Bihar Tourism & Travel Guide - Know Before you Go!

Bihar Overview

Bihar, a state in the north of Indian subcontinent, is a place of great antiquity, with a history that dates back by 3,000 years. The culture and heritage of the state is extremely rich and varied, as is made evident from the ancient monuments found all over the region. The state boasts of attractions that bring in tourists from not just from other parts of India but also from various parts of the world. Bihar is considered to be one of the holiest regions in India by especially by the Buddhists, but also to a great measure by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. Several tourists take a trip to Bihar just for pilgrimage. It is also the site of the famous Mahabodhi Temple, a Buddhist shrine which has been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. One of the longest bridges in the world, the Mahatma Gandhi Setu is also located in the state. Although it is in the process of shifting focusing on the development of the service sector, industry or infrastructure, Bihar continues to be primarily an agricultural state. Several festivals are hosted in the state but the most important among them happens to be the Chhath festival, which honours the Sun God and takes place during the months of October and November. Bihar is an important site for Buddhism since Gautam Buddha, the founder of the religion, spent the major portion of his life in this region. This also accounts for the predominance of Buddhist monasteries in the region. Remnants of Bihar’s past glory are still evident in towns like Nalanda, Rajgir and Bodhgaya.