DISTRICT PROFILE

SAHARSA
INTRODUCTION
 Saharsa is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar.
 Saharsa district became a separate district in 1954 prior to which it was a part of
Kosi division.
 The important rivers flowing through the district are Kosi, Baghmati.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 Earlier Saharsa district was within the Bhagalpur Division. Kosi Division was formed on
2nd October 1972 comprising of Saharsa, Purnia and Katihar district with its head
quarters at Saharsa.
 Formerly it had no independent status and parts of Saharsa were included in the old
districts of Munger & Bhagalpur.
 Ancient Times:
 In ancient times, Vaishali was the strongest republic in North-Bihar and beyond that lay
the famous territory of Anguttarap. There was a small Janpad, named Apna, in
Anguttarap and it included a portion of the district of Saharsa.
 Various sites of the district, now completely eroded and destroyed by the Kosi, viz.
Biratpur, Budhiagarhi, Budhnaghat, Buddhadi, Pitahahi and Mathai are associated with
Buddhism
 Both Anga and North Bihar (including Saharsa) continued to be independent till the
early part of the sixth century B.C
 Between 320 and 1097 A.D
 Under the Guptas (from 320 A.D.), the entire North Bihar was consolidated as a
Tirbhukti (province) with its capital at Vaishali.
 The extent of Saharsa during the period under review was upto the confines of
Pundravardhanbhukti which included some of its present area.
 From the geographical point of view, Saharsa was the most strategically suited from
being the Jayaskandharar (temporary Capital) of the Palas at the time when they were
surrounded on all sides by enemies.
 Between 1097 and 1765 A.D.
 The decline of the Pala authority in Bihar and Bengal was followed by the establishment
of the Karnata in Mithila and the Sena dynasties in Bengal. Both the Kanrnatas and
Senas claimed authority over the portion of Saharsa and often entered into an armed
conflict.
 The whole district of Saharsa was dotted with small chief tranships created both by the
Hindus and the Muslims. Even in the early part of Mughal rule they could venture to
oppose the central authority as Bihar and the Afghans were opposed to the
establishment of Mughal authority.
 The Satyagraha Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 received widespread support
in the district.
ADMINISTRATIVE
 Saharsa town is the district headquarters of Saharsa district.
 Saharsa district comprises two sub-divisions, namely Saharsa Sadar & Simri
Bakhtiarpur which is divided into 10 blocks.

o Simri Bakhtiarpur o Kahra

o Mahishi o Salkhua
o Sonbarsa o Patarghat
o Saur Bazar o Banma Itahri
o Nauhatta
o Sattar Kataiya

 Total no. of Gram Panchayats in Saharsa district are 127.

 Saharsa district has 227 number of revenue villages.

ECONOMIC PROFILE
 Rice, Maize, Wheat, Lentil/ Pulses, Mustard and Gram are the main crops of the
district.
 Saharsa is famous for its varieties of Mangoes and Summer Berry known as Litchi.
 Saharsa is one of the biggest rice producing hubs in the entire Kosi area.
 It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward
Regions Grant Fund Programme.

Per Capita Gross State and District Domestic Product

13404
15000 11815
10237 11311 11274
9832 9602
8348 8686
10000 8123

5000

0
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Per Capita Gross District Domestic Product

Per Capita Gross State Domestic Product

Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Bihar

GEOGRAPHIC

Coordinates Latitude: 25º53” to 25º88” North

Longitude: 86º06” to 86º36” East
Temperature 31.05° C (Avg. in summer)
16.67° C (Avg. in winter)
Average rainfall 948.48 mm.

Area 1661.30 sq. km.

Height above sea level 41 meters

DEMOGRAPHIC

Population 1,897,102

Population density 1,142 per sq. km.

Population growth 26%

Sex ratio 906 per 1000 male

Literacy rate 54.57%

Languages spoken Hindi, Maithili, Angika, Urdu and Bengali

INDUSTRIAL

Registered industrial units 708

Registered medium & large units Nil

No. of industrial areas 01

Types of industries Agro based, wood & wooden based

furniture, mineral based, metal based,
electrical machinery, repairing & servicing,
engineering services, ready made garments
based, chemical/ chemical based etc.
Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur, official website of district
INVESTMENT

 Saharsa is one of the biggest rice producing hubs in the entire Kosi area.
 Saharsa is famous for its varieties of Mangoes and Summer Berry known as Litchi.
 Agro based industries have a good scope in the district.

