During the Navratra people from distant places visit the village to offer prayers to the goddess of power.

Madan Bharti Asthan:
The place is situated in Mahishi Block. It is said that a religious discourse (Shastrath) was held between Shankaracharya and the local scholar Mandan Mishra. Bharti, wife of Madan Mishra, who was also a great scholar, was named as Judge for the discourse. It is also said that Shankaracharya, after his initial victory over Madan Mishra was challenged by Bharati, was outwitted by her and he (accepted defeat).

SUN Temple at Kandaha:
Like Deb (in Aurangabad district), the SUN Temple at Kandaha village is an important religious and historical place which has been duly recognized by the Archaeological Survey of India. The idol of sun god riding seven horsed chariot, has been carved on a single granite slab. At the door of the sanctum sanctorum, there are inscriptions which a deciphered by historians, confirm that this sun temple was built during the period of king Narsimha Deo of Karnata dynasty who ruled over Mithila in the 12th century. It is said that a brutal Mughal emperor named Kalapahad had damaged the temple which was however renovated by the famous saint poet Laxminath Gosai.

Laxminath Gosai Sthal at Bangoan:
The famous saint and poet of which is hardly 9 Km away from the district head quarter. The huge bunyan tree under which the remains of Gosaiji have been preserved is the centre of great reverence for the people of the district.

Dewan Ban Mandir:
One Shiv Ling is established in the temple situated in Sahpur-Manjhoul of Nauhatta block. It is said that the Ling was established by Maharaja Shalivahan some time in 100BC. The Hindus celebrate a festival called jitiya after the name of Jimutbahan who was the son of Maharaja Shalivahan. Description of this place is found in Shri Puran. The ancient shrine at Dewan Ban was washed away by the turbulent Koshi river. The local people have however build another temple in the adjacent area.

Nauhatta:
It is an old village, important since the time of Mughals and is presently the head quarters of the block of the same name. The village has a ‘Shiva temple’ about 80 feet in height. The temple which was damaged in the earthquake of 1934 was reconstructed by Raja Srinand Singh of Srinagar Estate. There is a grave of Madho Singh on an earthen mound about 50 feet high. Madho Singh had become a martyr in the battle of Ladri Ghat. Offerings are made on he rave both by Hindus and Muslims.

Bihar School of Yoga:
Bihar School of Yoga houses a Yoga Research Library. Comprising of a well-stocked and large collection of books and data, the library is an asset in itself. Here, you will find the school’s publication on Yoga, health techniques and research, apart from other books on yoga. The school, located at Ganga Darshan, is built over a large hill overlooking the Utter-Vahini Ganga. The location of the training is very apt, as it provides the perfect ambience for the establishment of such a training centre.

Bhimbandh Wild Life Sanctuary:
Occupying an area of about 682 sq km, Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the south-west of Munger District of Bihar. The sanctuary falls to the south of the river Ganges and is at a distance of 56 km from Munger. Besides being famous for its wildlife, the place is also well accounted for its hot water springs. These hot springs are basically found at the valley portion and the foothills of Bhimbandh.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Petrol Pump Dobhi Gaya:Gaya,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Lotus Nikko Bodhgaya Hotel:Bodhgaya,Gaya,Bihar,India   Hotel Pankaj:Tekari Road,Gaya,Bihar,India,MO:09955811250 Hotel Gharana:South Church Road,Near Gandhi Maindan,Gaya,Bihar,India,ph:0631 2225512
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Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Government Hospital:Jehanabad,Bihar,India
Holy Family Hospital:Koderma,Jharkhand,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:

Sikh Regimental Centre

Sikh Regimental Centre-Jharkhand
About:
The Sikh Regiment is a regiment of the Indian Army. It is currently the highest decorated regiment in the Indian Army, and was at one stage the highest decorated regiment in the British Empire.  

The Sikh Regimental Centre is presently located in Ramgarh Cantonment, 30 km from the Ranchi, which is the capital of the state of Jharkhand in India. The Centre was earlier located in Meerut in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Over its life of more than 150 years, the regiment has participated in various actions and operations both in the pre and post-independence era in India and abroad, including the First and the Second World War.With a humble beginning of two battalions, today the fraternity has grown to a regiment of over 1 training, 17 regular infantry and two reserve battalions strong. Enlisted soldiers are strictly recruited from Sikh community, while officers are recruited from all regions and areas of India .

The Sikh Regiment is one of the oldest and highest decorated Regiments of the Indian Army. The Regimental Centre is located at Ramgarh, South Bihar. With 73 Battle Honours, the largest collection of Victoria Crosses-Param Vir Chakras and equivalent, the Saga of Saragarhi, the young soldiers of the Sikh Regiment are proud to wear the regimental colours of India’s highest decorated regiment. Since it’s raising more than 150 years ago, the regiment has been in the vanguard of various actions and operations both in the pre and post-independence era in India and abroad.

To separate Fort Gulistan and Lockhart, 10000 Orakzai and Afridi Lashkars attacked Saragarhi on September 12, 1897 at daybreak. The attack was initially rebutted with the enemy sustaining a loss of over 60 killed. Lt Col J Haughton, the then Commanding Officer, took all efforts to hold Saragarhi. However, the battalion was forced to retreat initially as the enemy repeatedly attacked Saragarhi. Without losing heart, the Sikhs did not move back from the fort. One Sepoy took control of the guardroom and shot down not less than 20 enemies, before tribesmen set the guardroom on fire and burnt him to death. By about 3 pm, men and ammunition ran short and the assailants destroyed the battalion post by putting it on fire. Thus, the brave Sikhs killed 450 tribesmen before making the supreme sacrifice.
Location info:
Address:Sikh Regimental Centre,Ranchi,Jharkhand,India
District:Ranchi
Nearest City:Ranchi
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate/Weather:
Temperature ranges from maximum 37 to 20 °C during summer, and maximum 22 to 10 °C
History:
Maharaja Ranjit Singh brought the well built and courageous people, of the then Punjab, Dogras from Kashmir and other martial tribes and formed “Khalsa Army”. Following numerous heroic and valiant battles by the Khalsa Army, XIV Ferozepur (1 Sikh, now 4 Mechanised Infantry), and XV Ludhiana (2 Sikh) were raised from the soldiers of the vanquished force on August 1, 1846. The Sikh Regiment came into existence on 1 August 1846, with the raising of Regiment of Ferozepore Sikhs and Regiment of Ludhiana Sikhs by Captain G. Tebbs and Lieutenant Colonel P. Gordon respectively and were used in great effect in the 1857 Indian Rebellion.
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
The Museum of the Regimental Centre displays a record of the Sikh Regiment in four halls viz:   The Religious/motivational HallThe Hall of Heritage,The Regimental Glory HallThe Peripheral Gallery.Victoria Crosses
Honours & Awards: 

2 Param Vir Chakras,
2 Ashok Chakras,
14 Maha Vir Chakras,
14 Kirti Chakras,
64 Vir Chakras,
15 Shaurya Chakras,
75 Sena Medals
25 Vishisht Seva Medals.

Ranchi Hill:
Ranchi, being located at an altitude of 21,40 feet from sea level, is a popular health and holiday resort and a place of sacred pilgrimate.Some comely sights in the town include Ranchi Hill,Tagore Hill,Ranchi Lake etc. A panoramic view of the town can be behond from the hill top. The Shiva Temple situated on the top of the hill,is an added attraction for the devotees for whom it assumes the places of reverence during Shravanmas same as that of Baijnath Dham (Deoghar). Offers a panoramic view of the town from its summit. There is a Shiva temple on the top of the hill.

