Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary

✎Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is another important place to visit when you are in Bihar. Situated at a distance of 56 km from Munger, 20 km from Jamui Railway Station and 200 km from Patna Airport, these forests cover an area of nearly 700 km on the rising and falling tract of Kharagpur Hills.

✎Bordered by the River Ganga, amazingly, this forest area is surrounded by densely populated towns and villages. A host of animals such as Tiger, Leopards, Sloth Bear, Nilgai, Sambhar, Barking deer, Wild Bear, or a four horned Antelope can be seen by a lucky tourist in this wildlife sanctuary.

✎Another attraction of the place is the hot springs, which surprisingly maintain a constant temperature (52° C to 65° C) all year around.

✎Places to look around nearby the sanctuary are Rishikund, HaHa Punch Kumari, Rameshwar Kund, Kharagpur Lake and Sringrishi. Staying there is not a big deal as there are tourist lodges and forest rest houses that offer accommodation facilities to tourists in the middle of the forest.

✎According to Mahabharat, Bhima, one of the pandavas, constructed a dam (bandh) here and therefore it is called Bhimbandh.

Fauna & Flora
✎The main animals found at Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary are tigers, panthers, wild boars, sloth bear, sambar deer, chitals, four-horned antelope and nilgais. However, the sanctuary is more famous for its bird life rather than the land animals. It is home to more than 100 species of resident birds, which stay here all year around. The number increases in the migratory season i.e. during the winters, when there is an influx of birds from the Central Asia region.

✎There are two major biomes present in Bhimbandh, grassland and forest

दरभंगा के किले का इतिहास

• किले के निर्माण से काफी पूर्व यह इलाका इस्लामपुर नामक गाँव का एक हिस्सा था जो की मुर्शिमाबाद राज्य के नबाब , अलिबर्दी खान , के नियंत्रण में था | नबाब अलिबर्दी खान ने दरभंगा के आखिरी महाराजा श्री कामेश्वर सिंह के पूर्वजों को यह गाँव दे दिया था |
• इसके उपरांत सन १९३० ई० में जब महाराजा कामेश्वर सिंह ने भारत के अन्य किलों की भांति यहाँ भी एक किला बनाने का निश्चय किया तो यहाँ की मुस्लिम बहुल जनसँख्या को जमीन के मुआवजे के साथ शिवधारा , अलीनगर , लहेरियासराय- चकदोहरा आदि जगहों पर बसाया |रामबाग कैम्पस चारों ओर से दीवार से घिरा हुआ है और लगभग ८५ एकड़ जमीन में फैला हुआ है |किले की बनावट किले की दीवारों का निर्माण लाल ईंटों से हुई है | इसकी दीवार एक किलोमीटर लम्बी और करीब ५०० मीटर चौड़ी है |
• किले के मुख्य द्वार जिसे सिंहद्वार कहा जाता है पर वास्तुकला से दुर्लभ दृश्य उकेड़े गयें है | किले के भीतर दीवार के चारों ओर खाई का भी निर्माण किया गया था | उस वक्त खाई में बराबर पानी भरा रहता था |ऐसा किले और वस्तुतः राज परिवार की सुरक्षा के लिए किया गया था |किले की दीवार काफी मोटी थी | दीवार के उपरी भाग में वाच टावर और गार्ड हाउस बनाए गए थे |
• इसे दूसरा लाल किला भी कहा जाता है ।

गोलघर

गोलघर

• गोलघर गाँधी मैदान के पश्चिम में स्थित है। 1770 में आई भयंकर सूखे के दौरान लगभग एक करोड़ लोग भुखमरी के शिकार हुए थे।
• तब के गवर्नर जनरल वारेन हेस्टिंग ने गोलघर के निर्माण की योजना बनाई थी, ब्रिटिश इंजिनियर कैप्टन जान गार्स्टिन ने अनाज़ के (ब्रिटिश फौज के लिए) भंडारण के लिए इस गोल ढाँचे का निर्माण 20 जनवरी 1784 को शुरु करवाया था।इसका निर्माण कार्य ब्रिटिश राज में 20 जुलाई 1786 को संपन्न हुआ था। इसमें एक साथ 140000 टन अनाज़ रखा जा सकता है।
• इसका आकार 125 मीटर और ऊँचाई 29 मीटर है। इसमें कोई स्तंभ नहीं है और इसकी दीवारें आधार में 3.6 मीटर मोटी हैं। गोलघर के शिखर पर लगभग तीन मीटर तक ईंट की जगह पत्थरों का प्रयोग किया गया है। गोलघर के शीर्ष पर दो फीट 7 इंच व्यास का छिद्र अनाज डालने के लिये छोड़ा गया था, जिसे बाद में भर दिया गया।
• 145 सीढियों के सहारे आप इसके उपरी सिरे पर जा सकते है जहाँ से शहर का एक बड़ा हिस्सा देखा जा सकता है और गंगा के मनोहारी दृश्य को यहाँ से निहारा जा सकता है।

