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.

In the Early Vedic period (beginning with the entrance of the Vedic religion into South Asia about 1500 BCE), several kingdoms existed in the plains of Bihar.Patna is once known as Pataliputra, but when Sher Shahsuri conquered Patna, he renamed it Patna in honour of the goddess Patni.In the Early Vedic period (beginning with the entrance of the Vedic religion into South Asia about 1500 BCE), several kingdoms existed in the plains of Bihar.Patna is once known as Pataliputra, but when Sher Shahsuri conquered Patna, he renamed it Patna in honour of the goddess Patni.

Bihar is steeped in history and has a rich tradition of festivals from time immemorial.Bihar is the state that comes to mind when you hear the festival Chatth puja and is one of the famous festivals of the state. It takes place six days after Diwali and is dedicated to the sun god.

Places of religious and cultural interest abound in Bihar. Nalanda is the seat of the ancient and celebrated Nalanda Buddhist monastic centre; the nearby Rajgir Hills area, with its ancient and contemporary temples and shrines, is visited by people of many faiths; and Pawapuri is the place where Mahavira, the renowned teacher of Jainism, attained nirvana (enlightenment, or freedom from an endless cycle of reincarnation).