Formerly known as Magadha, Bihar is the 12th largest state in Eastern India. Covering and area of 38,202 sq km and housing a population of 82,998,509 Bihar lies between West Bengal in the East and Uttar Pradesh in the West.
The climate of Bihar is greatly influenced by the two states that surround it. It is mildly cold in winters and in the most extreme conditions also temperatures remain between 5-10 degrees Celsius. The winter months are December and January. The summer months in Bihar are hot and dry and temperatures range from 40-45 degrees. April May and first half of June are the hot months. Bihar witnesses moderate rainfall in the Monsoons that begin from June and last till September.
Bihar - Facts
Below is a table representing important facts about Bihar
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History of Bihar
Known as Magadha in ancient India Bihar was the center of the Mauryan Empire which dominated the country from 325 BC to185 BC. Nalanda and Patliputra in Bihar remained the important centers of power, learning and culture for the next one thousand years under the rule of the Mauryan Empire. In the medieval period Bihar witnessed the invasion of the Mughals who established a peaceful atmosphere in the state. After the downfall of the Mughals Bihar was taken over by the Nawab of Bengal who in turn was defeated by the British in the Battle of Buxar. After the Battle of Buxar the East India Company took charge over the administration of the state and Bihar was treated as a province of Bengal. Bihar was carved out as a separate state in the year 1912.
Economy and Infrastructure of Bihar
The economy of Bihar is both agricultural and service oriented. Bihar was rated as the second best manufacturing state in India in 2008. Bihar is home to several public sector projects like Oil refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Pyrites, Phosphates and Chemicals Ltd (PPCL) etc. In addition Bihar is also the base of numerous other manufacturing units like Jute mills at Katihar, medicine manufacturing unit at Hajipur, distilleries at Gopalganj etc. Bihar is the major producer of crops like mango, guava, litchi, pineapple, cauliflower, and cabbage in India. Over the years Bihar has developed an extension network of roads and railway system. Bihar has to its credit 2318 Kms. of National Highways, 4192 Kms. of State highways, 12,579 Kms. of district roads and over 69000 Kms. of other roads.
Society and Culture of Bihar
Bihar boasts of a rich cultural heritage being the birthplace of Gautam Buddha and King Asoka. The locals of Bihar are known as Biharis and the common language spoken between the natives is Bhojpuri. Apart from Bhojpuri Hindi is the other predominant language in the state. A culmination of a number of religious groups residing together Bihar is one of the most colorful states. Festivals are a major part of Bihar. The festivals like Saraswati Puja, Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Rath yatra, Rakhi, Maha Shivaratri, Durga Puja,Diwali, Laxmi Puja, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, are celebrated in the state with great vigor and enthusiastic.
Tourism of Bihar
Bihar is home to several important centers of education, pilgrimage centers and tourists spots. The state witnesses a huge influx of tourist all round the year. Important places of tourist interest are Rajgir (pilgrim place for the Buddhists), Bodh Gaya (most sacred place for Buddhists), Gaya, (centre of pilgrimage for Hindus), Nalanda (ruins of the world's earliest Buddhist university) and Vaishali (the seat of the first republic of the world in the sixth century bc). Other places of tourist interest in Bihar include Hazaribagh, a wildlife reserve, famous for its national park; Bhimbandh, famous for hot springs; Maner, a sacred Muslim shrine of Sufi Saint Hazrat Makhdoom Shah; Vikramshila, the ruins of a Buddhist university; Deoghar, famous for a Hindu shrine and Sasaram, the site of the tomb of Afghan emperor Sher Shah Suri.
Hotels in Bihar
Bihar was always an important center of education. The state is thronged by tourists and students that come from different parts of the world. Bihar has no dearth of accommodation. The hotels in Bihar range from five star to deluxe to three star to budget. Equipped with the latest amenities of comfort and luxury the hotels in Bihar promise a memorable stay.
Last Updated on : 21 December 2010
