MAITHAN DAM

MAITHAN DAM
About:
They are Maithan and Tilayia dams. Maithon dam is a very famous tourist spot because of its exquisite locale and tranquil ambiance. It is built on Barakar at a place known Maithon in the Dhanbad district while Tilayia is a dam in the Hazaribagh district. Its there in the history of Barakar river as well as in the present also that it creates huge havoc during monsoons in the upper reaches by bringing massive floods. The fury can be estimated from the fact that not once but twice it drowned two bridges constructed successively on the Grand Trunk Road that passes through it.Maithan means ‘Mother’s Home’. This dam, 15,712 ft long and 165 ft high, is built over the Barakar River and has been designed for flood control.  

The Maithon reservoir lake, spread over an area of 65 sq.km, offers boating and fishing facilities to tourists. There is also a rest house on an island in the middle of the lake. A deer park and bird sanctuary can be visited nearby. Maithon Dam has a unique underground power station which is the first of its kind in the whole of South East Asia. Visiting the power station requires prior permission. Maithan Dam, It is 52 km from Dhanbad. Maithon can also be translated as “Mother’s Abode”. Maithon has the biggest reservoir in the Damodar Valley Corporation. This dam, designed for flood control, has been built on the Barakar river. It has a unique underground power station which is first of its kind in S.E. Asia. Just a little away from the dam lies an ancient temple at Kalyaneshwari.

The lake at Maithon is spread over an area of 65 sq.kms. On an island in the lake is a rest house which offers accommodation. Boating and fishing facilities are available. Close by, a deer park and a bird sanctuary have been established. The name Maithon literally means mother`s abode. Situated on the banks of the Damodar River, the major attraction of the town is a lake. The lake covers an area of 65 sq km. and offers boating and fishing facilities.

Near the lake there is a bird sanctuary and a deer park. The Maithon Dam constructed on the Barakar River is another prime attraction for visitors. The Maithon dam was built with the objective to control floods. It also has an underground power station, which is the only one in South East Asia. A few kilometers from the Dam there is an ancient temple named Awake Temple at Kalyaneswari.
Location info:
Address:Maithan Dam,Dhanbad,Jarkhand,India
District:Dhanbad
Nearest City:Hazaribagh
Best time to visit: October to March
Climate/Weather:
Summers 16°- 41°C. Winters 1°-28°C
History:
Literally meaning Mother’s Abode, it is the biggest reservoir of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). This dam, designed for flood control, has been built on the Barakar river. It has a unique underground power station which is first of its kind in SE Asia. Just a little away from the dam lies an ancient temple at Kalyaneshwari. The lake at Maithon is spread over an area of 65 sq. km. There is a rest house on an island in the lake. Boating and fishing facilities are available. Close by, a Deer Park and a bird sanctuary are also situated.
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
Dam :
The Maithon Dam, located 48 kms from Dhanbad, is 15,712 ft long and 165 ft. high. This dam specially designed for flood control generates 60000-k Watt of electricity. The unique feature that sets it apart from the rest is that there is an underground power station, first of its kind, in whole of SouthEast Asia. The dam is constructed on the Barakar River.Prior permission is required for visiting the powerhouse. The permits are issued from the office of the Assistant Public Relations Officer and guide services are also made available.  

Barakar river:
The whole catchment area of Barakar River at Jharkhand is 6159 square kilometers. The two main tributaries of Barakar River in Jharkhand are Barsoti and Usri which flow in the direction of south to north. The Barakar River flows across the districts of Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Giridih at Jharkhand. Another fact about Barakar River at Jharkhand is that it has two dams standing over it. The main tourist attraction at the banks of Barakar in Jharkhand is the Parashnath Hill at an altitude of 4470 feet in the Giridih district of Jharkhand. Another tourist attraction near Barakar River is the pilgrimage of the Jains named Bhagvan Mahavir Swami Jain Teerth.

