| Bihar or ancient Magadha, has been the cradle of | | | | 5th century AD, Bihar has been the seat of major |
| Indian civilization and the centre of Indian culture and | | | | empires. Not to mention its heavy influence on the |
| education. It was the land of "Ashoka The Great" | | | | politics of modern India. |
| and where the origins of "Buddhism took place". | | | | Unfortunately, the rich and glorious history of Bihar is |
| Mahavira, the last Jain Tirthankara was born in the | | | | in complete contrast today from being the first |
| ancient kingdom of Vaishali and attained Moksha or | | | | democratic republic of the world to a lawless and |
| Nirvana at Pawapuri (also known as the sinless city), | | | | ungovernable state. As India enters into the |
| 90 kilometers from Patna, the capital of Bihar. It was | | | | economic boom Bihar still stands aloof untouched. It |
| here where the ancient universities of India - Nalanda | | | | was once the greatest seat of learning, Bihar has |
| and Vikramshila were built. It has to be said that is | | | | now the lowest literacy rate in India. Basic |
| the people of Bihar that has shaped Indian history for | | | | infrastructure is clearly lacking and most houses in the |
| generations to marvel upon for times to come. | | | | villages are still made of bricks mortared only with |
| Bihar is a landlocked state that has borders with | | | | mud and covered with cow dung. Potbellies of |
| Nepal in the north, Uttar Pradesh on the west, | | | | half-starved children is highly visible |
| Jharkhand on the south and West Bengal on the | | | | Visiting Bihar today you will find that the locals are |
| east. Although it's the part of the Hindi speaking | | | | less worried about its glorious history and its historical |
| heartland of India, it nevertheless has several Hindi | | | | ruins. They have far more pressing needs to worry |
| dialects such as Bhojpuri, Magadhi (Magahi), Angika, | | | | about. The false impression today is that if you visit |
| Maithili and Sarnami Hindustani. Interestingly it was this | | | | certain parts of Bihar it is advised you to get off the |
| Magahi that was spoken during the reign of Ashoka. | | | | road before dark for fear of armed robberies as |
| Bihar is situated on the eastern part of the | | | | crime is out of control. |
| Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is rich in untapped mineral | | | | Nevertheless a new government is in place. The new |
| wealth, with its fertile alluvial plain occupying the north | | | | Chief Minister has to be admired for his attempt to |
| while rocky and mineral rich plateau in the south, also | | | | remove the "unruly and backward" label from the |
| called the Chhotanagpur Plateau region. Bihar also has | | | | state and increase development but the work culture |
| an amazing and glorious history as the centre of the | | | | still needs to be improved for the road to better |
| subcontinent's culture and politics since ancient times. | | | | health. |
| Throughout its history, from the 6th century BC to | | | | Bihar today is a safe and a must place to visiting. |