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How to Get There:
By Air: Bihar has three airports in use, two of which are commercial, namely Patna and Gaya. Both are international airports, though Patna has certain limitations. Gaya Airport has flights to Colombo, Singapore, Bangkok, Paro, etc. Bihta is used by helicopters and small aircraft.
By Rail and Road:
Bihar is well-connected by both rail and road internally and also to the rest of the country. Bihari passengers are not known to be overly civil, so it is well advised to use trains with minimum stops in Bihar. Roads are not in too good a shape, but are interconnected
throughout the state and outwards as well.
Climate:
Bihar has four seasons. Summer, April to mid-June, is hot, between 40-45º C. Then come the monsoons, with plenty of rain. Autumn (October-November) is pleasant, followed by a
year-end winter, when Bihar is mildly cold. Spring is also very pleasant. Bihar sees a lot of tourists in the pleasant seasons, mainly Buddhists. |
Demographics:
The primary religion in Bihar is Hinduism, with 83% of the population Hindus. Muslims, the next in strength in Bihar, are behind the 16 % practiced. Buddhism is embraced by most of the remaining. The high Islamic proportion is because of Bihar’s historical past. Most Christians are in the new State of Jharkhand created by splitting South Bihar in 2000, which also includes the forested Chota Nagpur plateau. Close to 88 % of the population of 83 million lives in villages, not very conducive to both education and healthcare.
Religious Places to Visit:
The Mahabodhi Temple, the main shrine for Buddhsit pilgrims from around the world. Situated in Bodhgaya, Mahabodhi Temple is a part of Buddhist's life since the period of Emperor Ashoka. Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara, the birth place of the 10th and the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh is situated in the capital city of Patna. Sher Shah Suri Masjid, built by Sher Shah Suri in 1540 has become a landmark in Patna and one of the most important mosques in Bihar. Pathar Ki Masjid, also known as Sanji Masjid, Saif Khan's Mosque and Chimmi Ghat Mosque is situated right adjacent to Harmandirji. Famous Buddhist destinations are Vaishali, Nalanda, Bodhgaya and Rajgir.
Other Places to Visit:
As a general tourist in Bihar, the places to visit would include the cities of Patna, Muzzafarpur, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Biharsarif, Ara, Chapra, Purnia and quite a few others.
Arts and Crafts:
Bihar is famous for its Mithila paintings, Madhubani Painting, believed to be prevalent from the time of the Ramayana; Bangle Making in Muzaffarpur; Stone Work and Khatwa, as appliqué works in Bihar is called.
Fairs and Festivals:
Most of the festivals in Bihar have been carried on since the time Bihar was under Vedic religion, so these festivals still have interesting legends related to them. The famous Sonepur Cattle Fair supposedly recreates the tale of Gajendra Moksha. Chhath Puja, one of the main festivals of Bihar is dedicated to the Sun God; Makar Sakranti Mela at Rajgir and Sonepur Mela, the largest cattle fair in the world.
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