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| ?Bhagalpur Bihar • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Bhagalpur |
| Population • Sex ratio |
350,133 (2001[update]) • 865 |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 812 0xx • +(+91)0641 • BR 10 XXXX |
| Website: www.bhagalpur.gov.in | |
Bhagalpur is a city and municipal corporation in the Bihar state of Eastern India. Bhagalpur is one of the oldest districts of Bihar located in the Southern region. It is situated in the plane of the Ganga basin at the height of 141 feet above sea level. It covers an area of 2569.50 sq. km. and lies between 25o-07' - 25o30' N Latitude and between 86o 37 ' - 87o 30 'E Longitude. It is the administrative headquarters of the Bhagalpur District. Bhagalpur is acclaimed the world over for its silk products and it is known in India as the "Silk City". Bhagalpur is the distorted form of Bhagdatpuram as it was called during the apex of Anga Kingdom and has been the seat of power since.
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Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga river. Situated 220km east of Patna, the state capital of Bihar, and 410km 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 Hiuen 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 1980's but since that time has awaited rejuvenation.
The city is famous worldwide for its 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. 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 city has been the centre of trade and commerce and one of the most influential in "Aryavarta" or India of that time and was concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdatpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna "the son of Kunti from God Sun" and was called Ang Pradesh. The word Bhagalpur literally means 'City of good luck.'
Mount Mandara , situated 52 km south from Bhagalpur, is believed to have been used as churner during Samudra-Manthan by God and Danava according to Hindu mythology. Mandar Hills steeped in legend and laced with landscape of extraordinary splendour exposes the 800 feet high granite hill. Mandar 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 Mahabharat War was discovered here in the Sank kund. The puranas refer to various sacred places on the hill which is also believed to be the abode of Vishnu under the title of Madhusudana or the destroyer of a demon called Madhu who was killed by Vishnu and then covered by the Mandar hill. Kalidasa’s Kumarasambhava refers to foot marks of Vishnu on the slopes of Mandara. The hill is replete with relics of bygone ages. Besides inscriptions and statues there are numerous rock cut sculptures depicting various Brahmanical images. The hill is equally revered by the Jains who believe that their 12th Tirthankara attained nirvana here on the summit of the hill.
As of 2001 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 68%, with 70% of the males and 62% of the females literate. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. Bhagalpur is one of the leading education centers of Bihar.
Chhath Puja and Dussehra are the major festivals of Bhagalpur.
The popular language spoken in Bhagalpur is Angika, a regional language which is reported to be spoken by 50 million people world wide. Hindi and English are the next most well known languages. Nearly 30% of the population speaks English, and half of these can speak with a high degree of fluency.
Dainik Jagran, Hindustan, Aj are newspapers published from Bhagalpur.
The First Online Newspaper of Bhagalpur was launched on 15th August 2007. The web portal has been successfully updating the lakhs of Bhagalpurites living across the world with the latest happenings in their historic home town of Bhagalpur. The website is the brainchild of a young local journalist, who continuously updates the portal with the latest news about the city.
In 1980, Bhagalpur came into news when it was reported that the police blinded 31 suspects awaiting trial[1] (convicted criminals, according to some versions), by pouring acid into their eyes. The incident became infamous as Bhagalpur blindings. The incident was widely debated and discussed in several human rights' conventions. In 2003, a Bollywood movie loosely based on the incident and starring Ajay Devgan was released. It was titled Gangaajal (roughly translated as The holy waters of Ganga)[2].
Communal disturbances between Hindus and Muslims have been a part of the history of Bhagalpur and riots had occurred in 1924, 1936, 1946 and 1967. However, Bhagalpur became notorious after the riots in October 1989, and the name Bhagalpur Riots usually refers to the 1989 riots. According to various accounts, some 1200 to 1900 people were killed. Thankfully, Hindus and Muslims have been living in perfect harmony after that fateful year. However, as a fall-out from the riots, the silk-weaving industry suffered a decline.[3].
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