Jilaiya Dam:
This dam, situated across Barakar River is a preferred attraction for the tourists. It is 55 kms away from Hazaribagh. The main road from Bath, on C.T Road passes through the reservoir and the hillock offers a breath-taking sight.
Hazaribagh Hill:
Hazaribagh is the famous hill resort to relax and enjoy the natural scenery. Hazaribagh literally means the land of thousand gardens and is situated at an altitude of 2019 feet above the sea level and set amidst hilly and forests on the opposite side of the Damodar Valley. It has excellent climate and scenic beauties all around it in the midst of dense forest which is quite rich in flora and fauna. Hazaribagh is well known for the Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary. This place attracts tourists from all over the world who come here to visit the sanctuary, waterfalls and dams located in the vicinity. The best season to visit Hazaribagh is from October to April.
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 aiport at (175km) and Patna airport at(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:
Rajarappa Waterfalls:
Rajarappa Waterfalls is situated about 89 km. from Hazaribagh. The Rajarappa Waterfalls is believed to be one of the 51 sacred sites where a part of the body of Sati, the spouse of Lord Shiva fell. In this falls, the Bhera river joins the Damodar river from a height of 20 feet. A temple dedicated to Devi Chinnamasta is situated on the top of the hill. The little waterfall also offers boating facilities which introduces some very spectacular rock formations in this area.

Tilaiya Dam:
Tilaiya Dam is a small dam that is situated on the Patna-Ranchi road and 55 kms from Hazaribagh. This dam produces only 4000 kw. of power. This was the first dam and hydro-electric power station that was built by the Damodar Valley Corporation for controlling floods across Barakar river in Hazaribagh district. It is 1,200 ft. long and 99 ft. high. It is situated in an ideal surrounding with a reservoir stretching in 36 sq. kms. This dam is mainly visited for its picturesque setting with its hills and reservoir with motor boats, swimming, terrace gardens and deer park.

Canary Hills:
The Canary Hills is located close to the town. The Canary Hills has a well laid out park and studded with three small lakes and an observation tower. From the top of the hill one can have a panoramic view of the town.

Parshnath Temple:
Parshnath Temple is situated at the top of the Parshnath Hill, the highest hill in the Giridih district in Bihar. It is situated about 200 km. from Pawapuri and 8 km. from Giridh. The path to the hill top passes through the Madhuban village from where it is an 11 km. trek. It takes almost a full day to reach the Parshnath Hill and to the temple and to come back. The Parshnath Hill is a famous abode for Jains as about 23 out of 24 Tirthankaras (including Parsvantha) are believed to have attained salvation in the Sammetasikhara of the Parshnath hills. The Parshnath hill is named after the 23rd Tirthankar Parsvanatha and rises steep above the plains of Dhanbad to a height of 1,365 metres. The Prasvantha, 23rd Tirthankar was very popular among tribal population of Chotanagpur. He is identified by the snake king Dharanendra, whose many hoods protect the meditating Tirthankar. Both the Swetamber and Digamber Jains have many beautiful temples here on the hills.

Shahpur:
Opposite Daltonganj on the west bank of the Koel is the village SHAHPUR in which Gopal Rai, the Raja of Palamu built a palace in the end of the 18th century. Shahpur stands on a high tract of land and the ruined place, the white temple and the masonry building present a picturesque view from Daltonganj. A nearer view of the palace is disappointing for what looks in the distance like an imposing edifice is seen to be half- finished building of little architectural importance.

Palamau:
Palamau on the Auranga river , 20 miles south-east of Daltonganj as the crow flies, from which the district takes its name is for historian and archaeologist the most interesting place in the district, for it was for many years the seat of the Chero chiefs and it contains the ruins of the two great forts built by them, the capture of which by Mughals and later by the British resulted in the collapse of the Chero resistance, the forts lie within the reserved forests and in order to preserve them the jungle has to be cut back at intervals .they are a favourite haunt of tigers, whose pug marks may nearly always be seen in and around the fort.The walls which are in preservation are about 5 feet in thickness and those of the old fort bear marks of cannon balls and bullets in many places.

Netarhat:
The plateau of Netarhat in Palamu district is comparatively unknown to the tourists from outside although it is one of the rare beauty spots which is capable of great development. About a century back, it is understood, there was a military camp at Netarhat. The camp had to close down because sufficient good water was not available. It was left to Sir Edward Gait, Lt. Governor of Bihar and Orissa to give a great Importance to the plateau. Sir Edward and after him many of the Bihar and Orissa and later Bihar Governors use to spend a part of the summer exodus at Netarhat. Netarhat although situated in Palamau District is more easily accessible from Ranchi, the summer head quarter of the Old Bihar Govt. it is at a distance of 96 miles from Ranchi, the last 12 miles of which commencing from Banari runs through the hilly section and is typical of any of the other hill stations. There is an excellent all-weather road of morum which is capable of widening at some places. The cars can pass conveniently.
plateau:
A plateau, four miles long and two and a half miles broad. It is in the extreme of the district, the highest point of which is 3,800 feet above the sea level. It is in Mahuadanr police station and is 96 miles west of Ranchi across seven hills. This is the highest point on the plateau of Chhotanagpur. Netarhat is a place of peculiar charm which has a laid its spell on many casual visitors. The stillness of the jungle and the cool and refreshing air brings relief from the dust and heat of the plains. Netarhat has a game sanctuary amidst pine forest the bestow singular arboreal interest in this part. Some time back it used to be the permanent summer station of the Governor.

