WEAVER'S WORLD / BHAGALPUR / PLACES TO VISIT -1

WEAVER'S WORLD / BHAGALPUR / PLACES TO VISIT -1

• The Ganges near Bhagalpur is home to the Gangetic dolphin, considered the aquatic animal of India. Naturally, The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary has been established here for its protection and healthy breeding. A popular tourist spot, it is one of a rare kind and the 50 Km stretch, from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon, promises good sighting of dolphins, since almost half the population of dolphins in the world is said to be found here.

• There are plenty of other aquatic animals too at the Vikramshila sanctuary. Tourists will come across several species of freshwater turtles, waterfowl, otter and fish eating crocodiles on their visit to the sanctuary. The best time to visit Vikramshila Sanctuary is between June and October.

•There is a large plant of NTPC at Kahalgaon close by. There is a large industrial area at Barari. There are also the govt. established Handloom park and the privately set-up Food Park.

• A healthy mix of religious places also features prominently with a Jain Temple at Nath Nagar being a piligrimage centre for Jains, an ancient Shiva temple called Budha Nath Temple for Hindus, the shrine of Shawaz Rahmat-ullah near the Bhagalpur railway station and the Tablighi Jamat at Champanagar.

• Bhagalpur has the second largest rescue and rehabilitation area for the greater adjutant (leptoptilos dubius) of the stork ( a large and tall wading bird) family. This wide-ranging and long-lived species has a very small population which is declining very rapidly. For these reasons it is classified as Endangered. Bhagalpur is one of the three or four sites in the world used as a breeding ground by this species.

• Vikramshila Mahavihara, is a rocky hillock about 38 km from Bhagalpur. Established by Paramasaugata, the Pala king who was a devotee of Lord Buddha and patron of Mahayana Buddhism, Vikramshila’s location impressed him. Firstly because the rocky hillock was anchored around the confluence of rivers Kosi and Ganga and a tantric site with a Kali temple opposite Lord Shiva’s temple. Secondly it was a pilgrimage place due to Uttarvahini Ganga which drew huge crowds during Varsavardhana.