Sonpur, town in Bihar, India
Sonpur is a Nagar Panchayat in Saran District, Bihar, located where the Ganga and Gandak rivers meet. The town has narrow lanes with simple brick houses, lively markets selling fruits and vegetables, and small shops offering everyday goods to the community.
Sonpur was important since ancient times as a trading center at the river confluence and was visited by emperors like Chandragupta Maurya to purchase war elephants and horses. Over centuries, the town changed hands between different rulers and kingdoms, especially during medieval times.
Sonpur's name comes from its sacred location where the Ganga and Gandak rivers meet. The town is known for the Chhath festival, where people gather at the riverside in early morning and evening to sing and pray, celebrating their connection to nature and keeping old traditions alive.
The town is best explored on foot or by bicycle since the lanes are narrow and made for small vehicles. Avoid traveling around the Chhath festival and the big fair in November, as the area gets very crowded, so visit at other times for a more relaxed experience.
The town long hosted one of Asia's biggest livestock fairs, the Sonepur Mela, where cows, buffaloes, and horses are traditionally bought and sold, though the elephant trade that once happened there is now banned due to new laws. This fair draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and blends old trading ways with modern fairground excitement.
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