Sonepur Fair

✎ Sonepur Fair is held on Kartik Purnima (the full moon day) in the month of November in Sonepur, Bihar, on the confluence of river Ganges and Gandak. It is also known as Harihar Kshetra Mela and it attracts visitors from all over Asia. Till date, it is biggest cattle fair of Asia and stretches on from 15 days to one month.

✎ Sonepur Fair is held for one month i.e. from November to December.

✎ Sonepur is situated at the convergence of the sacred rivers Ganges and Gandak; the Hindus regard it as holy site.

✎ The fair commemorates the intervention of Lord Vishnu to end a great curse and long fight between elephant and crocodile in Hindu Mythology.

✎ There are many historical events associated with Sonepur Mela. In ancient times the royal Rajahs and Nawabs used to camp here, also the first meeting of the “Indian Association of Cow Protection” held at this place in 1888.

✎ Trade in elephants has been prohibited at Sonepur Mela since 2004 owing to strict enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and further denial of transfer of ownership certificate to the elephant owners.

✎ The venue of fair was Hazipur and only the performance of the puja used to take place at the Harihar Nath Temple of Sonepur.Under the rule of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the venue of the fair got shifted to Sonepur.

✎ The fair was also used at a recruitment ground by the provincial Congress Committee of Bihar and the Bihar Kisan Sabha (farmers union), these all events made this fair as the breeding grounds of the politics.

✎ Many farm animals can be bought at the Sonepur Mela from all breeds of dogs, buffaloes, donkeys, ponies, Persian horses, rabbits, goats and even the occasional camel. Many varieties of birds and poultry are also available. Haathi Bazaar is attracted to all where elephants are lined up for the sale.

✎ One will find a variety of goods in these stalls, ranging from garments to weapons and furniture, toys, utensils and agricultural implements, jewelry and handicrafts.

✎ A rail gram is setup by railways, where toy train is also erected for children.

✎ Sonepur Mela continues to attract foreign tourists who arrive with the motive of capturing various elements of rural settlement.

✎ Swiss cottages are set up by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation at the Sonepur fair, with facilities of internet, motor boat ride river Gandak, food at the tourist village and pre-paid taxes from Patna Airport to Sonepur Fair.

✎ It is vibrant rural fair that combines spirituality, sexuality and animal trading, street magicians, religious gurus and tantriks, pilgrims, snack stalls, handicrafts, amusement rides, circus performers and dancing girls all create a carnival like no other.

✎ In 2014, extra stalls were added, selling clothing, agricultural equipment, automobiles and fast moving consumer goods. A food plaza was also setup with branded national chains. There was sports competition and adventure sports such as para-sailing, hot air balloon, water-skiing, water-canning and all-terrain vehicle rides.

✎ Sonepur Fair is administered by District of Chapra with support from Bihar government and promoted by the Tourism Ministry of Bihar. The administration also arranges health and welfare camps, sanitation, drinking water facilities for visitors.

Barabar Caves

✎ The Barabar hill caves in India, mostly dating from the Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE), some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Makhdumpur region of Jehanabad district, Bihar, India,24 km north of Gaya.

✎ These caves are situated in the twin hills of Barabar (4 caves) and Nagarjuni (3 caves); caves of

the 1.6 km (0.99m) distant from Nagarjuni Hill are sometimes singled out as the Nagarjuni caves.

✎ These rock cut chambers date back to the 3 rd century BCE, Mauryan period of Ashoka (reigned 273-232 BCE) and his grandson, Dasharatha Maurya.

✎  The sculptured surround to the entrance to the Lomas Rishi cave is the earliest survival of the ogee shaped “chaitra arch” or chandrashala that was to be an important feature of Indian rock-cut architecture and sculptural decoration for centuries. The form was clearly a reproduction in stone of buildings in wood and other plant materials.

✎ The caves were used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect, founded by Makkali Gosala, a contemporary of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and of Mahavira, the last and 24 th Tirthankara of Jainism.

