Bhagalpur district () is one of the thirty-eight districts of the Indian state of Bihar, located in the southeastern region, with its administrative headquarters in the city of Bhagalpur. It is one of the oldest districts of Bihar. It is a part of Bhagalpur Division.
Contents
Geography
Bhagalpur district occupies an area of 2,569 square kilometres (992 sq mi). Located on the Ganga Plain, district is bounded to the north by Madhepura, Katihar, and Purnia districts, to the east by Jharkhand state, to the west by Khagaria district, and to the south by Banka district. The Ganga River flows through the district and its alluvial soil supports agriculture, with major crops including rice, wheat, corn, barley and sugarcane.
National protected area
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary
Demographics
Religion
By C.D. Block
According to the 2011 census Bhagalpur district has a population of 3,037,766. This gives it a ranking of 120th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,182 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,060/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 25.36%. Bhagalpur has a sex ratio of 880 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 63.14%. 19.83% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 10.49% and 2.21% of the population respectively.
Languages
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 23.40% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 10.29% Urdu and 2.09% Bhojpuri as their first language. 62.94% of the population spoke languages classified as 'Others' under Hindi on the census.
The primary language used in the district is Angika. Other chief languages include Hindi, Urdu and Bengali language.
Economy
In 2006 the Indian government named Bhagalpur one of the country's 250 Rank 3 backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 38 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
A 1320MW Thermal Power Plant is going to establish at Pirapinti with a J.V of NHPC, Bihar State Power Generation Company (BSPGCL) and Nalanda Power Company, a subsidiary of RPG Groups.
According to the Geological Survey of India, the coal reserve of 1366.75 metric ton has been discovered in Srinagar, Laxmipur, Mandar and Pirpainti block of Bhagalpur district. Bharat Coking Coal Limited is to start mining operations as of September 2019.
Education
Autonomous institutions
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhagalpur
Engineering College
Bhagalpur College of Engineering
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bhagalpur
University
Bihar Agricultural University
Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University
Agriculture college
Bihar Agriculture College, Sabour
General Colleges
T.N.B. College, Bhagalpur
Marwari College, Bhagalpur
Sunderwati Mahila College, Bhagalpur
Murarka College, Sultanganj
Jay Prakash College, Narayanpur
Polytechnic College
Government Polytechnic, Bhagalpur
Schools
Mount Assisi School
St. Joseph's School
Mount Carmel School
Flora and fauna
Flora
The floodplains of the Ganga and Kosi rivers shape much of the vegetation. Trees and plants commonly found include Ficus species, Dalbergia sissoo (Indian Rosewood), Acacia nilotica, palms (date palm), semal (silk cotton tree), mangoes, guava, litchi, citrus etc. Certain flowering plants, smaller shrubs, and species used in local horticulture and agriculture are present: banana, plantains. Bhagalpur is famous for the Jardalu (Zardalu) Mango, a GI tagged Variety of Mango known for its unique light yellow skin, special aroma, golden pulp and sweet taste.
Fauna
Birdlife is rich. Bhagalpur has several wetlands (Jagatpur Lake, Sonbarsa Ghatora Lake, Ganga Prasad Lake) which attract both resident and migratory birds. During winters, many birds come from Trans-Himalayan, Central Asia, Siberia. The Greater Adjutant (locally called “Garuda”) (Leptoptilos dubius) is found breeding here. There is a rescue & rehab centre for it. Its numbers have gone up over time, from ~78 in mid-2000s to over 500 in later years in this district. Its most active hotspot is Kadwa Diara in Naugachia. In 1990 Bhagalpur district became home to the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, which is 50 km (31.1 mi) in length. It protects the endangered Ganges river dolphin, among other aquatic species (freshwater turtles, etc.)