Fondly known as the Litchi Kingdom, and one of the major towns of Bihar, Muzaffarpur lies at the banks of the Burhi Gandak River, along with the rivers Bagmati and Lakhandayee. It is named after Muzaffar Khan, a revenue officer under the British rule. The city is the administrative headquarters of the Muzzafarpur district, which is a part of the Tirhut division. One of the largest commercial and educational centres in North Bihar, the town is famous for its production of Litchis, which are much sought after by locals and tourists alike.
Native language of the district is Vajjika. However, Hindi is widely spoken for official purposes, along with English. Dr. Rajendra Prasad is known to be one of the teachers in the Greer Bhumihar Brahman College. The oldest University of Bihar, now known as B.R. Ambedkar Bihar University hails from Muzaffarpur. Tourists are found in various attractions of the city. Here’s a glimpse of some of the major attractions in Muzaffarpur:
1. Litchi Gardens
Muzaffarpur being the producer of about 3 lakh tonnes of Litchi every year, the Litchi Gardens are the most sought after destination for tourists. Bochaha, Jhapaha and Mushahari are the well-known gardens located within a 7km radius of the city. The Litchis Shahi and China produced here are known for their excellent quality and aroma. Best time to visit is from May to June during cultivation, and to witness the ripe fruit is quite an attraction.
2. Baba Garibnath Temple
Located in the heart of the city, the Baba Garibnath Temple is another one of the most popular attractions of Muzaffarpur. The idol of Lord Shiva resides in the temple as Baba Garibnath, and according to local legends, it is said that the Shivling was acquired from the Peepal tree where the temple is now situated. The man, who had the shrine built, was said to have gotten the tree cut down so he could build a house over it, but when the seven branches were broken, blood and water oozed out only to reveal the Shivling. The temple now attracts devotees in a large number, and during the festive period of Shravan, water from the sacred rivers of Ganga, Gandak, Kaveri etc are brought to bathe the Shivling in.
3. Jubba Sahni Park
Named after the freedom fighter and revolutionary Jubba Sahni, the children’s park is found in the Mithanpura area of Muzaffarpur. Jubba Sahni Park is like that of any other children’s parks, but a tourist attraction nevertheless due to the lush green trees, shrubs, and the cool grass that the adults love to lounge upon while the kids have their fun. The queue of tall lamps across the park light up the area after sunset.
4. Ramchandra Shahi Museum
In the midst of the Jubba Sahni Park, Ramchandra Shahi Museum that was constructed in 1979 showcases various artifacts, statues like that of Ashtadik Pal and Manasa Nag, which are a divine sight to behold. There is also a collection of ancient utensils along with the intricately created statues that are a major attraction of the museum.
5. Khudiram Bose Memorial
An 18-year-old fighter by the name of Khudiram Bose, was arrested along with Prafool Chaki on the charge of throwing a bomb on Kingsford, the then British Sessions Judge of Muzaffarpur. He was executed in 1908 at the Muzaffarpur Jail and Khudiram Bose Memorial was raised opposite the present residence of the District and Sessions Judge. The road where the alleged bomb was thrown is called the Prafool Chaki Marg in front of the Red Cross Building. The historical spot finds itself in the midst of various tourists who wish to know about the escaped revolutionary who was soon arrested, and took the sentence given to him with a smile upon his face, as those of his likes did.
The district of Muzzafarpur, famous for its educational and commercial purposes, along with its temples and historical background forms an important part of the state of Bihar, and is a location of picturesque surroundings. One of the beautiful towns of Bihar, Muzaffarpur takes pride in it’s culture.
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