✎ Most caves at Barabar consist of two chambers, carved entirely out of granite, with a highly polished internal surface and exciting echo effect.

✎ It contains four caves Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and Vishwakarma.

✎ Sudama and Lomas Rishi are the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India, with architectural detailing made in the Mauryan period. The Barabar caves greatly influenced the architecture of rock-cut architecture in the Indian subcontinent.

✎ Lomas Rishi cave has an arch-like shape façade that imitates contemporary timber architecture. On the doorway, a row of elephants proceed towards stupa emblems, along the curvedarchitrave. Sudama cave was dedicated by Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka in 261 BCE. The arches of Sudama cave have bow shape. The canvas consists of a circular vaulted chamber with a rectangular Mandapa. Karan Chaupar consists of single rectangular room with polished surfaces, contains inscription which could be dated to 245 BCE. Vishvakarma cave, reachable by Ashoka steps hewn in the cliff, consists of two rectangular rooms.

✎ Lomas Rishi Cave: It is most famous of the caves of Barabar, because of its beautifully carveddoor. It consists of two rooms: a rectangular rom measuring 9.86*5.18 m, and a circular, semi-hemispherical room 5m in diameter, which is accessed from the rectangular room by a narrow

rectangular passage.

✎ Sudama Cave: It is located on Southern side of Barabar granite hill. It consists of two rooms: a rectangular room measuring 9.98*5.94 m, and a semi-hemispherical room 6min diameter,which is accessed from rectangular room by a narrow rectangular passage. The ceilings of the Sudama cave are arched. The cave is composed of a circular vaulted chamber and a vaulted room with the rectangular form of Mandapa. The interior walls of the cave represent a technical feat; they are perfectly flat and polished granite surfaces, creating a mirror effect. The plane surfaces reverberated sound, creating a very pronounced echo phenomenon.

✎ Karan Chaupar Cave: Karan Chaupar, also known as karna Chaupar, is on the north side of the Barabar granite hill. It consists of a single rectangular room with polished surfaces, 10.2*4.27m in dimensions. It contains an inscription of Ashoka dating from the 19 th year of his reign, about 250 BCE, located outside, immediately to the right of the entrance. His cave was planned for

Buddhist monks. The cave has a rock-cut bench at one-end, probably to sit or sleep. In the entrance hall an inscription from the Gupta period mentions “Daridra Kantara” (“the caves of the beggars”). A mound decorated with Buddhist sculptures is also near the entrance, another of many elements accrediting the belonging of this cave to the Buddhist.

✎ Vishvakarma Cave: The Vishvakarma cave, also called Viswa Mitra, is accessible by the “steps of Ashoka” carved in to the cliff. It is a 100 meters and a little east of the main granite hill. It consists of a rectangular room entirely open to the outside, a sort of elongated porch, and an unfinished semi-hemispherical room: the rectangular space measures 4.27*2.54m, and the

circular room is 2.8m in diameter. One goes from the rectangular room to the half- hemispherical room by a narrow trapezoidal passage. On the floor of the porch, 4 holes were made, which are thought to allow the cave to be closed with a wooden picket fence.

✎ Nagarjuni Caves: They are 1.6kms east of the Barabar Caves. The 3 caves are:

1) Gopi Cave: Gopi also called Gopi-ka-kubha or simply, Nagarjuni, Gopika cave is the largest of all the caves of the Barabar complex and on the southside of the hill. It consists of a single large oblong room of 13.95*5.84m. It was dug by king Dashratha, grandson of Emperor

Ashoka, according to the inscription that was engraved above the front door.

2) Vadathika Cave: Vadathika cave or Vadithi-ka-kubha cave is located in a crevasse in the rock in the north side of the hill. It consists of single rectangular rom of dimensions

5.11*3.43m, with a porch at the entrance of 1.83*1.68m. This cave was consecrated by Dashratha Maurya, the grandson and successor of Asoka, for the sector of Ajivikas.

