Bihar Wildlife Tourism is one of the most promising
With 21 wildlife sanctuaries and 2 wildlife national parks including Tiger Reserves Bihar marks to be the best in the country for witnessing the wonders of
Apart from hundreds of species of resident birds, there are similar numbers of migratory birds coming every year during winters and could be a dream come true experience for the bird watchers.
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary is one of
Bhimbandh Sanctuary
Bhimbandh Sanctuary covers an area of 682 sq km and situated close to Bhagalpur. This is well-known for the splendid bird life than land animals. Nearly 106 varieties of resident birds could be seen here. During the migration season (winters) the number of birds shoots up because these come from Central Asia and make nests here. Land animals like Tigers, panthers, wild boars,
Valmikinagar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Valmiki Wildlife National Park is situated within the premises of Valmiki Sanctuary situated in the West Champaran district of Bihar. Right adjacent to the sanctuary is the famous Valmiki Ashram. The bacKEYWORD DESCRIPTIONrop of eastern Himalayas making it amazingly beautiful destination for the tourists to visit. Even if one does not see any wildlife would not return dissatisfied.
Betla Wildlife Reserves
It is 25km from Daltonganj and 175km from Ranchi and is easily accessible by road. The best time to visit Betla is October-November and February-March. Besides other tourist
Palamau Tiger Reserve
Palamau Tiger
Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary
This Bird Sanctuary could bring the best Wildlife Travel moments of your life. It 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 around 565 kilometers. Individually the lakes of Berhale and Pataura gobble up an area of 410 hectares and 155 hectares respectively. It is situated nearby the holy rivulet Ganga that adds to the beauty of the whole atmosphere created here.
. The major attractions at the Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary are Gull, Jacana, Teal, Cormorant, Dabchick, Darter
. It houses an astonishing six varied taxonomic categories of Mynas are Pied Myna, Indian Myna, Bank Myna, Jungle Myna, Brahminy along with the extremely rare Grey-headed Myna.
. Tern, Brahminy Kite, Fishing Eagle, Hawk and Vulture, House and Palm Swift, Swallow, Kingfisher, Drongo, Indian Roller
. Many migratory birds adore to spend some quality time here are Black-headed and Brown-headed Gull, Grey-headed Lapwing, Little-ringed Plover, Red
Tourist places in Jehanabad
Introduction
Jehanabad district was carved out of old Gaya district on August 1, 1986. Earlier, it had been a subdivision of the Gaya district since 1872. The main objective behind the creation of this district was to accelerate the pace of development to tackle the problem of extremism, poverty, unemployment
The city of Jehanabad, which is the district HQ is situated on the confluence of the rivers Dardha and Jamune. The total land of the district is plain. It is crisscrossed by a number of river and rivulets, all seasonal, such as Galgu, Morhar, Dardha, lamune, Baldeyia and Ganghar.
legends, Hindu as well as Buddhist, take down the history of jehanabad to a period of hoary antiquity. The earliest of the archeological remains in the district are to be found in the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills. The description of jlehanabad is also found in the famous book ‘Aain-e-Akbari’.
Places of Interest
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Barabar
Situated at a distance of 11 km from the Makhdumpur block HQ Barabar can be
called a tourist’s paradise. Barabar, connected by a motorable road, consists
of a group of hills with distinct peaks. The most conspicuous are the peaks
known as Murali, Sandagiri and Siddheshwar. These hills are noted for the
world-famous Seven Caves. For sheer panoramic grandeur and rugged natural
beauty, very few places in the old Gaya district can be compared to the
northern portion of the Barabar hills. There’s an ancient temple of Siddheshwar
nath, which from an inscription in one of the neighbouring caves is known to
belong to the sixth or seventh century. This temple attracted the attention of
pilgrims even before the advent of Buddhism.
Towards the south of Siddheshwar nath Temple at its foot lies a small basin surrounded by hills with openings on the north-east and south-east where walls have been built. Towards the southern corner of the basin are two small sheets of water, which find an outlet under ground to the south-east and reappear in the sacred spring called ‘Patal Ganga’, where a bathing festival is held annually on Anant Chaturdashi.
The Barabar Caves are excavated in the hardest granite with infinite care and the interior surface of all of them contains high polish and is burnished like glass. Chinese traveller Xuanzang its visited this place and has given detailed descriptions of the place in his book. However, the credit for unravelling the charm and appeal of the Barabar hills goes to celebrated British author E M Forster. Forster’s ‘A Passage to India’ is replete with references to the Barabar hills though the name has been changed to Marabar.
Taking into consideration the immense tourism potential, historicity and religious significance of Barabar hills, the Bihar tourism department in association with the district administration has renovated the place giving it an entirely new look.
FACILITIES AT BARABAR
Stairways to the Siddheshwar nath Temple a top the hill
Tourist bungalow at ‘Patal Ganga’
Cafeteria
Piped water facilities
Nagarjuni Museum
Rural Marketing Complex
Police outpost
Telephone booths
Solar and electric lights
Dharaut
About 10 km north-west of Barabar hills, Dharaut has been identified as the site of the Buddhist monastery of Gunamati. At the foot of the Kunwa hill is a large tank known as Chandpokhar or Chandrapokhar. The name of the tank perpetuates the legend that it was excavated by Raja Chandra Sen. Two modern temples at its north-eastern corner once contained a large collection of ancient statues.
Dabthu
Six km east of Hulasganj in the district, Dabthu is chiefly known for its finely-carved images and ruins of temples. In the remains of ancient shrines, one can still see images of deities mutilated and decayed by ravages of time.
Ghejan
Situated in the Tatani-Faridpur block of the district and about 19 km away from jehanabad on the Shakmabad-Ghyan road, this place came light after the Gupta-period stone statues were excavated here. A huge statue of Lord Buddha has been on display in the village.
Kako
Kako is one of the blocks of this district situated at a distance of 10 km from the district HQ. There is a temple in the north-east of the village which has an ancient statue of sungod. There is also a mausoleum of great woman Sufi saint Hazrat Bibi Kamal. Bibi Kamal, aunt of Hazrat Makhdum Saheb of Biharsharif, is said to have been endowed with mystic and divine powers.
Ancient monuments have also been found in several other villages of the district like Bhelawar, Meerabigha, Amthua, Banwaria, Zaroo, Lat, Murgaon, Lari and Umta.
HOW TO REACH
By
Air:
Nearest
Airport
Jhanabad
is 55 km from Patna and 50 km from Gaya; that is, it is centrally located
between Patna and Gaya. It is linked by both road and rail routes. The
Patna-Gaya section of the East Central Railway, popularly known as the PG line,
passes through this district.
The Patna-Dobhi national highway also passes through this
district, connecting it with the Grand Trunk national highway in the Gaya
district. A number of buses ply between jehanabad and other towns of the state,
including Patna and Gaya
By
Rail:
Emergency,Contact
District Magistrate: 223001 (Res), 9431226100 (Mobile)
Superintendent of Police: 223110 (Res), 9431822976 (Mobile)
Town Police Station: 223017, 9431822258
Medical
Emergencies, Contact
District Sadar Hospital: 227794
Civil Surgeon: 9431071836
Dr Girijesh Kumar: 9431279908
Dr Leela Sinha: 223220
Dr K Rajan: 223366, 9431083321
Dr Qaisar Hussain: 9955430466
By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.
