With a population of around 2 million, Bhagalpur District of
Bihar has an area of 2,570 sq km.
Bhagalpur city is the headquarters. Economy depends on agriculture and industry. Paddy, maize and lentils are cultivated. Bhagalpur is also noted for its silk production.
Tussar Silk is a popular brand of silk produced.
The Kahalgaon Thermal Power station is situated here. Places of tourist interest are Bhagalpur Pillar, Mandar Hill, believed to have been used as a churn for the legendary 'Sagar Manthan' (the churning of the ocean of milk) and Vikramshila, a university founded in the latter part of the 8th century by Dharmapala. This Buddhist university was on the famous Patharghat Hill on the right bank of the Ganges, about 38 km to the south-east of Bhagalpur. The university was a famous center of Tantricism for many years. It was destroyed before 1206. Rock cut temple at Colganj,
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary and Vishnu temple on a hill are also of tourist interest.