3) Vapiyaka Cave: Vapiyaka cave also called well cave or Vapiya-ka-kubha cave is located in north side of the hill. It consists of single rectangular room of dimensions 5.10*3.43m. This cave also has a beautiful vaulted hall, entirely made of perfectly polished granite.

✎ Technology: the caves were carved out of granite, an extremely hard rock, then finished with a very nice polishing of inner surface, giving a mirror effect of a great regularity, as well as an echo effect. This large scale polish is reminiscent of polishing on smaller surfaces of the Mauryan statuary, particularly visible on the pillars and capitals of the Ashoka pillars.

Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary - Tourist Spot of Bihar

✎ The Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake located in the marshes and grasslands spread around Kanwar Taal in Begusarai district of Bihar, India is Asia’s largest fish water oxbow lake.
✎ The lake was born as a consequence of the meandering of Budhi Gandak River and the total area occupied by the sanctuary measures about 67.5 square km.
✎ This lake was officially declared a protected area during 1987.
✎ It is one of the quietest bird sanctuaries in India with pretty less tourist activity, the place is ideal for bird watching and photography.
✎ There are 60 migratory birds that come all the way from Central Asia in winter and recorded around 106 species of resident birds.
✎ A large quantity of flora and fauna are there inside the sanctuary grounds.
Flora of Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary: Visitors to Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary will be welcomed by the beautiful greenery present in the area represented by several trees like Imili, Neem, Bamboo, Sohar, Babool, Sisoo, Khajur, Shirish and many others.
Fauna of Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary: There are more than 40 species of fishes in Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary which are often observed swimming in the waters of the Kanwar Lake, Musk Deer, Palm Squirrel, Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Common Mongoose, Rhesus Macaque, Indian Fox, Baking Deer, Jackal, Nilgai and Reptiles including Indian Cobra, Indian Krait, Tortoise, Water Snake, Dhaman and various types of Lizards.
✎ Birds in the region are:
Critically Endangered species - Oriental white- backed Vulture, Long- billed Vulture.
Vulnerable species - Greater Adjutant, Greater spotted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, and Sarus Crane.
Near Threatened species - Indian Darter, Painted stork, Black- bellied Tern
✎ Threats in Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary are:
Excessive chemicals, like Furadan used to capture birds.
Villagers encroachment of lake area.
Killing of birds.
✎ The best time to approach the sanctuary is the time between October and June.

