Bettiah

Bettiah is an administrative town in the western part of Bihar, serving as the center of West Champaran district. The surrounding area is marked by wide agricultural fields where rice, wheat, and sugarcane are the main crops grown throughout the year.

Raja Guj Singh built a palace in 1659 that served as the seat of power for the surrounding region for many years. Later, musicians from the Dhrupad tradition arrived and established their own school of singing under the protection of local rulers.

The area has long been known for agricultural traditions, with families farming rice and sugarcane for generations. Local markets today still show this close link to farming, where growers sell their harvest and share techniques for cultivating crops in the region.

The railway station links the town to Patna, Delhi, and other places through regular train connections throughout the year. Travelers find shops and food stalls near the station that remain open during most hours of the day.

A short trip northwest takes you to Lauriya Nandangarh, where a pillar from the time of Emperor Ashoka and burial mounds from the Vedic period stand. This site is often overlooked even though it holds some of the oldest remains of ancient Indian civilization.