Bhagalpur

India / Bihar / Bhagalpur /
 city, taluka headquarter, district headquarter

Tehsil Bhagalpur, District Bhagalpur, Bihar.
Bhagalpur city is governed by Municipal Corporation which comes under Bhagalpur Metropolitan Region. The Bhagalpur city is located in Bihar state of India.
As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Bhagalpur in 2011 is 400,146;
Although Bhagalpur city has population of 400,146; its urban / metropolitan population is 412,209.
Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga river. Situated 220 km east of Patna, the state capital of Bihar, and 410 km north west of Calcutta. The city was referred to as one of the biggest trade centers in eastern India by the 7th century Chinese travellers Hsüan-tsang and Fa-Hien. The city had a big harbour on the Ganges River at place called Champanagar (another name for Bhagalpur), now called Champanala, which flows on the western boundary of the present city near Nathnagar. During an archaeological excavation, many boats and coins of the Middle and Far East were found at the same place. Bhagalpur is well connected by rail and road. The airport at Bhagalpur was functional until the 1980s but since that time has awaited rejuvenation.
The city is famous worldwide for its silk(Tussar Silk) and mango production. The silk industry in this city is hundreds of years old and its inhabitants have been producing silk for generations. There is a Silk Institute and Agricultural college here, as well as a University, and Engineering, Medical and Homoeopathic colleges.

The Gangetic plains are very fertile and the main crops include rice, wheat, maize, barley, and oilseeds. The economy of Bhagalpur is dependent mainly on agriculture and small businesses.Early civilizations have flourished along the fertile banks of the Ganges river. Bhagalpur has often been referred to as Bhagaddat-Puram in ancient Sanskrit literature such as the Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Panchtantra. The religious festival of "Vish-hari Puja" or "the worship of the Snake Queen" traces its roots back hundreds of years and is still celebrated every year with thousands of believers and snake charmers offering milk to the Nag (the Snake King) and Nageen (The Snake Queen).

References to Bhagalpur can be found in Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata where Bhagalpur has been described as the kingdom of Anga. Ancient cave sculptures of Emperor Ashoka's regime (274 BC-232 BC) are found in the neighbourhood and at Sultangunj, 20 km west of Bhagalpur, a temple of the Gupta period (320-500) still exists in bhagalpur. The tomb of Suja, brother of Moghul emperor Aurangzeb, in the heart of the town is reminiscent of the city's association with the Mughal period.

The ruins of ancient Vikramshila University are located 44 km east of Bhagalpur. The royal university of Vikramsila, ranks next to Nalanda and owes its origin to Dharmapala (770-810 A.D.), the devout Pala king who loved to call himself Paramasaugata (chief worshipper of the Buddha) and was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism. It was the medieval center to the conservation and propagation of Buddhist education, established by King Dharampal of Bengal (783-820) at the end of the 8th century.
Bhagalpur formed a part of the ancient Sanskrit kingdom of Anga said to be ruled by king Karna of Mahabharata who was well known for his charity. In later times it was included in the powerful Hindu kingdom of Magadha or Behar, and in the 7th century it was an independent state, with the city of Champa as its capital. It afterwards formed a part of the Mohammedan Kingdom of Gaur, and was subsequently subjugated by Akbar, who declared it to be a part of the Delhi empire. Bhagalpur passed to the East India Company by the grant of the emperor Shah Alam II in 1765.
The first railway line from Howrah was built to pass through Bhagalpur: the East Indian Railway line to Bhagalpur opened in 1861.

