Tourism in Bihar (Economy of Bihar)

• Tourism is the largest service, industry in India, contributing 6.23 per cent to the national GDP and around 9 per cent to the total employment in the country.
• Bihar also has a great potential to develop tourism. Its rich heritage, cultural diversity, and geographical variations make it an attractive destination for international tourists.
• The state government is making endeavours to develop tourism in a systematic manner in order to position it as a major engine of economic growth and harness it for greatest revenue and employment. Bihar, where Buddhism originated, boasts of a fairly rich Buddhist legacy.
• The Buddhist sites like the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the ruins of Nalanda University and a stupa at Vaishali are becoming strong favourites among the tourists.
• Besides Buddhist circuit, some Sufi, Sikh and Jain circuits are also being developed.

• Bihar has been famous among national and international tourists since early times. Bihar is famous for its rich cultural and famous historical heritage.

The tourism industry in Bihar can be classified into five categories

• Religious Tourism: There are several shrines in Bihar of different religions. Important among these places are Gaya (Hindus), Bodh Gaya (Buddhists), Vaishali (Buddhists and Jains), Kesaria (Buddhists), Areraj (Hindus), Munger and Phulwari Sharif (Muslim), Rajgir (Buddhists), Pawapuri (Jains), Patna Sahib (Sikhs), etc. There are also other places which is visited by domestic tourists for fairs like Sonpur, etc.
• Historical Places: Bihar was the main centre in ancient India. Maces associated with glorious ancient Indian history in Bihar are Patliputra (Patra Kumhrar (Patna), Rajgir, Lauriya Nandangarh (Champaran), Vikramshila (Bhagalpur), Vaishali, Areraj, Kesariya etc. Places associated with medieval Indian history in Bihar are Sasaram (tomb of Sher Shah Suri), Azimabad (Patna City), Biharsharif, Munger, etc. Places associated with modern Indian history in Bihar are Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Gaya, Jagdishpur (Bhojpur), Buxar, etc.
• Wildlife Tourism: There are several bird sanctuary/national park/wildlife sanctuaries in Bihar which are worth visiting like Balmiki Nagar National Park, Kaimur Sanctuary, Kanwar Jheel Bird Sanctuary, etc.
• Health Tourism: Hot water reservoir or stream of Rajgir is famous for treating skin disease. Bihar is land of famous Yoga Guru Patanjali. Munger Yoga Institute is visited by people from across the world for learning yoga and for treatment of several diseases by means of yoga. Patna is also famous for good doctors and hospitals like P.M.C.H. (Patna Medical College & Hospital), I.G.I.M.S. (Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science), etc
• Sports Tourism: Sports in India witnessed remarkable improvement during 1980s. Patna has good facility for golf and tennis. There are scope for developing facilities for adventure sports, boating, tracking, shooting etc. People from metropolitan cities come to Bihar to enjoy sp because of availability of open space here.

Tourist Circuits in Bihar

Bihar is the land of origin of many religions and the land which was the seat of great empires. There are 8 Trourist Circuits in Bihar:

• Buddhist Circuit: Bodhgaya Jehanabad Rajgir Nalanda Patna – Vaishali – Lauriya Nandangarh – Lauriya Areraj – Kesariya – Vikramshila.
• Jain/Tirthankar Circuit: Vaishali – Patna – Rajgir – Pawapuri – Nathnagar – Mandar Hill – Basokuand- Champanagar – Nalanda
• Ramayan Circuit: Valmikinagar – Pretshila Hill – Ahilya Asthan – Sitamarhi – Singheshwar Asthan (Madhepura) Buxar-Bhojpur – Jamui- Aurangabad- Jehanabad- Darbhanga.
• Islamic/Sufi Circuit: Maner Sharif Fulwari Sharif – Khankah Emadia – Dargah Sharif – Bihar Sharif Hazrat Jandaha – Hajipur – Serukahi – Kanti -Saran Khas – Hasanpura – Lakri Dargah – Goarul Sharif – Masurhi – Tomb of Pir Shah Nufa- Pir Pahar – Siris – Tomb of Hasan Khan Sur.
• Nature & Wildlife Circult: Rajgir Sanctuary – Bhimbandh Sanctuary – Vikramshila Sanctuary – Udaipur Sanctuary – Kaimur Sanctuary – Gautam Buddha Sanctuary – Nakti Dam Sanctuary – Gogabill Sanctuary – Valmik, National Park & Sanctuary – Kanwar Jheel Sanctuary
• Gandhi circuit: Motihari-Bettiah-Bhitiharwa – Brindaban – Sadaqat Ashram
• Sikh circuit: Patna Sahib, Laxmipur, Gaya and Sasaram
• Shiv-shakti circuit: Patna, Ami, Thawe, Uchait, Ugratara and Mundeshwari.

