Bhagalpur

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Bhagalpur district.
Bhagalpur
Metropolitan City

Ghantaghar,Bhagalpur
Nickname(s): Silk City
Bhagalpur
Coordinates: 25°15′N 87°0′E / 25.250°N 87.000°ECoordinates: 25°15′N 87°0′E / 25.250°N 87.000°E
Country  India
State Bihar
District Bhagalpur
Urban Agglomeration Bhagalpur
Municipal Corporation Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation
Government
 • Mayor Deepak Bhuwania (JD(U))
Area
 • Total 110 km2 (40 sq mi)
Area rank 2nd
Population (2011)
 • Total 622,537
Demonym Bhagalpurites
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Postal Index Number 812 xxx
STD Code 0641
Vehicle registration BR 10 XXXX
Website bhagalpur.bih.nic.in

Bhagalpur (Devanagari:भागलपुर) is a major city and a Municipal Corporation situated on the southern bank of the river Ganges in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the second prominent city of Bihar after Patna and largest city of Eastern Bihar. It is one of the major Educational, Commercial and political centres of Eastern India. It covers an area of 110 square kilometers and lies between 25.07°N - 25.30°N latitude and between 86.37°E - 87.30°E longitude.

Bhagalpur has registered an average annual population growth of 3.72%, from 2006 to 2010. It is the administrative headquarters of the Bhagalpur district and Bhagalpur Division. The city is situated 220 km east of Patna and 60 km east of Munger.

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 River Ganges at a place called Champanagar, now called Champanala, which flows on the western boundary of the present city near Nathnagar. Many boats and coins of the Middle and Far East were found during an archaeological excavation carried out in the 1970s.

The silk industry in the city is hundreds of years old producing Tussar Silk and Tussar Saree, and Bhagalpur is known in India as the "Silk City". Located here are the Silk Institute and Agricultural University.

Other education facilities include the Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur College of Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, T.N.B.Law College and Homeopathic colleges. In 2010, Bihar Agricultural University was set up in Sabour, Bhagalpur.

The Gangetic plains surrounding the city 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. The river is home to the Gangetic dolphin, the National Aquatic Animal of India,[1] which is found in Ganges Basin and the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is established near the town.

History

The name Bhagalpur is etymologically derived from Bhagdatpuram (meaning city of Good Luck), as it was called during the flourishing period of the Anga Kingdom. Bhagdatpuram, as per Hindu mythological texts, was the place where the gods (devtas) and demons (asuras) churned the ocean to procure elixir (amrit). It is believed that the serpent, Vasuki, offered to serve as the rope for the churning. An impression of the coil is faintly visible on Mount Mandara, a granite hill situated along the national highway between Bhagalpur and Dumka. It is believed that Panchjanya, the conch shell used in the Mahabharata was discovered here in the "Shankh Kund". The Puranas also refer to this hill. It is said that Vishnu covered the demon Madhu under the hill after defeating him to death. Kalidasa's Kumarasambhava refers to foot marks of Vishnu on the slopes of Mount 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 splendour. The 800 feet high granite hill is a sight to see during daylight. It is a popular picnic spot for people living in the area. The religious festival of "Vish-hari Puja" or "the worship of the Snake Queen" or "Manasa Devi, said to be a daughter of lord Shiva and Queen of Snakes" 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 from Emperor Ashoka's reign, from 274 to 232 BC are found in the neighbourhood and at Sultangunj, 20 km west of Bhagalpur, a temple from the Gupta period 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 ranks next to Nalanda, and owes its origin to Dharmapala, the devout Pala king who called himself Paramasaugata (chief worshipper of the Buddha) and was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism. It was the medieval center for the conservation and propagation of Buddhist education, established by King Dharampal of Bengal 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. Afterwards it formed a part of the Mohammedan Kingdom of Gaur, West Bengal, 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. Bhagalpur was one of the most important trade centers in Bengal Presidency during the British rule in India.

The communal violence that broke out in and around Bhagalpur in October 1989 continued for about two months, during which nearly 1200 lives were lost. Since then, it has emerged as one of the most economically and socially stable districts of Bihar.

The Jain Temple at Nathnagar is an important pilgrimage centre for Jains. Budha Nath Temple is an ancient Shiva Temple on the bank of Ganges. Sultanganj (about 25 km West) is an important religious center for Hindus from where holy water of Ganges is carried and offered at Deoghar. Bhagalpur also has the shrine of Shawaz Rahmat-ulla near Bhagalpur Railway Station and Centre of Tablighi Jamat at Champanagar

Economics

Industry

The thermal power plant at NTPC Kahalgaon in Kahalgaon falls under Bhagalpur district. The largest industrial belt of the district is Barari industrial Area, with Kahalgaon industrial Area being equally important. The Government of India has established a Hand-loom park. A food park has been established by private entrepreneurs.

