Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur (official and romanised name), historically known as Champa Nagari, is a city in the Indian state of Bihar, situated on the southern bank of the Ganges river. It is the third largest city of Bihar by population and also serves the headquarters of Bhagalpur district, Bhagalpur division, and Eastern Range. It is known as the Silk City and also listed for development under the Smart Cities Mission by the Government of India. It is the only district in Bihar after capital city Patna where three major higher educational institutions, IIIT Bhagalpur, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, TMBU, and Agriculture University (BAU) are located. Vikramshila Central University is under construction next to the ruins of the medieval Vikramshila Mahavihara. Bhagalpur Railway Station serves the city. The river around the city is home to the Gangetic dolphin, the national aquatic animal of India, and the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is established near the town. The city holds the largest Manasa Puja and one of the largest processions in Kali Puja, an important part of the cultural heritage of the region.

Greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius), a member of the stork family associated with the mythical bird Garuda, has a Rescue and Rehabilitation area located in Bhagalpur, the second largest of its kind. Loss of nesting habitat and feeding sites through drainage, pollution, and disturbance, together with hunting and egg collection, caused a massive dip in the population of the species. Garuda birds were first spotted nesting and breeding on a silk cotton tree near a village in the Ganga-Diara area in Bhagalpur in 2007. In May 2006, 42 birds were seen by the Mandar Nature Club team for the first time. Prior to this, the species had never been seen in Bihar during its breeding period. Four years after these endangered birds started nesting and breeding in Bhagalpur district, their number eventually increased, from 78 to over 500, making Bhagalpur one of only three places to host Garudas, the others being Cambodia and Assam.

The greater adjutant is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List 2004 of threatened species and listed under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This huge stork has a naked pink head, a very thick yellow bill, and a low-hanging neck pouch. The neck ruff is white. The bird looks like a vulture. Other than the pale grey edge on each wing, the rest of the greater adjutant's body is dark grey. Younglings have a narrower bill, thicker down on the head and neck, and entirely dark wings. A Garuda bird measures 145–150 cm (about three feet) in length and four to five feet in height.

As of the 2011 India census, the Bhagalpur Urban Agglomeration has a population of 410,210, of which 218,284 were males and 191,926 were females. It is the 3rd largest city in Bihar in terms of urban population. The total population in the age group of 0 to 6 years is 55,898. The total number of literates are 286,125, with 160,720 males and 125,405 females. The effective literacy rate of the 7+ population is 80.76%, of which the male literacy rate is 84.95% and the women's rate is at 75.95%.

Hinduism is the majority religion in Bhagalpur City with about 70% of the population following it, than followed by Islam with 29% adherants. It also has a small minority of Jains and Christians.

Bhagalpur is a geographical landmark, which is at the convergence of Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Historically the capital of Anga Pradesh and a nation of independence by Tilkamanjhi, it has been a land of emerging languages and cultures. A fair number of Biharis, Bengalis, Marwaris, Muslims, Santhalis, and Pahadiyas reside in the region, making it a language and cultural hub.

The Angika language is primarily spoken in the district. Apart from Angika, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and Santhali are prominent languages of the region. It is a multilingual district and has been a centre of development for many languages during the ancient era in the Vikramshila University.

Bhagalpur has a long lasting legacy of rich culture and traditions. The ancient city of Champanagari is known for its silk industry and trade. The city has richness in its festivals, art, food, and trade. The "Aangi" or "Angika" culture is followed in this region. It also is a homeland of multicultural community. Being one of the important centres of Anga, then Bengal, and now Bihar, it has grasped, respected, and promoted the cultures and traditions and thus empowered and maintained its richness.