Saharsa

Saharsa Saharsa
city
Population  (2001)
• Total	124,015

Saharsa is a city and a municipality in the Saharsa district in the Indian state of Bihar in northeast India, east of the Kosi River. It is the administrative headquarters of the Saharsa District, and is in the Kosi Division. Sahrasa is also the name of the Parliamentary constituency, which contains the city and a major part of the district. The origin of the name Saharsa is unknown.

History

Earlier Saharsa district was within Bhagalpur Division. Kosi Division was formed on 2 October 1972, comprising Saharsa, Purnia and Katihar district, with its headquarters at Saharsa. Similarly a new Civil Sub-Division Birpur was created on 1 December 1972, consisting of 24 development blocks viz. Raghopur, Chhatapur, Basantpur and Nirmali which were previously under Supaul subdivision of this district. Two new districts Madhepura & Supaul have been formed from Saharsa district on 30 April 1981 and 1991. Saharsa district now consists of 2 subdivisions, viz. Saharsa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiarpur. The district consists of 10 development blocks and anchals each.

Saharsa was created on 1 April 1954. Formerly it had no independent status and parts of Saharsa were included in the old districts of Munger & Bhagalpur A large parts of the district in the past was subjected to annual floods and inundation by a host of rivers originating from the Himalayas. The sub terai was noted for rice cultivation before it was subjected to the vagaries of the unpredictable Koshi.

The district has been largely influenced by its geography. Whatever humans of historically important sites that may have existed here have been virtually started by the repeated flooding at the koshi during the last half century or so. With the efforts of some early Europeons however, some important historical objects or landmarks have been preserved in a few places and it is on the basis of these that some kind of a connected account of the early history of the district can be constructed.

Geography

Saharsa is located at 25.88°N 86.6°E / 25.88; 86.6Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Saharsa. It has an average elevation of 41 metres (134 feet).

Saharsa and its surrounding areas are a flat alluvial plain forming part of the Kosi (Dudh Kosi) river basin. This makes the land very fertile. However, frequent changes in the course of the Kosi River, one of the largest tributaries of the Ganges, [1][2] have led to soil erosion. Flooding is a major reason for the poor connectivity of the area as bridges tend to get washed away. Major flooding occurs almost annually, causing a significant loss of life and property. The famous conversation between Mandan Mishra and Shankracharya took place in Mahishi in Saharsa. In Sahara district, the main problems of the people are poverty, unemployment, and literacy. After the Kosi flood in 2008, problems of the people have been increased.

The main education Hubs are MLT saharsa College Saharsa, Mahila College, Zila School, etc

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Saharsa had a population of 124,015. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Saharsa has an average literacy rate of 58%, lower than the national average of 64.4%: male literacy is 66%(national average:75.6%), and female literacy is 48%(national average:54.2%). In Saharsa, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Agriculture

• Food Crop: Paddy
• Cash Crop: Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb) [3]
• Mango
• Mustard
• Mecca
• Wheat

Industry

• Jute Factory

Rivers

• Kosi and its tributaries [4]
• Bagmati

Communication Links

Saharsa is connected by railway and roadways to other major towns in Bihar. National Highway NH 107 connects it to Maheshkhunt and Purnia[5]. The rural road network is in need of improvement.

Sahrsa does not have transportation links by air or waterways, but train connections can be made. It is connected to Kolkata by a direct train, the "Hate Bazaare Express". In early 2006, a much awaited broad gauge line connected it to Khagaria on the New Delhi-Guwahati main line. In early 2006, a weekly train was started to connect it to the national capital, New Delhi. In October 2006, a low-fare completely air-conditioned weekly train, christened the "Garib Rath" (Poor's Chariot), has been started to connect Saharsa to Amritsar, with much fanfare. Earlier there was only a metre gauge line on the Khagaria - Mansi - Saharsa - Forbesganj section of East Central railway).

The city is also served by India Post. Its Postal Code is: 852201.

Landline telephone services have been augmented by cellular services; the quality deteriorates as one moves away from the city centre. Internet connectivity is still very basic: a few cyber cafes provide limited broadband service, and internet service in private homes is only beginning. Mobile services are working up to the rural areas, leading mobile companies like, Airtel, Reliance, Tata, BSNL, Aircel, Vodafone, Idea, Smart are working here.

Tourist Places

• MatasyaGandha Lake
• Rajeshwar Asthan Nowhatta
• Tara Asthan
• Chandi Asthan, Viratpur
• Karu Khirhar
• Sihaul Durga Mandir(van devi)
• Maheshi
• Singheshwar Sthan
• Sun temple kandaha[6]
• Ma Durga Shaktipeeth Baijnathpur (Swami Durganand Sharshswati )
• Sonbarsa Raj (Raj Mahal)

Language and Culture

• Maithili
• Hindi

Education

Colleges

1. MLT saharsa college

2. Sarva Narayan Singh college

3. R M College

4. Ramesh Jha Mahila College

Schools

1. Jila School Saharsa

2. Jila Girl School Saharsa

3. Jila Boys School Saharsa

4. Saraswati sisu vidyalaya new colony

5. S.S High School Nowhatta

6. Sant javiours school saharsa

7. Manohar Navodaya vidyalaya saharsa

8. Veer Kunwar singh high school Saharsa

9. Jail Colony Kendriya Vidyalaya

10. Kalawati High School

11. Fooldai Kanya Ucch Vidyalaya

Rajeshwar Ashtan

Rajeshwar Asthan is a very big temple of god Shiva situated in Nowhatta. People come here from all around the world. It is belived that whatever people ask here in temple,they get.

There was a interesting history in the origin of this temple. There was a king named Pratap Singh. The god Shiva give him a night dream and tell him that I am under this tree and if you remove the soil from there, you will get a Stone that is I. He arose up and go to that place and remove soil from there with the help of many persons. Actually there was a stone. He marked a temple there of god Shiva. This temple is knowned as Rajeshwar Asthan which is suited in Shahidih Nowhatta.

Nowhatta has a big market where people come from other places for marketing. Nowhatta has very great history. This is the place of Shaheed Madhav singh who was a great patriot of the nation.

Miscellaneous

• RTO District: Saharsa: BR-19 [7]
• Railway Station: Saharsa Junction (Samastipur Division of East Central Railway - erstwhile North Eastern Railway [8])
• Station Code: SHC [9]
• STD Code: 06478

See also

• Saharsa district
• Districts of Bihar
• Villages in Bihar
• Sihaul
• Bangaon

External links

• World Bank, Living Standards Measurement Study
• Official website of Saharsa
• Bihar train disaster (1981)
• http://saharsa.in
• Saharsa news