Vikramashila - Pride of Bihar

✎ Vikramashila was one of the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda.
✎ It was established by king Dharampala in 8th or early 9th century (783 to 820) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda.
✎ It was destroyed by the forces of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1193 century. 
✎ Vikramashila (village antichak, district Bhagalpur, Bihar) is located at about 50 km east of Bhagalpur and about 13 km north-east of Kahalgaon, a town of Bhagalpur district.
✎ It was prospered for about 4 centuries before it was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji along with the other major centres of Buddhism in India.
✎ It is known to us mainly through Tibetan sources, especially the writings of Taranatha, the Tibetan monk historian of the 16th-17th centuries.
✎ It was the largest Buddhist universities, with more than one hundred teachers and about one thousand students.
✎ It produced eminent scholars who were often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learning, culture and religion.
✎ Subjects like philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, Indian logic, etc. were taught here, but the most important branch of learning was tantrism.
✎ Hierarchy of Vikramashila:
1) Abbot (Adhyaksha)
2) Six gate protectors or gate scholars (Dvarapala or Dvarapandita), one each for the Eastern, Western, first central, second central, Northern and Southern gates.
3) Great scholars ( Mahapandita)
4) Scholars (Pandita), roughly 108 in number.
5) Professors or teachers (Upadhyaya or Acharya), roughly 160 in number including pandits.
6) Resident monks (Bhiksu), roughly 1000 in number.
✎ Dvarapala’s of Vikramashila:
1) Ratnakarasanti (Eastern gate)
2) Vagisvarakirti (Western gate)
3) Ratnavajra (First central gate)
4) Jnanasrimitra (Second central gate)
5) Naropa (Northern gate)
6) Prajanakaramati (Southern gate)
✎ Vikramashila was centre of Vajrayarana and employed tantric preceptors.
✎ Tantric preceptors are Buddhajnanapada, Dipakankarabhadra, Jayabhadra, Sridhara, Bavabhatta, Bhavyakirti, Lilavajra, Durjaychandra, Samayavajra, Tathagatarakshita, Bodhibhadra, and Kamalarakshita.
✎ Meticulous excavation at the site was conducted initially by B.P. Sinha of Patna University and subsequently by Archaeological Survey of India.
✎ It has revealed a huge square monastery with a cruciform stupa in its centre, library building and cluster of votive stupas.
✎ To the north of monastery a number of scattered structures including a Tibetan and a Hindu temple have been found.
✎ The monastery, or residence for the Buddhist monks, is a huge square structure, each side measuring 330 metres having a series of 208 cells, 52 on each of the four sides opening in a common verandah.
✎ The main stupa built for the purpose of worship is a brick structure laid in mud mortar which stands in the centre of the square monastery.
✎ On each of the four cardinal directions there is a protruding chamber with a pillared antichamber and a separate pillared mandapa in front.
✎ In the four chambers of the stupa were placed colossal stucco images of seated Buddha of which three were found in situ but the remaining one on north side was possibly replaced by a stone image after the clay image was somehow damaged.
✎ About 32 metres south of the monastery on the South West corner and attached with the main monastery through a narrow corridor is a rectangular structure identified as a library building and was meant for preserving delicate manuscripts.
✎ The Vikramashila stupa built for the purpose of worship is a brick structure laid in mud mortar and stands in the centre of the square monastery. It has two terraces- the lower terrace is about 2.25 metres high from the ground level and the upper terrace is at a similar height from the lower side. At both terrace there is a circumambulatory path, the lower about 4.5 metres wide and the upper about 3 metres wide.
✎ There is protruding chamber with a pillared antechamber and a separate pillared mandapa in front, placed beyond the circumambatory passage.
✎ The walls and floors of the chamber and antechamber were plastered with lime.
✎ The walls of both the terraces are decorated with mouldings and terracotta plaques which testify the high excellence of terracotta art flourishing in the region during Pal period (8th to 12th century).
✎ The plaques depict many Buddhist deities like Buddha, Avalokiteshwara, Manjusri, Mitreya, Jambala, Marichi and Tara, scenes related to Buddhism, some social and hunting scenes, and a few Hindu deities like Vishnu, Parvati, Ardhanarisvara and Hanuman.
✎ The architecture of the stupa and the terracotta plaques bear great resemblance to the Somapura Mahavira, Paharpur (Bangladesh) which, too, was founded by the same king Dharmapala.
✎ Vikramashila monastery is also larger and has fort- like projections on its outer wall.
✎ It was neglected for years which contributed to extensive damages to the monument but now ASI is planning to develop the excavated site of Vikramashila. Since 2009, there has been considerable work in maintaining and beautifying the place to attract tourism.
✎ The Vikramashila site is the place for Vikramashila Mahotsav, which is held annually during the month of February.

Jal Mandir - Famous Temple of Bihar

✎ The Jal Mandir meaning Water Temple, also known as Apapuri, in Pawapuri, meaning a town without sins, in the Indian state of Bihar, is a highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira, the 24th Thirthankara (religious preacher of Jainism) and founder of Jain religion, which marks the place of his cremation.

✎ The temple, a famous and sacred pilgrimage centre of Jainism, is located in the holy city of Pawapuri in the Nalanda district in the Ganga basin.

✎ The temple has been built within a tank filled with red colored lotus flowers

✎ It is said that the temple was built by king Nandivardhan, Mahavira’s elder brother.

✎ It is one of the five main temples in Pawapuri, where the “charan Paduka” or foot impression of Mahavira is deified.

