Araria | |
|---|---|
City | |
  Araria Location in Bihar, India Show map of Bihar Araria Araria (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:26°09′N87°31′E / 26.15°N 87.52°E /26.15; 87.52 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Bihar |
| Region | Kosi-Seemanchal |
| District | Araria |
| Established | January 1990 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Body | Araria Municipal Council |
| • District Magistrate | Shri ANIL KUMAR (IAS) |
| Elevation | 47 m (154 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 79,021 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi,[1]Maithili |
| • Additional official | Urdu[1] |
| • Regional Language | Maithili |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 8543xx (Araria)[2] |
| Vehicle registration | BR-38 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Araria |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Araria |
| Website | https://araria.nic.in |
Araria is a city and amunicipality that is the headquarters ofAraria district in theIndian state ofBihar. Araria is situated in the northern part ofBihar.
During theBritish Raj the area was under the administration of a British district collector and municipal commissioner, Alexander John Forbes (1807-1890) ofEast India Company. Forbes had a bungalow at the same location. Consequently, the area was known as 'residential area' also abbreviated as 'R-area'. Over time the name transformed to 'Araria' and the neighbouring subdivision came to be known as 'Forbesganj'.[3]
Araria is a part of theMithila region.[4] Mithila first gained prominence after being settled byIndo-Aryan peoples who established theMithila Kingdom (also called Kingdom of the Videhas).[5]
During the lateVedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Kingdom of the Videhas became one of the major political and cultural centers ofSouth Asia, along withKuru andPañcāla. The kings of the Kingdom of the Videhas were calledJankas.[6]The Mithila Kingdom was later incorporated into theVajjika League, which had its capital in the city ofVaishali, which is also in Mithila.[7]
Araria is primarily a rural district; 93% of the total population lives in rural areas (713 villages). Only two out of ninetehsils have an urban population that is concentrated inForbesganj and Araria(Census 2001).
In 2008 survey findings, Araria lagged behind the all India average in seven out of eight indicators and also lagged behind the all India level in terms of two more health-related indicators. Most of the villages lack some basic infrastructure: 92 percent are without any medical facilities; 20 percent of the villages lack formal facilities of education of any type; 597 out of 713 villages are without electricity; and 50 percent of the villages are without all-weather road connectivity. The overall work participation rate is 40.3 percent, which is much less in the case of the female population. Agriculture laborers dominate the labor force (64.7% of the total) which is almost double the national average.
There is a substantial concentration of minority (mainlyMuslims) population. Against the state average of 20.52%, Muslims constitute 49.4 percent of the total rural populations, but their percentages are 77.5% in Jokihat, 62.70% in Araria, and 46.8% in Palasi subdivisions. The number of minority groups -Christian,Sikh,Buddhist andJains - are less in comparison. The rural literacy rate is 33.2 percent, much below the state and national averages. The worst is the female literacy rate, i.e. 20.4%. In other words, only one out of five women are literate. Even sex ratio, i.e., 917 is less than state and all India level.
Kulhayya people majorly live in this region.[citation needed]
Araria is located at26°09′N87°31′E / 26.15°N 87.52°E /26.15; 87.52.[8] It has an average elevation of 47 metres (154 feet). Araria is situated at the northern part ofPurnia andMadhepura inBihar. Borders of Araria are surrounded byNepal on the northern side,Kishanganj on the eastern side andSupaul on the south-west side. The district came into existence by the division of Purnia district onMakar Sankranti day of 1990. The district touches theIndo-Nepal international border also this area is close to three countries:Nepal,Bangladesh, andBhutan. Hence, the district is important in terms of security.Jogbani is the last point of Araria and after that,Morang district of Nepal starts.
Kosi river used to pass through Araria, although it has changed its path long ago.[9] The other important river of Araria is Panaar. Agriculture has flourished along the banks of this river, although it becomes catastrophic during the rainy season because of floods. A canal also passes through Araria. In clean weatherKangchenjunga range of mountains can be seen from here (especially after rain).[10]
Araria is the natural habitat of the Gangetic Dolphins. In the local rivers of Araria, Gangetic dolphins (South Asian river dolphins) are found.[11]
Durga Puja mela is one of the biggest festival celebrations at a different place in Araria. Many notable other festivals are celebrated likeChhat pooja,Diwali,Durga Puja,Janmashtami etc.Hindus and Muslim are living friendly environment and celebrating each festival.
Replica Stoop: situated Near Manikpur 5 km far from Araria district headquarter going towards Forbesganj.
The movieTeesri Kasam was shot in the villages of Araria. It wasBasu Bhattacharya's film, based onMare Gaye Gulfam written byPhanishwar Nath 'Renu', starringRaj Kapoor andWaheeda Rehman.
Araria is accessible to other parts of India by railways viaKatihar.
The nearest Railway Station is Araria court & Araria(R S). Araria Court Railway station lies onKatihar-Jogbani Branch Line. There are daily and weekly train available forJogbani,Purnia,Katihar,Kolkata,Begusarai,Patliputra Junction,Allahabad,Kanpur,Delhi.
Connected with
NH 57.
Buses for most of the districts and internal blocks are available from the bus terminal.
The nearest airport isPurnia Airport, now become a commercial airport from non-commercial airport.
Araria (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is theassembly constituency representing Araria (community development block). The same constituency also includes Araria Nagar Parishad.[12]Avidur Rahman fromIndian National Congress is the MLA elected in the2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.
Araria (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is part of No 9Araria (Lok Sabha constituency) (SC).[12] shri pradeep kumar singh from BJP (MP) elected in the2024 Indian general election.[13]
Places adjacent to Araria | |
|---|---|
Headquarters:Araria | ||
| Araria subdivision |  | |
| Forbesganj subdivision | ||
| Municipalities | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