Tagore Hill:
On the periphery of Ranchi is “Tagore Hill”, named after Rabindra Nath Tagore who is believed to have written a part of famous Gitanjali here, besides other poems. Ram Krishna Ashram is situated at the foot of the hill. This hill is very attractive and bigger than “Ranchi Hill”.

Kanke Dam:
On the other end of Ranchi is the “Kankedam” which is ever crowded with tourists. It is a popular picnic spot.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Ranchi railway station is on the South Eastern Railway and is directly connected with Calcutta, Patna, Rourkela etc.
Nearest Airport:Ranchi airport is connected by regular Indian Airlines services with Calcutta, Patna, Bombay and New Delhi.
Road Transport:Ranchi is situated on National Highway No.23 & 33 and there are nets of good roads around it. Ranchi is directly connected by regular bus services with all the main places in the state and also outside the state.
Nearest Visiting places:
Hundru Falls:
45 kms on Ranchi – Purulia road, where the Subarnrekha river cascades down from an altitude of 320 feet is a sight not to be missed especially in monsoon or when the wind sets the motion. The pools at the base of the falls are favorite picnic and bathing spots.  

Jonha Falls:
40 km, on Ranchi -Purulia road also known as Gautam Dhara, is another enchanting retreat amidst rich flora and fauna beside the Kanchi river. The scenery it is very picturesque and it is a popular picnic spot. To admire the fall one is required to descend 500 pared steps.

Sita and Dassam Falls:
Adjacent to Jonha Falls is Sita falls which can be seen at its best in the morning. Afternoon may best be saved for the Dassam falls (34 kms on Ranchi – Tata road) where Kanchi river falls from a height a of 114 feeHirni Falls is another fascinating water fall with beautiful surroundings. It is situated 75 kms form Ranchi .

Breeding Center:
km from Ranchi is Mutta Muggar. Breeding center in Ormanjhi which took off with 3 Bihari muggars (Crocodiles) and 2 from Chennai. Today they account for over 50. Nearby is the biological park replete with valuable samples of wild life.

Mc Calukieganj:
60km from Ranchi on haighway 47 is a very sleepy hamlet amidst green forests. The name evokes nostalgia and one gradually discovers the place popular with Anglo-Indian community. During 1950s there were no less than 100 Anglo-Indian families with their typical cottages, clubs and shops.

Hatia Dam:
There is another dam known as “Hatia Dam”. It is about 12 kms from the city.Ranchi is picturesquely situated in the heart of Chotanagpur at an altitude of 2140 feet (654.5 metres) above sea level, in the nucleus of the region.Once the summer capital of Bihar, Ranchi is well known for its scenic attractions, water falls, barren rocks and hillocks. It has a number of industrial complexes which are very important in the industrial life of a country. While on the one hand beautiful and exciting water falls are scattered around this town, on the other hand huge industries are also to be seen there which do attract visitors. There are many scenic attractions in and around Ranchi which hold tourists for days together. It is also an important place for the study of tribal ways of life and offers an ideal opportunity to those interested in Anthropology. Bihar Tribal Research Institute and museum is well worth a visit for those seeking to know more about the tribes of Bihar . One can consider some of the village rich in tribal life and above all, it is the central point of Chotanagpur which one cannot miss to visit. Due to its good climate, lot of people come here for health sake too. It gets 1530 mm rain annually.

Tribal Research Institute and Museum:
The museum located at the Tribal Research Institute building at Morabadi Road has a collection of stone sculptures, terracottas and arms as well as ethnological objects. It also exhibits life and history of tribal people of Chotanagpur.

Tagore Hill:
Tagore hill named after the famous Tagore family is located near Ram Krishna Mission Ashram at Morabadi. It is said that Ravindra Nath Tagore wrote several of his books at the top of the hill which is at a height of around 300ft. Besides the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, the Centre of Divyayan and Agararian Vocational Institute is also situated at the foot of the hill.

Baidynathdham :
Baidynathdham or Babadham is a famous Hindu pilgrimage center. There is a famous temple of Lord Shiva. In Shrawan month, huge number of devotees come on foot from all over India to pay homage to Lord Shiva.
Machali Ghar:
This aquarium is located near CCL headquarters on Kanke Road. There is a several species of fish here.

Gonda Hill :
Situated 9 km north of Ranchi, the pleasant and calm Gonda hills is an ideal place for a picnic. There is rock garden here with several structures or statues made of stone. It is similar in design to the Rock Garden of Jaipur. At the foot of the hill, there is a big lake known as Kanke Dam.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Sanjeet Petrol Pump:Rohtak road,Ranchi,Jarkhanad,India   Zenith Petrol Pump:Ramdayalu Nagar Muzaffurpur,Roshpa Tower Main Road,Ranchi,Jharkhand,Inida,Phone: +91 651 – 9835121022
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
BNR Hotel:Gosaintola,Ranchi,Jharkhand,India  
Hotel Arya:Lalpur Chowk, H.B. Road,Ranchi,Jharkhand,Ph:09334713996Hotel Capitol Hill:Mahatma Gandhi Rd,Ranchi,Jharkhand,India,ph:0651 2331330
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Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:Sadar Hospital:Ranchi,Jharkhand,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:

Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum

Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum-Bihar
About:
Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum is located on Ram Rekha Ghat Road at Buxar Quila.Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum houses various types of Archaeological objects, coins and manuscripts. Shri Sita Ram Upadhyaya donated his personal collection to the museum.The terracotta collection of Mauryan and Shungan period deserve special mention. Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum remains closed on Mondays, Chhatha, Independence Day, Republic Day, Holi, Dussehra and May Day.   Buxar is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarters are located at Buxar.Buxar The district occupies an area of 1624 km² and has a population of 1,403,462 (as of 2001). Explore the hotels and packages with India.The town Buxar is located on the bank of river Ganges (Ganga). A road bridge over Ganges connects Buxar with Ballia district of neighboring state Uttar Pradesh.Indian travel agent gives special discounted hotel from budget hotels to Deluxe hotels in India. The town is connected to the state capital Patna by rail and road routes. Substantial proportion of trade activities are with well connected towns and cities in Uttar Pradesh such as Varanasi, Ballia and Ghazipur.
Location info:
Address:Sita Ram Upadhyay Museum,Patna,Bihar,India
District:Patna
Nearest City:Buxar
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate/Weather:
The climate of the state is tropical with hot summers and cold winters. Monsoon brings medium to high rainfall and floods several areas in north Bihar. Humidity levels remain high in north and central Bihar throughout the summer and monsoon season, making them quite uncomfortable. The best time to visit the state is from October to March.
History:
In the year 1979, Buxar Museum was established with a few good stone sculptures and coins. Hundreds of very good Terracottas collected by a local resident late Shri Sita Ram Upadhyaya was donated to the Buxar Museum and in the year 1993, the Govt. of Bihar, on request, renamed it as the Sita Ram Upadhyaya Museum after the name of the donor. The museum is famous for magnificent terracotta collections, especially the terracotta figurines belonging to the Mauryan and Shunga period (3rd–2nd Cent B.C.). Besides, there are a few stone sculptures and coins preserved in this museum as well.
Interesting things to do:

Sonepur Mela: 
One of the most astonishing cattle fairs to be held in Asia in terms of its size and scale. The sleepy little town of Sonepur (22 km form Patna) is thrown into frenzy on Kartik Purnima , a fortnight after Diwali , as people from all over the world congragate to participate in this huge festival and is enjoyed by all.During the period Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation provides facilities in traditional huts.

