Bihar

Area : 94,163 sq km

Population: 8, 28,78,796; growth rate (1991-2001): 28.43%

Density per sq km: 880

Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males): 921

Literacy rate: 47.53% (males: 60.32%; females: 33.57%)

Capital: Patna

No. of Districts: 37

Legislature: Bicameral

Principal Language: Hindi

Important Cities, Towns and Religious/ Tourist Place:

Araria, Arrah, Aurangabad, Begusarai, Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Bhimbandh (pot water springs), Biharsharif, Bodh Gaya (most sacred Pilgrim place for Buddhists; Mahabodhi Temple; at the foot of the Bodhi tree here, Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinivana and became the Enlightened One), Chhapra, Darbhanga, Gaya (centre of Pilgrimage for Hindus, Vishnupad Temple built by Queen Ahilya Bai of Indore on the banks of Falgu river, Temple of Sun God), Gopalganj, Hazipur, Jahanabad, Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Madhubani, Maner (sacred Muslim shrines of Sufi saint Hazarat Makhdoom Shab), Mothihari, Munger,Muzaffarpur, Nalanda (ruins of the world's earliest Buddhist university, Hiuen Tasang Studied at the University here in the 7th century), Nawada, Parasnath (J ain pilgrimage centre), Nawada, Parasnath (Jain pilgrimage center), Patna (ancient city of Pataliputra and capital of Ashoke is the present capital of Bihar, City Museum, Gandhi maidan, Golghar, Kumrahar, Har Mandir [one of the holiest Sikh shrines; built by Ranjit Singh, it marks the place where Gobind Singh, the 10th and the last of the Sikh Gurus, was born in 1660]),Pawapuri (where Lord Mahavira, the great preceptor of the Jains; was the Mahavira, the great preceptor of the Jains; was the Mahavira, the great preceptor of the Jains; was the capital of King Bimbisara in ancient times), Raxaul, saharsa, Sahibgani, Samastipur, Siwan, Soneput (the largest annual cattle fair in India is held here), Topchanchi (scenic value), Vaishali (seat of the First Republic of the world in sixth century BC, birth place of Mahavira, one of the Jain thirthankars), Vikramshila (ruins of another Buddhist university).

Judicature: High Court at Patna.

Location: Located in north India, Bihar is bounded by Nepal in north, Jharkhand in south, West Bengal in cast and Uttar Pradesh in west.

History: The ancient history of Bihar goes back to the Vedic age. Known in ancient days as Magadha, Bihar was the home state of the Mauryan emperors. Under Ashoka the Great, Magadha and its capital Pataliputra had become famous all over the world. It also played a prominent role in the history of medieval age-both the Sultanate of Delhi and the Mughals.

As the great Mughals declined, Bihar had passed into the hands of the Nawabs of Bengal. The British had wrested territory from the Nawabs of Bengal following the battle at Buxar (Bihar) in 1764. Under the British, Bihar was a part of Bengal Presidency. In 191, Bihar along with Orissa was separated from Presidency of Bengal. In 1936, Bihar and Orissa became separate Provinces.

Economy: The main occupation of people is agriculture. Rice, wheat, maize, ragi and pulses are the principal food crops, while sugarcane, oilseeds, tobacco, potato and jute are the main cash crops of the State. In addition to agriculture, quite a large number of people are employed in industrial establishments.

It has cotton spinning mills, sugar mills, jute mills and leather industries. Bihar is also famous for production of tusser which is also famous than one. lakh persons. Cottage industries comprise of handicrafts. Madhubani paintings are known the world over.

The major power projects are: Patratu Thermal power Station, Barruni Thermal Power Station, Muzaffarput Thermal Power Station, Subarnarckha Hydel power Station, Kosi Hydel; Power Station. Patna and Gaya have airports.

Bihar