शहीद स्मारक की असली कहानी

शहीद स्मारक

✎ पटना सचिवालय के निकट बने शहीद स्मारक की मूर्तियों के सृजन की कथा सचमुच रोचक है । इसे प्रसिद्ध मूर्तिकार देवी प्रसाद रायचौधरी के बनाया है । वे मद्रास क्लाविद्यालय के प्राचार्य तथा ललित कला अकादमी के अध्यक्ष रह चुके है । मूर्तियां कलापूर्ण हो ,इसकी पहल प्रख्यात शिल्पी उपेंद्र महारथी ने की थी । कला जगत में यह अनोखी घटना इसलिए थी की एक साथ कांसे की ढलाई भारत में संभवतः पहली बार हुआ हो ।

✎ मूर्ति को छोड़ कर नीचे की बीस फ़ीट ऊँची वेदी के चारो तरफ चुनार से लाये पत्थर बिठाये गए हैं ।

✎ यह सफलता भारतीय इतिहास में एक धरोहर के रूप में है ।

✎ बीस टन वजन की इन मूर्तियों को लाने में आठ हज़ार रुपये खर्च हुए थे ।

✎ मूर्तियां इतनी संपूर्ण बनी है कि उसमें कोई भी गलती नहीं निकाली जा सकती है । मूर्ति का जो संयोजन है,वह अद्द्भुत है.साथ साथ वह बहुत कठिन भी है ।

एएन सिन्हा इंस्टिट्यूट स्थित भवन

गांधी के शांति प्रयासों का गवाह है एएन सिन्हा इंस्टिट्यूट स्थित भवन

• पटना के गांधी मैदान के उत्तर एएन सिन्हा इंस्टिट्यूट में आने वाले लोगों में बहुत कम लोगों को पता होगा कि उसी परिसर में पश्चिम की ओर एक जीर्ण-शीर्ण भवन भी है जिसने करीब 40 दिनों तक महात्मा गांधी की मेजबानी की थी । उनके साथ खान अब्दुल गफ्फार खान भी थीं। 
• जब 1945-46 में यह लगभग तय हो गया था कि अंग्रेज़ अब इस देश को छोड़ कर चले जायेंगे ।
• उसी वक़्त एक त्रासदी भी संभाव्य हो गयी थी ।देश के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में हिन्दू मुस्लिम दंगों की सुरुआत हो गयी थी । इस सांप्रदायिक आग में बिहार के गाँव भी सुलग रहे थे । चारो मार काट मची थी ।
• इन्ही दिनों महात्मा गांधी अपने कुछ सहयोगियों निर्मल कुमार बोस,मनु गांधी,सैयद अहमद,देव प्रकाश नायर के साथ 5 मार्च 1947 को पटना आकर सैयद मोहम्मद के इसी घर में ठहरें । गांधी ने यहीं रहकर डॉ राजेंद्र प्रसाद,डॉ अनुग्रह नारायण सिन्हा और ऐसे ही और गणमान्य नेताओं से बिहार की स्थिति की जानकारी ली ।

Know about Satyagraha Movement in Champaran

✎ Gandhi established an ashram in Champaran (Bihar), organising scores of his veteran supporters and fresh volunteers from the region. His handpicked team of eminent lawyers comprising Dr.Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha & Babu Brajkishore Prasad organised a detailed study and survey of the villages, accounting the atrocities and terrible episodes of suffering, including the general state of degenerate living.