Where to Stay:
Sriram Hotel, PG Road, Mobile: 9431256935
Shalimar Rest House, PG Road, Mobile: 9234541644
Taj Rest House, PG Road, Mobile: 9934610150
Muralidhar Rest House, PG Road, Mobile: 9939912355
Balaji Rest House, Court area, Mobile: 9431280046
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
Tourist Season
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to
January).
Story of Anti-Bihari sentiment in India
Story of Anti-Bihari
sentiment in India
Bihari refers to the people of the Indian state
of Bihar, which is a region in the north-eastern Gangetic plains (as well as
people of the Bihari ethnic group that originated there). Bihar has had
slower economic growth than the rest of India in the 1990s, and as a consequnce
many Bihari’s have migrated to other parts of India in search of work. Bihari
migrant workers have been subject to a growing degree of xenophobia, 1] racial
discrimination, prejudice and violence. Biharis are often looked
down upon and their accent ridiculed. In 2000 and 2003, anti-Bihari
violence led to the deaths of up to 200 people and created 10,000
internal refugees.
Causes
Since the late 1980s and through to 2005, poor
governance and Annual Flooding of Bihar by Kosi River (Sorrow of Bihar)
contributed to a crisis in the Bihar economy. 9] The criminalisation of
politics, and kidnappings of professional workers between 1990-2005 contributed
to an economic collapse and led to the flight of capital, middle class
professionals, and business leaders to other parts of India. 10] 11] This
flight of business and capital increased unemployment and this led to the mass
migration of Bihari farmers and unemployed youth to more developed states of
India. The state has a per capita income of $148 a year against India’s
average of $997 and 30.6% of the state’s population lives below the poverty
line against India’s average of 22.15%. The level of urbanisation (10.5%) is
below the national average (27.78%); and behind states like Maharastra (42.4%).
Urban poverty in Bihar (32.91%) is above the national average of 23.62%. 1
Also using per capita water supply as a surrogate variable, Bihar (61 litres
per day) is below the national average (142 litres per day) and that of
Maharastra(175 litres per day) in civic amenities.
Impact: Social
and cultural
There is a perception in Indian states with
smaller populations that Bihari culture could dominate local languages and
customs as migration of poor workers continue from those states. This feeling
that local customs would be overwhelmed by migrants was a key feature of the
MNS campaign in Maharashtra and feelings of resentment in Punjab. 13] 14]
The migrant population in Punjab, according to state researchers, is nearing
three million out of a total population of over nearly 30 million. One third of
the migrants, nearly one million, live in and around Ludhiana. 15] After
the attacks on Uttar Pradeshi’s and Biharis in October 2008, a Punjabi group
called the Dal Khalsa, carried banners and placards that read Punjab for
Punjabis and Return migrants, Save Punjab . This fear is further
personified by the rise of Bhojpuri cinema in non-Bhojpuri speaking states.
Punjabi comedian Jaspal Bhatti said that instead of assimilating with the
culture of the state, the migrant population was seeking to decimate Punjabi
culture and cinema. In Mumbai, Raj Thackeray had also complained to
theatre owners for their reluctance to exhibit Marathi movies and producers of
Marathi movies complained that it is becoming difficult to hire theatres in
Mumbai to release their productions and exhibitors preferred to show Bhojpuri
language movies.
Furthermore, many see Biharis as criminals and
attribute any rise in criminality to Bihari youth, or the so called
“Bihari Mafia”. 18] Due to the high levels of crime in Bihar there is
a perception by some that Biharis are inherently criminal by nature. This has
led to Biharis being blamed for crimes ranging from automobile theft to
increases in rape, murder and kidnapping.
Economic
Bihar has a per capita income of $148 a year
against India’s average of $997. Given this income dispartity, migrant workers
moved to better paid locations and offered to work at lower rates. For example,
in Tamil Nadu inter-state migrant construction workers are paid about Rs.60 to
Rs.70 a day against the minimum of Rs.130 per day. 20] After thousands of
migrant workers left Nashik, industries were worried that their costs would
increase through more expensive local workers. 21] In an interview with the
Times of India, Raj Thackeray, leader of the MNS said; “The city (Mumbai)
cannot take the burden anymore. Look at our roads, our trains and parks. On the
pipes that bring water to Mumbai are 40,000 huts. It is a security hazard. The
footpaths too have been taken over by migrants. The message has to go to UP and
Bihar that there is no space left in Mumbai for you. After destroying the city,
the migrants will go back to their villages. But where will we go then?”.
2 The strain to Mumbai’s infrastructure through migration has also been
commented by mainstream secular politicians. 23] The Chief Minister, Vilasrao
Deshmukh felt that unchecked migration had placed a strain on the basic
infrastructure of the state. However, he has maintained and urged migrant
Bihari workers to remain in Maharashtra, even during the height of the anti
North Indian agitation. 24] Sheila Dikshit, the Chief Minister of Delhi, said
that because of people migrating from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Delhi’s
infrastructure was overburdened. She said, that “these people come to
Delhi from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh but don’t ever go back causing burden on
Delhi’s infrastructure.”
Violence :
Maharashtra
North Indian students, including students from
Bihar, preparing for the railway entrance exam were attacked by Raj Thackeray’s
MNS supporters in Mumbai on 20 October 2008. One student from Bihar was killed
during the attacks. Four persons were killed and another seriously injured in
the violence that broke out in a village near Kalyan following the arrest of
MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanded action
against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists and full security to students.
Nitish Kumar requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh
intervention. Kumar directed the additional director general of police to
contact senior police officials in Maharashtra and compile a report on Sunday’s
incident and asked the home commissioner to hold talks with the Maharashtra
home secretary to seek protection for people from Bihar. In 2003, the Shiv Sena
alleged that of the 500 Maharashtrian candidates, only ten of them successful
in the Railways exams. 90 per cent of the successful candidates were alleged to
be from Bihar. Activists from the Shiv Sena ransacked a railway recruitment
office in protest against non-Marathi’s being among the 650,000 candidates set
to compete for 2,200 railway jobs in the state. 30] Eventually, after attacks
on Biharis heading towards Mumbai for exams, the central government delayed the
exams.
Violence :
North East states
Biharis have sought work in many states that
form part of North East India. There were significant communities in Assam,
Nagaland, and Manipur. As with all migrations in history, this has created
tensions with the local population, which has resulted in large scale violence.
In 2000 and 2003, anti-Bihari violence led to the deaths of up to 200
people,and created 10,000 internal refugees. Similar violent incidents have
also taken place recently in Manipur and Assam. According to K P S Gill
waves of xenophobic violence have swept across Assam repeatedly since 1979,
targeting Bangladeshis, Bengalis, Biharis and Marwaris. 36]
Violence : Punjab
In early 2008, bombs exploded in Ludhiana which
killed six people and injured a further 30 in a blast in one of the three
cinema halls in a multiplex. The halls were frequented by migrant workers from
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and one credible theory being considered was that the
blasts were an attempt to scare away migrant workers.
