Bihar Sharif

Thought for 2m 43s

Bihar Sharif (also written Biharsharif) is a historic city in south-central Bihar and the administrative headquarters of Nalanda district. Its early importance is tied to the great Buddhist learning centres of the region: nearby lie the remains of Odantapuri, a renowned vihara (monastic university), and this Buddhist presence is commonly linked with the origin of the name “Bihar.” In the early medieval period, Bihar Sharif is noted as a significant centre under the Pala dynasty (10th century CE), and the city also preserves a Gupta-era pillar (5th century CE), showing layers of antiquity.

From the 13th–14th centuries onward, the town became increasingly identified with Indo-Islamic culture; sources note its capture under the Delhi Sultanate in the early 14th century, after which mosques, khanqahs, and tombs shaped the urban landscape. One well-known landmark is the tomb of the 14th-century Sufi warrior Syed Ibrahim Malik Biya on Pir Pahadi. In the colonial period, Bihar Sharif was constituted a municipality in 1869. Modern Nalanda district with Bihar Sharif as HQ was established on 9 Nov 1972, and the city remains a road-rail hub and regional trade centre.