Palamau National Park:
Palamau is one of the popular national parks of India. Palamau is situated within the lndo-Malayan realm and is rich in flora and fauna, though the area is prone to severe droughts. There are 107 villages in the buffer area and three in the core with a human population of 65,000 and a livestock population of 45,000. The core is distributed into two parts, the actual core and the recently inducted ‘satellite core’. The park was brought under Project Tiger in 1973 and is among the first nine Tiger Reserves of the country. The core area was declared a National Park in September 1989.

Betla National Park:
Situated in the district of Daltonganj, Palamau Sanctuary is spread over an area of 979sq.km. The core area of 232 sq. kms of the sanctuary was declared as Betla National park in September1989. The park occupies the western parts of the Chotanagpur plateau and was constituted in the year 1960 as an extension of the Hazaribagh National park. Palamau has the distinction of being the forest where the world’s first tiger census was enumerated in 1932. The park became one of the earliest 9 tiger reserves in India under ‘Project Tiger’ in 1974.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Dhanbad Petrol Pump:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India,Ph:02224547
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Bombay Hotel:Dhanbad,Jharkhand,India,ph:0326-305589   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:

Bagmati River

Bagmati River-Bihar
About:
Bagmati is a perennial river fed by a number of springs. Flowing through the Indo-Nepal borders, this 250 km long river takes it origin from the mountains north-east of the Nepal valley in the Himalayas.During its course, Bagmati River flows along the districts of Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga. The river is also known by two different names – Siyari and Kareha.  

Patna, July 3 (IANS) Major rivers in north Bihar, especially the Kosi, Gandak, Budhi and Bagmati, are in spate following heavy rains in their catchment areas and are posing a threat of floods, officials said Friday.With heavy rainfall recorded in the catchments areas in neighbouring Nepal, the water levels of these rivers have been rising to dangerous levels for the last two days.

“The Bagmati has crossed the danger mark at some points and the water level in Gandak also increased following water discharge into the river from Nepal,” said an official of the central water commission.In view of the spate in major rivers, the state government has alerted the administrations of flood prone Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa, Araria, Purnia, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Sitamarhi districts.
Location info:
Address:Bagmati River,Patna,Bihar,India
District: Patna
Nearest City: Patna
Best time to visit: October to March
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:
Bagmati is a perennial river of North Bihar. It originates from the shivpuri range of hills in Nepal at latitude 270 47’ N and longitude 850 17’E., 16 Km North-East of Kathmandu at an elevation of 1500 m above MSL. It enters Indian territory in Bihar in the village Shorwatia in Sitamarhi district, nearly 2.5 Km north of Dheng railway station.The total length of this river is about 589 Km .It traverses nearly 195 Km in Nepal and rest 394 Km in Bihar. It outfalls in the kosi at Badlaghat.
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
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:
Nand Hotel:Sabzi Market,Saharsa,Bihar,India Satkar Hotel:Saharsa,Bihar,India Sana Rest House:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Sadar Hospital:Khagaria,Bihar,India
Sadar Hosiptal:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Refinery Township Hospital:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:www.india9.com

Falgu River

Falgu River-Bihar
About:
Falgu (often Phalgu) River is one of the tributaries of the river Ganges. Gaya and Bodh Gaya are the most famous and important locations on the banks of the Falgu River. Gaya is a sacred city for Hindus, and Bodh Gaya is one of the holiest places for the Buddhists. In certain ancient texts, Falgu River finds mention as the Niranjana River.There is reference to the city of Gaya and the Falgu River in the Hindu epic of Ramayana. Hindu mythology states that Sita who was wife of Lord Rama has cursed the Falgu River.  