Chhath Festival: 
The festivities accompanying the celebreation of freshly harvested paddy and its offerings made to the Sun God have to be seen to be believed. Joy and colour mark the Chhath festivities as thanks are offered to the lord of Crops and the creator of the seasons. Devotional songs to the Sun God and fasting all day long make the Chhath Festival a day of thanks giving. Devotees walk barefoot in the penance to the venue of the celebrations. Lighted earthen lamps are floated down the river at evening time.
Interesting things to Visit:
Chausagarh:
In the Buxar district of Bihar Chausa or Chausagarh is situated at a distance of about 11 Kms. East of the district headquarter Buxar. Chausa, very well known in the annals of Indian history as the place where in 1539 A.D. Sher Shah defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun, is also a place of great antiquity.Explore Special Holidays with us  

Arts and Crafts: 
Madhubani paintings are indigenous to the state. The renditions by rural women, these village paintings have a large market in the urban areas as well as on the export front. Created strictly by the women of Mithila. they are etched in primary colours of natural origin on paper and cloth. Their subjects are mythology and religious events.

Tomb of Yahya Maneri:
The Tomb of Yahya Maneri lies in a mosque to the east of a large tank, with masonry walls and ghats, and pillared porticos, which is connected with the old bed of the Son by a tunnel, 400 feet long. The tomb is situated in an enclosure half filled with graves and ancient tress. On the north and west of which are three domed mosque and some quaint little cloisters build by lbrahim Khan.

Ganga river:
The Ganga has an exalted position in the Hindu ethos. It is repeatedly invoked in the Vedas, the Puranas, and the two Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Ganga is a goddess, Ganga devi, one of two daughters of Meru (the Himalayas), the other being Uma, consort of Shiva. In her youth, Indra had asked for Ganga to be given to heaven to soothe the Gods with its cool waters. The story of its descent to earth appears in slightly different forms in Ramayana, Mahabharata and in the Puranas. These myths are variously dated between 2000 to 400 BC

Ganga River Basin:
The Ganga River basin is affluent with perennial rivers and streams having special significance in the region it flows. Some of the important rivers in the Ganga River Basin are as followsThe approximately 260 km long distributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal, India. The river divides from the Ganges as a canal in Murshidabad District at the Farakka Barrage. The town of Hugli-Chinsura was formerly known as Hooghly. This town is located on the river, in the Hooghly (district). The origins of the name of Hooghly River are not known, whether the city or the river derived the name first.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Patna is connected by rail to Bombay, Calcutta, Guwahati, Ranchi, Varanasi.
Nearest Airport:The flights of Indian Airlines, Sahara India, Air Deccan and Jet Airways connect Patna with Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Lucknow, Ranchi and many other major cities.
Road Transport:All – weather motorable roads connect Patna with the rest of Bihar. There are also regular inter – state bus services.By road Patna to Nalanda-95 km, Rajgir-110 km, Pawapuri-90 km, Gaya-120 km, Bodhgaya-135 km, Raxaul-210 km, Ranchi-335 km, Muzzafarpur-78 km, Sasaram- 152 km, Vaishali-56 km, Calcutta-653 km, Delhi-997 km. Bus : Regular direct bus services connect Patna to Calcutta, Rajgir, Nalanda, Pawapuri, Vaishali, Gaya-Bodhgaya, Ranchi, Raxaul, Muzzafarpur, Sasaram.
Nearest Visiting places:
Golghar: 
Alarmed by the famine of 1770, captain John Garstin built this huge granary for the British army in 1786. The massive structure is 29 m high and the walls are 3.6 m wide at the base. The winding stairway around this monument offers a brilliant panoramic view of the city and the Ganga flowing by.Golghar or the round house, the huge granary was built in 1786 by Captain John Garstin, at the behest of the then administrator, Warren Hastings. Bihar experienced severe draught that resulted in acute famine in the year 1770. Alarmed by the situation faced by the people, this massive granary was constructed for the British army.The enormous structure is 29 m high and is 3.6 m wide at the base. Overlooking the river and the plains, it looks like the upper half of a gigantic, decorated Easter egg, with the spiral stairway winding around this monument, adding to its embellishment. It offers a magnificent breathtaking view of the city and the river Ganges, flowing nearby.

Martyr’s Memorial: 
A memorial to seven freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the Quit India Movement of August 1942, the Martyr’s Memorial is a modern sculpture facing the Secretariat, where they were shot in their attempt to host the national flag.Life-size statues in front of the aged secretariat compound have been put up in memory of seven brave young men who faced bullets for the freedom of the country and sacrificed their lives in August 1942 in the historic struggle for India’s independence during “Quit India” movement. It is a modern sculpture with life dimension statues of the seven martyrs’, in front of the Secretariat where they were shot in their attempt to hoist the national tricolor.

Harmadir TakhtHar Mandir Takht: 
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, was born in 1660 in Patna. The Har Mandir Takht, one of the four sacred shrines of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site. The original temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and contains belongings of the Guru and Sikh holy texts. The Harmandir Takht, one of the four holy shrines of the Sikhs, stands at this holy site, The original temple was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and contains belongings of the Guru and Sikh holy texts. As a sign of reverence, it is also called Patna Sahib by the Sikhs. The Harmandir Temple, also referred to as Patna Sahib, is the second most important pilgrimage of the Sikhs after the Golden Temple of Amritsar. The Takht Harmandir was built by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs. The gurudwara is made of white marble and is great piece of art. The Harmandir Temple Located in Patna City, the elder part the city, it also houses a museum on it’s third floor.

Patna MuseumPatna Museum: 
The Patna Museum houses a First World War cannon, metal and stone sculptures of the Mauryan and Gupta periods, Buddhist sculptures and quaint terracotta figures. A 16 m long fossilised tree is one of its special features.Patna museum was established in the year 1917 by the British Government.The building of the museum was built in the style of Rajput and Mughal architecture.It is a multipurpose museum.The museum is the storehouse of archaeological objects, coins, art objects, paintings, instruments, textiles, paintings, thankas, bronze images and sculptures and terracotta. Patna museum is divided into 11 different sections.

Pathar ki Masjid: 
Adjacent to Har Mandir Sahib, on the bank of the Ganga, is this beautiful mosque built by Parwez Shah, son of Jehangir, when he was the governor of Bihar. It is also called Saif Khan’s mosque, Chimmi Ghat mosque and Sangi Masjid.Stone Mosque or Pathar Ki Masjid was built in 1621 by Parvezshah, son Emperor Jahangir , when he was the Governor of Bihar. Adjacent to Har Mandir Sahib, this beautiful mosque was built by Parwez Shah when he was the governor of Bihar. It is situated on the bank of the Ganga, it is also called Saif Khan’s mosque, Chimmi Ghat mosque and Sangi Masjid.

Sher Shah Suri Masjid: 
Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1545 to commemorate his reign. Built in the Afghan architectural style, it is one of the many beautiful mosques in Bihar, and one of the impressive landmarks of Patna.Khuda Baksh Oriental Library: Founded in 1900, a magnificent one man collection of rare Arabic and Persian manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal paintings, oddities like the Koran inscribed in a book only 25mm wide and an assortment of old and new books from the University of Cordoba, Spain. It is one of the national libraries in India. The library also contains the only books to survive the sacking of the Moorish University of Cordoba in Spain.Sher Shah Masjid was built by Sher Shah Suri, to commemorate his reign. Built in Afghan architectural style, it is one of the many beautiful mosques in Bihar and a landmark in Patna. An Afghan chieftain, who defeated Mughal Emperor Humanyun to rule Delhi. Locally known as Shershahi, the mosque was built in 1545, making it the oldest mosque in Patna.

