Tirhut division तिरहुत प्रमंडल | |
|---|---|
Division | |
 Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum & Stupa  Ashok Pillar  Vaishali Stupa  StonePillar Gandhi Museum  Punaura Dham _district_of_Bihar%2c_India._18.jpg) Buddhist Stupa at Kesariya | |
 Interactive map of Tirhut division | |
| Coordinates:26°04′N85°27′E / 26.07°N 85.45°E /26.07; 85.45 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Bihar |
| Established | 1908 |
| Headquarters | Muzaffarpur |
| Districts | Vaishali Sheohar Sitamarhi Muzaffarpur East Champaran West Champaran |
| Government | |
| • Commissioner | Ram Kumar |
| Area | |
• Total | 17,141 km2 (6,618 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 21,410,544 |
| Website | Official website |
Tirhut Division is an administrative division of the Indian state ofBihar, with its headquarters located atMuzaffarpur. It was created in 1908 and is one of the prominent divisions of the state. The division is administered by a Commissioner, a senior officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
The division comprises six districts:Muzaffarpur district,East Champaran district,West Champaran district,Vaishali district,Sitamarhi district, andSheohar district[1][2]
| District | Headquarters | Sub-divisions | Blocks | Population (2011) | Creation Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzaffarpur | Muzaffarpur | Muzaffarpur East, Muzaffarpur West | Aurai, Bandra, Bochaha, Gaighat, Katra, Minapur, Muraul, Mushahari, Paroo, Sahebganj, Sakra, Saraiya, Kanti, Kurhani, Marwan | 4,801,062 | 1875 |
| East Champaran | Motihari | Motihari,Raxaul,Areraj | Adapur, Areraj, Banjaria, Chakia (Pipra), Chiraiya, Dhaka, Ghorasahan, Harsidhi, Kesaria, Kotwa, Madhuban, Mehsi, Motihari, Paharpur, Pakridayal, Phenhara, Patahi, Raxaul, Sugauli, Tetaria, Turkaulia | 5,099,371 | 1972 |
| West Champaran | Bettiah | Bettiah,Bagaha,Narkatiaganj | Bagaha-1, Bagaha-2, Bettiah, Bairia, Bhitaha, Chanpatia, Gaunaha, Jogapatti, Lauriya, Mainatand, Majhaulia, Narkatiaganj, Nautan, Piprasi, Ramnagar, Sikta, Thakrahan | 3,935,042 | 1972 |
| Sheohar | Sheohar | Sheohar | Dumri Katsari, Purnahiya, Sheohar, Piprarhi, Tariyani | 656,246 | 1994 |
| Sitamarhi | Sitamarhi | Sitamarhi, Pupri, Belsand | Bairgania, Bajpatti, Bathnaha, Bela, Belsand, Bokhara, Choraut, Dumra, Majorganj, Nanpur, Parihar, Pupri, Runnisaidpur, Sonbarsa, Suppi | 3,423,574 | 1972 |
| Vaishali | Hajipur | Hajipur,Mahnar,Mahua | Bhagwanpur,Bidupur, Chehra Kalan,Desri,Goraul,Hajipur,Jandaha,Lalganj,Mahnar,Mahua,Patepur, Paterhi Belsar,Raghopur,Raja Pakar, Sahdai Buzurg | 3,495,021 | 1972 |
| District | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Muzaffarpur | Ashoka’s Pillar, Lychee gardens, heritage memorials and temples,Baba Garibnath Dham |
| East Champaran | Kesaria Stupa,Someshwar Fort, Orwell birthplace, Satyagraha sites |
| West Champaran | Valmiki National Park, spiritual river confluences, archaeological remains, Shahid Samarak[9] |
| Vaishali | Buddhist–Jain ruins,Relic Stupa of Vaishali, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Archaeological Museum, Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum & Stupa[10] |
| Sitamarhi | Sita’s birthplace temple,Haleshwar Sthan,Janaki Janmasthali Mandir[11][12] |
| Sheohar | Shiva temple fairs, Vedic heritage and educational icons |
Tirhut Division covers an area of 17,141 km². According to the Census of India, the division has a total population of 21,410,544 with a literacy rate of 60.81%. Administratively, it is subdivided into 18 subdivisions, 99 community development blocks, 1,788 gram panchayats, and 1,572 villages.[14]
The Champaran Satyagraha was the first satyagraha movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in British India, beginning in 1917. It marked a turning point in the Indian independence movement. Champaran became a separate administrative unit in 1866 and was later bifurcated in 1971 into East Champaran and West Champaran.[15]
Vaishali is considered one of the world’s first republics, established as early as the 6th century BCE. It holds religious significance as the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara and as the site whereGautama Buddha delivered his last sermon and announced his Parinirvana.
The district of Sitamarhi was carved out of Muzaffarpur district on 11 December 1972. It is a sacred site in Hindu mythology, believed to be the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, from the epicRamayana. The Janaki Kund and Janaki Mandir are notable pilgrimage sites here.
Sheohar is the smallest district of the division. Formerly a subdivision of Sitamarhi, it became a separate district on 6 October 1994.[16]
Muzaffarpur, the largest city and administrative headquarters of Tirhut Division, serves as the economic and unofficial capital of North Bihar. The division is primarily agrarian, with Muzaffarpur district recognized as a major hub forlychee production in India. The region is famous for itsShahi andChina varieties, cultivated over an estimated 25,800 hectares and producing approximately 300,000 tonnes annually—about 40% of India's total output.[17]
Agriculture forms the backbone of Tirhut’s economy. Principal crops includerice,wheat,pulses,jute,maize, and variousoil seeds. The region also supports extensivesugarcane farming, with multiple sugar mills historically operating in the area. Muzaffarpur acts as a wholesale market hub for agricultural produce from surrounding districts.
The industrial base of Tirhut Division is centered in Muzaffarpur and includes:
Vaishali’s economy mixes agro-trade with modern industrial development. The city of Hajipur in Vaishali district contains the 150-acre Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP), a multi-product zone managed byBIADA. EPIP hosts renowned brands such as PepsiCo, Britannia, HUL, Godrej, and several others, along with research institutes like CIPET and NIPER[18]
While detailed industrial data is limited, West Champaran stands out in Bihar for its sugarcane production, holding the top spot in the state as of 2022
East Champaran’s economy is firmly rooted in agriculture, oriented around crops such as rice, paddy, sugarcane, jute, and lentils, making it one of the top producing districts in Bihar for these staples
