Araria District
The district came into existence by division of Purnea district on Makar Sankranti day of 1990. Araria is the district headquarter of the Araria district with two sub divisions, Araria and Forbesganj. District border is adjacent to border of Nepal. Jogbani is the last point of Araria and after that “Virat Nagar” district of Nepal starts.
How To Reach
By Air ( Airport) :
Jogbani, Bagdogra are the nearest airport which are about 232 km and 242 km respectively from Araria .
By Rail :-
It belongs to North Frontier Railway. The track on one side ends at Katihar which is a big and important junction. Other track end is at Jogbani which is also the last destination of the Indian Railways. Railways is in the form of Broad-gauge. Which is newly built. This broad gauge service has been inaugurated on 5 June 2008. Katihar is a big and important junction from there trains to all important cities of India are available.
Railway Stations : Araria Court & Araria (R S)
By Road :-
Well connected to other city through National Highway 57(EWC), NH57A, SH-60, 63,76,77. Other Bathnaha Birpur Road, Palasi Terhagachhi Road, Udahat Tekni Road , R.S.Link Road.
The district Araria has two bus terminals, one at the ‘0’ mile i.e. at the starting of the district border and the other one is inside the city. Buses for most of the districts and internal blocks are available from the bus terminal.
Araria is situated 340 km north-east of Patna and 42 kms from Nepal border
Popular tourist destinations
ARARIA BLOCK
Khadgaeshwari Kali Mandir :-It is situated in the north east corner of Araria Town. This temple was established in 1884. Renovation of this temple started in 1987 by local people. Along with this Kali temple, “Baba Khadgeshwar Nath” Shiva temple has also been constructed. The height of this temple’s domes is 152 feet. This temple of Mata Kali is reputed to be the largest Kali temple in Asia, according to the information known till now. It is of six storied building.
Madaneshwar Nath(Madanpur):- It is situated in the village Madanpur about 10 km to the north east of Araria. It consists a famous Shiva temple locally known as Madaneshwar Nath. A big Mela is held on the eve of Shivaratri.
Baghnagar :- A small village to the south-east of Araria town. Some old coins have been found recently below the earth in a cave, the bricks of which seem to be very old.
Pahsara :- Rani Indrawati had built a beautiful palace at Pahsara, which now stands in ruins and a number of temples.
Palasi :– The village is headquarters of the block of the same name and is situated about 10-kms northeast of Araria. According to the local tradition the Pandavas were hiding here during the period of their exile.
Jama Masjid:- In center of city attended by Muslim communities of nearby region is also an attraction surrounded by commercial shops.
Khalilabad mosque (khalilabad muhalla):- A very large burial ground (kabristan) is situated in the middle of the city in khalilabad muhalla. Khalilabad mosque is also very famous situated at the same place.
Thakurbari(Shiva Mandir):- A Temple of Lord Shiva located at the centre of the city in the ancient Thakurbari , Known as Shiva Mandir or more Commonly as Thakurbari itself
Gangetic Dolphin:- It is also found in the river of Araria District, locally it is known as Saous.
FORBESGANJ BLOCK
Dipual Hydro Electricity Plant:- It is situated in village Dipual under Forbesganj block on river Parman. It is supposed to produce 28 mu electricity every year. The scheme is proposed to finish by the year 2015.
Phanishwar Nath ‘Renu’ (Aurahi Hingna):- Aurahi Hingna is famous as a Village of Renu. Phanishwar Nath ‘Renu’ was born on 4 March 1921 at this village. He is one of the most successful and influential writers of modern Hindi literature in the post- Premchandra era. He was educated in India and Nepal. His primary education was held in Araria and Forbesganj. He did his Matriculation from Biratnagar Adarsh Vidyalaya(school), Biratnagar. After Passing out IA from Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya (university) in 1942 he took part in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Later he participated in the Nepali revolutionary movement in 1950 which resulted in the establishment of democracy in Nepal. Phanishwar Nath ‘Renu’ is best known for promoting the voice of the contemporary rural India through the genre of ‘Anchalik Upanyas’ (Regional Story), and is placed amongst the pioneering Hindi writers who brought regional voices into the mainstream Hindi literature. His short story “Maare Gaye Gulfam” was adapted into a film Teesri Kasam in 1966 for which he also wrote the dialogues. Later his short story “Panchlight” (Petromax) was made into a TV short film. The 2017 Bollywood Film Panchlail is also based on this short story.
Dhanpura (Sahbajpur):- It is situated about 30 km north west of Araria town . It has a Shakti temple known as the Chhinmastika temple. It is said that this place contains body parts of Goddess Shakti which fell off her body when Lord Shiva had been carrying her burnt body .
Bathnaha:- There are two temples. One is a Mahadeva temple and the other that of the goddess Durga.
Sultan Pokhar (Forbesganj):- Sultani Mai Temple consits a mazar inside, where Hindu and Muslim both communities worship together. It has been a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity for centuries. It is believed that whenever a woman without a child, bathing in a pokhar at this sacred place, and seeking the vow of auspiciousness for herself, it must be fulfilled. Women carry the Mundan of their demanded child at the annual Urs Fair on this site . According to legend, the Muslim ruler of this area wanted to change the religion of a girl from Sahabpur and marry her. For this, he sent a message to the girl’s parents. The girl gave the consent of marriage to Sultan, with three conditions for it. First condition was not to change the religion before marriage,scend one is she wants to learn Muslim rituals before marriage and last one to play the chandelier on the boat with Sultan in Poonam night in Pokhar. As soon as Sultan received the news that he accepted all the conditions. But on Poonam’s night, as soon as the boat got in the middle, the girl finished her life by jumping into water. This phenomenon was consoled by the Sultan and he believed that now he will not convert anyone’s forced religion. After this, he buried the girl on Pokhar coast and made her mazar. Since then this place has become a symbol of the collective faith of two communities.
Halhalia:- It’s a nondescript temple at Halhalia village. It doesn’t have an idol; only a mound of earth in one corner of the roofless one-room shrine represents Din Bhadri Devi, the local deity. Its walls are bare. Jogbani:- Jogbani is the last point of Araria and after that Morang district of Nepal starts. Jogbani is served by two railway lines One Broad Gauge line branches from the Patna to Katihar main line. The other line comes from Patna in the southeast directly. From this year ie 2008 there will be broad gauge between Jogbani and Katihar.
RANIGANJ BLOCK
Lord Siva Temple (Basaithi Math,Basaithi):- The village is situated 16-kms from Raniganj. The place is known for its ancient temple of Lord Shiva around which a large fair, lasting for 20 days is held annually on the occasion of Shivaratri.
Mata Aasawar Mandir (Gidwas):-
NARPATGANJ BLOCK
Replica Stoop :- It is situated Near Manikpur 5 KM far from Araria District Head Quarter .
Shiva Mandir(Sundemath):-
Masjid cum madarsa (Diyaganj):– It is very beautiful newly constructed Masjid where madarsa also run.
BHARGAMA BLOCK
JOKIHAT BLOCK
KURSAKATTA BLOCK
PALASI BLOCK
SIKTI BLOCK