✎Building on the confidence of villagers, he began leading the clean-up of villages, building of schools and hospitals and encouraging the village leadership to undo purdah, untouchability and the suppression of women. He was joined by many young nationalists from all over India, including Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Acharya Kriplani,Ram Navami Prasad and later Jawaharlal Nehru.

✎But his main assault came as he was arrested by police on the charge of creating unrest and was ordered to leave the province. Hundreds of thousands of people protested and rallied outside the jail, police stations and courts demanding his release, which the court unwillingly did. Gandhi led organised protests and strike against the landlords, who with the guidance of the British government, signed an agreement granting more compensation and control over farming for the poor farmers of the region, and cancellation of revenue hikes and collection until the famine ended. It was during this agitation, that Gandhi was addressed by the people as Bapu (Father) and Mahatma (Great Soul).

How Satyagraha Movement started?

• The first Satyagraha movements inspired by Mohandas Gandhi occurred in Champaran district of Bihar and the Kheda district of Gujarat on 1917 to 1918. Champaran Satyagraha was the first to be started, but the word Satyagraha was used for the first time in Anti Rowlatt Act agitation.

• Champaran, is a district in the state of Bihar, tens of thousands of landless serfs, indentured labourers and poor farmers were forced to grow indigo (poppy/opium) and similar cash crops by the British East India company and subsequently, the British government in colonized India. The farmers and labourers were forced to grow indigo instead of food cropswhich were necessary for their survival. This indigo was bought from them at a very low price to export to China as opium
• Suppressed by the ruthless militias of the landlords (mostly British), they were given measly compensation, leaving them in extreme poverty. Now in the throes of a devastating famine, the British levied a harsh tax which they insisted on increasing the rate.
• Without food and without money, the situation was growing progressively unlivable and the peasants in Champaran revolted against conditions in indigo plant cultivation in 1914 (at Pipra) and in 1916 at (Turkaulia). Raj Kumar Shukla, an indigo cultivator, persuaded Gandhi to go to Champaran and thus, the Champaran Satyagraha began.
• Gandhi arrived in Champaran 10 April 1917 with a team of eminent lawyers: Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha and others including Acharya Kripalani

Battle of Buxar

• The Battle of Buxar was fought on 22 October 1764 between the forces under the command of the British East India Company led by Hector Munro and the combined army of Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Awadh; and the Mughal King Shah Alam II.
• The battle fought at Buxar, a "small fortified town" within the territory of Bengal, located on the bank of the Ganges river about 130 km west of Patna, was a decisive victory for the British East India Company.
• The combined Mughal forces numbered about 40,000 men, and Monroe's forces numbered about 10,000 men, of whom 7,000 were regular British Army men seconded to the East India Company. Reports of the battle say that lack of co-ordination between the various Mughal forces was the main reason for their defeat

Paag

The Paag is a headdress in the Mithila region of Bihar, India worn by Maithil people. It is a symbol of honour and respect and a significant part of Maithil culture.

The Paag dates back to pre-historic times when it was made of plant leaves.It exists today in a modified form.

*In order to demonstrate and send across the message of the Culture of Mithila and India, Paag March is held by Mithilalok wherein a large number of people take to streets wearing traditional Paag on their heads

Ramshila Hill

The Ramshila Hill situated on the south-east fringe of Gaya is one of the most sacred hills in Gaya and it also appears to have had a considerable antiquity.

A number of stone sculptures belonging to the ancient period can be still noticed on and around the hill which suggests the existence of some earlier structures or temples since very early times. The temple situated on the top of the hill called as Ramesvara or Patalesvara temple was originally built in 1014 A.D. but has gone through many restorations and repairs in the succeeding periods. In front of the temple is a pavilion, built by Sri Krishna Basu of Calcutta in 1811 A.D. where 'pindas' are offered by the Hindu devotees during pitripaksha for their ancestors.

The name of the hill is associated with Lord Rama and so images of Rama, Sita and Hanuman are also installed in a temple on the hill. The flight of steps leading up to the temple, originally got constructed by Sri K. Basu, was further repaired in 1886 by the then Raja of Tekari and even thereafter renovations and repairs have been going on for the benefit of the pilgrims who come in large numbers to offer 'pindas'.

The Ramshila Hill is considered to be the most sacred as it is also believed that Lord Ram had offered 'pinda' on the hill.