Best Time to Visit: November to March
Bihar is an eastern Indian state located in the Gangetic plains sharing its international border with Nepal. The state shares its national borders with Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh. The word Bihar is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Vihara’ which means Monastery. Ruled by various empires, Bihar has a glorious past since ancient times. Bihar’s spiritual relevance arises from being the location where the Buddha once resided and attained Nirvana. His footprints can be tracked through his doctrines and the landmarks that survive to this day, to lead and teach people the righteous path.
Bihar is a sacred land, as over here, Prince Siddhartha meditated under a Bodhi Tree to attain enlightenment and became the Buddha. Bihar is a popular destination for Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. The integration of faith, spirituality, culture, and education makes the state one of its kind. Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Patna, Vaishali, Pawapuri, and Nalanda are some of the main attractions in every city of Bihar.
Important Buddhist pilgrimage sites include the Bodhi Tree in Mahabodhi Temple of Bodhgaya, where the Buddha meditated. Hindus worship Mahavir Mandir temple in state capital Patna, while Sikhs worship riverside Gurdwara Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib Ji.
Another place worthy of a visit would be the Kolhua Lion Pillar that was designed by the world-famous Emporer Ashoka. It is a highly polished single piece of red sandstone, surmounted by an 18.3 m high bell-shaped capital. A lion’s life-size figure is positioned atop the pillar. This pillar next to a Kolhua brick stupa celebrates Buddha’s last sermon.
Bihar deserves special attention when it comes to its cuisine.
Litti is a main course dish of Bihari cuisine. Litti is filled with sattu and some special spices and served with ghee. Litti looks like Bati, another famous variant of Rajasthan. However, there is a slight difference. Litti is best eaten with brinjal bharta or mashed potato. Litti-Chokha is now present in food menus globally.
Bihar has been the center of a lot of cultural activities since eras. Madhubani or Mithila painting is a famous art style developed by the womenfolk of this region. Tikuli is another form of hand painting, developed over 800 years. The painting, with its modern evolution and varied manifestations, originates in Patna, Bihar. Tikuli art has a strong historical meaning. Tikuli is the term used locally for bindis; basically, colorful dots women wear as accessories between their eyebrows. Tikuli craft’s basic raw materials are the MDF board and colors. This is a rare artisan-made product. These crafts regularly provide livelihood support to around 300-500 artisan families in Patna City of Bihar’s Digha, Danapur, and Gai Ghat mahallas.
Chhath is a major festival in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Almost all cultures worshiped the ‘Sun,’ but it has a special shape in Bihar’s Chhath Puja is the only instance where the setting and the rising sun are worshipped. Chhath Puja is celebrated on Kartik’s sixth day, according to the Hindu calendar. Chhath Puja, also known as Surya Shashti, is a bathing festival accompanied by 4-day abstinence and ritual purity.
In Bihar, summers can get searing heat, which can seriously restrict outdoor activity.
The best time to visit this state is after the monsoon and before summer, roughly from November to March. Being a famous tourist attraction, Bihar can get quite packed during the season. Thus, it is preferable to schedule all reservations to prevent last-minute inconvenience.
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