Famous Tourist Spots in Bihar

Patna

• The ancient name of Patna was Patliputra. It has also been known by other names from time to time like Kusumpur, Pushpapur, Patligram, Azimabad, etc.
• The name Patna was given to this city by Sher Shah Suri (The Bihari Emperor of India in medieval India, contemporary of Humayun). Patna was established by Sher Shah Suri in 16th century at the place where Patliputra existed in ancient period.
• The fort of ancient Patliputra was built by Ajatshatru. The credit of founding the city of Patna goes to
• Ruins of palace of Mauryan Emperors have been found at Kumhrar in Patna. During ancient period, the city of Patliputra was situated at around 1 km north of Kumhrar, in a form of a long stretch.
• The palace of Emperor Ashoka was spread in 10 sq. km from ‘Chhoti Pahari’ to ‘Kumhrar’.
• Emperor Ashoka had built an artificial hillock at Patna for his son Mahendra which is known as ‘Cottage of Saint’. ‘Panch Pahar’ or ‘Five mountain’ was also built by Emperor Ashoka.
• Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs was born in Patna. “Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib” was established at the place where Guru Gobind Singh was born. It is the second most important religious place of Sikhism after Golden Temple, Amritsar.

Vaishali

• 40 km south-west from Muzaffarpur, it is a holy place for Buddhists as well as Jains. Lord Mahavira of Jaina religion, 24th Tirthankara was born here in 527 B.C.
• In 383 B.C., 2nd Buddhist Council was held here under the presidentship of Sarvakami (Sabbakami) during the reign of Kalashoka.
• Muzaffarpur: Muzaffarpur Club where bomb was thrown by Khudiram Bose, statute of Khudiram Bose, Garibnath Temple, Tomb of Kambalshah.
• West Champaran: Gandhi Ashram (Bhitiharwa), Lauriya Nandangarh, Maharaja Harendra Singh Library (Bettiyah), Panchmandir (Ramnagar).
• East Champaran: Ashoka Pillar at Lauriya Areraj, Gandhi Museum, Shiva Temple at Areraj.
• Gaya: Barabar Caves, Ramshila Hills, Vishnupad Temple, Mahobodhi Temple.
• Aurangabad: Sun Temple, Suryakund, Ruins of Devkila.
• Rajgir: Gridhkut hill, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rope ways, jail of Bimbisar, Saptaparni Caves, Swarna Bhandar (Gold Store), Fort of Ajatshatru, Cave of Ajatshatru, Venu Van, Nanak Kund, etc.
• Nalanda: Ruins of Nalanda University, Museum, Hiuen-Tsang Memorial Hall.
• Pawapuri: New Temple, Water Temple.
• Sasaram: Tomb of Sher Shah and his father, Ashoka’s inscription.
• Gopalganj: Shaktipeeth – Thawe Devi Temple.
• Buxar: Ahilya Temple, Ram Rekha Ghat, Chausa.
• Bhojpur: Jagdishpur (Birth Place of Veer Kunwar Singh).
• Maner: Katyayani Devi Temple, Tomb of Pir Maneri.
• Munger: Bhimbandh Sanctuary, Munger Fort, Jaynagar.
• Darbhanga: Chandradhari Museum, Pakki Haveli, Fort, Kusheshwar Sthan Sanctuary, etc.
• Kaimur: Aghaura (on Kaimur Hills) and Kaimur Sanctuary
• Samastipur: Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture University (Pusa), Rural Institute (Viroll).
• Bhagalpur: Mandar Hills, Ajgaibinath Temple (Sultanganj), Ruins of Vikramshila University, Bihar Agriculture University (Sabaur), Soil Research Centre (Sabaur), Jayprakash Botanical Garden, Central Jail, Clock Tower.