✎ According to a local legend after Lord Mahavira attained Nirvana at Pawapuri he was cremated in the village. The place of his cremation became a pilgrimage centre when a large number of pilgrims took out a very large amount of soil from the site, which was considered as sacred ashes of Lord Mahavira, and thus created a huge pit which got filled up with water and became a tank. To commemorate the place of his cremation a temple was built within the tank.

✎ Jal Mandir is built in white marble within the water tank; the tank measures 84 bigha (one bigha is 5 acres, area is 16.8 acres)

✎ The water surface of the lake is covered with lotuses.

✎ This architecturally elegant temple in the form of a “Vimana” or chariot has the footprints of Mahavir for worship.

✎ A 600-foot long (180m) bridge built in stone connects the temple with bank of water tank.

✎ There was great rush among the gathered devotes to collect his ashes resulting in a lake being created in the hollow.

✎ The temple shines bright and sublime during a moonlight night. The pond has many species of fish which are fed by the priests and devotees.

Mahatma Gandhi Setu - Lifeline of North Bihar

✎ Mahatma Gandhi Setu (also called Gandhi Setu or Ganga Setu) is a bridge over the river Ganges connecting Patna in the South to Hajipur in the north of Bihar.

✎ Its length is 5750 meters (18,860 ft.) and it is second longest river bridge in India and also longest cantilever bridge of Asia.

✎ It was inaugurated in May 1982 by the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi; inauguration took place at north end of the bridge located in Hajipur.

✎ The bridge was approved by the central government in 1969 and built by Gammon India Limited over a period of 10 years from 1972 to 1982 with total expenditure of Rs. 87.22 crores.

✎ This was built to connect North Bihar with the rest of Bihar and part of National highway 19 (NH19).

✎ The bridge consists 45 intermediate spans of 121.065 meters (397.19 ft.) each and a span of 65.530 meters (214.99 ft.) at each end.

✎ The deck provides for a 7.5 meters (25 ft.) wide two- lane roadway for IRC class 70 R loading with footpaths on either side.

✎ The cantilever segmental construction method was adopted to construct this mega bridge. Each span has two cantilever beams on both sides which are free to move at the ends.

✎ It has two lanes one upstream and the other downstream each with width of around 6 metre. Both the lanes are also free from each other and are not connected anywhere.

✎ The spans are connected by using a Protrusion which is free to move longitudinally also along the river flow. In upwards and downwards direction it is such that it allows vibration to transfer smoothly to the next span while vehicular movement without much discreteness.

✎ The scenic view of the river Ganga validates the vastness of the nation’s largest and the world’s third largest river by discharge.

✎ The 5.7 km long viaduct is an engineering marvel and beautiful sight to see at night when it is brightened up by different coloured lights.

Naulakha Palace - Tourist Spot of Bihar

- Navlakha Palace also called Naulakha palace, is a royal Brahmin palace situated in town of Rajnagar, close to the Kamala river, near Madhubani in Bihar, India.

- This palace was built by Maharaja Rameshwar Singh of Darbhanga in 17th century A.D.

- It is also known as Rajnagar palace complex and is one of the major tourist centres of Mithila.

- This palace suffered extensive damage during the earthquake of 1934 and was not rebuilt thereafter.

- There are very few written records or photographs available of the Navlakha Palace.

- Umantha Jha has described the Navlakha Palace from his childhood memories in his book “Bital din Aa Bisral log”.

Description of Palace:-

The oldest surviving Madhubani painting [done in year 1919, on occasion of the marriage of Shrimati Lakshmi Daiji, daughter of Maharaja Rameshwar Singh of Darbhanga] is found in gasauni ghar (the room where family deity is kept) of this palace. There is Durga Bhawan towards the enterance of the palace. In front of Durga Bhawan lies a pond. A temple dedicated to goddess Kali is located towards the north of pond. The centre of Navlakha palace has a seven storey tower. There is building having three courtyards in the western side of the Durga Bhawan. A two storeyed white coloured palace of the Bari Maharani is located towards the north of the building. Another temple in the palace is dedicated to Goddess Tripura Sundari and has many paintings of the goddess.