This is an interesting story and the mythology states that on account of this curse, Falgu River lost its water, and the river is simply a vast stretch of sand dunes.An eye witness accountof Falgu River state: “Across the road was the Falgu river, a mile wide, flatter and drier than the Sahara.” But the mass of water is available below the sand dunes. If one digs even a meter, the water seeps out and a small crater full of water is formed. In some places, water flows are also available.
Location info:
Address:Falgu River,Gaya,Bihar,India
District: Gaya
Nearest City: Gaya
Best time to visit: December to January
Climate/Weather:
Winter the lowest temperatures being 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. Winter months are December and January. It is hot in the summer from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. April to mid June are the hot months. The monsoon months of June, July, August, and September see good rainfall. October & November and February & March have pleasant climate.
History:
Hindus from the point of view of salvation to the souls of ancestors (a ritual called pindadanam). According to Ramayana, when Lord Rama came to Gaya along with Sita for pitrupaksha (or to perform pindadanam), Sita cursed the Falgu River following some disobedience on the part of the river. The mythology states that on account of this curse, Falgu River lost its water, and the river is simply a vast stretch of sand dunes.
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
Vishnupad Mandir:
The Vishnupada Mandir is the 220 year old temple in Gaya, India. It is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is located along the Falgu River, marked by a footprint of Lord Vishnu, incised into a block of basalt. The Bhumihar Brahmins have been the traditional priests at Vishnupad Mandir in Gaya as Gayawar Pandas and in the adjoining districts like Hazaribagh

Mahabodhi Temple:
The Mahabodhi Temple Literally: “Great Awakening Temple” is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96 km (60 miles) from Patna, Bihar state, India. Next to the temple, to its western side, is the holy Bodhi tree. In the Pali Canon, the site is called Bodhimanda,and the monastery there the Bodhimanda Vihara. The tallest tower is 180 ft tall.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Bodh Gaya railway station at the distance of 17 kilometers
Nearest Airport:Bodh Gaya airport at the distance of 17 kilometers
Road Transport:Besides a good network Bodh Gaya is well connected by roads to various cities of India. The main bus stand is near Sujata Bridge on the bank of Falgu River on the northeastern edge of the town. Gaya is the nearest transport hub which is connected with Grand Trunk Road and from where you can catch direct busses to reach Patna, Nalanda, Rajgir and Varanasi. Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation also runs buses from Patna- Bodhgaya route twice a day.
Nearest Visiting places:
Bodhgaya:
Bodhgaya is located in southern part of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu river, a tributary of river Ganga, Bodhgaya is at a distance of 113 kms from Bihar’s capital city of Patna. Bodhgaya is regarded as one of the four holiest places of Buddhism. It is here that Lord Buddha received enlightenment some 2500 years ago. Emperor Ashoka had also built some important Buddhist monuments at Bodhgaya. Tourists cutting across religious lines visit Bodhgaya in large numbers from all parts of the world to pay obeisance to Lord Buddha. Devotees also come to Bodhgaya to engage in Buddhist studies and enroll for courses on Buddhist meditation.  

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.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Petrol Pump:Nawada,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Hotel Pankaj:Tekari Road,Gaya,Bihar,India,ph:09955811250

Lotus Nikko Bodhgaya Hotel:Bodhgaya Bihar,India   Vasundhara Hotel:Gaya,Bihar,India
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Sadar Hospital:Khagaria,Bihar,India
Sadar Hosiptal:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Refinery Township Hospital:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:www.en.wikipedia.org

Gandaki River

Gandaki River-Bihar
About:
The present capital of the state of Bihar and the erstwhile capital of the mighty Mauryan Empire, the historical city of Patna is located at the meeting point of the Rivers Ganga and Sone. There are many Tourist Attractions in Patna and visitors are sure to enjoy any sight seeing tour of the city that covers these various Tourist Attractions in Patna.  

The river flows across the Gangetic plain of Bihar state and eventually merges with the Ganga near at Hajipur or Patna. The entry point of the river at the Indo-Nepal border is at the convergence of Gandak, known as Triveni. Here, the rivers meet with Pachnad and Sonha also sliding into India from Nepal. Pandai River flows into the Indian state of Bihar from Nepal in the eastern end of the Valmiki Sanctuary and finally meets Masan. The drainage area of this river in India is 7620 sqkm. After the river enters India at Triveni, it flows for an extended length of 300 km and then joins the Ganga. Before merging with the river Ganga near Patna, it flows through the districts of Champaran, Sarang and Muzaffarpur. The total length of the Gandak River is 630 km out of which 330 km flows in Nepal and Tibet.  

