Bihar

Bihar is one of India’s oldest cultural regions, rooted in the ancient kingdoms of Magadha, Anga and Vajji (Vaishali). From here rose the Maurya Empire (with Pataliputra as a capital) and later powerful phases under the Guptas and Palas, making the region a centre of politics, learning, and urban life for centuries. Bihar also holds a unique place in world religions: sites across the region are central to Buddhism and Jainism, and the state’s name is widely linked to “vihara” (Buddhist monastery), reflecting the historical presence of many monasteries.

In the medieval era, Bihar became part of larger north Indian empires and later the Mughal-controlled eastern provinces, while its towns continued as river-route markets and administrative centres. Under British rule, Bihar was separated from the Bengal Presidency as the Bihar and Orissa Province in 1912, and then bifurcated in 1936 into Bihar and Orissa as separate provinces. After independence, Bihar continued as a major state, and in 2000 its southern region was carved out to form Jharkhand (15 November 2000), reshaping Bihar’s modern boundaries.