Bhāgalpur, India

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Bhāgalpur, India

Region: Bihar

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Geographic Coordinates: 25.250000, 87.000000

Climate: Seasonal.

Population: 410210

Language: Hindi

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Bhāgalpur, Also known as Bhagalpur, Is a city in the Indian state of Bihar. It is located on the southern banks of the Ganges River and has a rich cultural heritage and historical significance. The city has been inhabited since ancient times and witnessed various empires rise and fall. One of Bhāgalpur’s main attractions is its silk industry, Producing high-quality silk for centuries that is exported to different parts of India and abroad. The silk produced here is known for its durability, Shine, And texture. Apart from its silk industry, Bhāgalpur has several other places worth visiting.

One such place is Vikramshila University ruins established during 8th century AD by King Dharmapala to promote Buddhist studies in India. This university was one of the most important centers for Buddhist learning during that time. Another popular attraction in Bhāgalpur is Sultanganj Buddha Statue dating back to 7th century AD standing tall at 16 meters high on a hilltop overlooking Ganges river valley depicting Lord Buddha sitting cross-legged with his hands resting on his knees.

The city also boasts several temples worth visiting including Mandar Hill Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva situated atop Mandar Hill (700 ft) where it’s believed that gods churned out nectar from ocean; Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati; Bateshwarnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; Nathnagar Jain temple dedicated to Adinatha (1st Tirthankara) among others. Bhagalpur hosts an annual festival called “Sonepur Mela” which attracts visitors from all over India every year during November-December months where people come together to celebrate their culture through music, Dance forms like Bhangra & Garba, And various other activities.

Additionally, Bhāgalpur houses several educational institutions including Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JNMCH), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhagalpur among others. These institutions have contributed significantly to the growth of the city’s economy and helped in creating employment opportunities for locals. Bhāgalpur is a city that has something to offer for everyone interested in history, Culture or nature. With its rich heritage and vibrant community life, It is definitely worth a visit for anyone looking to explore India’s diverse cultural landscape.

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1. Vikramshila Setu: A bridge over the Ganges river that connects Bhagalpur with Naugachia.
2. Colganj Rock Cut Temples: Ancient rock-cut temples dating back to the Gupta period.
3. Ghanta Ghar: A clock tower located in the heart of Bhagalpur city.
4. Mandar Hill: A sacred hill believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu took his first step on earth.
5. Bateshwar Nath Temple: An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the banks of river Ganges.
6. Sultanganj Buddha Statue: A 16 feet high statue of Lord Buddha carved out of black stone.
7. Kuppa Ghat: A popular picnic spot located on the banks of river Ganges.
8. Ajgaibinath Temple: An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva known for its beautiful architecture and carvings.
9. Vikramshila University Ruins: The ruins of an ancient university that was a center for Buddhist studies during the Pala dynasty.
10. Jai Prakash Narayan Museum: A museum dedicated to freedom fighter Jayaprakash Narayan showcasing his life and works.

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1. Silk industry: Bhagalpur is renowned for its silk production, particularly Tussar silk.
2. Agriculture: The fertile surrounding area produces a variety of crops such as wheat, maize, rice, jute and sugarcane.
3. Handloom industry: In addition to the silk industry, handloom products like bed sheets, sarees and kurtas are also produced here.
4. Education: Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University is just one of several educational institutions offering courses in various fields.
5. Retail trade: Several markets cater to the needs of local residents as well as tourists.
6. Healthcare services: Several hospitals and clinics provide healthcare services to people living in the city and nearby areas.
7. Transportation services: The city has good connectivity with other parts of Bihar through roadways and railways which creates opportunities for transportation businesses such as logistics companies or taxi services.
8. Tourism industry: There are several historical places in the vicinity of Bhagalpur which attract tourists from all over India such as Vikramshila Mahavihara Buddhist monastery ruins at Kahalgaon or Bateshwar Temple at Simultala hill station etc., creating opportunities for tourism-related businesses like hotels or tour operators.