Violence :
Karnataka
In July 2009, activists of the Kannada
Protection Force (KPF) in Karnataka stormed into exam centres and disrupted
railway recruitment examinations in protest against the appearance of north
Indian candidates, especially from Bihar, in large numbers.
Controversial
Statements: Derisive use of BIMARU term
Dr Ashish Bose, a Bengali retired govt servant
coined the epithet BIMARU.Even official planning commission records use this
term. BIMARU resembles the Hindi word for illness, Bimar. The BI in BIMARU
stands for Bihar. Ther other Hindi-speaking states that are included in BIMARU are
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Bihar, and other North Indian
states, have also been held accountable for holding India’s GDP ranking below
the double digit number.
Controversial
Statements: Editorial by Bal Thackeray
Shiv Sena leader, Bal Thackeray, commented in
the Shiv Sena newspaper, Samnna on why Biharis are disliked outside
Hindi-speaking North India. He quoted part of a text message as the title of
his article. The message suggests that Biharis bring diseases, violence, job
insecurity, and domination, wherever they go. The text message says, “Ek
Bihari, Sau Bimari. Do Bihari Ladai ki taiyari, Teen Bihari train hamari and
paanch Bihari to sarkar hamaari” (One Bihari equals hundred
diseases, Two Biharis is preparing for war, Three Biharis it is a train hijack,
and five Biharis will try to form the ruling Government). Nitish kumar, the
Chief Minister of Bihar, and the Union Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav,
protested against the remark, demanding official condemnation of Bal Thackeray.
Kumar, during a press report at Patna Airport, said, “If Manmohan Singh
fails to intervene in what is happening in Maharashtra, it would mean only one
thing – he is not interested in resolving the issue and that would not be good
for the leader of the nation”. Angered by Thackeray’s insulting remark
against the Bihari community, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) activists burnt the
effigy of the Shiv Sena chief at Kargil Chowk in Patna and said that the
senior Thackeray had completely lost his marbles and needed to be immediately
committed in a mental asylum.
Consequences :
Protests & demonstrations
Angry students in various parts of Bihar damaged
railway property and disrupted train traffic, as protests continued against
assaults on north Indians by MNS activists in Mumbai. The police said the
protesters targeted Patna, Jehanabad, Barh, Khusrupur, Sasaram and Purnia
railway stations in the morning. The protesting students reportedly set afire
two AC bogies of an express train at Barh railway station. They ransacked
Jehanabad, Barh, Purnia and Sasaram railway stations. According to the
railway police, at least 10 students were detained in the morning and extra
security was deployed to control the situation. 45] Noted Physician Dr Diwakar
Tejaswi observed a day-long fast in Patna to protest against repeated violence
by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray and his goons
against the north Indians. 46] Various student organisations gave a call
for Bihar shutdown on October 25, 2008 to protest attacks on north Indian
candidates by Maharashtra Navnirnam Sena activists during a Railway recruitment
examination in Mumbai.
Various cases were filed in Bihar and Jharkhand
against Raj Thackeray for assaulting the students. A murder case was also filed
by Jagdish Prasad, father of Pawan Kumar, who was allegedly killed by MNS
activists in Mumbai. Mumbai police, however, claimed it to be a case of
accident. 51] Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a compensation of Rs
1,50,000 to Pawan’s family. Bihar state Congress chief, Anil Kumar Sharma, has
demanded enactment of an Act by Parliament for closing opportunities to any
political party or organisation that indulge in obscurantism and raise such
narrow, chauvinistic issues based on caste, religion and regionalism to capture
power. 5 A murder case was also lodged against Raj Thackeray and 15
others in a court in Jharkhand on 1 November 2008 following the death of a
train passenger last month in Maharashtra. According to the Dhanbad police, their
Mumbai counterparts termed Sakaldeo’s death as an accident. According to social
scientist Dr. Shaibal Gupta, the beating of students from Bihar has
consolidated Bihari sub-nationalism.
Rahul Raj
Rahul Raj, from Patna, was shot dead aboard a
bus in Mumbai by the police on the 28 October. Rahul was 23 years old and was
brandishing a pistol and shooting at public from the bus. The Mumbai police
alleged that he wanted to assassinate Raj Thackeray. Nitish Kumar
questioned the police action, but R R Patil justified it, and restored Raj
Thackeray`s security. It was alleged that Rahul was protesting against
the attacks on Bihari and Uttar Pradeshi candidates appearing for railway
examinations. Mumbai crime branch is looking in to the incident. During Rahul’s
funeral slogans of “Raj Thackeray murdabad” and “Rahul Raj amar
rahe” were heard. Despite Mumbai police’s allegations, there was high
level government representation at the funeral. Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar
Modi and PHED minister Ashwini Kumar Chaubey represented the state government
at the cremation which was also attended by Patna MP Ram Kripal Yadav. The bier
was carried by Rahul’s friends even as the district administration had arranged
a flower-bedecked truck for the purpose.
Attacks
against Marathis
After the October 2008 anti-Bihari attacks in
Maharashtra, members of the Bharatiya Bhojpuri Sangh (BBS) vandalised the
official residence of Tata Motors Jamshedpur plant head S.B. Borwankar, a
Maharashtrian. Armed with lathis and hockey sticks, more than 100 BBS members
trooped to Borwankar’s Nildih Road bungalow around 3.30 pm. Shouting anti-MNS
slogans, they smashed windowpanes and broke flowerpots. BBS president Anand
Bihari Dubey called the attack on Borwankar’s residence unfortunate, and said
that he knew BBS members were angry after the attack in Maharashtra on Biharis,
but did not expect a reaction. Fear of further violence gripped the 4,000-odd
Maharashtrians settlers living in and around the city. 58] 59] Two
air-conditioned bogies of the train Vikramshila Express reportedly
with Maharashtrian passengers on board – were set on fire in Barh area of
Bihar. Hundreds of slogan-shouting students surrounded Barh railway station in
rural Patna demanding that MNS leader Raj Thackeray be tried for sedition.
No one was reported injured and passengers fled soon as the attackers started
setting the bogies on fire.
A group of 63 tourists, of which many were
Marathis, were on a tour of sacred Buddhist sites. The tourists found
themselves stranded on the outskirts of Patna as riots broke out. The Marathis
in the group were forced to hide their identity for fear of attacks. The group
avoided speaking in Marathi, and women wore saris in the north Indian rather
than the Marathi style. For security, the group had to be escorted by 25
policeman to the station. The tourists reached Nagpur safely. 61] In another
incident, a senior woman government official in Bihar, with the surname
Thackeray, was the target of an angry mob that surrounded her office and
shouted slogans against her in Purnia district. Ashwini Dattarey Thackeray was
the target of a mob of over 200 people. The mob, led by a local leader of the
Lok Janashakti Party, surrounded Thackeray’s office in Purnia, about 350 km
from here, and shouted slogans like, Go back Maharashtrians
and Officer go back, we do not need your services .
