Bihar - The Information Unlimited

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Bihar is a state that has a deep historical relevance that dates back to over 3 centuries. Pataliputra, a historic city that flourished during the regime of the Gupta Empire and Maurya Empire, is now Patna, which is also the capital of Bihar.

About Bihar

Hindi and Urdu are the most widely spoken languages followed by Maithili and Magahi. Nalanda University, the first of its kind in the world, is located in Bihar. Bihar has a forest cover of 6714 sq km, which allows a vast range of flora and fauna to survive in the jungles.

Where is Bihar

Bihar is surrounded by West Bengal, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh in the east, south and west respectively. It shares international borders with Nepal in its north. Bihar is dissected into two by the River Ganges that flows from west to east through the state.

Major Cities

Some of the most prominent cities in Bihar are as follows: Patna, the capital city and the flourishing business center of Bihar; ...
... Gaya, on pilgrimage destination for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists; and Bihar Sharif, the Silk City.

Places to Visit

Buddhism was favored in Bihar during the regime of Mauryan Dynasty. There are Buddhist structures that stand there till date. The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one such place where Buddhist pilgrims throng round the year. The Mahatma Gandhi Setu is a river bridge in Patna and also a tourist attraction.

Rohtasgarh Fort, Munger Fort, Jalalgarh Fort, Sasaram Fort and Palamu Fort are ancient forts that attract tourists. A large scale excavation has unearthed heritage structures like Barabar Caves, AgamKuawn, Maner Sharif, Nalanda, Vikramsila, Sasaram, Vishnupada Temple and Brahmayoni Hill.
Places of religious importance are - Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Jamui, Darbhanga, Anga, and West Chapran for Hindus; Rajgir, Kesariya, Vaishali, Bodh Gaya and Pataliputra for Buddhists; Sasaram, Maner Sharif and Bihar Sharif for Muslims; and GobindGhat, Guru Bagh, Bari Sangat, Handi Sahib, Bal Lila and PakkiSangat for Sikhs.

How To Reach

Air: LokNayakJayaprakash airport in Patna is a domestic airport that connects Bihar with the major cities inside the country. The Gaya Airport plies flights to Bangkok, Singapore and Colombo. To take flights to other international destinations like Europe and North America, the nearest airport would be the NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose airport in Kolkata.

Rail: Bihar is well connected by the railroads in the state. Some of the prominent railway stations are Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Barauni, Bhagalpur and Katihar. There are regular train services to and from major cities in the country.

Road: The east-west corridor passes several cities in Bihar. The state highways and the national highways connect Bihar with the nearing states. Cabs can be hired to go between one city and another. Buses connect remote villages to the urban centers and they can be used to commute within the city as well.