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1. The Battle of Bhagalpur in 1763 was a significant battle between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah.
2. Mahatma Gandhi visited Bhagalpur during his Champaran Satyagraha movement in 1917 and delivered speeches to inspire people to fight for their rights.
3. Swami Vivekananda visited Bhagalpur during his journey across India in 1890 and stayed at a local monastery where he gave discourses on spirituality and philosophy.
4. Tilka Manjhi was a tribal leader who fought against British rule in Bihar and Jharkhand regions in the 18th century.
5. Shaheed Veer Kunwar Singh led a rebellion against British rule in Bihar during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as a freedom fighter.
6. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of independent India, was born in Ziradei near Siwan but had close ties with Bhagalpur as he studied at T N B College, which is now named after him as T.N.B College Rajendra Nagar.
7. Vikramshila University was an ancient Buddhist university established by King Dharmapala in the 8th century AD that was one of the most important centers for learning Buddhism in ancient India.
8. Pirpainty Ashram is a spiritual center founded by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, a prominent figure from Bihar’s Dalit community who played an essential role in social reform movements during British rule era.
9. Bhagwan Birsa Munda Park is dedicated to Birsa Munda, an Indian tribal leader who led a rebellion against British colonialism.
10. Ramanand Sagar, famous filmmaker Ramanand Sagar was born in Asalpur village near Bhagalpur and had his early education from Bhagalpur.

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1. Vikramshila Museum is a showcase of the history and culture of the ancient Buddhist University of Vikramshila.
2. Colganj Rock Cut Temples are a group of rock-cut temples dedicated to Lord Shiva dating back to the 8th century.
3. Bateshwar Nath Temple is an ancient temple with intricate carvings and sculptures, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
4. Ghanta Ghar is a clock tower located in the heart of Bhagalpur city, built during British rule.
5. Mandar Hill is considered sacred and believed to be the site where Lord Vishnu rested during his journey from Vaikuntha to Kashi.
6. Sultanganj Buddha Statue is a 16-meter tall statue of Lord Buddha on top of a hill in Sultanganj, about 25 km from Bhagalpur city.
7. Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan (Zoo) is a zoological park located near Bhagalpur that houses various species of animals and birds.
8. Kuppa Ghat offers scenic views on the banks of river Ganges known for its beautiful sunset views and boat rides.
9. Shaheed Park pays tribute to Indian freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence struggle.
10. Teliya Bagh Palace was once home to British colonial officials but now serves as offices for government departments in Bhagalpur city.

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1. Vikramshila Mahotsav is a cultural festival that celebrates the ancient Buddhist university of Vikramshila.
2. Sita Kund Mela is a religious festival held at Sita Kund, which is a holy site associated with the Ramayana.
3. Bihula-Bishari Puja is a folk festival celebrated in honor of Goddess Manasa, who is the snake goddess.
4. Makar Sankranti is a harvest festival celebrated in January, featuring kite flying and feasting.
5. Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival honoring Goddess Durga, featuring elaborate pandals and puja rituals.
6. Chhath Puja is a four-day Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, featuring offerings and rituals performed on river banks.
7. Holi is the colorful spring festival celebrated in March with music, dancing, and throwing colored powder at each other.
8. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan for Muslims with prayers and feasting.
9. Christmas is celebrated by Christians in Bhagalpur as well as rest of India.
10. Raksha Bandhan- The Hindu Festival where sisters tie a sacred thread called Rakhi on their brother’s wrist for protection.

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1. Litti Chokha: A traditional dish of Bihar made with roasted wheat balls stuffed with sattu (gram flour) and served with mashed potato and brinjal.
2. Rajendra Misthan Bhandar: A famous sweet shop in Bhagalpur known for its mouth-watering sweets like Balushahi, Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun, etc.
3. Chhappan Bhog: A vegetarian restaurant that serves a variety of North Indian dishes like paneer tikka, dal makhani, chole bhature, etc.
4. Anand Restaurant: A non-vegetarian restaurant that serves delicious chicken and mutton dishes like chicken biryani, mutton curry, kebabs etc.
5. Madhuban Restaurant: Another vegetarian restaurant that offers a range of South Indian delicacies like dosa, idli sambar etc.
6. Ganga Dhaba: It is a roadside dhaba that serves authentic Bihari food at affordable prices such as litti chokha and baati chokha.
7. Jai Hind Sweets & Snacks Center: This is another popular sweet shop in Bhagalpur known for its wide range of sweets including pedas and laddus along with snacks such as samosas and kachoris.
8. Hotel Vikramaditya International: It is a multi-cuisine restaurant serving Chinese to Continental food along with Indian delicacies such as tandoori chicken and butter chicken masala.

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1. Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary
2. Colganj Rock Cut Temples
3. Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower)
4. Mandar Hill
5. Kuppa Ghat
6. Bhagalpur City Park
7. Sultanganj Buddha Statue and Temple Complex
8. Bateshwar Nath Temple
9. Ajgaivinath Temple
10. Khanqah Rahmani Sharif Dargah

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