Malls and Multiplexes

Demography

As of the 2011 India census,[2] Bhagalpur city has a population of 398,138 with a metro population of around 0.41 million, while the district as a whole has a population of 3 million. It is Second largest city in Bihar in terms of urban population next only to Patna . Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Bhagalpur has an average literacy rate of 81.16%, while the male literacy rate is 85.38% with women at 76.31%.

Transport

Vikramshila setu,Bhagalpur

Roadways

NH 80 and NH 31 pass through the Bhagalpur district. The Vikramshila Setu connects NH 80 to NH 31. The city has a good road network. Bhagalpur city has approximately 200 km road area. The transport system is good with, Auto, Taxi and cycle rickshaw easily available. In the city area around 10,000 autos, 500 private taxis and 200 buses are on the road. Bhagalpur is well connected to major cties of Patna, Kolkata, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Munger, Gaya...etc. by various National Highway and State Highways.

Railways

Bhagalpur Railway Junction at Night

Bhagalpur Junction railway station is situated on the Khana- Quil loop line which serves Bhagalpur with numerous number of trains. It is the 3rd busiest line in Bihar. About 40 pair Express and 10 pair passenger train go from this line. Bhagalpur Junction is A1 grade Railway station. It is the Highest revenue earner in the Malda Rail Division and third major railway station of Eastern Railway after Howrah and Sealdah. Bhagalpur is well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ajmer, Kanpur, Patna, Guwahati, Surat, and Munger and other cities. In the Rail Budget of 2008, Bhagalpur was upgraded as a Railway Division. The new rail lines which are under construction are Sultanganj to Deoghar, Bhagalpur to Dumka, Bhagalpur- Godda via Hanshdiya, Banka to Deoghar. It is also the originating station for many superfast and express trains.

Airways

Bhagalpur city had an airport which was functional during 1970-1980 with regular flights to nearby major cities. The new airport project has failed to take-off due to unavailability of land.

Tourist Attraction

Bhagalpur has a number of venues which attract tourist having particular interest.

Education

Bhagalpur college of Engineering

Bhagalpur city has a number of reputed educational institutions catering to various areas of study like medicine, Law, engineering, agriculture, arts and science.

Police Training Academy
University
Medical Colleges
Computer Education
Engineering & Technology College
Colleges
Schools affiliated by Bihar Board
ICSE board affiliated schools
CBSE board affiliated school

VJ International School, Lodipur,Bhagalpur

Other Schools
Distance Educations Institutes

Media

Print media include the Hindi Dainik Jagran, Aaj, Hindustan ( under Hindustan Times ) and Prabhat Khabar,, while English Times Of India, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times are also available.

Broadcast media include All India Radio (Frequency 1458 kHz, 1206 kHz) 90.4 FM Radio Active (Bhagalpur), and AIR FM Rainbow India 100.1.

Telecommunications services include BSNL, Airtel, Aircel, Reliance, Vodafone, Idea, Tata Docomo, Reliance Communications, Uninor, Reliance India Mobile(RIM).

BSNL and Sify are providing broadband services in this region.

Notable people from Bhagalpur

Adjacent boundaries

 Khagaria Madhepura, Purnia Katihar
Munger, Khagaria Jharkhand
   Bhagalpur  
Munger Banka Jharkhand

See also

References

  1. ↑ "River dolphin crowned India's aquatic animal : Latest Headlines, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  2. ↑ http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/170-bhagalpur.html
  3. ↑ http://www.bihartourism.gov.in/districts/bhagalpur/Vikramsila.html
  4. ↑ http://www.digambarjainonline.com/pilgri/champa.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.bihartourism.gov.in/districts/bhagalpur/Ajgaibinath.html
  6. ↑ http://www.nielit.in/
  7. ↑ http://onlineaccr.nielit.in/frm_Approved_Accr.aspx
  8. ↑ http://www.tnbcollege.org/
  9. ↑ http://marwaricollegebgp.ac.in/
  10. ↑ http://www.smcollege.ac.in/
  11. ↑ http://adsvm.org/
  12. ↑ "Neha Sharma". http://www.koimoi.com/actress/neha-sharma/''. Koi Moi. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  13. ↑ Dubey, Nishikant. "Election Commission". http://www.elections.in/jharkhand/parliamentary-constituencies/godda.html''. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  14. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/tv/news/I-have-reserved-all-my-time-for-Bollywood-now-Gurmeet-Choudhary/articleshow/32644778.cms

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External links

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