Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur, the city of eastern Bihar, is famous worldwide for its silk production. The city has major road and rail connections and trades in agricultural produce and cloth. Major industries include rice and sugar milling and woolen weaving. The silk industry in this city is hundreds of years old. There is also a Silk Institute and Agricultural college here, as well as a University, and Engineering, Medical and Homeopathy colleges. The language used in Bhagalpur is Angika, one the oldest languages of the World.

Geography of Bhagalpur

 Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga river. Situated 220km east of state capital Patna and 410 km north west of Calcutta is well connected by rail and road. 

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 silk (Interactive map of Bhagalpur)

History of Bhagalpur

 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. Mandar Hill, situated 52 km south from Bhagalpur, is believed to have been used as Churner during Samudra-Manthan by God and Danav according to Hindu mythology. Ancient cave sculptures of Emperor Ashoka's regime are found in the neighbourhood and at Sultangunj, 20 km west of Bhagalpur, a temple of the Gupta period 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. Ruins of ancient Vikramshila University are located 44 km east of Bhagalpur. It was the medieval centre to the conservation and propagation of Buddhist education, established by King Dharampal of Bengal at the end of the 8th century. 

Places of Interest in Bhagalpur 

Mandar Hill

A small hill about 30 km from Bhagalpur is the very same hill which was used for the Sagar Manthan. The marks of the snake around the hill used for mathan can be seen. Foot prints of Lord Vishnu can also be seen on this hill. The most attracting feature of the hill is the lake at its peak.

Vikramashila

Founded in the latter part of the eight century A.D by Dharmapala, the Buddhist University of Vikramashila is located at the famous Patharghat Hill on the right bank of the Ganga, about 38 kilometers to the southeast of Bhagalpur. It was patronized by the Pala Kings who helped the University of Nalanda also. For a number of years, this university was a well known center for Tantricism.