Jalan Museum: 
Built on the foundations of Sher Shah’s fort, Qila House contains an impressive private collection of antiques, including a dinner service that once belonged to George III, Marie Antoinette’s Sevres porcelain, Napoleon’s four-poster bed, Chinese jade and Mughal silver filigree,.It is a private collection, and prior permission is required for a visit.Jalan Museum, also known as Quila House, is constructed at the old site of Shershah’s Fort, in Patna of Bihar.The museum houses private collections of Chinese porcelains, paintings, jade and silver filigree work of the Mughal period.Prior permission is required to enter the museum.

Sadaqat Ashram: 
The Ashram is the headquarters of Bihar Vidyapeeth, a national university. India’s first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad lived here after his retirement and there is a small museum here showcasing his personal belongings.The beautiful bungalow of Sadaqat Ashram in Patna is situated at the bank of the river Ganga. This fantastic location of the Sadaqat Ashram attracts many tourists every year. Here people visit the museum to learn more about the last days of Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s life

AgamkuanAgam Kuan: 
Agam Kuan (Unfathomable well) is one of the most important early historic archeological remains in Patna. It is situated just close to Gulzarbagh railway Station, which is proposed to be associated with the Mauryan Emperor Ashok.The Agam Kuan refers to an “abysmal well” and it is situated on the eastern part of the capital of Bihar, namely Patna. It was built during the Mauryan Empire and ‘Ashoka the great’. Agam Kuan in Patna, BiharThis magnificent monument in Bihar is 105 feet deep and 20 inch in diameter. Half of the well is made of ornamented bricks. One of the spectacular things in this well is its arch-shaped windows

Padri ki HaveliPadri Ki Haveli: 
Built in 1772, the Padri Ki Haveli in Patna is the oldest church in the state of Bihar. The Padri Ki Haveli has an interesting history behind its inception. The church is seventy feet in length, forty feet wide and fifty feet in height. The magnificent monument was designed by Tirreto, the venetian architect who came from Calcutta. The church has withstand many attacks and act of destruction. The soldier of Nawab Mir Kasim, the ruler of Bengal looted the Padri Ki Haveli following their quarrel with the English traders. In the process, the ancient records kept inside were destroyed and burnt. The church suffered another attack during the Sepoy mutiny in 1857.

Deer at Sanjay Gandhi Biological ParkBiological Park: 
Owing to its huge size, Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park is considered among one of the biggest zoos in India. The park houses more than three hundred species of trees including of orchids, ferns and roses. Each of these species has been kept in different houses and even their names have been given accordingly.The presence of the rare white tiger makes Sanjay Gandhi Biological park unique. Other than white tiger, the park has single male zebra, rhino of single horn, hippopotamus, and many cubs and tigers. The population of leopard is expected to rise in coming year for they have started breeding now. There are some 70 species of animals. Some rare species of animals such as clouded leopard, crocodile, Himalayan bear, lion tailed macaque, leopard cat, hog deer, and white peacock, etc. have been kept here. The total population of animals is around 800. The park is excellent exhibition of wildlife.

PlanetoriumModern Planetarium: 
Indira Gandhi Science Complex, is one of the must visiting places in Patna. This is among few Planetarium’s (Taramandal) in India.A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation. A dominant feature of most planetariums is the large dome-shaped projection screen onto which scenes of stars, planets and other celestial objects can be made to appear and move realistically to simulate the complex ‘motions of the heavens.

Kumhrar 80 pillar HallKumhrar: 
Kumhrar, site of the ancient city of Patliputra, lies 5 kms from Patna railway station. Archaeological findings in this area establish Patna’s claim to over a thousand years of political glory – 600 BC to 600 AD. Very little of this grandeur remains though, except for the remains of a huge Mauryan hall supported by 80 sandstone pillars dating back to 300 BC.Kumhrar, located in the city of Patna, is the site that consists of the archaeological excavations of Patliputra and marks the ancient capital of Ajatshatru, Chandragupta and Ashok. The remains of the ancient city of Patilputra have been uncovered in Kumhrar, south of Patna. It is six kms from the railway station, on the Kankarbagh Road. Excavations here have releaved relics of four continuous periods from 600 BC to 600 AD. An important find is the 80-pillared huge hall of the Mauryan dynasty.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
IOC Petrol Pump:Patna,Bihar,India Petrol Pump:Patna,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Hotel Chanakya:Beer Chand Patel Marg,Patna,Bihar,India,Ph:0612 2223141

Hotel Satkar International:Fraser Rd,Patna,Bihar,India,Ph:0612 2220551 Hotel Nand:R. K. Bhattacharya Rd,Patna,Bihar,India,ph:0612 2322732
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Kurji Holy Family Hospital:Sadaquat Ashram,Kurji,Patna,Bihar,India,ph:0612 2262516
Dr Akhori Shashi Bhushan Sahaya:146,Shree Krishna Nagar,Boring Road,Patna,Bihar,India,ph:0612 2533469
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:

Topchanchi wildlife sanctuary

Topchanchi wildlife sanctuary-Jharkhand
About:
The Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary covers a sprawling plot that measures approximately 8.75 square kilometers. Although the Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary is not that spacious yet it manages to preserve the innocuous essence of the wild beasts that reside in it. In spite of its petite area, the animals dwelling in the Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary of Bihar do not have to confront any sort of inconvenience.   The flora that dominates in the dense woodlands of the Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary are loaded with a huge variety of trees belonging to different species that include Asan, Bijasal, Dhow, Semal, Kendu, Piar, Karam, Siris, Sidha and other varieties as well. However the terrains like Baneshpur and Bawardhara are dowered with dry blended deciduous type of woods that primarily consists of Sal that belongs to the Peninsular origin.The Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary at Bihar is also blessed with a tinge of sprawling grasslands and bamboo trees. This sanctuary is positioned in the Dhanbad district that is situated inside the premises of the Jharkhand.
Location info:
Address:Topchanchi wildlife sanctuary,Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India
District:Dhanbad
Nearest City:Gomoh
Best time to visit: October to May
Climate/Weather:
Topchanchi Lake is also just 6 km from Gomoh, where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose boarded the train for his historical departure from India on the 18th Jan 1941. A statue of Netaji was installed in the Topchanchi market to commemorate this event.
History:
This sanctuary is noted for the flow of migratory birds including pochards, red crested pochards and coots. Resident birds include bronze winged jacanas, pond herons, egrets, swamp partridges, etc. The Nagi Dam Sanctuary near Jhajha is the smallest sanctuary in the state and also a place to spot migratory birds. 15km from Patna, Danapur is also a significant shelter for migratory birds, especially janghils (open billed storks).
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
Fauna:

LeopardJungle CatCheetalBarking DeerWild BoarMongooseLangurJackalFoxWild Dog
Charak Pathar:
The village is situated in GOVINDPUR development block. It is a very large ancient boulder of white stone. It derives its name from this stone.
Chati Gobindpur:
The village which also is located in GOVINDPUR development block, contains two ancient pillars which are locally associated with Emperor Asoka and the Afghan Chief Sher Shah.It is a very large ancient boulder of white stone. It derives its name from this stone.
Gopalpur:
The village lies in Nirsa-cum-Chirkunda development block. It contains an ancient pillar said to date back to the time of Emperor Asoka. There is also a large stone image said to be of Asoka himself.
Jhinjhipahari:
The village is situated in Baghmara development block . It is said that an ancient temple of Lord Shiva was found when the mines here were being worked.It is said that an ancient temple of Lord Shiva was found when the mines here were being worked. t contains an ancient pillar said to date back to the time of Emperor Asoka. There is also a large stone image said to be of Asoka himself.
Meva:
The village is situated in Nirsa-cum-Chirkunda Block . It contains ancient pillars said to date back to the time of Emperor Ashoka. There is also a large stone image said to be of Ashoka himself.t contains ancient pillars said to date back to the time of Emperor Ashoka. There is also a large stone.
Panrra:
The village which also lies in Nirsa-cum-Chirkunda Block, it said to have derived its name from the Pandavas. According to local legend the Pandavas spent some period of their exile in hiding at this place. The village contains an ancient temple of Lord Shiva known as Pandeweshar Mahadev. The temple is believed to have been constructed by Hindu King at a much later day.
Maithon:
It is census town situated about 48 Kms. From Dhanbad and 5 Kms. From Kumardubhi Rly. Station . The Maithon Dam and Hydel Power Stations are located in this town.
Panchet:
This is also a census town situated 9 Kms. South of Chirkunda and about 54 Kms. South east of Dhanbad. The Panchet Dam, around which the Township has developed, is located here.
Jamadoba:
There is a water filter plant of M.A.D.A (Mineral Area Development Authority ) from where water supply is being made to Dhanbad District.
Chark – Khurd:
The village, situated about 10 Kms from Tundi on the Dhanbad- Govindpur -Giridih Road, is noted for its hot spring .
Topchanchi:
The village is the headquarters of the development block being the same name. It is situated on the Grand Trunk Road. The Parasnath Hill is located nearby. The Topchanchi Water Reservoir spreads over an area of 214 Ac. It is a noted picnic spot.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Dhandad railway station is an important railhead on Eastern Railway. Several express and super-fast trains ply to Dhanbad from Patna, Kolkata, Delhi and other important cities of India.
Nearest Airport:Ranchi airport is (169 km) and Patna airport is (325 km).
Road Transport:Good network of roads connect Dhanbad with important town in Jharkhand and Bihar. Buses are available from Dhanbad to Bokaro (84 km), Ranchi (169 km) and other places of Jharkhand. Chartered buses or taxis are arranged to Dhanbad from Ranchi and Patna by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation at regular intervals.
Nearest Visiting places:
Baidyanath Dham:
The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar is one of the premier Tourist Attractions in Jharkhand. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand comprise the main temple of Baba Baidyanath and 22 other temples. At the main temple of Baba Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand the foreign travelers can find the Jyotirlingam. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand is established in a sprawling campus. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand experiences an influx of devotees throughout the year. Travelers from different territories and countries of the globe also descend at the Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand for a sacred darshan of the deity.   The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand is the favorite destination not only for the devotees but also for the international tourists. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand is situated in an ideal location. Owing to the strategic location of the Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand the tourists can reach the Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand easily and conveniently. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand is situated in the northeastern part of Jharkhand. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand is located four miles away from the Jasidih railway terminal. The Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand lies on the main Eastern Railway line. There is a famous railway station which is located in close proximity to the Baidyanath Dham Deoghar, Jharkhand. This railway terminal is known as the Baidyanath Dham railway terminal.
Dassam Falls:
The Dassam Falls, Ranchi is reckoned as one of the major tourist attractions in Ranchi. The Dassam Falls, Ranchi is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of Ranchi. The Dassam Falls, Ranchi is a big draw for the local tourists. The international tourists visiting India come to experience the charm and grandeur of the Dassam Falls, Ranchi. The Dassam Falls, Ranchi is situated about 40 kilomters away from Ranchi. The Dassam Falls, Ranchi is located on the Tata Road. The Dassam Falls, Ranchi is located inside a picturesque village known as the Taimara. The Ranchi Dassam Falls is one of the most picturesque sightseeing locales of India which is situated in the famous tourist destination of Ranchi. Ranchi is located at an altitude of 2140 feet above the sea level. Ranchi is also famous for its wonderful tourist haunts and breathtaking locales. Ranchi is known as the summer capital of the Indian state of Bihar. The beautiful town of Ranchi is interspersed with picturesque hillocks, barren rocks, splendid waterfalls and enchanting sightseeing attractions. The spectacular town of Ranchi boasts of many famous waterfalls which are the major attractions for the local tourists as well as for the international visitors. One of the must do things for the international travelers coming for a tour of Ranchi is to visit the Dassam Falls, Ranchi.
Hundru Falls:
The Hundru Falls, Jharkhand is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Jharkhand. The Hundru Falls, Jharkhand is situated in a small picturesque hamlet. Encircled by lush green forests this spectacular hamlet is situated near the National Highway 47. This enchanting village was established in the year 1950. This fascinating village was built for the Anglo Indian community. Now this beautiful village has become an idyllic vacation retreat for the international tourists. The foreign travelers visiting the Jharkhand Hundru Falls can experience the breathtaking views of the adjacent landscapes. The Hundru Falls, Jharkhand is located about 45 kilometers away from the Ranchi town. Ranchi is a spectacular town, which is dotted with splendid streams and gorgeous waterfalls. The sight of the spectacular Swarnarekha River is indeed a feast to the eyes. The Hundru Falls, Jharkhand fall from a steep height of 320 feet. At the base of the Hundru Falls, Jharkhand the international tourists can find a splendid pool. The foreign tourists can enjoy a refreshing splash at this wonderful natural pool. This spectacular pool serves as a nice picnic spot. There are also wonderful bathing spots near the Hundru Falls, Jharkhand. The fascinating spectacle of the water falling from such a great height will enchant and mesmerize the foreign visitors. The Hundru Falls, Jharkhand is a splendid natural attraction. The international visitors can also find many notable tourist attractions near the Hundru Falls, Jharkhand. The Hundru Falls, Jharkhand is reckoned as one of the must see destinations of the Hundru Falls, Jharkhand.
Kolhua Hill:
The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is one of the leading tourist attractions in Jharkhand. The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand measures 1575 feet in height. The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is situated about 10 kilometers south east of Hunterganj. The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is located in the Chatra District. The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is a favorite haunt for the nature lovers. The international visitors can experience the wonderful and breathtaking view of the adjacent beautiful landscapes from the top of the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand. The Kolhua Hill is one of the must visit destinations for the foreign travelers visiting Jharkhand. One of the premier tourist attractions in Jharkhand the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand receives travelers from al across the globe. The spectacular and fascinating views offered by the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is indeed a feast to the eyes. The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is one of the most splendid natural attractions of Jharkhand. The top of the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is known as the Sky Eye or the Akash Lochan. The Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand is punctuated with verdant landscapes and picturesque surroundings. The foreign visitors can also find many notable tourist attractions near the Jharkhand Kolhua Hill. The splendid tourist attractions located near the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand include the temple of Goddess Kali and the Kauleshwari Devi Temple. The international tourists can easily reach the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand as it well connected to the different parts of Jharkhand. The beautiful Lilangen River flows near the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand. Tourists undertaking excursions from Jharkhand make it a point to view the spectacular Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand. Travelers from all across India flock to Jharkhand to enjoy the scenic vistas of the Kolhua Hill, Jharkhand
