About Saharsa

Located to the east of Kosi river, Saharsa is an ancient city in the state of Bihar and falls under the Kosi Division. The name of this intriguing city has been derived from the Hindi word "Saharsh" which literally means 'with great pleasure'. The amazing tourist attractions of Saharsa city truly exhibit the rich culture & traditions of the region. Devotees from far & wide come here to pay respect at the ancient religious places present in Saharsa like Tara Sthan, Chandika Sthan, Mandan Bharti Asthan, Sun Temple, Laxminath Gosaisthal Nauhatta, Udahi, Karu Khirhari Temple and Matsyagandha Mandir etc.


The city boosts of a cosmopolitan culture and is fast growing into a modern city with complete focus on infrastructure development. A heavily populated city it has numerous markets, fast food joints, restaurants & cinema halls offering recreational facilities to the tourists. The city is well-connected by road & rail to other parts of the country thus making it a favourite tourist destination and a pilgrimage site. So come and visit the city of Saharsa which offers and enriching, spiritual & serene experience to the visitors coming here.

Saharsa: Past & Present

The ancient historical records show an important influence of Buddhism in this region, as it is believed that Budha & Mahavira delivered sermons here while passing through Sarhasa. The region came under the rule of Nandas & Mauryan dynasties of the Magadhan Empire during the sixth century. The first evidence of this being the discovery of coins from Gorhoghat belonging to the Mauryan kingdom and later by the discovery of a Mauryan pillar in Sikligarh. The area later came under the rule of Purnavarman kingdom and later during the 8th century AD under Palas of Bihar & Bengal who efficiently administered the region for a long time. The region then was taken over by subsequent rulers like Kanrnatas, Senas, Oinwara, Gandhaviya Rajputs and finally was captured by the Mughals. Being a border territory the Rulers the rulers took special care to safeguard its territories. Shahjehan, the Mughal Emperor conferred the title of Raja on Kesri Sinha, who was a Rajput but collaborated with the Mughals only.

With the entrance of East India Company in India Saharsa along with rest of Bengal fell under their rule. The Britishers ruled over the area till 1857, after which people actively joined the rebellion and revolted against the British Rule. The area showed active participation during the Annie Besant Movement of 1917 and Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagarah Movement in 1921. Sarvashri Mahtal Lal Yadava, Shivanandan, Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Ram Bahadur Sinha, Yadunanadan Jha and Rajendra Lal Das were some of the revered freedom fighters of that time who led the freedom movement; a historic event was the August Revolution of 1947, during which there was rampant police firing which killed hundreds of freedom fighters. People were much agitated and continued their struggle till complete independence was attained. First Saharsa was made a part of Bhagalpur and then Kosi Divisionbut later it became an independent district in April 1954. The district is making good progress since then under a district administration and is a politically important district in Bihar.

Geography & Climate of Saharsa

The city of Saharsa is lies at 25.88°N 86.6°E, and mostly consists of plains; the average elevation is at 41 metres (134 feet) above sea level. The Kosi River flows through the region and forms a basin which comprises of rich alluvial soil making the region very fertile. As the Kosi river keeps changing its course and is the cause of frequent floods it is also called as the "Sorrow of Bihar". The other rivers flowing through the region is Baghmati & Gandak which also have rich deposits of alluvium. The temperatures range from 30°C - 45°C in summers making it very hot and from 12°C -25°C in winters with December and January being the coldest months.

Culture and Festivals in Saharsa

Every region has its unique culture which showcases the rich traditions of the region; the people of the district follow the age old customs handed over by their ancestors. Special Occasions and festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm and the whole city adorns a festive look in those days. The most famous folk-dance forms of the region are Paika, Bidesis, Jat-Jatin, Jumari, Jhijhian and Kajari and each has a story or tradition attached to it. While Kajari dance is performed to mark the beginning of rainy season, while Jhijhian dance form is performed by the women only. Like rest of India, in Saharsa also people of different religions like Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity live together with complete harmony and contribute together in the development of the city.


Folklores, religious & mythological events are narrated by the elderly people to the younger generations who make every effort to keep them alive. Hindi, Bengali, Angika & Urdu are the main languages which are spoken by the people of Saharsa while English is also gaining popularity among masses. Besides the popular festivals like Holi, Diwali, Eid, Christmas & Rakhi the other main festivals of Saharsa which are celebrated with great enthusiasm are Koshi Festival during the month of March and Ugratara Festival during October. The people of Saharsa are simple, hard-working folks who are able to strike a perfect balance between their ancient traditions, religious beliefs and modern lifestyle.

