| State
of India - Bihar |
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 QUICK
FACTS Climate
(Degree C.): Summer
- Max: 35, Min: 22.
Winter - Max: 26,
Min: 10 | Best Season:
October - March |
Languages Spoken:
Hindi, Angika, Bhojpuri,
Magahi, Maithili,
Chhattisgarh |Capital:
Patna
Overview:
Bihar is like a book,
an ancient page that
has been left open
over the centuries.
Everyone knows about
it, but still tourists
flock this place to
explore more. The
state is home to the
world's ancient university
at Nalanda, benevolent
shrines that grant
eternal salvation
at Gaya, verdant virgin
forests of Chotanagpur
plateau, intricate
craftsmanship of the
Madhubani painting.
Your tour to Bihar
is sure to enchant
and thrill with the
diversity of its land,
flora, people, festivals
and exquisite crafts.
Geography
of Bihar:
Landlocked by Uttar
Pradesh in the west,
Nepal in north, West
Bengal in the east
and Jharkhand in south,
Bihar is a jewel adorning
the eastern side of
India. Bihar is mainly
a vast stretch of
very fertile flat
land. It has several
major rivers: Ganga,
Son, Bagmati, Kosi,
Budhi Gandak, Chandan,
Orhani and Falgu.
Central parts of Bihar
have some small hills,
for example the Rajgir
hills. The Himalayan
Mountains are to the
north, in Nepal.
 History
of Bihar:
The history of Bihar
dates back to the
very dawn of human
civilization. It has
played a major role
in all four religions
i.e. Hinduism, Sikhism,
Buddhism and Jainism.
The author of the
grand epic Ramayana,
Maharishi Valmiki
lived in Ancient Bihar.
It was here that Prince
Gautama attained enlightenment,
became the Buddha
and the great religion
of Buddhism was born.
The founder of Jainism,
Lord Mahavira was
born and attained
nirvana (death) in
Bihar. Also the tenth
and last Guru of the
Sikhs, Guru Gobind
Singh was born and
attained the sainthood
of Sikhism in Bihar.
Earlier known as Magadha,
the state was ruled
by Magadh and licchavis
rulers around 7- 8th
Century B.C. One of
the greatest Emperors
of all times, King
Ashoka ruled the state
around 270 B.C and
later opted for Buddhism.
During the Mughal
Period Bihar lost
its fame as the central
power and was under
the control of the
Nawabs of Bengal.
The Ashok Chakra on
the Indian National
flag and the lion
head that serves as
India's National Emblem
can be truly owed
to this land.
 Tourist
Places of Bihar:
Bihar is a predominantly
religious state of
India, with evident
influence of Buddhism
and Jainism in most
of its cities and
towns. Tourists from
all the over world
come to Bihar to visit
Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali,
Bodhgaya, the Buddhist
sites of Bihar. There
are also some Hindu
religious places like
the Lakshmi Narayan
Mandir and its hot
spring which are frequented
by the pilgrims. Apart
from a pilgrimage
destination, Bihar
also offers some of
the best Museums which
are excellent repertoires
of rare and exquisite
art and artifacts.
Patna the state capital
is also a historical
place and with a number
of tourist attractions.
Fairs
& Festivals of
Bihar:
Bihar has a long list
of festivals which
are celebrated with
gaiety and tolerance.
The most famous festival
of Bihar is Chatth
Puja which is celebrated
twice in a year, once
in March and the other
in November. It is
an expression of thanks
giving and seeking
the blessings from
the forces of nature,
prominent among them
being the Sun and
river. Sama-Chakeva
is another festival
celebrated in Bihar
especially in Mithila.
Ramnavami, Makar Sankranti,
Nagpanchami, Bihula,
Budh Purnima and Mahavir
Jyanti are some of
the other festivals
celebrated in Bihar.
The Sonepur Cattle
Fair, believed to
be the largest in
the world, recreates
the mythical encounter
between the honest
gaja (elephant) and
the shrewd graha (crocodile).
The fair is a massive
trading center of
animals. Another unique
fair, Saurath Sabha
in Mithila, is a massive
marriage market, amidst
mango groves where
possibilities are
explored, negotiations
held and marriages
solemnized.
Cuisine
in Bihar:
Most of the people
in Bihar follow a
vegetarian diet. The
cuisine of Bihar is
predominated by wheat
and rice. A general
Bihari meal consists
of dal, bhat (rice),
phulka (roti), tarkari
(vegetables) and achar
(pickles). Special
Bihari food is namely,
Dalpuri, Little Chokha
and Baingan ka Bharta.
For the Sweet tooth,
there are a number
of choices liked,
Laddoo of Maner, the
Khaja of Silao Village,
Belgrami from Udwant
Nagar, Tilkut and
Anarsa from Gaya,
the famous Malpua,
Laai made at Barh,
Perukia from Chhapra,
Balushahi of Runi
Saidpur, Kheer Makhana
of Darbhanga, Shakarpara
and Thekua. This list
is simply endless!
In the Chotanagpur
belt of Bihar, the
daily diet of the
tribes is quite different.
It generally includes
boiled cereals, millet
and a curry of boiled
vegetables or meat,
or edible roots and
tubers seasoned with
salt and chilies.
Few of the famous
tribal specialties
are Asur Pittha (cake),
Asur Khichdi, Sauria
Ghata, Korwa Lata,
and Korwa jatangi.
The Handia is a tribal
beverage that still
sells on the roadsides
of Chotanagpur. Most
of the tribes cannot
think of any occasion
or function without
a fairly good stock
of Handia.
Shopping
in Bihar:
The craftsmen of Bihar
specialized over ages
in creative activities
like pottery, wooden
articles, metal wares,
stone wares, jewelry,
lacquer works, kashida,
sikki and moonj wares,
wooden and clay toys,
zari, artistic textile
fabrics and printing
on cloth. Each craft
is unique and unmatched
in its own way. Not
only are these items
popular locally, but
also in great demand
overseas. They are
available as reasonable
prices at the Government
Emporiums and the
privately owned local
shops. |
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