Bhagalpur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bhagalpur Champa Champapuri Bhaugulpore
City
Ghantaghar Vikramshila Setu Maharishi Mehi Aashram Ruins of Vikramshila Mahavihara
Nickname(s):  The Silk City
Bhagalpur Location in Bihar Show map of Bihar Bhagalpur Location in India Show map of India
Country	India
State	Bihar
District	Bhagalpur
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation
Area
• Total	218.28 km2 (84.28 sq mi)
Elevation	52 m (171 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	410,210
• Density	1,879.28/km2 (4,867.32/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Bhagalpuri
Language
• Official	Hindi
• Additional official	Urdu
• Regional	Angika
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Postal Index Number	812001-81XXXX
STD Code	0641
Vehicle registration	BR-10

Bhagalpur is an important city in the Indian state of Bihar. It is located on the southern bank of the Ganges river. Bhagalpur is the third largest city in Bihar by population. It is also the main city for the Bhagalpur district. People often call it the Silk City because of its famous silk industry. The Indian government has chosen Bhagalpur to be developed as a "Smart City."

Bhagalpur is a hub for education. It has several major higher education institutions. These include the IIIT Bhagalpur and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. There is also TMBU and Bihar Agricultural University (BAU). A new university, Vikramshila Central University, is being built near the ancient ruins of Vikramshila Mahavihara. The city is served by the Bhagalpur Railway Station.

The Gangetic dolphin, which is India's National Aquatic Animal, lives in the river near Bhagalpur. The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary was created to protect these dolphins. The city is also known for its large Manasa Puja and Kali Puja celebrations. These festivals are a big part of the local culture.

Exploring Bhagalpur's Climate

Bhagalpur has a climate with hot summers and cooler winters. It also experiences a monsoon season with a lot of rain. The hottest month is usually May, and the coldest is January.

Amazing Wildlife of Bhagalpur

The Greater Adjutant Stork (Garuda)

Greater adjutant

The Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is a very large stork. It is sometimes linked to the mythical bird Garuda. Bhagalpur is home to the second-largest rescue and rehabilitation area for these birds. These storks faced a big drop in numbers due to losing their homes and food sources. Hunting and egg collection also played a part.

In 2007, these birds were first seen nesting in Bhagalpur. Before this, they had not been seen breeding in Bihar. Their numbers have grown from 78 to over 500. This makes Bhagalpur one of only three places in the world where Garudas live. The other places are Cambodia and Assam.

The Greater Adjutant is an endangered species. It has a pink head without feathers, a thick yellow beak, and a pouch under its neck. Its body is mostly dark grey, except for a white neck ruff. Young birds have a narrower beak and more downy feathers. These storks can grow to be about 145–150 cm (almost 5 feet) tall.

People and Population of Bhagalpur

As of 2011, the Bhagalpur Urban Area had a population of 410,210 people. This makes it the third largest city in Bihar. About 218,284 were males and 191,926 were females. Many people in Bhagalpur can read and write. The literacy rate for people aged 7 and above is about 80.76%. This means most adults and older children are literate.

Fun Places and Festivals in Bhagalpur

Celebrating Kali Puja

Kali Puja is a very important festival in Bhagalpur. It is celebrated during Deepawali. Many Kali Temples and special tents (Mandaps) are decorated. People worship the goddess Kalika. The procession after the Puja is very long. It can take up to 36 hours to complete. Kali Puja is a key part of the local culture.

The Story of Sati Behula

The story of Sati Behula is a famous tale from old Bengali literature. It tells about the strong love between Behula and her husband, Lakhander. This story comes from Champa, which is now Champapuri in Bhagalpur. It is said that there is still proof of a special metal house built for Behula and Lakhander. This house was meant to protect them.

Visiting Budhanath Temple

Budhanath Temple, one of 108 Nath temples in India mentioned in Shiva Purana

The Budhanath Temple is a very old temple in Bhagalpur. It is located on the banks of the Uttarvahini Ganga River. This river flows from south to north, which is quite unique. Many devotees visit this temple all year round. It is about twenty minutes from the main town. The temple is mentioned in the Shiva Purana as Baba Bal Vridheshwarnath. The main idol, a Lingam, is believed to have appeared on its own.