Administration in Saharsa

Saharsa district presently comprises of 2 main subdivisions, which are Saharsa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiarpur; the subdivisions are further divided into 10 development blocks and circles. The Saharsa Sadar subdivision is divided into 7 blocks which are Kahra, Sattar Kataiya, Patarghat, Sourbazar, Mahishi, Sonbarsa & Nauhatta while the Simri Bakhtiarpur subdivision is divided into 3 blocks which are Simri Bakhtiarpur, Salkhua and Banma Itahari. Saharsa city is an assembly constituency and also functions as the administrative headquarters of the District. The Collector & District Magistrate, with his team of sub-ordinates looks after the day-to-day administration of Saharsa District. The district of Saharsa in Bihar has a well-developed Judiciary System; the Civil Court, Saharsa has many Judges, Advocates & Lawyers present here which play their roles in resolving the legal problems of the people.

Collector & District Magistrate
Contact: 06478-224102[O], 223601[R], 224986 [Fax], +91-9431243600, 9473191430[M]
E-mail: dm-saharsa.bih@nic.in
Website: https://saharsa.nic.in/

District & Sessions Judge, Saharsa
Contact: 06478-223524(O), 06478-223624(R), FAX - 06478-223108
E-mail: dj.saharsa-bih@nic.in
Web: https://ecourts.gov.in/

Judge in Charge, Civil Court, Saharsa
Contact: 06478-222267(O), 06478-222607(R), FAX- 06478-223108

Telecom Services in Saharsa

Communication is the backbone of a city and thus proper Landline & Cellular telephone services are being provided by leading telecom companies like Airtel, Reliance, Tata, BSNL, Aircel, Virgin, Uninor, DOCOMO, Vodafone, Idea, Smart, etc. in both rural & urban areas of Saharsa. Internet connectivity of high speed comprising of broadband & 3G services are available through Cyber Cafes as well as home connections in all localities of Saharsa.

Shopping in Saharsa

A treasure house for the shopaholics the city has a lot to offer and thus keeping some time aside for shopping is highly recommended while on a trip to this ancient city. Saharsa is famous for its unique products like gold and silver its enamelled jewellery, seashell toys, lacquered wood and metal bells which can be bought from the number of bazaars & markets spread across the city. Today Mega Bazaar, Super Market, Dev Market, etc. are some of the popular places where one can shop in Saharsa.

Saharsa Tourism

An important pilgrimage place the city of Saharsa witnesses’ a huge influx of tourists all around the year. Some of the famous temples present in the city are Tara Sthan, Chandika Sthan, Mandan Bharti Asthan, Laxminath Gosaisthal Nauhatta, Udahi, Karu Khirhari Temple, Sun Temple, Matsyagandha Mandir, etc. thus making it a favourite among the devotees. Tourists from far & wide come to Saharsa to pay homage at these temples and seek the blessings of the divine. Being well connected to other parts of the country by an adequate transportation system comprising of Roads, Railway & Air it is quiet easy to reach Saharsa comfortably.

Industry & Economy of Saharsa

Saharsa city in Bihar state of India has a vibrant economy with the people of the region engaged in their traditional means of livelihood and also exporing new means of employment. Counted as one of the largest brick producing center in the entire Kosi region, Brick Manufacturing is an important Industry of Saharsa. Besides this Corn Product, Jute, Soap, Chocolate, Biscuit & Paper Manufacturing and Printing are the other common industries of Saharsa which provide employment to hundreds of people. With a good literacy rate a number of people especially the youth are targeting corporate jobs or setting up their own business. Shop-keepers and traders also contribute significantly to the overall economy of Saharsa region.

Transportation in Saharsa

One can easily travel to Saharsa by road or rail; regular trains ply from Saharsa Jn (SHC), Saharsa Railway Station connecting it to other parts of the country. Saharsa is located on NH 327 (Saharsa – Bagdogra) and NH 107 and thus has a well-developed road network. If one wishes to travel by air one can reach the nearest airports which are Gaya International Airport situated at a distance of 308 kms and Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna at a distance of 234 kms; from here one can go to Saharsa by road or train. Transportation like busses, taxis, private cars, autos & rickshaws are easily available for the convenience of the tourists.

Saharsa at a glance

State: Bihar
Municipal Area: 1661.30 sq.km.
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Bengali, Angika, Urdu & English
Altitude: 41 m (135 ft) above sea level
Pin Code: 852201
Winter Temperature: 10°C -22°C
Summer Temperature: 33°C - 41°C
Best Time to Visit: October to March
STD Code: 6478
Major Tourist Attractions: Tara Sthan, Chandika Sthan, Mandan Bharti Asthan, Laxminath Gosaisthal Nauhatta, Udahi, Karu Khirhari Temple, Sun Temple, Matsyagandha Mandir
Major Festivals: Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Koshi Festival, Ugratara Festival, etc.