The river is joined by Rahught Khola at Galeshwor at the south of the gorge, Myagdi Khola at Beni, Modi Khola near Kushma and Badigaad at Rudrabeni. The river then takes a right-angle turn and runs east. The largest hydroelectricity project in Nepal is located along this stretch of the river. A major tributary, Trishuli, at Devighat, joins Kali Gandaki just as the river exits the foothills of the Himalayas into the southern plains of Nepal. Masryangdi is a major tributary of Trisuli. From Devighat, the river flows southwest and is called Narayani or Sapt Gandaki. The river then meanders back towards the southeast and enters India.
Location info:
Address:Gandaki River,Patana,Bihar,India
District: Patna
Nearest City: Patna
Best time to visit: October to February
Climate/Weather:
Summer: 43 °C – 30 °C, Winter: 21.4 °C – 5 °C
History:
In the history of ancient India edited by Mc Krindle, there was a river called Amystis that flows past a town called Katadupa, in the days of Megasthenes. Another historian Wilfred opines that Amystis is modern day Ajay.[4] In recent times there has been exploration of the remains of an ancient civilisation similar to that of the Indus Valley Civilisation at Pandu Rajar Dhibi in the lower Ajay valley.There has been at least 14 recorded floods in the 20th century in the Ajay river. The lower reaches of the river have embankments to prevent flooding.  
Interesting things to do:
Religious significance:
The ancient Valmiki Ashram and surrounding temples are located nearby and a desired pilgrimage. It is said that Valmiki Rishi wrote the great epic, “Ramayana” here. It is also believed to be the birthplace of Luv & Kush, the two sons of Lord Ram and his wife Sita. Saligrama Sila and Mukthinath are places of worship, where the stones are collected from the bed of Gandak River at a place close to the Mustang district of Nepal. It is also a sacred place for Buddhists, who call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means `Hundred Waters`. These stones are naturally formed round stones, with circular or spiral markings and are fossil ammonite stones. These stones are like ocean sediments, which have been uplifted to the top of the Himalayas. Other places of worship near this river are Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa, Chakra-Tirtha, Nepali Mandir at Hajipur, Jamia Masjid, Vaishali and many more.
Interesting things to Visit:
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:Patna falls on the National Highway No 30. Patna is well connected to the key cities within the state as well as the country.
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:
Nand Hotel:Sabzi Market,Saharsa,Bihar,India  
Satkar Hotel:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Sana Rest House:Saharsa,Bihar,India

Ganga River

Ganga river-Bihar

About:
The Ganges (pronounced,Hindi Ganga hi-Ganga.ogg (listen) (help·info), Devanāgarī: as in most Indian languages) is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Allahabad, Murshidabad, and Calcutta) have been located on its banks. Ganga and its tributaries drain a 1,000,000-square-kilometre (390,000 sq mi) fertile basin that supports one of the world’s highest density of humans. The average depth of the river is 52 feet (16 m), and the maximum depth is 100 feet (30 m).  

The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India’s heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India’s civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures.

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.

The Ganges has many names associated with its many roles in Sanskrit mythology. Bhagiratha himself is the source of the name Bhagirathi (of Bhagiratha), which is its initial stream, but is also another name for the Hooghly. At one point, Bhagiratha went too close to the sage Jahnu’s meditation site, and the disturbed hermit immediately gulped up all the waters. Eventually, after more persuasion from Bhagiratha, the sage yielded the waters, but Ganges retained the name “Jahnavi”.
Location info:
Address:Ganga river,Munger,Bihar,Gujarat,India
District: Munger
Nearest City: Saharsa
Best time to visit: December to January
Climate/Weather:
Winter the lowest temperatures being 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. Winter months are December and January. It is hot in the summer from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. April to mid June are the hot months. The monsoon months of June, July, August, and September see good rainfall. October & November and February & March have pleasant climate.
History:
High up in the Garhwal Himalayas lies the Gangotri glacier, bearing ice believed to be 400 years old. The mighty Ganga (also Ganges) emerges from beneath this glacier, at a height of 3,959 m above sea level. Here she is known as the Bhagirathi, after the legendary prince Bhagirath who is accredited with bringing her down from heaven to earth.  

