India >Bihar

Bihar

Capital : Patna.

Area : 94, 163 sq.km.

Literacy : 47.5%.

Languages : Hindi, Maithli, Urdu, Santhali.

Roads : 85, 565 km.

Railways : 5, 254 km.

Airports : Gaya, Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur.

When to visit : Oct to Mar.

Climate(in °C) : Summer 47 to 20 Winter 28 to 4.

Monsoon : June to Oct.

Districts :37, Araria, Aurangabad, Banka, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Darbhanga, Gaya, Gopalganj, Jamui, Jehanabad, Kaimur,Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Madhubani, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Nawada, Pashchim Champaran, Patna, Purba Champaran, Purnia, Rohtas, Saharsa, Samastipur, Saran, Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Supaul, Vaishali.

Places of Tourist importance : Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Pawpuri, Vikranshila.

PATNA

Golghar granary (29 m high and 3.6 m wide at the base), Patna museum with world's longest fossilised tree, Pahar Ki masjid, Sikh pilgrim centre - Hari mandir Takht, Hajipur (30 km, World's longest river bridge over Ganga, 5.5 km); Baidyanath dam at Deogargh (29 km from Patna), Vaisali (35 km from Hajipur) - Birth place of Mahavira, ashes of Budha preserved, Lion pillar at Kolhua (18.3 m high) and Ramkund, Buddhist and Jain pilgrim centre, museum.

BUDH GAYA

Mahabodhini temple (52 m) : World heritage centre, most sacred Buddhist pilgrim centre with Bodhi tree, stupas, museum.

GAYA

92 km from Patna, Hindu pilgrim centre, temples, nearby stupas and Buddhist caves (Barabar cave); Nalanda - Ruins of ancient university (500 BC), Archaeological museum, Buddhist research centre, Pawapuri (23 km, Jain Pilgrim centre, Lord Mahavira the 24^th Theerthankara attained Nirvana (died) here, Samosharan and Jalmandir temples are nearby), Rajgir (15 km, Jain pilgrim centre, Ajatshatru's fort (600 BC), museum, Vishwa shanti stupa at Vultutre's peak, hill station, trek to 26 Jain temples in the hill nearby, hot springs and Pippala caves at the Vaihava hills); Dehri_on_sone : Longest railway bridge in India near Sasram (3 km); Sasaram - Tomb of SherShah Suri and antiquities, lake.

HAZARIBAUG national park - Season : Dec to May.

JAYNAGAR, RAXAUL, JOGBANI - Temples, cross over point to NEPAL.