A gang of 25 people pelted stones on the
Maharashtra Bhawan in Khalasi Line, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Constructed in 1928,
the building is owned by the lone trust run by Marathis in Kanpur. It has
served as an important venue for prominent festivals, including Ganesh Utsav
and Krishna Janmastami. On 29 October, in Ghaziabad, Marathi students at
Mahanand Mission Harijan PG College were attacked, allegedly by an Uttar
Pradesh student leader and his friends. Police sources in Ghaziabad confirmed
the victims stated in their FIR that the attackers mentioned Rahul Raj
and Dharam Dev while kicking them in heir hostel rooms. A group of 20
youths, from Bihar, attacked Maharashtra Sadan in the capital on 3 November.
The Rashtrawadi Sena has claimed responsibility for the attack. They ransacked
the reception of the building and raised slogans against Raj Thackeray.
Cultural,
economic threats
Bihari leaders have urged a boycott of music CDs
of Bollywood singers, movies, clothes and drugs manufactured in
Maharashtra. Why don’t Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Lata Mangeshkar
or Anna Hazare come out and speak against such attacks on Bihari people? They
enjoy greater influence on the society and their words would indeed matter
, asked renowned Bollywood actor Mr Shatrughan Sinha. Nitish Kumar also
threatened to block cash flow to Mumbai, country’s financial capital. “If
Maharashtra is rich today, it’s just because the capital investments from
across the country have made there. Does Raj Thackeray know where will Mumbai
go if we block fund flow to Mumbai and Maharashtra”‘ … “I
will pump out air of Mumbai by blocking cash flow if the violence against
Biharis does not stop”. The Bharatiya Bhojpuri Sangh also demanded a ban
on the import of onions from Maharashtra. The organisation said if the ban is
not implemented by the Jharkhand government it will stop the entry of trucks
carrying onions from Maharshtra. Jharkhand imports onions from Nashik in
Maharashtra. “We will intensify our agitation if north Indians are beat in
Maharashtra,” said Anad Bihari Dubey. In Jamshedpur, trucks arriving from
Maharashtra were stopped and searched by nationalist groups. The government has
declared that firm action will be taken to prevent a breakdown in law and
order. “We have come to know that some people want to stop trucks coming
from Maharashtra. “We will not allow people to prevent movement of trucks.
Police have been alerted,” R.K. Agrawal, Deputy Commissioner of East
Singhbhum district said to the media. A mob also attacked a cinema hall in
Purnia screening films of Marathi directors. 65] After the attack the angry mob
announced the start of their non-cooperation movement against
Marathis.
Bhojpuri Film industry
relocation
The Rs 200-crore Bhojpuri film industry is
considering moving out of Mumbai owing to threats from MNS workers, and growing
insecurity. With an average output of 75 movies per annum and an over 250
million target audience, the Bhojpuri film industry employs hundreds of
unskilled and semi-skilled people from the state in various stage of production
and distribution. The industry, which has around 50 registered production
houses in Mumbai, has initiated talks with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. “We
have given a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government through its Culture
Minister Subhash Pandey for setting up the industry in Lucknow. Besides, we are
also counting on some other options like Delhi, Noida and Patna,” Bhojpuri
superstar and producer Manoj Tiwari said. The films have a large market because
the Bhojpuri diaspora is spread over countries like Mauritius, Nepal, Dubai,
Guyana, West Indies, Fiji, Indonesia, Surinam and the Netherlands. There is a
significant wealthy Bihari doctor community in the United Kingdom. citation
needed] 70 per cent of the total production cost of a Bhojpuri film —
budgets of which range from Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1.25 crore is usually spent in
Maharashtra, providing direct employment to junior artists, make-up men, spot
boys and local studios among others.
Improving
Bihar
However, the state government, post 2005, has
made an effort to improve the economic condition of the state, and reduce the
need for migration. In 2008, the state government approved over Rs 70,000 crore
worth of investment, has had record tax collection, broken the
political-criminal nexus, made improvements in power supply to villages, towns
and cities. They have laid greater emphasis on education and learning by
appointing more teachers, 68] and opening a software park. State Ministers who
have failed to live up to election commitments have been dismissed. 69]
Bihar’s GSDP grew by 18% over the period 2006-2007, which was higher than in
the past 10 years and one of the highest recorded by the Government of India
for that period.
Tourist places in Motihari
Introduction
Motihari is a town steeped in history
Motihari holds its eminence as the
Places in and around Motihari have had an older link
A museum and a stone pillar are there to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s links with Motihari.Gandhiji’s courageous
Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha
Places of Interest
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Gandhi Sangrahalaya
It has on display an array of photographs and relics of the Champaran
satyagraha.
Schools
started by Gandhi
The schools started by Mahatma Gandhi in the village of Barharwa Lakhensen and
Madhuban are among other important sites of interest in the vicinity of
Motihari.
Kesaria
There’s a stupa at Kesaria near Motihari which is said to be the tallest and
the largest Buddhist stupa in the world.It was discovered in 1998 through
excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The stupa’s height is 104 feet,which is far less than its reported original
height.Yet,it is one ft taller than the famous Borobodur stupa in Java.Legend
has it that Buddha,on his last journey,is reported to have spent a memorable
night at Kesaria,where he reportedly made some historical revelations.These
were later recorded in a Buddhist Jataka story
Orwell’s
birth place
George orwell,one of the greatest writersof twentieth century and author of
famous books like ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’,was born in Motihari
in 1903.His father Richard walmesley Blair was a deputy posted in the opium
department in Bihar.The cottage,where the famous author was born,lies in the
midst of the town.A plaque commemorating has birth place stands outside the
house.
Areraj
Temple
A
little away from Motihari lies the temple town of Areraj.The Shiva temple here
is a popular pilgrim site.Also at Areraj lies an Ashokan pillar attracting
tourists throughout the year.
Lake
Town
Motihari
has a picturesque lake-Motijheel-running through it.HOW TO REACH
By Air:
Nearest Airport
Motihari has a railway station. But it is advisable to travel to Motihari by
road from Patna. Buses and taxis are available. The distance between Patna and Motihari
is 160 km.
By Rail:
Nearest railhead
Motihari
By Road:
A number of buses play between Patna and Motihari.
Where to Stay:
Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas in the Motihari Town.
Aarti Hotel,Main Road,Phone: 06252-290664,09304255459
ACjnon-AC rooms are available for Rs 150 to Rs 1,000. Food is also served here.
Hotel Shakti,Chhatauni Road,Phone: 06252-235715
ACjnon-AC rooms available. Tariff ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 900.
Hotel Monica,Madhuban Chhawni Chowk,Phone: 09430255419
ACjnon-AC rooms available. Tariff ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 900.
Hotel Divya Raj,Madhuban Chhawni Chowk,Phone: 06252-241777
ACjnon-AC rooms available. Tariff ranges from Rs 250 to Rs 1,400.