Bursting forth at Gaumukh, out of a huge cavern shaped like the mouth of a cow, snow laden and hung with giant icicles, the Bhagirathi goes rushing, sparkling, foaming around chunks of ice that are constantly breaking off from the glacier above. Eighteen kilometers downstream stands Gangotri, which was the source of the river until the glacier melted and retreated to its present position above Gaumukh. From here, onwards the river passes through the whole of north Indian plain covering the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Bangladesh.
Interesting things to do:
Religious significance:
Situated on the banks of River Ganges, Varanasi is considered by some to be the most holy city in Hinduism. The Ganga is mentioned in the Rig-Veda, the earliest of the Hindu scriptures. It appears in the nadistuti (Rig Veda 10.75), which lists the rivers from east to west. In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear whether this reference is to the river. Also, people scatter ashes of loved ones here.According to Hindu religion a very famous king Bhagiratha did Tapasya for many years constantly to bring the river Ganga, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore, Ganga descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India, the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more.  
Interesting things to Visit:
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:Bhagalpur Junction Railway Station
Nearest Airport: Patna Airport
Road Transport:National Highway numbers 2, 23, 28, 30, 31 and 33 make Bihar accessible by road too.
Nearest Visiting places:
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.

Glacier lakes:
At present, in the Himalayan region, glaciers are melting and retreating resulting in formation of lakes insecurely dammed by ice or moraines. These dams are at risk of failing, causing a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) with flows as great as 10,000 cubic meters a second. Such floods are likely to destroy communication systems and various infrastructures like bridges roads, hydropower projects (directly or indirectly), foot trails, villages, fields and terraces, irrigation canals, and could cost hundreds or even thousands of lives. Such floods also transport huge amounts of sediment. In the past two decades GLOF has become a topic of intense discussion within the development community in Nepal. Studies of the glaciers and glacier lakes were carried out in 1988 by a joint Sino-Nepalese team. In the Arun-Koshi river basin, there are 737 glaciers in Tibet and 229 glacier lakes, out of which 24 glacier lakes are potentially dangerous. Similarly, there are 45 glacier lakes in the Sun-Koshi basin, out of which 10 are potentially dangerous.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife:
Koshi Tappu Wildlife reserve is a wetland situated in the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi River in Nepal’s Eastern Terai. Gazette-notified as a wildlife reserve in 1976, it covers a reserve area of 175 km2 (68 sq mi) and is one of the Outstanding Important Bird Areas in the Indo-Gangetic grasslands. The park has large population of Swamp Francolin, breeding Bristled Grass-warbler, records of White-throated Bushchat and Finn’s Weaver.[10] The Koshi river forms the major landmark of the reserve and is home to 80 fish species, around 441 species of birds, 30 shore birds, 114 water birds, 20 ducks and 2 ibises. The endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican are also found here. The Koshi Barrage is an extremely important resting-place for migratory birds (87 nos winter visitors). In view of its rich biodiversity it was declared a Ramsar site of international significance in 1987.[11] The endangered Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin locally known as sons in Bihar and a further endangered species (freshwater dolphin) have been recorded in the river.

Sagarmatha National park:
Sagarmatha National park is located in eastern Nepal, including parts of the Himalayas and the southern half of Mount Everest. The park, which is also included as a UNESCO world heritage site, was created on 19 July 1976. Sagarmatha in Sanskrit means “Forhead of Universe” (Sagar: Sky or Heavens; Matha: Forhead) and is the modern Nepali name for Mount Everest. The park covers an area of 1,148 km2 (443 sq mi) and ranges in elevation from its lowest point of 2,845 m (9,330 ft) at Jorsalle to 8,848 m (29,030 ft) at the summit of Mount Everest (highest peak in the world).[8] Other peaks above 6,000 m (20,000 ft) are Lhotse, Cho-Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Pumori. The upper watershed of the Dudh Koshi river basin system lies in the park. The types of plants and animals that are found in the park depend on the altitude.
Basin:
From Katmandu, there is a road for some distance followed by trekking paths to Mt Everest, which crosses four major tributaries of the Koshi. Namche Bazar near Tibet border in Nepal (near southern base camp of Mt Everest) is the major tourist centre in the mountainous part of the Koshi belt. Birātnagar in Nepal and Purnia and Katihār in India are major cities on the Koshi Plains. Kamlā, Bāghmati (Kareh) and Budhi Gandak are major tributaries of Koshi in India, besides minor tributaries like Bhutahi Balān.
Legend:
Formerly Kauśiki (named after sage Viśvāmitra because Viśvāmitra is said to have attained the status of Vedic ṛṣi or Rishi on its banks; Viśvāmitra was descendant of sage Kuśika and was called Kauśika in Rgveda), in Nepal and Bihar in northern India is a major tributary of the Ganges (one major tributary of the Koshi is the Arun, a major part of whose course is in Tibet). This river is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as Kauśiki. Seven Koshis join together to form the Saptakoshi River/Sapt Koshi which is popularly known as the Koshi.It is also the lifeline of the Mithila region, today spread over more than half of India’s state of Bihar, and parts of adjoining Nepal and it forms the basis of legend and folklore of the region; the legend of Mithila extends over many centuries. Mithila is also the name of a style of Hindu art created in the Mithila area.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
IO Petrol Pump:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Anand Hotel:Sabzi Market,Saharsa,Bihar,India  
Satkar Hotel:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Sana Rest House:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Sadar Hospital:Khagaria,Bihar,India
Sadar Hosiptal:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Refinery Township Hospital:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Society/Community Phone Number:
Link:www.conservation.mongabay.com

