Buxar

Buxar is an old riverside town of western Bihar, set on the right bank of the Ganga, and today it functions as a district headquarters and an important local trade centre served by road, rail, and waterways. Its historical fame comes from two major battles fought in its wider region. During the Mughal period, the Battle of Chausa (1539) was fought nearby, where Sher Shah Suri defeated Emperor Humayun, an event that temporarily disrupted Mughal power in north India.

In the 18th century, Buxar became a turning point in the rise of British power. The Battle of Buxar (22–23 October 1764) was fought near the town between the East India Company under Hector Munro and a combined force led by Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, Mir Qasim, and Shuja-ud-Daula. The Company’s victory proved decisive and helped secure British political dominance in eastern India, paving the way for expanded control over Bengal and its revenues through subsequent arrangements.

Over time, Buxar’s identity grew beyond warfare into administration, markets, and religious riverfront life, with ghats and temples shaping its everyday culture along the Ganga.