Investment (Rs. Lakh)

4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur

INDUSTRIAL PROFILE

 There is an industrial area present in Saharsa district at Saharsa.

 Saharsa is the largest distribution centre for agricultural produce - vegetable
and fruits like litchi, makhana, mango, sugarcane, maize and basmati rice.
 Saharsa is one of the biggest rice producing hubs in the entire Kosi area.
 Corn product is manufactured at Maa Katyani Industry.
 There are jute, soap, chocolate, biscuit factories in the district.
INDUSTRIES AT A GLANCE
Registered industrial units 708

Total industrial units 708

Registered medium & large units Nil

Estimated avg. no. of daily workers employed in small 2500

scale industries
Employment in large and medium industries

No. of industrial areas 01

MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREA

 There is an industrial estate situated in Saharsa district.
 It is developed on 1.57 hectares of land.
 44 no. of plots are developed.
 24 no. of units are produced.

EXISTING MICRO & SMALL ENTERPRISES AND ARTISAN UNITS

Type of industry No. of Units Investment (Rs.
Lakh)
Agro based 283 3409
Soda Water 4 36
Cotton textile 10 28
Woolen, silk & artificial thread based clothes 2 9
Ready-made garments & embroidery 12 35
Wood/wooden based furniture 60 120
Paper & paper products 12 9
Leather based 9 16
Chemical/chemical based 20 60
Rubber, plastic & petro based 8 10
Mineral based 14 40
Metal based (Steel Fab.) 60 120
Engineering units 42 126
Electrical machinery and transport equipment 46 100
Repairing & servicing 62 30
Others 40 40
Total 684 4188
Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur
INFRASTRUCTURE

 The district has an industrial area situated at Saharsa.

 Total no. of hospitals and health centers are 169.
 There are total 98 commercial banks and financial institutions.
 Educational institutions:
 No. of primary schools – 778
 No. of middle schools – 303
 No. of secondary and senior secondary schools– 45
 No. of colleges – 15
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY

 The land use around Saharsa is mainly agricultural.

 The district has a very rich and fertile land which is favourable for agriculture.
 Rice, Maize, Wheat, Lentil/ Pulses, Mustard and Gram are the main crops of the
district.
 Saharsa is famous for its varieties of Mangoes and Summer Berry known as Litchi.
LARGE SCALE INDUSTRY/ PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING

 There are no large scale industry/ public sector undertaking prevailing in the
district.

POTENTIAL INDUSTRY

Micro & Small

Major Clusters Service Enterprises
Enterprise

•Agro Based Products •Nil •Beauty parlours/ saloons

•Water treatment plant •Health services
•Readymade garments •Computer training
•Restaurants institutes
•Fish processing units •Computer hardware &
repairing centre

STEPS TO SETUP MSMEs

S. No. Type of assistance Name and address of agencies
1. Provisional Registration Certificate District Industries Centre, Saharsa
(EM-1) & Permanent Registration
Certificate ( EM-II)
2. Identification of Project Profiles, MSME Development Institute –
techno-economic and managerial Muzaffarpur
consultancy services, market survey Saharsa
and economic survey reports
3. Land and Industrial shed BIADA, Muzaffarpur
4. Financial Assistance All commercial/ lead Banks
5. For raw materials under Govt. Supply National Small Industries Corporation,
Patna
6. Plant and machinery under hire/ MSME – Muzaffarpur,
purchase basis DIC – Saharsa
7. Power/ Electricity Bihar State Electricity Board
8. Technical Know–how Director, MSME-DI, Muzaffarpur
9. Quality & Standard Bureau of Indian Standards
10. Marketing /Export Assistance Director, MSME-DI, Muzaffarpur

Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
Railway

•Saharsa is linked

Airport
•Saharsa is linked •Nearest airport is

Road
with Patna and with Madhepura, at Patna
Madhepura Supaul, Khagariya
• Nearest Railway and Patna.
Station: Saharsa •National Highway
NH 107 connects
Purnea to
Maheshkhunt.

EDUCATION

 There are many schools and colleges in the district.