Ajay River

Ajay River-Bihar
About:
Ajay River originates from the hills of Munger in Bihar. It flows through the Deoghar District in Jharkhand, joining with the Pathra and Jainti (Jayanti) rivers and proceeds on its journey through Dumka district to West Bengal. It flows down the plateau fringe, marking the boundary between Bankura and Birbhum districts in West Bengal where it meets the Bhagirathi river at Katwa in Murshidabad.  

It originates on a small hill about 300 metres high, south west of Munger in Bihar. It then flows through Jharkhand and enters West Bengal at Simjuri, near Chittaranjan. It first forms the border between Bardhaman District and Jharkhand and then between Bardhaman District and Birbhum District, and finally, it enters Katwa subdivision of Bardhaman district at Nareng village in Ketugram police station. It then joins the Bhagirathi River at Katwa Town. Total length of the Ajay is 288 km, out of which 152 km is in West Bengal.

The catchment area of Ajay River is 6,000 sq km. The important tributaries of the Ajay are Pathro and Jayanti in Jharkhand and Tumuni and Kunur in Bardhaman district of West Bengal. The upper reaches of the Ajay pass through hilly regions with latté rite soil. It is only from Ausgram in Bardhaman district that the Ajay flows through alluvial plains. The Ajay valley was densely forested with sal, piyasal and palas trees till recent times when mining and other activities led to the clearing of forests.The upper reaches of the Ajay pass through hilly regions with latté rite soil. It is only from Ausgram in Bardhaman district that the Ajay flows through alluvial plains. The Ajay valley was densely forested with sal, piyasal and palas trees till recent times when mining and other activities led to the clearing of forests
Location info:
Address:Ajay River, Munger,Bihar,Gujarat,India
District:Munger
Nearest City: Saharsa
Best time to visit: December to January
Climate/Weather:
Winter the lowest temperatures being 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. Winter months are December and January. It is hot in the summer from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. April to mid June are the hot months. The monsoon months of June, July, August, and September see good rainfall. October & November and February & March have pleasant climate. 
History:
In the history of ancient India edited by Mc Krindle, there was a river called Amystis that flows past a town called Katadupa, in the days of Megasthenes. Another historian Wilfred opines that Amystis is modern day Ajay. In recent times there has been exploration of the remains of an ancient civilisation similar to that of the Indus Valley Civilisation at Pandu Rajar Dhibi in the lower Ajay valley.There has been at least 14 recorded floods in the 20th century in the Ajay river. The lower reaches of the river have embankments to prevent flooding.  
Interesting things to do:
 
Interesting things to Visit:
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.

Kharagpur Hills:
Kharagpur, in Munger District of Bihar, is a beautiful town at the foot of Kharagpur Hills. The main attraction of the town is the Ucheshwar Nath, a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. Kharagpur Lake, a large reservoir constructed by the Maharaja of Darbhanga, is just 3 km downtown. Malnipahar and Maruk hills are other spots worth visiting.
Mobile range info:
 
How to reach?
Nearest Railway Station:Bhagalpur Junction Railway Station
Nearest Airport: Patna Airport
Road Transport:National Highway numbers 2, 23, 28, 30, 31 and 33 make Bihar accessible by road too.
Nearest Visiting places:
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.

