Best time to visit : October to March
Mighty River Ganga is the lifeline of many ancient cities and towns in the Gangetic Plains, Bhagalpur being one of them. A popular town in the Eastern India with links to Ramayana and Mahabharata, it is located in Bihar and is visited by all types of tourists. Bhagalpur boasts of temples, gardens, historical sites and an old world rustic charm. Religious tourist places in particular are responsible for attracting tourists from all parts of the world.
Facts
The town’s name has been derived from its ancient reference Bhagdattpuram which translates to the City of Good Luck. Numerous excavations sites have been discovered in and around the town that has increased the interest of historians to explore it more. Bhagalpur is also popularly called the Silk City for producing finest silk variety, called Tussar Silk. It is the main home to the endangered Gangetic dolphin, with a considerable population existing at the nearby sanctuary. Summers are dry and many turn out to be extremely hot, while winters may experience extremely low temperature in the area.
Bhagalpur has many good restaurants in all parts. Hot Bits and Tapt Sudha are two recommended family restaurants. Utsav Khana Khazana is a famous destination for the Indian and Chinese cuisines. Roadside stalls selling delicious snacks like samosa, chat, dosa and pav bhaji and ice-creams can be easily located.
Handmade silk sarees are the popular items worth purchasing while in Bhagalpur. M.G. Road and Variety Street are among the area where top retail stores as well as local shops can be visited. Some of the popular shopping malls in the town include GTM Mall, FM1 Mall and Shoppers City.
Nearby Places:
- Sultanganj (about 26 km.): Located on the bank of River Ganga, the city is popular for Buddhist monastery ruins, Sage Jahnu Ashram and Ajgaivinath Shiva Temple.
- Kahalgaon (about 32 km.): Popular for Tapas Dham Temple, Mahmud Shah’s Tomb and other attractions.
- Mandar Hill (about 50 km.): The sacred hill is believed to have served for churning the ocean to obtain amrit (nectar) according to the Hindu mythology. It accommodates temples dedicated to Hinduism and Jainism.
- Munger (about 60 km.): Attractions include holy bathing ghats of River Ganga, Munger Fort, Chandika Asthan (a pilgrimage site dedicated to Goddess Shakti), Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary and more.