Begusarai District is one of the thirty-eight districts of the Indian state of Bihar. And it is the industrial and financial capital of Bihar. The city of Begusarai is its administrative headquarters and is part of the Munger Division.
History
It was established in 1870 as part of Munger District. In 1972, it was given district status. Simaria village is the birthplace of famous Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. However most people know Munger as his birthplace as Begusarai was the part of Munger during his birth and much of his lifetime. Begusarai is the part of historic Mithila or Mithilanchal region.
Geography
Begusarai district occupies an area of 1,918 square kilometres (741 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Indonesia’s Biak Island. The district lies on the northern bank of river Ganges. Begusarai district is a part of Munger division. It is located at latitudes 25.15N & 25.45N and longitudes 85.45E & 86.36E. The Ganga river separates Begusarai district from Patna District and Munger District
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 575,455 | — |
| 1911 | 593,470 | +0.31% |
| 1921 | 564,328 | −0.50% |
| 1931 | 635,456 | +1.19% |
| 1941 | 718,390 | +1.23% |
| 1951 | 793,942 | +1.00% |
| 1961 | 954,333 | +1.86% |
| 1971 | 1,147,429 | +1.86% |
| 1981 | 1,456,343 | +2.41% |
| 1991 | 1,814,773 | +2.22% |
| 2001 | 2,349,366 | +2.62% |
| 2011 | 2,970,541 | +2.37% |
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According to the 2011 census Begusarai district has a population of 2,970,541, roughly equal to the nation of Armenia or the US state of Mississippi. This gives it a ranking of 128th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,540 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,000/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 26.44%. Begusarai has a sex ratio of 895 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 63.87%.
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 87.91% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 9.53% Urdu and 2.43% Maithili as their first language.
Settlements
Cities and towns
- Begusarai
- Barauni
- Barauni IOC Township
- Mansurchak
- Teghra
- Manjhaul
- Bakhri
- Ballia
- Cheria Bariyarpur
Villages
- Gaura
- Matihani
- Mohanpur
- Simaria
- Nayatol
- Raghunathpur
- Bachwara
- Sahebpur Kamal
- Vandwar
- Khamhar
- Shitalrampur
Flora and fauna
In 1989 Begusarai district became home to the Kanwarjheel Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 63 km2 (24.3 sq mi).
Education
The foundation stone of Rastrakavi Ramdhari Singh Dinkar College of Engineering (RRSDCE) was laid on 22 December 2013 by Nitish Kumar, paving way for the eighth government engineering college in Bihar.
Economy
Barauni is the major industrial town in district. It has big industries like Barauni Refinery, Barauni Thermal Power Station and Urvarak Nagar Barauni.
Transportation
Barauni is the major railway junction. Other major railway station is Begusarai. Begusarai is well connected by road to other parts of Bihar and country.