Netarhat:
Netarhat, Jharkhand is also popularly called “Queen of Chotanagpur”. Netarhat, Jharkhand is around 154 Km in the western side of Ranchi town which is the Capital city of Jharkhand. Netarhat in Jharkhand is immensely famous for its breathtaking sunrise and sunset. Netarhat in Jharkhand is situated around 3800 ft above the sea level and approximately 96 miles away from the Capital city Ranchi across the known seven hills. This exclusive place is surrounded with the most exotic views, the greenery around facilitates the generation of a pure and tranquil ambience, which brings here a lot of patients to get recovery soon. The calm and quite jungle brings relief from the hustle bustle and rushing life of the metros and cities. The peaceful and soothing atmosphere around the place will make you shed back the whole bag of tension and exertion.The temperature in Netarhat in Jharkhand tends to be lesser and the atmosphere keeps cool throughout the year than Ranchi. This place has a fame to be the coolest place in entire Jharkhand. Indian travel will make you acquainted to a lot of interesting things one of which is Jharkhand tours and especially the trip to Netarhat.Accommodation is not an issue as a lot of rest houses and inspection bungalows are there to cater to a large number of tourists who are present in abundance throughout the year including documentary film makers, wildlife researchers, botanical researchers and other people who come here to study the flora and the fauna or may be some habits of some rare species.
Betla National Park:
Betla National Park & Palamau in Jharkhand are the most famous sanctuary and National park in Jharkhand. An area as large and vast as 979 sq. Km holds the pride of being termed as Palamau Sanctuary and the most intrigue and core area of which in 1989 was declared as Betla National Park. Betla National Park & Palamau covers the Western part of the plateau of Chotanagpur. In the year 1960 Betla National Park & Palamau in Jharkhand was established and mainly as an extension to Hazaribagh National Park. Palamau has the fame of holding World’s first census of tigers in its deep dark woods in the year 1932. In the year 1974 Betla National Park & Palamau in Jharkhand had become one of the nine tiger reserves of India under the very famous and successful “Project Tiger”. The woods of Betla National Park & Palamau in Jharkhand have a large span of vegetation which consists of moist evergreen forests and local flora and fauna. The forest is a typical formation with tropical and moist evergreen forests around the lower reaches, moist and dry and often mixed deciduous forests in middle and again temperate type of forests around the upper reaches. Bamboo and Sal plays the main features of these forests along with a huge number of plants having high medicinal value and thus are very important to the entire region.
Hazaribagh:
Hazaribagh in Jharkhand is like a crown diamond, Hazaribagh is one of the most acclaimed and visited tourist attractions. Hazaribagh, in literal sense means a thousand gardens. Hazaribagh in Jharkhand is a very renowned health resort; this is situated on a hill around 2019ft above the sea level. This major tourist attraction called Hazaribagh has a very clean and pure atmosphere which is facilitated by the greenery around and thus helps a lot of people who needs to unwind in a healthy ambience. Often doctors prescribe to go and stay here for sometime. During India Travel one should include Jharkhand tours especially the gem of a place or spot known as Hazaribagh. A calm and cool place amidst a dense and large forest giving you a natural feel and get you acquainted with the local wild life where you can find and get close to the Mother Nature. Reaching Hazaribagh is very easy as one can use the National Highway no. 33 and drive down to this exotic place enjoying the tranquil and impeccable beauty surrounding the road, the beauty is filled with the green around including the exotic and huge trees and the dense forest. The beautiful scenic beauty is restored amazingly and it makes you go wild with it, a lot of people including youngsters, kids and elderly people visit Hazaribagh throughout the year.
Kauleshwari Devi:
The Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand is one of the most frequented Tourist Attractions in Jharkhand. Pilgrims from all over India pour into the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand especially during Ram Navami and Basant Panchami. The devotees offer sacrifices to the presiding deity of the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand. Goats are often sacrificed at the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand. The Jharkhand Kauleshwari Devi is a famous pilgrimage spot. The Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand was established by the Jains. There is a popular myth surrounding the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand. There is a popular belief that Kauleshwari Devi is the birthplace of Sirala Swami who is the tenth Thirthankara of the Jains. However despite being the birthplace of the tenth Thirthankara the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand has become a popular haunt for the devotees of the famous Hindu goddess Kali. The travelers visiting the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand can find a splendid rock cut temple of the Jains which is housed inside the temple. The international tourists can find many enchanting caves strewn across the campus of the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand. The foreign visitors can find a beautiful image of a Hindu deity inside a cave of the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand. The hooded image found inside the cave is of Lord Pasarvanath; this is the Dhyani Mudra image of Lord Pasarva Nath who is reckoned as the 23rd Thirthankara of the Jain community. Three Jain images were removed from one of the caves of the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand a couple of years back. The local villagers believe that the images were taken to Gaya (which is another renowned pilgrim spot of the Hindus) for worship. For reaching the Kauleshwari Devi, Jharkhand the foreign visitors have to avail the trek leading to the Kolua Hill.
Lodh Falls:
When you are in Jharkhand, you can explore several sightseeing attractions in the region. Among these places of interest, one natural wonder that you should not miss is the Lodh Falls, Jharkhand. The Lodh Falls, Jharkhand is a waterfall located on the Buddha River and is also known by the name Buddha Ghagh Falls.Lodh Falls, Jharkhand is one of the renowned waterfalls in India. Because of its height and beauty it is one of the most visited one too.You will find the Lodh Falls, Jharkhand located about 40 kilometers from the city of Ranchi and 60 kilometers from Netarhat. It is nestled in a dense forest in Jharkhand. The fall, which is named after Gautam Buddha, is also renowned for a Buddha Temple here. The Lodh Falls, Jharkhand is one of the highest waterfalls of Jharkhand and here the water falls from a height of 468 feet. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the falling waters, then you should visit the Lodh Falls, Jharkhand. Even if you are 10 kilometers away from the Lodh Falls in Jharkhand, you can hear the rumbling sounds of water. This waterfall comes down in tiers and drops at distinct levels.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Dhanbad Petrol Pump:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India,ph:02224547   Park View Petrol Pump:Bokaro,Jharkhand,india Jai Jawan Petrol Pump:Sector 4,Bokaro,Jharkhand,india
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Bombay Hotel:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India,ph:0326-305589   Hotel Zeal:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India Hotel Sushant International:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India Hotel Samrat:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
TATA Central Hospital:Jamadoba,Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India
Bokaro General Hospital:Bokaro,Jharkhand,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:

Udhwa Bird Sanctuary

Udhwa Bird Sanctuary-Jharkhand
About:
Udhwa Bird Sanctuary, spread over an area of 5.65 sq km, is the only bird sanctuary in Jharkhand. It is situated near the Udhwa Lake (also Patauda Lake) in Sahibganj District. The Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is constituted by an amazing blend of two delectable lakes namely Pataura and Berhale that sum up together to occupy a cockling area that measures approximately 565 kilometers. Individually the lakes of Pataura and Berhale gobble up an area of 155 hectares and 410 hectares respectively. Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary is situated at a stone’s throw from the holy rivulet known as Ganga that adds a pleasant feel to its atmosphere.  
Location info:
Address:Udhwa Bird Sanctuary,
District:Patna
Nearest City:Patna
Best time to visit: October to May
Climate/Weather:
The climate of Bihar is somehow tropical in nature, the summers are hot and humid while the winters are cold. November to January are winter months, when the weather remains mildly cold and temperature drops to a minimum of 5oC and 10oC. April to June are hot months and the temperature soars to a maximum of 45oC. Monsoon reaches the state in late June and remains till September.
History:
 
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
Fauna:
Birds primarily witnessed stomping across on the surface of the water include: Gull, Jacana, Teal, Cormorant, Dabchick, Darter and others.The ones that spend most of their time on the banks satiated with huge quantities of mud are: Wader, Lapwing, Plover, Wagtail, Egret, Heron, Ibis, Stork and Pratincole.Birds that explore the lush grasslands and open fields at Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary of Bihar include: Blue Rock Pigeon, Lark, Bee-eater, Sparrow, Myna, Pipit, Bulbul other birds.The Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary in Bihar houses an astonishing six varied taxonomic categories of Mynas that truly deserves a big round of applause. They include: Pied Myna, Indian Myna, Bank Myna, Jungle Myna, Brahminy along with the extremely rare Grey-headed Myna.There is an absolute opulence of predatory avian creatures that include: Tern, Brahminy Kite, Fishing Eagle, Hawk and Vulture, House and Palm Swift, Swallow, Kingfisher, Drongo, Indian Roller and Parakeet and many more.The migratory birds just adore to spend some quality time in the Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary that include :- Black-headed and Brown-headed Gull, Grey-headed Lapwing, Little-ringed Plover, Red and Green Shanks, Spotted Green Shanks, Common Sandpiper, Temmink’s Stint, Yellow and White Wagtail, Blue-throat, Western Swallow and others.
Valmiki temple:
A Valmiki temple is called an Ashram, which means a hermitage or monastery. It is the communal house for Valmikis. The function of the Ashram is to serve as a center for building up the commitment of devotee’s and for transmitting the Ramayana’s message, and the focal point for the whole community to preserve their culture and traditions.The Ashram is open to all who wish to enter, anyone who goes to the Ashram is welcome to stay as long as they wish and are welcome regardless of race, gender, caste or creed.
Kutagarshala:
It lies at a distance of 3 kilometers from the main town and was constructed by the Lichchavis for Sakhamuni. A large tank, open courtyard and verandah are all that is left of this once famous monastery. In the north of this very site is the Ashokan pillar to commemorate the place where Buddha delivered his last sermon.Amvara or Amrapali’s mango grove: Amrapali the famous courtesan gifted here mango orchard Amvara to the Buddhist Sangha after she heard Buddha delivered his sermon.The ruins of Kings Vishala’s fort from whom the town gained its name, is also a major Tourist Attractions in Vaishali. Abhisekh Puskarini is the sacred coronation tank. The Japanese temple built by Nipponzan Myohoji sect of Japan is another interesting place in Vaishali.
Sonepur:
A small sleepy town close to Hazipur, Sonepur comes alive every year on Kartik Purnima when one of the largest cattle fairs of Asia is organised. A whole lot of people turn up to be a part of this fair from both India and abroad. The Bihar state Tourism Development Corportaions make accommodation arrangements in traditional huts for visitors coming to this fair.
Muzaffarpur:
Muzaffarpur is located 35 km from Vaishali and is also known as the lychee kingdom. In ancient times, it is believed, Muzaffarpur, along with the modern district of Champaran and Darbhanga, formed the Lichchavi kingdom. Today, the city is one of the most important one in north Bihar and has plenty of historical sites in closeby areas to roam around.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:The railway station of Patna is located in the main line of the Eastern Railway. It is well linked with almost all the important cities of the country and most of the cities in Bihar.
Nearest Airport:Patna airport is well connected with almost all the major cities in India. Indian Airlines and a number of private airlines operate out of Patna.
Road Transport:A vast network of National and State Highways interlink various places of Bihar and also connect the state with neighbouring states and rest of the country. The state capital, Patna has buses for almost all towns of Bihar. If you are coming to Bihar for Buddhist pilgrimage, the best option for you is to reach Patna first by air or train and then travel to Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali.
Nearest Visiting places:
Valmiki National Park:
Valmiki National Park of India are located just beside each other in the area of Valmikinagar around the Gandak Barrage. The park encompasses an area of 932 km²and is the oldest national park of Nepal established in 1973.Valmiki National Park and Tiger Reserve is another park located on the banks of this river. Valmiki sanctuary covers about 800 km² of forest and is the 18th Tiger Reserve of the country and ranked fourth in terms density of Tiger population.Valmikinagar is also a well-inhabited town located in the northernmost part of the West Champaran district, bordering Nepal. The floral and faunal composition of this park with the prime protected carnivores in the National Conservation Programme of the Project Tiger in the year 1994 was remarkable. As per Zoological Survey of India`s report of 1998 the Sanctuary is known to have 53 mammals, 145 birds, 26 reptile and 13 amphibians.  
Gol Ghar:
This bee hive shaped granary was built in the year 1770 after the outbreak of a terrible famine. It is one of the oldest British structures in the city and once you reach its top after climbing a series of steps, you will get a good view of the River Ganges and the city.This enormous beehive-shaped structure was constructed as a state granary. A series of surrounding steps lead to the top of this huge building that commands a nice view of the river Ganges and Patna city.
Harmandirji:
Built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, this dome shaped structure houses many Sikh scriptures and personal belongings of Guru Gobind Singh.The shrine was built to consecrate the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru (prophet). Many Sikh scriptures and the personal belongings of the prophet are preserved in this dome-shaped structure.
Kumhrar:
Nearly 5km away from Patna, this is the site of ancient Mauryan capital Patalipra. A huge 80-pillared hall of the Mauryan dynasty is an important find from the excavation.An archaeologist’s delight, this spot is marked by a huge 80 pillared hall. It is actually the ruins of Ashokan Pataliputra which in its heyday was comparable to Venice of the East.
Jalan Museum:
The Museum has been constructed at the site of the fort of Sher Shah. The personal museum preserves a great collection of jade, Chinese paintings and silver filigree work of the Mughal period.The personal collection of Diwan Bahadur Radhakrishnan Jalan is housed in this museum. The jade collection, the beautiful Chinese paintings and the exquisite filigree work of the Mughal period form a part of its excellent repertoire.
Agam Kuan:
This archeological remains of a deep well is one of the major tourist attractions in Patna. It is believed to be associated with the time of Ashoka.Believed to date back to the Ashokan period, this deep well draws a large number of visitors.
Patna Museum :
Locally known as the Jadu Ghar, this museum houses an amazing collection of bronze sculptures and terracotta figures. Its most precious object is the Didarganj Yakshi.The museum displays a prized collection of archaeological finds from different sites in Bihar. Metal and stone sculptures of the Maurya and Gupta Periods, terracotta figurines, ashes of the Buddha and a 16meters long fossilized tree feature among the exhibits. Patna Museum. The museum boasts of an amazing collection of Buddhist art, dating back to somewhere around 8th century AD to 12th century AD. The most magnificent pieces of art consist of the statues of Avalokitesvara and Maitreya. Apart from that, the city also houses some large pillars and the foundations of a Buddhist Monastery, known as Anand.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Petrol Pump:Bhagalpur,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Ginger Hotel:Behind Icici Bank City Center,Kanha,Jharkhand,India,Ph:0343 2543333   Hotel Satkar:New Market,Katihar,Bihar,India The Peerless Inn Hotel:Shahid Khudiram Sarani,Karwar,India,ph:0343 2546601 Hotel Rajasthan:Saheed Chowk,Katihar,Bihar,India
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Police Station:100
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Sadar Hospital:Khagaria,Bihar,India
Sadar Hosiptal:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Refinery Township Hospital:Begusarai,Bihar,India  
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Belgada Mela