The communal violence that broke out in and around Bhagalpur in October 1989 continued for about two months and nearly 1,070 lives lost.Bhagdattpuram (now Bhagalpur) was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" (as India was known as at that time). It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God. Under his rule, the town was known as "Anga Pradesh" or "Angadesh". The word Bhagdattpuram literally means "City of Good Luck."
Mount Mandara, situated 52 kilometres (approximately 32 miles) south from Bhagalpur, is believed to have been used as the churner during Samudra-Manthan (churning of the sea) by the Gods and Demons (Danava) according to Hindu mythology. Mandara is associated with Samudra-Manthan which suggests that the hill was used by the gods to churn the ocean to procure amrit. The serpent, Vasuki offered to serve as the rope and has left behind an impression of the coil on the granite hill. It is believed that Panchjanya, the conch shell used in the Mahabharat was discovered here in the "Shankh Kund". The Puranas also refer to the hill. It is believed to have been visited by Vishnu as Madhusudana (the destroyer of Madhu the Demon). It is said that Vishnu covered Madhu under the hill after defeating him to death. Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava refers to foot marks of Vishnu on the slopes of Mandara. The hill is replete with relics of bygone ages. Apart from inscriptions and statues, there are numerous rock cut sculptures depicting various images of Hindu Gods. The hill is equally revered by the Jains who believe that their 12th Tirthankara attained nirvana at the summit. The area around Mandara Hill is laced with a landscape of extraordinary splendor. The 800 feet high granite hill is a sight to see in the daylight. It is a popular picnic spot for people living in the area.The silk industry in this city is 200 of years old and a whole clan exist that has been producing silk for generations. Bhagalpur is well known for its sericulture, manufacture of silk yarn and weaving them into lovely products. This silk is of a distinct and special type. It is known as Tussah or Tusser Silk. Bhagalpur silk is a household name in India and the lovers of Bhagalpur silk fabrics is found allover the India.

Silk weaving is an age-old traditional household industry of Bhagalpur. There is a Silk Institute and Agricultural college here as well as a University and Engineering, Medical and Homeopathty colleges. In Bhagalpur the weavers service centre (GOI) was established in the year 1974. With a view to developing handloom silk industry in the state of Bihar. The Silk sarees produced in Bhagalpur are more popular in the domestic market. The Bhagalpur cluster is the second highest in silk fabric production and exports after the Karnataka state. Bhagalpur silk home furnishing made ups are slowly becoming popular in the Overseas markets.As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Bhagalpur had a population of 340,349. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Bhagalpur has an average literacy rate of 70%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Culture:
Chhath Puja , Kali Puja and Dussehra are the major festivals of Bhagalpur.Bihula & Bishahari puja is specially celebrated in Bhagalpur.Language

Language:
The popular language of Bhagalpur is Angika, a regional language which is reported to be spoken by 15 million people world wide and is considered to be one of the oldest languages of the world.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   25°14'17"N   86°58'29"E

Comments

  • hi, this is my home city..& i always miss my town..........................
  • hi i am richendra i will always miss my native city
  • hello,I am Bambam kumar.I love my native city.
  • hi i am rakesh/bambam.i love my country as well as my native city too much.
  • This city is very small and yet it has a very old history that i was not aware of. Its good to know that you live in such a nice city.
  • I am so delighted and feel enlightened to know about the rich culture of my city........Bhagaddapuram(the city of good luck)............. i love the ancient name of my city........
  • knowing this much about my city was like...wow..!!! after knowing all these...my respect towards my city is at the top..... this is my place....i love it....!!!!!
  • What was the blinding event ?
  • I m quite glad to know such bizzare things quoad my home city. I miss it so much.
  • BHAGALPUR ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • hi, i m glad to be in this city,,,,,,
  • hi'what can i say u about bhagalpur it's such a good city
  • hi!!!!!!!it's my hometown it's a very beautiful city
  • i strongly love bhagalpur ..... and its culture
  • Though there are a few repititions, yet the content is enough to know about the city....Love this place
  • most facinating
  • Bhagalpur called silk city
  • I miss my bhagalpur,living too far(in bangalore)
  • I want to visit daanveer karns city once .... I want to perform chhath pujan at ganga once again I like I used to ....
  • utkarsh how are you
  • Show all comments
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