| Bihar or ancient Magadha, has been the cradle | | | | century AD, Bihar has been the seat of major |
| of Indian civilization and the centre of | | | | empires. Not to mention its heavy influence |
| Indian culture and education. It was the land | | | | on the politics of modern India. |
| of "Ashoka The Great" and where the origins | | | | |
| of "Buddhism took place". Mahavira, the last | | | | Unfortunately, the rich and glorious history |
| Jain Tirthankara was born in the ancient | | | | of Bihar is in complete contrast today from |
| kingdom of Vaishali and attained Moksha or | | | | being the first democratic republic of the |
| Nirvana at Pawapuri (also known as the | | | | world to a lawless and ungovernable state. As |
| sinless city), 90 kilometers from Patna, the | | | | India enters into the economic boom Bihar |
| capital of Bihar. It was here where the | | | | still stands aloof untouched. It was once the |
| ancient universities of India - Nalanda and | | | | greatest seat of learning, Bihar has now the |
| Vikramshila were built. It has to be said | | | | lowest literacy rate in India. Basic |
| that is the people of Bihar that has shaped | | | | infrastructure is clearly lacking and most |
| Indian history for generations to marvel upon | | | | houses in the villages are still made of |
| for times to come. | | | | bricks mortared only with mud and covered |
| | | | with cow dung. Potbellies of half-starved |
| Bihar is a landlocked state that has borders | | | | children is highly visible |
| with Nepal in the north, Uttar Pradesh on the | | | | |
| west, Jharkhand on the south and West Bengal | | | | Visiting Bihar today you will find that the |
| on the east. Although it's the part of the | | | | locals are less worried about its glorious |
| Hindi speaking heartland of India, it | | | | history and its historical ruins. They have |
| nevertheless has several Hindi dialects such | | | | far more pressing needs to worry about. The |
| as Bhojpuri, Magadhi (Magahi), Angika, | | | | false impression today is that if you visit |
| Maithili and Sarnami Hindustani. | | | | certain parts of Bihar it is advised you to |
| Interestingly it was this Magahi that was | | | | get off the road before dark for fear of |
| spoken during the reign of Ashoka. Bihar is | | | | armed robberies as crime is out of control. |
| situated on the eastern part of the | | | | |
| Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is rich in untapped | | | | Nevertheless a new government is in place. |
| mineral wealth, with its fertile alluvial | | | | The new Chief Minister has to be admired for |
| plain occupying the north while rocky and | | | | his attempt to remove the "unruly and |
| mineral rich plateau in the south, also | | | | backward" label from the state and increase |
| called the Chhotanagpur Plateau region. Bihar | | | | development but the work culture still needs |
| also has an amazing and glorious history as | | | | to be improved for the road to better health. |
| the centre of the subcontinent's culture and | | | | |
| politics since ancient times. Throughout its | | | | Bihar today is a safe and a must place to |
| history, from the 6th century BC to 5th | | | | visiting. |