About:
Belgada Mela in Simaria is another religious festival held in Baisakh purnima. Bhadli mela in Itkhori is one of the Jharkhand temple festivals, where people worship the ancient temple of Goddess Kali and lord Shiva. It is a religious gathering on Makar Sankaranti. Sangharo Mela in Chatra is held in Sawan Purnima in Jharkhand. Cattle fairs in Jharkhand are of an immense popularity. People from near and far, from the state as well as from the neighboring states come to these fairs to buy or sell their cattle. The cattle fairs give everyone a reason to rejoice and take a respite from the mundane day to day living. These fairs also help them in their business. Of the cattle fairs in Jharkhand, one which is pretty well known is the Belgada Mela.The Belgada mela takes place on the day of Baisakhi Purnima.   Probably the year in which the Belgada Fair originated . This is also essentially cattle fair though there are other festivities of a fair that can be enjoyed by all during this time.The other cattle fairs in Jharkhand are the Chatra mela which is held during the Durga Puja and two other fairs that take place in Chatra as well. These are the Kundri Mela which is held on Kartik Purnima and the Kolhaiya Mela held on the day of Magh Panchami. Other cattle fairs in Jharkhand are the Titulawa Mela that is held on Falgun Purnima and the Lawalong Mela, held on the day of the Aghan Purnima.
Time(indian calendar Tithi):
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Climate/Weather:
Jharkhand’s climate is tropical in nature with hot and humid summers and cold winters. The climate of the state varies from one region to another region. Some parts of Jharkhand such as Ranchi, Netarhat and Parasanth enjoy a pleasant climate during the summers. The summer season commences early in the month of April and comes to an end by mid-June. Soon after the summers, the rainy season begins and it continues till the end of September. The winter season starts in the month of November and comes to an end by February.
History:
Belgada Mela in Simaria is another religious festival started in 1920 and held in Baisakh purnima. Bhadli mela in Itkhori is one of the Jharkhand temple festivals, where people worship the ancient temple of Goddess Kali and lord Shiva. It is a religious gathering on Makar Sankaranti. Sangharo Mela in Chatra is held in Sawan Purnima in Jharkhand
Importance of festival:
Belgada Mela Simaria, Jharkhand is one of the significant fairs, which is held in Baisakh Purnima. It is primarily cattle fair whose origin dates back to the year 1920. It is held at Simaria in Chatra District of Jharkhand and is one of the important cattle fairs in Jharkhand. People come from far and near to see the popular fairs such as Belgada Mela Simaria, Jharkhand.
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Anil Agarwal (Chairman of Vedanta)

Anil Agarwal

Anil Agarwal (born 1954, Patna, Bihar, India) is an Indian metals, mining magnate and the founder and chairman of the UK-based Vedanta Resources Corporation. His personal wealth is US$6.4 billion as of 2010.

Early life and background

Anil Agarwal was born in Patna, Bihar in 1954. His father was a small-businessman. His father was into making aluminium conductors. Mr. Agarwal, was a matriculate from Miller High School, Patna. Lalu Prasad Yadav was his classmate and he also claim to be his great fan. He is strict vegetarian.

Career
Anil Agarwal founded Sterlite Industries, a business operating in the industrial sector in 1976[1] and then in 1986 established Vedanta Resources bringing together a variety of businesses owned by the Agarwal family.[2].Mr. Agarwal served as Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta Resources Plc. from November 27, 2003 to March 2005. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Sterlite Industries India Ltd.(subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc) from 1980 to October 19, 2004. Mr. Agarwal has over 31 years experience as an industrialist. He has been an Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc since March 23, 2005 and its Executive Director since May 16, 2003. Mr. Agarwal has been Chairman of Sterlite Industries India Ltd. since October 20, 2004. Mr. Agarwal has been Non Executive Chairman and an Additional Director of Sterlite Technologies Limited (a/k/a, Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd.) since October 30, 2006. He serves as an Executive Chairman of BALCO( acquired by Sterlite). He serves as Chairman of the Board of Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd. (BALCO) and Sterlite Gold Ltd. Mr. Agarwal also serves as a Director of SOVL, Vedanta Alumina and Sterlite Paper Limited. He has been Director of Sterlite Gold Ltd. since January 1999 and Sterlite Industries India Ltd. since 1978. He serves as Director of Copper Mines Of Tasmania Pty Ltd., and Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd. (BALCO). Mr. Agarwal has been an Executive Director of Vedanta Resources Plc since May 16, 2003. He serves as a Director of Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) , Vedanta Resources Holdings Limited and VAL.

Anil Agarwal is the Executive Chairman of Vedanta Group. Mr Agarwal, who founded the Group in 1976, is also Chairman of Sterlite and is a Director of BALCO, HZL, and Vedanta Alumina Ltd. Since 1976 the Group has grown under his leadership, vision and strategy. Mr Agarwal has over 30 years experience as an industrialist.

Vedanta Resources is a diversified metals and mining company with revenues in excess of USD 8 billion. It is the first Indian manufacturing company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Anil Agarwal serves as the President of Operations at Orient Ceramics & Industries Ltd. Mr. Agarwal has over 31 years experience as an Industrialist. Mr. Agarwal founded Vedanta Resources plc in 1976 and served as its Chief Executive Officer from November 27, 2003 to March 2005. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Sterlite Industries India Ltd., a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc from 1980 to October 19, 2004. He has been the Executive …  Chairman of Vedanta Resources Plc since March 23, 2005. Mr. Agarwal has been the Chairman of Sterlite Industries India Ltd. since October 20, 2004. Mr. Agarwal has been the Non Executive Chairman of Sterlite Technologies Limited (a/k/a, Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd.) since October 30, 2006. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd. (BALCO) and Sterlite Gold Ltd. He serves as the Chairman of the Board at Sterlite Energy Ltd. and has been its Director since November 2007. He has been an Executive Director at Vedanta Resources Plc since May 16, 2003. Mr. Agarwal also serves as a Director of SOVL, Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Ltd., Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Sterlite Metal Rollings Mills Private Limited, Finsider International Limited, Thalanga Copped Mines Pty Limited and Sterlite Paper Limited. He has been a Director of Sterlite Gold Ltd. since January 1999 and Sterlite Industries India Ltd. since 1978. He serves as a Director of Copper Mines Of Tasmania Pty Ltd. He serves as a Director of Vedanta Resources Holdings Limited and VAL. He served as a Director of Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) from April 11, 2002 to March 2009. He received the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 award.

Wealth
Having ranked eighth in 2003,[3] as of November 2006, he was the eleventh-richest Indian, with a personal fortune of US$4.5 billion.As of 6 October 2007, Agarwal’s net worth was estimated at $12.7 billion, making him the 6th richest Indian.As of 11th March 2010, his net worth is estimated at $ 6.4 billion

Personal life
Mr. Agarwal is based in UK, where he lives in London, is married and has two children.


List of National Parks in Bihar & Jharkhand

  1. Betla National Park
  2. Birsa Deer Sanctuary (Kalmati Ranchi)
  3. Chandrapura Bird Sanctuary
  4. Dalma Wild Life Sanctuary
  5. Detla National Park
  6. Gautam Budha  Sanctuaries
  7. Hazaribagh National Park
  8. Ichagarh Bird Sanctuary
  9. Jaivik Udyan
  10. Jawaharlal Nehru Zoological Garden (Bokaro)
  11. Koderama Sanctuary
  12. Lawalong Sanctuary
  13. Mahuadar Sanctuaries
  14. Palamau  National Park
  15. Palkote Wild Life Sanctuary (Gumla)
  16. Ranchi Aquarium (Ranchi)
  17. SARANDA (The Sal Forest)
  18. Tata Steel Zoological Park (Jamshedpur)
  19. Tatoloi hot water stream (Dumka)
  20. Tenughat Bird Sanctuary
  21. Topchanchi wildlife sanctuary 
  22. Udhava Bird Sanctuary-Sahibganj (Pathara Lake)
  23. Udhwa Bird Sanctuary