Bhagalpur

A town called Sultanganj can be found on the Ganges River delta, around 28 kilometres west of Bhagalpur. Tourists flock there in July and August to fill their holy water containers with Ganges water that is flowing north. Travellers from Sultanganj bring this holy water to the temple of Lord Baidyanath in Deoghar after walking 80 kilometres on their bare feet.

Colganj Temple's crumbling masonry and rock-cut carvings attest to the site's once-proud history, which flourished under the Gupta Empire. Artistically etched images of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain deities have been discovered in Sultanganj and Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur. There is a myth that claims they date back to the reign of the great monarch Asoka.

Located in Bhagalpur's Nathnagar, the Champapur Digambar Jain Mandir is a historical Teerth Kshetra honouring Vasupujya, the 12th Tirthankara. As per the legend, Karna, the sixth Pandava, governed the Anga Kingdom from the city of Champapur. Champapur's main temple is said to be around 2.5 centuries old, with five altars representing the Five Kalyanaka. Out of the original four "Columns of Fame" that stood at each of the compound's four corners, only two remain in their breathtaking original form.

Located on the banks of Uttaravahini Ganga, the Budhanath Temple is one of the most visited landmarks in the Bhagalpur area (The Northward flowing Ganges). In the first of the Shiva Puranas' eight sections, Baba Budhanath is called Bal Vridheshwarnath. Since its origin is unknown, the Shiva Linga at the temple is often said to have revealed itself.

Believers of many different faiths visit the Khanqah e Shahbazia throughout the year because to its advantageous position close to the Bhagalpur Railway Station. A Sufi saint named Shahbaz Rahmattulah is commemorated in this place of worship. In addition, the compound is home to a mosque that was built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was frequently frequented by the king. Travellers from all over the world come to pray and seek blessings at this particular location.

The Ajgaivinath Temple is representative of the city's long and storied religious past. This revered and well-known temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and can be found in the middle of the city of Sultanganj. The major deity of the temple, Shiva Lingam, is said to be Swayambhu, which means that it originated of its own accord. During the festivals of Mahashivratri and Navratri, devotees of Shiva and Shakti go all out to rejoice on the grounds of the temple.

It is stated that Maharshi Mehi Paramhans meditated at Kuppaghat Ashram, which is located far away from the noise and activity of the surrounding area and is situated on the banks of the Holy Ganga. Since that time, his devoted followers have made it a prominent religious destination of their own accord. At this time, the Akhila Bharatiya Santmat Satsang is in charge of the groundskeeping responsibilities. This Ashram cave is situated close to a beautiful orchard area, and it contains rock sculptures that depict scenes from the Ramayana.

The massive granite hill known as Mandara Parvat, which sits at an elevation of around 240 metres (about 750 feet), is considered by Hindus to be a sacred and culturally significant location. Bhagalpur is where the event known as Samudra Manthan is said to have taken place. It is believed that the present-day Mandar Parvat is identical to the one that is described in religious scriptures. There is another legend that asserts Lord Vishnu triumphed against the monstrous Madhu at this location. On the Mandar Parvat, it is believed that the fabled conch shell Panchajanya was made, which was the sound that signalled the beginning of the Mahabharat War. This peak is revered to a very high degree by both Hindus and Jains.

The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is located along the Ganga for a distance of fifty kilometres, and it includes the cities of Sultangunj and Kahalgaon. The plight of the Gangetic Dolphin population, which was declared endangered in 1991, served as the impetus for its creation. There are currently less than a hundred species that were once found in the millions. In this part of the world, significant conservation initiatives are currently underway in order to restore magnificent pieces of art to the splendour they once possessed.

The Vikramshila University was a revered Buddhist institution that served as the intellectual fulcrum of the Pala Empire. Vikramshila grew to prominence during the time that the once-revered Nalanda University was falling into decay. The Buddhist centre, which plays an important role in the cultural history of the country, is a popular tourist attraction in Bhagalpur.