 It has some reputed institutions such as Bihar Education Project, IGNOU,
Government polytechnic, ITI, Teachers training college, Kendriya Vidyalaya, JNV, MLT
college, RM college, Ramesh Jha Mahila college.
HERITAGE & TOURISM

 Tara Sthan: It is situated at a distance of about 16 kms. west of Saharsa in the

village Mahishi, where an ancient temple of Bhagwati Tara is built. The idol of
Bhagwati Tara is said to be very old and draws devotees from far and wide.
 Surya Mandir: The Sun Temple at Kandaha village is an important religious and
historical place which has been duly recognized by the Archaeological survey of India
like Surya Mandir in Dev of Aurangabad district. Here in Kandaha, the magnificent
idol of Surya Bhagwan riding on seven horsed chariot, has been carved on a single
granite slab.
 Chandikasthan: This temple is famous for an ancient temple of goddess Chandi.
The tantric Scholars and devotees attach much significance to this Chandi temple,
which is said to form an equilateral triangle (TRIK) with Katyayani temple near
Dhamhara ghat and Tara temple at Mahishi. During the Navratra, people from
distant places visit the village to offer prayers to the goddess of power.
 Babaji Kuti: The famous place of Babaji Kuti is situated at nearly 9 kms. west from
the Saharsa district headquarters. The huge banyan tree under which the remains of
Laxminath Gosaiji have been preserved, is the centre of great reverence for the
people of all sect and religion.
 Mandan Bharti Asthan :The place is situated in Mahishi Block. It is said that a
religious discourse (Shastrarth) was held between Shankaracharya and the local
scholar Mandan Mishra. Bharti, wife of Mandan Mishra, who was also a great
scholar, was named as Judge for the discourse. It is also said that Shankaracharya,
after his initial victory over Mandan Mishra was challenged by Bharati, was outwitted
by her and he accepted defeat.
 Dewan Ban Mandir :One Shiv Ling is established in the temple situated in Sahpur-
Manjhoul of Nauhatta block. It is said that the Ling was established by Maharaja
Shalivahan some time in 100BC. The Hindus celebrate a festival called Jitiya after
the name of Jimutbahan who was the son of Maharaja Shalivahan.
HERITAGE & TOURISM

 Nauhatta: It is an old village, important since the time of Mughals and is presently
the head quarters of the block of the same name. The village has a ‘Shiva temple’
about 80 feet in height. The temple which was damaged in the earthquake of 1934,
was reconstructed by Raja Srinand Singh of Srinagar Estate.
There is a grave of Madho Singh on an earthen mound about 50 feet high. Madho
Singh had become a martyr in the battle of Ladri Ghat. Offerings are made on the
grave both by Hindus and Muslims.
 Udahi: The village is situated in Kahra block. It contains an ancient image of
goddess Durga discovered during excavation. According to a legend, one Sone Lala
Jha dreamt that he had received divine instruction to excavate a particular place.
The image was found at that very spot and latter established in the temple. A fair is
held on the day of Maha Ashtami Puja every year.
 Karu Khirhari temple: Situated on the bank of Kosi River, there is a temple of Saint
Karu Khirhari, who is said to have attained divinity by virtue of his Shiv-Bhakti a
dedication to Cows. People from all walks of life come to offer milk to Karu Baba.
Although this temple near Mahpura village-2 kms. away from Mahishi block office, is
situated in the riverside of the eastern Koshi Embankment. It has survived the
onslaught of the turbulent river. Recently, the Bihar Government has announced to
develop Karu Khirhari temple as a major tourist spot.
 Matsyagandha Mandir: The barren water logged area in Saharsa town has been
developed as a beautiful place commonly known as Matsyagandha Mandir. The
construction of Rakta Kali temple and an oval shaped temple with 64 deities (known
as 64- Yogini) engraved on the inner walls of temple, attracts devotees from far-off
places. The Bihar Government has established a beautiful tourist complex at this
place.
 Industries Department
2nd Floor, Vikas Bhawan,
Bailey Road, Patna, Bihar 800 015

Udyog Mitra, Dept. of Industries

Govt. of Bihar
Ground Floor, Indira Bhawan,
RCS Path, Patna, Bihar 800 001.
Tel : +91 612 2532695
Fax : +91 612 2532695
Email: info@udyogmitrabihar.com

www.udyogmitrabihar.com