Bihar

Introduction
Land
- Relief, drainage, and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Population composition
- Settlement patterns and demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Transportation
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
History

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, features a tall, intricately carved central spire surrounded by smaller shrines, trees, and gardens.

Map highlighting the Indian state of Bihar in orange, located in eastern India and bordered by Nepal to the north. The map shows surrounding countries including Pakistan, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, with Bihar's capital, Patna, marked within the state. A small inset globe in the upper right corner indicates Bihar's location within South Asia.

Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India: Mahabodhi temple

Mahabodhi temple, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India.

At a Glance

Bihar summary

Quizzes

Chandigarh. Statuettes at the Rock Garden of Chandigarh a sculpture park in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden. Created by Nek Chand Saini an Indian self taught artist. visionary artist, folk artist, environmental art

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Jodhpur. Rajasthan. Jaswant Thada an architectural landmark in Jodhpur, India. A white marble memorial, built in 1899, by Sardar Singh in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Indian architecture

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Related Questions

How did Bihar get its name from the Sanskrit word vihara?
How did Mahatma Gandhi begin the satyagraha movement in Champaran?
How did the Ganges River help Magadha control trade and communication?
How did the ancient city of Pataliputra become modern Patna?
How did the loss of Chota Nagpur affect Bihar's mineral resources?
How do Bhojpuri and Magahi preserve oral storytelling traditions?
How does caste shape social groups in Bihar?
How does the Ganges River divide Bihar into two major physical regions?
How does the landscape of the South Bihar Plain differ from that of northern Bihar?
How is Bihar divided for local administration?
What are the two houses of Bihar's state legislature?
What kinds of soil are found in the North Bihar Plain?
Where are Bihar's major manufacturing centres located?
Where are crocodiles especially numerous in Bihar?
Where in Bihar is the Muslim population particularly concentrated?
Where is Bihar located within India?
Which Scheduled Tribe in Bihar speaks a Dravidian language?
Which ancient empires used Pataliputra as their capital?
Which animals live in Bihar's more remote forest regions?
Which cities are among the largest in Bihar?
Which courts make up Bihar's judicial system below the Patna High Court?
Which crops are grown during Bihar's bhadai harvest season?
Which districts are associated with Maithili and Magahi languages?
Which regions border Bihar state?
Which river divides the South Bihar Plain into two physiocultural units?
Which traditional cottage industries are important in Bihar?
Who was Vidyapati and why is he important in Maithili literature?
Why are Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga known for fruit production?
Why did the creation of Jharkhand create economic challenges for Bihar?
Why do most people in Bihar live in rural villages?
Why do people of several faiths visit the Rajgir Hills?
Why does Bihar experience earthquake risk?
Why is Bodh Gaya the holiest site in Buddhism?
Why is Maithili unique among the Bihari languages?
Why is Nalanda important in the history of Buddhism?
Why is Pawapuri important to followers of Jainism?
Why was the Mahabodhi Temple complex at Bodh Gaya named a UNESCO World Heritage site?
What were the main causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
How was Chennai founded?
What is Tamil Nadu?
What does Tamil Nadu mean?
When was Tamil Nadu established?
What is Tamil Nadu famous for?
What are the main physical regions of Assam?
What is the significance of the Assam Accord?
Where is Keralam located?
What are the main geographical features of Keralam?

Geography & Travel States & Other Subdivisions

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External Websites

UCLA Social Sciences - MANAS - Bihar, India
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Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Bihar - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Bihar - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Bihar

state, India

Also known as: Behār, Vihār

Written by

Allen G. Noble

Professor of Geography, University of Akron, Ohio. Coauthor of Indian Urbanization and Planning: Vehicles of Modernization.

Allen G. NobleAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 30, 2026 •History

Bihar, state of eastern India. It is bounded by Nepal to the north and by the Indian states of West Bengal to the northeast and Uttar Pradesh to the west. In November 2000 the new state of Jharkhand was created from Bihar’s southern provinces and now forms the state’s southern and southeastern borders. The capital of Bihar is Patna. Bihar occupied an important position in the early history of India. For centuries it was the...

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