Bhagalpur, Administrative city in Bihar, India
Bhagalpur is an administrative city on the southern bank of the Ganges River in the state of Bihar, lying about 50 meters above sea level. The third-largest city in the state stretches along the river and includes dense residential neighborhoods, wide ghats and several educational institutions.
The city was once known as Champa Nagri and hosted Vikramshila, a major Buddhist learning center from medieval times. The ruins of the old mahavihara recall a time when monks and scholars from different parts of Asia came here to study.
The name comes from the Sanskrit word for prosperity, and residents still gather at the riverside ghats during religious festivals. Processions move through narrow lanes accompanied by drummers and singers, while vendors sell flowers and incense for the ceremonies.
The railway station connects the city with many destinations across northern India and sits centrally near the residential quarters. Visitors can best explore the riverfront on foot, while most attractions lie within a short auto-rickshaw ride.
The city operates the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, a roughly 50-kilometer river stretch for the conservation of rare freshwater dolphins. Visitors can sometimes spot the dolphins from the ghats, especially during quieter morning hours.
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