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
In Emergency,Contact:
District Magistrate: 06252-222695(Off) , 242800(Res) 9431811222 (Mobile)
Superintendent of Police: 222684(Off),232683(Res) 9431822988 (Mobile
Sub-Divisional Police Officer: 222923(Off),9431800068(Mobile)
Medical Emergencies,Contact
Dr.Shambhu Saran(Cardiologist): 9431233077
Dr.Ashutosh Saran(Surgeon): 9431233123
Dr. Jasbir Saran(Gynaecologist): 9431434954
Dr Shekhar Verma (Dentist): 9431434954
Dr. J. N. Gupta(Physician): 9431233022
Tourist Season
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November
to January).
Tourist places in Munger
Introduction
Munger district has a unique historical background. The areas falling under this district are considered a part of the first Aryan settlers’ midland. It has been identified with Modagiri, a place mentioned in the epic Mahabharat. It was the capital of a kingdom in eastern India near Bhanga and Tamralipta. There is also a mention of Modagiri in the ‘Digvijay Parva’ of the Mahabharata, which seems to be the same as Modagiri.
The first authentic historical account of the district finds a mention
in the memoirs of Xuanzang who visited a part of this district towards the
close of the first half of the seventh century AD.
A copper plate known as the ‘Munger Plate’ was discovered in Munger way back in
1780. Mir Kasim conquered Munger and made it his capital till the army of East
India Company captured Munger. MirKasim had to flee through a tunnel made along
the bank of river Ganga near Kastharni Ghat.
Places of Interest
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Bihar Yoga Bharati
It is located within the Ganga Darshan Complex in Munger on a powerful energy
centre, about 172 km from Patna. It is on the top of the hill overlooking the
river Ganga.
It was Swami Shivanand who first had the vision of a yoga university when he
established the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh. Paramhansa Satyanand,
who established the Ganga Darshan Complex in Munger, carried his inspiration
forward. He has founded and established the Bihar Yoga Bharati, the yoga
university, to preserve and regenerate yogic science. The university imparts
comprehensive yogic education and offers MA, MPhil, PhD and DLitt.
Munger
Fort
The most important of the monuments at Munger is the ancient fort, built on a
rocky eminence projecting into the river Ganges that protects it from west and
partly from the north, the other sides being defended by a deep moat. The
rampart was provided with four gateways, one on each side, and with circular or
octagonal bastions, at regular intervals, carrying the usual battlements. of
the gates only the northern gate, called Lal Darwaza, is somewhat preserved,
with some carved stones built into it, which originally belonged to some Hindu
or Buddhist structure.
Bheembandh
Inside the deep Kharagpur forest, 50 km away from the district HQ, there’s this
scenic spot with a natural waterfall surrounded by hills from three
sides.
Red
Fort
It’s a
historic fort, similar to the Red Fort of Delhi and Agra. It has original
bricks and ancientstructurebut it is bereft of its original tower clock which
got dismantled during the 1934 earthquake.
Chandisthan
It’s a small temple situated in the cave of a hillock on the northern flank of
river Ganga, three km from the district HQ. A large number of devotees worship
the eyeball that is fitted inside the temple and revere it as the eye of
goddess Parvati. legend has it that this is the site where one of the eyes of
Goddedss Parvati fell while her body was being carried by lord Shiva on his
shoulder. Astrologers and tantriks from across the country gather here during
Navaratra in September-October every year for meditation.
Shaheed
Bag
It is believed that the maximum number of freedom fighters who
laid their lives during the 1942 movement belonged to Munger. Several young
boys were killed at Tarapur by the Tommies while they were hoisting the
Tricolour. There’s a Shaheed Bag inside the fort premises to commemorate the
historic event.
Peer
Naph
The body of an ancient Sufi fakir is believed to be buried on a hillock on the
southern gate of Munger Fort. This place has been renovated and a magnificent
mosque has come up there. It is known as Peer Napha Saheb’s mosque. Hundreds of
persons pay their respect at this mosque, especially on Fridays.
FAIRS&
FESTIVALS
Maaghi
Purnima Mela
The fair is held at Sita Kund every year for a month, beginning
on the Maaghi Purnima day. This fair is famous for sale of wooden furniture of
all varieties at affordable prices. Traders from Katihar, Purnia and Saharsa in
Bihar and UP and Assam participate in the fair along with their products.
Shivaratri Mela
It is an important fair. Elephants and horses are adorned with ancient attires
and costumes. lakhs of people assemble here on Maha shivaratri to watch a
special play based on the mythological marriage of lord Shiva with goddess
Parvati.
Sita-Kund
It’s a hot water spring, the water of which cools only for an hour on the day
of Maaghi Purnima. But no one knows at what time the water cools. This hot
spring, six km from the district HQ, is now enclosed in a masonry reservoir and
is visited by a large number of pilgrims every day, particularly during the
full moon of Maagh.
HOW
TO REACH
By Air:
Nearest Airport
Jamalpur
Junction is the main railway station from where Munger, the district HQ, is
situated at a distance of six km. Buses, private taxis and three wheelers ply
round the clock from Jamalpur to Munger.
Munger is also connected by road to major cities of Bihar
By Rail:
Nearest railhead
Jamalpur
By Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.
Where to Stay:
State Tourism Corporation’s and Private Hotels, Rest houses and
Dharmshalas at Munger.
Hotel Raj, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 228731, 225376
Centre Point, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 220600
Sitaria Hotel, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 222508, 228209
Hotel Namita, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 228680
Murari Hotel, STD Code: 06152, Phone: 261289
In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 06152
District Magistrate: 222401 (Res), 222402 (Off)
Superintendent of Police: 222405 (Res), 222406 (Off)
Sub-divisional Officer: 222403
Medical Emergencies,Contact, STD Code: 06152
Government Sadar Hospital: 220568
Sevayan Nursing Home: 220412
Dr. K.K.Bajpayee: 222888
Dr. Anirudh Prasad: 222334
Dr. Sunil Gupta: 226539
Dr. Rana Pratap Singh: 222853
Dr. Rupa Prasad: 222746, 222398
Dr. Sunil Kumar Singh: 222173, 221364
Dr. Jogendra Kumar: 9430449751
Dr. Sudhir Prasad: 222714
Dr. J.D.Singh: 222608
Dr. R.K.Gupta: 220177
Dr. J.D.Singh: 222608
Dr. R.K.Gupta: 220177
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
Tourist Season
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November
to January).
Tourist places in Muzaffarpur
Introduction
Muzaffarpur’s recorded history dates back to the rise of
Besides being a seat of one the oldest republics of the world, Muzaffarpur is also believed’ by some Jains to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Jain Tirthankar. Also, this is the place where Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha were contemporaries.
The birthplace of Lord Mahavir at Baso Kund under the Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur district has a full-fledged Prakrit Institute which attracts visitors, mainly followers of Jainism, from abroad. Ambarati, which is believed to be the village home of Amrapali, the famous cour dancer of Vaishali, also attracts many. It is 40 km away from Muzaffarpur town.
Muzaffarpur also boasts of having maintained communal harmony since the
The place is also associated with the first bomb exploded during India’s freedom
Muzaffarpur is famous all over the world for the Shahi litchi grown here. It is because of the unique soil in Bochaha and Mushahari blocks of the district that Shahi litchi has a scent and sweetness which is not found in any other variety of the fruit.
