Bihar

Bihar is a densely populated state in eastern India with a profound place in world history as the cradle of Buddhism and ancient learning. Its capital and largest city is Patna, on the Ganges. Once the heart of great empires, it remains one of India's most populous states.

Bihar lies in the fertile Gangetic plain, flat and intensively farmed, divided by the Ganges River and prone to seasonal flooding. The terrain is largely agricultural, with hills in the south. The climate is humid subtropical.

Bihar has a deep spiritual and intellectual heritage, home to Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the ancient Nalanda university. Festivals such as Chhath Puja are central, and the state has rich folk traditions.

Bihar was the seat of the Maurya and Gupta empires, among the greatest in Indian history, with Pataliputra (modern Patna) as their capital. It was a center of Buddhism and Jainism and of the ancient university of Nalanda, a global center of learning.