Glacier lakes:
At present, in the Himalayan region, glaciers are melting and retreating resulting in formation of lakes insecurely dammed by ice or moraines. These dams are at risk of failing, causing a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) with flows as great as 10,000 cubic meters a second. Such floods are likely to destroy communication systems and various infrastructures like bridges roads, hydropower projects (directly or indirectly), foot trails, villages, fields and terraces, irrigation canals, and could cost hundreds or even thousands of lives. Such floods also transport huge amounts of sediment.  
In the past two decades GLOF has become a topic of intense discussion within the development community in Nepal. Studies of the glaciers and glacier lakes were carried out in 1988 by a joint Sino-Nepalese team. In the Arun-Koshi river basin, there are 737 glaciers in Tibet and 229 glacier lakes, out of which 24 glacier lakes are potentially dangerous. Similarly, there are 45 glacier lakes in the Sun-Koshi basin, out of which 10 are potentially dangerous.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife:
Koshi Tappu Wildlife reserve is a wetland situated in the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi River in Nepal’s Eastern Terai. Gazette-notified as a wild life reserve in 1976, it covers a reserve area of 175 km2 (68 sq mi) and is one of the Outstanding Important Bird Areas in the Indo-Gangetic grasslands. The park has large population of Swamp Francolin, breeding Bristled Grass-warbler, records of White-throated Bushchat and Finn’s Weaver.[10] The Koshi river forms the major landmark of the reserve and is home to 80 fish species, around 441 species of birds, 30 shore birds, 114 water birds, 20 ducks and 2 ibises. The endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican are also found here. The Koshi Barrage is an extremely important resting-place for migratory birds (87 nos winter visitors). In view of its rich biodiversity it was declared a Ramsar site of international significance in 1987.[11] The endangered Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin locally known as sons in Bihar and a further endangered species (freshwater dolphin) have been recorded in the river.

Sagarmatha National park:
Sagarmatha National park is located in eastern Nepal, including parts of the Himalayas and the southern half of Mount Everest. The park, which is also included as a UNESCO world heritage site, was created on 19 July 1976. Sagarmatha in Sanskrit means “Forhead of Universe” (Sagar: Sky or Heavens; Matha: Forhead) and is the modern Nepali name for Mount Everest. The park covers an area of 1,148 km2 (443 sq mi) and ranges in elevation from its lowest point of 2,845 m (9,330 ft) at Jorsalle to 8,848 m (29,030 ft) at the summit of Mount Everest (highest peak in the world).[8] Other peaks above 6,000 m (20,000 ft) are Lhotse, Cho-Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Pumori. The upper watershed of the Dudh Koshi river basin system lies in the park. The types of plants and animals that are found in the park depend on the altitude.

Basin:
From Katmandu, there is a road for some distance followed by trekking paths to Mt Everest, which crosses four major tributaries of the Koshi. Namche Bazar near Tibet border in Nepal (near southern base camp of Mt Everest) is the major tourist centre in the mountainous part of the Koshi belt. Birātnagar in Nepal, and Purnia and Katihār in India are major cities on the Koshi Plains. Kamlā, Bāghmati (Kareh) and Budhi Gandak are major tributaries of Koshi in India, besides minor tributaries like Bhutahi Balān.
Legend:
Formerly Kauśiki (named after sage Viśvāmitra because Viśvāmitra is said to have attained the status of Vedic ṛṣi or Rishi on its banks; Viśvāmitra was descendant of sage Kuśika and was called Kauśika in Rgveda), in Nepal and Bihar in northern India is a major tributary of the Ganges (one major tributary of the Koshi is the Arun, a major part of whose course is in Tibet).
This river is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as Kauśiki. Seven Koshis join together to form the Saptakoshi River/Sapt Koshi which is popularly known as the Koshi.It is also the lifeline of the Mithila region, today spread over more than half of India’s state of Bihar, and parts of adjoining Nepal and it forms the basis of legend and folklore of the region; the legend of Mithila extends over many centuries. Mithila is also the name of a style of Hindu art created in the Mithila area.
Nearest Petrol Pump:
Petrol Pump:Bhagalpur,Bihar,India  
Petrol Pump:Bhagalpur,Bihar,India
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:
Anand Hotel:Sabzi Market,Saharsa,Bihar,India  
Satkar Hotel:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Sana Rest House:Saharsa,Bihar,India
Things to carry:
 
Tips & Suggestions:
 
Help Line/Phone Number:
Police Station:100
Nearest Hospital:
Sadar Hospital:Khagaria,Bihar,India
Sadar Hosiptal:Begusarai,Bihar,India
Refinery Township Hospital:Begusarai,Bihar,India
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Link:www.en.wikipedia.org