Places of Interest
Litchi gardens of Bochaha, Jhapaha and Mushahari from the first week of April to the second week of May. They are located in a radius of five to seven km from Muzaffarpur.
Jubba Sahni Park, Gandhi Koop on L S College campus, Kamal Shah Mazaar in Purani Bazar, Garib Sthan Mandir, Ramna Devi Mandir and Baglamukhi Mandir in Kachchisarai, all in Muzaffarpur town, are also worth seeing.
One can also visit the National Litchi Research Centre at Rahua,
five km from Muzaffarpur town, to know more about litchi.
HOW
TO REACH
By
Air:
Nearest Airport
The distance between Muzaffarpur and Patna is 60 km, and one can take a bus or
hire a taxi from Patna to reach Muzaffarpur.
By
Rail:
Nearest railhead
Muzaffarpur
By
Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.
Where
to Stay:
State
Tourism Corporation’s and Private Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas at
Muzaffarpur
Hotel Elite, Phone: 0621-2245353
Hotel Lichchhavi, Phone: 0621-2268512
Chandralok Continental, Phone: 0621-2245911
WHERE TO EAT
There are several motels and dhabas in and around
Muzaffarpur.
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
In Emergency, Contact
District Magistrate: 0621-2212101
Superintendent of Police: 0621-2217797
Town Police Station: 0621-2245252
Medical Emergencies,Contact
Dr. Birendra Kishore (Surgeon): 0621-2212485
Dr. T.K.Jha (Physician): 0621-2261425
Dr. B.B.Thakur (Physician): 9431238285
Dr. Rangila Sinha (Gynaecologist): 0621-2213938
Tourist Season
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November
to January).
Tourist places in Nalanda
Introduction The ancient town in Bihar was once home to the world’s first university for higher learning. Nalanda is about 90 km southeast of Patna. Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”.
The university at Nalanda began as a Buddhist monastery. Lord Buddha stayed at Nalanda several times in the local mango grove.
Lord Mahavir is also believed to have attained ‘moksha’ at
Pawapuri, which is located in Nalanda. Also, according to one sect of Jainism,
he was born in the nearby village, Kundalpur.
Interestingly, there’s a Nalanda Buddhist Centre (NBC) in Brazil. Set up in
1989, the centre was so named as a tribute to the great legacy of Nalanda, The
NBC was the second Theravada Buddhist tradition centre set up in Brazil 22
years after the Sri Lankan temple was first established.
Places of Interest
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Ruins of ancient Nalanda
The university of Nalanda was established in 450 AD under the patronage of the
Gupta emperors, notably Kumaragupta. It was one of the world’s first
residential universities. Its dormitories accommodated over 10,000 students and
2,000 teachers.
The Nalanda varsity had eight separate compounds and ten temples besjdes many meditation halls and classrooms. There were also lakes and parks. The subjects taught at the university covered every field of learning, and it attracted pupils and scholars from as far as Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia and Turkey, among other countries.
Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang has given a detailed account of the
university. The terracotta seal of Nalanda University has been put on display
in the ASI Museum at Nalanda.
Pawapuri
Lord Mahavir attained ‘nirvana’ (salvation from the endless cycle of life and
death) at Pawapuri,and thus the placeis a holy site for Jains.It is located 38
km from Rajgir in Nalanda district and 90 km from Patna,and it was here that
Lord Mahavir,the last of the 24 Jain Tirthankars,breathed his last around 500
BC. He was cremated at Pawapuri,also known as APapuri (the sinless town).
There was a great rush to collect his ashes,and, as a result, so much soil was removed from the place of his cremation that a pond was created.Now, an exquisite marble temple, Jalmandir, stands magnificently on a rectangular island in the middle of the pond.
There’s another Jain temple, Samosharan, here. This is the
placewhere Lord Mahavir delivered his last sermon
Kundalpu
Just 1.6 km from the ruins of Nalanda is this place called Kundalpur. The
Digambar sect of Jains believes that the 24th and the last Tirthankar, Lord
Mahavir, was born here. There are many Jain temples in this village.
Multimedia
Museum
India’s first multimedia museum was opened here on January26, 2008. It has a
section that recreates the history of Nalanda using a 3D animation film with
narration by TV and movie actor Shekhar Suman. There are four more sections in
the Multimedia Museum Geographical Perspective Historical Perspective,Hall o
Nalanda and Revival o Nalanda.
Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI) Museum
Nalanda,the
archaeological museum set up in 1917, housesthe antiquities,mainly those
excavated from the earliest university cum monastery complex at Nalanda and
from Rajgir. Out of 13,463 antiquities, 349 are on display in the four
galleries of the museum. The antiquities from Nalanda are datable from 5th to
12th century AD but some of those from Rajgir are a little older. The
sculptures kept in this museum are made of stone, bronzes, stucco and
terracotta but majority of those have been carved on basalt stone.
Most of the idols belong to the Buddhist faith but there are also those
belonging to Jain and Hindu religions.
A scale model of excavated remains of Nalanda university occupies the central
place of the hall. There are 57 idols and sculptures displayed in the first
gallery.
Opening hour:10 am to 5 pm
Friday closed
Entrance fee: Rs 2 per head
Free entry for children up to 15 years
Xuanzang
Memorial Hall
A memorial has been built and named after the Chinese traveller and scholar
monk, Xuanzang, who was a student at Nalanda and subsequently became a teacher
at the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara.The magnificent hall is located barely 1.3 km
away from the ruins of Nalanda.
It was in January 1957 that India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on
behalf of the government of India, received the relics of Xuanzang along with
his biographyand an endowment for the construction of a hall in his memory from
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lamaof Tibet. The initiative was
aimed at enhancingthe cultural relationship between India and China. The
construction work started in 1960 and was completed in 1984. The relics of
Xuanzang have been preserved in the Patna Museum.
HOW
TO REACH
The road between Patna and Ragir-Nalanda-Pawapuri is in
excellent condition. Private and state transport buses ply between Patna and
Biharsharif, the district HQ town of Nalanda. Tempos or horse-driven carts can
be hired from Biharsharif for Rajgir. Alternatively, one can hire a taxi from
Patna to Rajgir-Nalanda-Pawapuri. There’s also a direct train between Delhi and
Nalanda. Called Shramjeevi Express (2391 Up/2392 Dn), it runs via Patna.
By
Air:
Nearest Airport
Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna, 100 km away.
By
Rail:
Nearest railhead
Nalanda.
By
Road:
Connected
by good roads with all major cities of India.
Where
to Stay:
There are several hotels in and around Rajgir. Apart from hotels, tourists can
opt for tourist bungalows or government-owned hotels or guest houses
Indo-Hokke Hotel (3-star facilities), Phone: 255231, Fax: 255245
Rajgir Residency (2-star facilities), Phone: 255404, Fax: 255405
Hotel Tathagat Vihar, Phone: 255176, Fax: 255176
Hotel Siddhartha, Phone: 255216, Fax: 255352
Emergency, Contact
Nalanda District Magistrate: 235203, 235204, Fax: 235205
Nalanda Superintendent of Police: 235207, Fax: 233978
Rajgir Dy Superintendent of Police: 255461
Rajgir Police Station: 255258
Medical Emergencies, Contact
Rajgir Hospital: 255102
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
Tourist Season
From October to February. From mid-December to the end of January,
temperature here ranges from 5 degree C to 15 degree C. May and June are hot
and the mercury goes up to 46 degree C. It’s monsoon time towards the end of
June.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November
to January).