Shri Champapur Digamber Jain Temple

Champapur is a very old and holy place for Jainism. It is where five important events (Kalyanaks) in the life of Bhagwan Vasupujya happened. He was the 12th Jain Teerthankar. Champapur was once the capital of Anga Janpada. It was also a big city (Mahajanapada) during the time of Bhagwan Mahavira Swami.

The main temple in Champapur is about 2500 years old. It has five altars and two tall "Columns of Fame." These columns are about 2200 years old.

Khanqah-e-Shahbazia Shrine

The Khanqah-e-Shahbazia was built in 1577 AD. It is a very respected shrine in Bhagalpur. It holds the grave of Maulana Shahbaz, a holy saint. His family members still manage the place today. Maulana Shahbaz Rahmatullah is believed to be one of 40 Sufi saints. These saints were sent to spread the message of Allah.

The Mosque here was built by Aurangzeb. He visited it often. Many visitors come every Thursday to receive blessings. People believe that the water in a pond here can cure illnesses and snake bites. Old writings have been found in the basement of this shrine.

The Khanqah also has a famous library. It has many old Arabic and Persian religious books. One of these is a copy of the Qur’an written by Murshid Quli Khan.

Rivers Flowing Through Bhagalpur

Several important rivers flow through or near Bhagalpur:

• Ganga River: This is the most sacred river in India. It flows right through Bhagalpur.
• Kosi River: Also known as the "Sorrow of Bihar," this major river flows near Bhagalpur.
• Ghaghara River: Sometimes called the Karmali River, it is another important river in the area.
• Gandak River: This river, also known as the Narayani River, flows through parts of Bihar, including Bhagalpur.
• Chanan River: This river flows through Bhagalpur and Banka Districts. The area around it is famous for Katarni rice.

Learning and Education in Bhagalpur

Bihar Agricultural University

Bhagalpur has many good educational institutions:

• Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bhagalpur
• Bihar Agricultural University (BAU), Sabour, Bhagalpur
• Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College & Hospital (JLNMCH), Mayaganj, Bhagalpur
• Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU), Bhagalpur
• Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology-CSTS, Bhagalpur
• Software Technology Park (STPI), Bhagalpur
• Vikramshila Central University, Bhagalpur (planned)
• Bhagalpur College of Engineering (BCE), Bhagalpur
• Marwari College, Bhagalpur
• D.A.V. Public School
• Saint Joseph's School
• Mount Assisi School
• Mount Carmel School
• T.N.B. College, Bhagalpur

Media and Communication in Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur has various ways for people to get news and information.

• Newspapers: You can find Hindi newspapers like Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, and Hindustan. There are also Urdu newspapers like The Inquilab. English newspapers like Times of India are also available.
• Radio: All India Radio broadcasts here. There is also AIR FM Rainbow India.
• Internet: Companies like Airtel, Jio, BSNL, and Sify provide internet services.

Famous People from Bhagalpur

Many notable people have come from Bhagalpur:

• Ashok Kumar – A famous Hindi Indian movie actor.
• Ashwini Kumar Choubey – A politician from the BJP.
• Aisha Sharma – An actress in Bollywood.
• Gurmeet Choudhary – An Indian television actor and dancer.
• Kadambini Ganguly – One of India's first women graduates and doctors.
• Neha Sharma – A Hindi and South-Indian movie actress.
• Pritish Nandy – A poet, journalist, and film producer.
• Saratchandra Chattopadhyay – A famous Bengali novelist.
• Suchitra Bhattacharya – An acclaimed Indian novelist.
• Syed Shahnawaz Hussain – A leader from the BJP.
• Tapan Sinha – A well-known film director.
• Tilka Manjhi – The first Santhal freedom fighter.

Images for kids

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  Ghantaghar

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  Vikramshila Setu

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  Maharishi Mehi Aashram

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  Ruins of Vikramshila Mahavihara

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  Greater adjutant

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  Budhanath Temple, one of 108 Nath temples in India mentioned in Shiva Purana

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  Bihar Agricultural University

See also

In Spanish: Bhagalpur para niños