Tourist places in Nawada
Introduction
Situated on the National Highway-31 on Patna-Ranchi main road, some 120 km away from Bihar capital Patna, Nawada is a place of historical and mythological significance. Half of the Nawada district’s land is surrounded by forests and hills and several important places, like Kakolat Falls, offer a panoramic and pleasant natural sight to the tourists visiting Nawada.
The legend has it that Nawada was visited by Pandavas of the Mahabharata fame during their exile. Historians in their writings have acknowledged and discussed the discovery of several monuments, statues and coins of the Mauryan, Sunga, Pala and Mughal periods in different parts of the district. One can have a dekko at these finds, preserved in the Nardah Museum at Nawada town, the district HQ.
Peasant leader Swami Sahajanand made this district his workplace while Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan or JP, whose historic ‘Total Revolution’ call in 1970s led to the formation of the first non-Congress government in New Delhi, had his ‘Sarvodaya Ashram’ at Shekhodeora in the district’s Kauakol block.
Places of Interest
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Sarvodaya Ashram
This Ashram, established by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, is 55 km away from
the district HQ and is located in the forests at Shekhodeora village. Endowed
with very natural and scenic beauty, the place had been a home to JP for quite
some time.
Tourist inquiries about the Ashram can be made from 9934082815.
Nardah Museum
Nardah Museum is one of the prominent museums of Bihar with a very rich collection of ancient artifacts adorning its shelves. Several statues and coins of the Mauryan, Sunga, Pala and Mughal eras have been preserved at this museum, opened in 1973 soon after Nawada was carved out of Gaya as a separate district.
Kakolat
Kakolat Falls is a popular water falls of the district that attracts people from different parts of the country for picnicking in the summer. Water here falls from approximately 150 ft above the ground level into a well maintained pond at Kakolat, 33 km from the district HQ. It is surrounded by lush green forests, which add to its beauty.
This is the place which, according to the legend, was visited by the great Pandavas during exile. Also, a mythological king, cursed by a saint to take the shape of a python, got salvation after bathing in the water here. Having gotrid of the curse, the king proclaimed that those who would take a bath in the waterfall would never be reborn as a snake. A large number of people from far and near make it a point to take a bath under the falls due to this belief.
Tourist inquiries about Kakolat can be made from 9334610352.
Gunawan Jain Temple
One of the holiest temples of Jains, this temple is located one km away from the district HQ on the National Highway-31.
Handia Sun Temple
This temple, 12 km from Nawada town, is believed to have existed since the ‘Dwapar Age’. The legend has it that the water in the temple is sacred enough to cure leprosy patients.
Sitamarhi Cave
The Sitamarhi Cave is situated in a remote part of the district, about 30 km from the district HQ on the Gaya-Nawada main road, The cave is about 16 ft long and 11 ft wide.
HOW
TO REACH
Nawada is connected with rail link, but the neighbouring Gaya Junction is better connected with all major cities. Alternatively, one can reach Patna and hire a taxi to Nawada.
It is advisable to make Nawada a part of the package tour of
Gaya, Nalanda and Rajgir because all these places are located in a radius of
100 km and are connected with good, motorable roads.
By
Air:
Nearest Airport
Gaya and Patna
By
Rail:
Nearest railhead
Nawada
By
Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.
Where
to Stay:
Private
Hotels, Rest houses and Dharmshalas at Bihar Sharif/Nawada/Rajgir
Hotel Krishna Palace, STD Code: 06324, Phone: 9934747163, 216149
AC and nol’1-AC rooms available for Rs 250.R5 400 per day per room.
Hotel Rajshree International, STD Code: 06324, Phone: 215211, 9431227029
AC and non-AC rooms available for Rs 250-Rs 600 per day per room.
WHERE TO EAT
Dozens of restaurants, motels and dhabas are around. The food at these
places is not very costly.
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 06324
District Magistrate: 212240, 212253, 9431413443
Superintendent of Police: 212263, 214389, 9430410983
Medical Emergencies,Contact, STD Code: 06324
Civil surgeon: 212270, 9431227180
Sadar Hospital: 217579
Dr. Akhilesh k Mohan (Paediatrician): 9431251709
Dr. Prabhakar Singh (Physician): 9431831409
Dr. A.K.Arun (Physician): 9431257217
Dr. Madhu Sinha (Gynaecologist): 9771700421
Tourist Season
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November
to January).
Tourist places in Rohtas
Introduction
Sasaram, the headquarters town of Rohtas district, is steeped in history. It is an important railway station between Mughalsarai and Gaya. The station has a stoppage of all the important trains. The Grand Trunk Road also passes through the town.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Tomb
of Sher Shah
The magnificent mausoleum of Sher Shah in the town is one of the noblest
specimens of Pathan architecture in India. It stands in the middle of a tank.
Rohtas Fort
One of the most interesting places in Bihar is the ancient hill fort situated on Kaimur hills, some 1490 ft above sea level. It is 70 km away from Sasaram.
Tomb of Hasan Khan Suri
In the centre of the historical town is the mausoleum of Hasan Khan Suri, the father of Emperor Sher Shah (1538 AD).The tomb consists of an octagonal hall surmounted by a large dome and is surrounded by an arcade which is crowned on each side by three small domes.
Tomb of Salim Shah
In the middle of a large tank, about half a mile to the north-west of Shershah’s tomb, is situated the tomb of his son, Emperor Salim Shah.
Tomb of Alawal Khan
Outside the town to the south is the tomb of Alawal Khan. Khan was the officer in charge of the building of Sher Shah’s mausoleum and took advantage of his position to appropriate the finest stone for his own tomb.
Mundeshwari Mandir
Mundeshwari temple is one of the oldest Hindu monuments in Bihar. It is located on the summit of an isolated hill, seven miles north west of Bhabhua, the headquarters town of Kaimur district. Kaimur is adjacent to Rohtas. The nearest railway station is Bhabhua Road. The temple is in the shape of an octagon. Octagonal ground plan for a temple is rather rare.
HOW TO REACH
By Air:
Nearest Airport
Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna (147kms) Gaya International
Airport, Gaya (About 125 kms)
By
Rail:
Nearest railhead
Sasaram
By
Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.
Where
to Stay:
Hotel Sher Shah, a unit of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, Phone:
221267 AC rooms and restaurant facility available
Hotel Gopal Deluxe, Phone: 224366
Hotel Jaya, Phone: 221277
Hotel Vijay, Phone: 222323
Emergency, Contact
District Magistrate: 222226 (Off), 222224 (Res), 9431632414
(Mobile)
Superintendent of Police: 253204 (Off), 253205 (Res), 9431822978 (Mobile)
Medical Emergencies,Contact
Anjani Arogya Institution: 221215
Civil Surgeon: 222039
Chauhan Fracture Nursing Home: 222101
Gayatri Nursing Home: 222488
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
Tourist Season:
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to
January).
Tourist places in Saharsa
Introduction
Saharsa, now a divisional headquarter situated nearly 272 km away from the state capital Patna, was a part of Bhagalpur district in the pre-independence days. Carved out as a separate district in April 1954,
In 1905,a copper platewas discovered from Bangaon village which is said to have brought to light a new history of the Pala dynasty. Archaeological remains are scattered in different parts of the district.
Places of Interest
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Mahishi TaraTemple
Seventeen km from Saharsa,Mahishi village is known for an ancient temple of goddess Ugra Tara which is also believed to be a Shakti peetha.The legend has it that the right eye of Sati had fallen here.The temple has a three-ft-Iong statue of Tara,accompaniedby two other deities, Ekjataand Neel Saraswati,on the two sides.
The temple is associated with Tantrik cult where saints and other devotees from far and wide acrossthe country assemble during the ten-day-Iong Sharadiya Navaratra for penance. Although devotees from various parts of the country visit the place throughout the year,the main attraction of the temple is Dussehrain September-October during which more than one lakh people come here to worship the goddess.
Mandan Dham
Mahishi village takes pride in being the birthplace of legendary 8th century scholarand philosopher Pundit Mandan Mishra. He along with his wife Bharati made precious contributions to Indian philosophy. It is said Mandan was the senior contemporary of Adi Shankaracharya. During his ideological conquest for the propagation of sanatandharma, Adi 5 hankaracharya visited Mahishi for a philosophical debate with Mandan.
The birth place of Mandan is an upland, though barren where people from various states, particularly those in south India, come to salute the scholar whose books Brahmasiddhi, Meemansanukramanika and Vidhi Vivek,to namea few, are the gems of Indian philosophy.
Mandan’s better half, Bharati,was also a scholar par excellence and sheis believed to have once defeated Shankaracharya in debate.
Kandaha Sun Temple
About 13 km west to the district HQ of Saharsa,Kandahais a sleepy hamlet known for antiquities.There’s a temple of sungod here in which nearly three-and-a-half-feet-Iong and and three-feet-wide statue of sungod is exquisitely shown riding seven horses with many other deities on both sides.
The peculiarity of the temple is an inscription on the marginal threshold of the sanctum sancto- rum which, already deciphered, establishes that the temple dates back to the 14th century. The emple, built by the king of the Oinwar dynasty, Narsingh Deo, a contemporary of Maithili poet Vidyapati, is the only sun temple n Bihar after the famous temple at Deo in Aurangabad district. There are two wells on the temple premises, namely Suryakoop and Chandrakoop, the sacred water of which is believed to have curative effects for leprosy and other skin diseases.
Bangaon
About nine km from Saharsa, Bangaon is an ancient village dominated by Maithil Brahmins. But the village is better known as the workplace of well-known 18th century saint poet laxmi Nath Gosai. He was a yogi,a saint and a poet who wrote and. sang religious songs which are still sung by the people of the area with great reverence. The goddess Durga temple at Bangaonis also a centre of attraction where a large number of people offer their prayers during the Navratrain September-October
Dewna Deeh
Close to Bangaon, Dewna Deeh is known for the lord Shiva temple situated here. There are many other deities in the temple.
Karu Sthan
Situated on the bank of Kosi river and hardly two km away from Mahishi Tara Sthan is a temple of folk-god Karu Khirhari who was a fighter, a yogi and a devotee of lord Shiva. He was also a great lover of domestic animals, particularly cows. Out of his reverence for lord Shiva, he had named his cows as Mahesri, Kusesri, Nakuchesri, Umesri etc. It is said Karu Baba had sacrificed his life to save a cow from a tiger.
People from various parts of Bihar and Nepal visit this temple and offer milk, vegetable and ganja to Karu Baba. On the day of Saptami during Navaratra, the temple is jampacked with tourists from far and wide. Such a huge quantity of milk is offered to Karu Baba that day that every one reaching there is fed ‘tasmai’, a special dish prepared by mixing rice in pure milk.
Biratpur Chandi Sthan
In ascetic circles, Tara Temple at Mahishi, Katyayaini Temple near Dhamar Ghat in Khagaria district and Chandi Temple at Biratpur village under Sonbarsa block of Saharsa district form a holy triangle (trikonyantra) which is of special reverence in the Tantrik cult of worship. Goddess Chandi is another form or incarnation of goddess Durga. Nearly 35 km away from Saharsa, Biratpur is also associated with the Mahabharata legend of King Birat. There is a big mound near the temple which is believed to be the place where the Pandavas had lived for twelve years during their exile.
Matsyagandha Complex & Raktakali Temple
A separate temple of 64 mahayoginis, believed to be rare in India and sacred in Hindu pantheon, is the special attraction of the site where also exists a beautiful temple of Raktakali, built on the pattern of monastery architecture. There’s also a huge pond which offers water sport facilities. The opening of a tourist hotel, Hotel Koshi Bihar, has added to the attraction of this spot. People come from different places for offering puja to the goddess Kali during Diwali festival. The state government celebrates the occasion as a state festival.
HOW TO REACH:
Saharsa has been connected with road and rail links. There are
two daily trains from Patna, two weekly and bi-weekly trains from Delhi and a
tri-weekly train from Kolkatato Saharsa. Peoplealso come to Saharsaby road
asthe place has been linked with the national highway.
By
Air:
Nearest Airport:
Gaya
International Airport (About 308 kms) Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport,
Patna (234kms).
By
Rail:
Nearest railhead
Dauram
Madhepura
By
Road:
Connected by good roads with all Indian cities.
Where
to Stay:
Government Circuit House
PWD Inspection Bungalow
Kosi Project Inspection Bungalow
Hotel Kosi Bihar
(Owned by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation) Hotel Kosi Niwas
Hotel Vijeya
Hotel Embassy
Hotel Satkar
AC and non-AC rooms are available with tariff being moderate.
WHERE TO EAT:
Dozens of local hotels, restaurants and dhabas are there in the
city.
Government Circuit House
PWD Inspection Bungalow
Koshi Project Inspection Bungalow
Hotel Kosi Bihar (Owned by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation)
Hotel Kosi Niwas
Hotel Vijeya
Hotel Embassy
Hotel Satkar
Local Transport:
Auto rickshaws, Cycle-rickshaws, tangas.
In Emergency, Contact, STD Code: 06478
Divisional Commissioner: 224984 (Off), 223604 (Res), 9431243377
Deputy Inspector General of Police: 223488 (Off), 223688 (Res), 9431012708
District Magistrate: 224102 (Off), 223601 (Res), 9431243600
Superintendent of Police: 224556 (Off), 225554 (Res), 9431602642
Medical Emergencies,Contact, STD Code:06478
Dr. A.K.Issar: 223525, 225291
Dr. Anil Kumar Pathak: 223673, 223693, 9431243002
Dr. A.K.Mishra: 224314
Dr. B.N.Mishra: 224696
Dr. A.K.Choudhary: 224620, 223363
Tourist Season:
October to March.
Clothing:
Light cotton in summer and woolen in winter (specially during November to
January).