Muzaffarpur is a city in the state of Bihar, India. It is known as the "lychee capital" of the country. It is one of the oldest and most important commercial and educational centres of Bihar. Muzaffarpur has many historical sites, monuments, temples and other places of tourist interest.
Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]Muzaffarpur is well-connected to major cities in India through daily trains. Shaheed Express (Darbhanga-Amritsar), Mithila Express (Raxaul-Howrah), Maurya Express, Sadhbhawna Express, Vaishali Express (Barauni-New Delhi) and Amarnath Express (Barauni-Jammutawi) pass through this station. The Vaishali Express (Barauni-New Delhi), Bihar Sampark Kranti (Darbhanga-New Delhi), SaptKranti Express (Muzaffarpur-New Delhi) are the fastest and most comfortable way to arrive from Delhi or vice versa. The journey takes around 18-19 hours from New Delhi.
It's advised to book the train ticket well in advance since the trains are often heavily booked. Tickets can be booked online from the IRCTC[dead link] website.
- 1 Muzaffarpur Junction railway station. Station code: MFP
By car
[edit]Muzaffarpur is well-connected by bus to Patna, which is about 3 hours away. There are direct buses to Patna, Silliguri, Gauhati, Ranchi, etc.
Buses are the best option if one is traveling from Patna. Muzzafarpur is well connected by a network of roads with all the neighbouring cities and towns. The distance to some important cities are:
- Bhagalpur 139 mi (224 km)
- Bodhgaya 112.4 mi (180.9 km)
- Bihar Sharif 65.0 mi (104.6 km)
- Darbhanga 34.7 mi (55.8 km)
- Kathmandu, Nepal 110.6 mi (178.0 km)
- Madhubani 63.3 mi (101.9 km)
- Patna 40.7 mi (65.5 km)
- Ranchi 49.1 mi (79.0 km)
- Raxual 85.1 mi (137.0 km)
- Varanasi 195.7 mi (314.9 km)
By plane
[edit]Unfortunately, Muzaffarpur Airport is under construction, with no target date to open as of 2024. However, it is possible to fly into the following airports:
- Gaya Airport (GAY IATA) at Gaya is about 172 km from the city.
- Jaiprakash Narayan Airport (PAT IATA) at Patna is about 75 km from the city. There are daily flights from Ranchi, Delhi, Calcutta and Lucknow.
- Darbhanga Airport (DBR) is about 60 km from the city.
Get around
[edit]
You may hire taxi, autorickshaws and cycle rickshaws for local transportation. The city has a concept of shared autorickshaws. City ring bus service run by regional transport authority (RDA) has mini buses plying on five different routes. The minimum fare is ₹5 and maximum is ₹20. The main the introduction of ring bus service has broken the monopoly of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.
See
[edit]- 1 Ambara Chowk. About 40 km from Muzaffarpur, Ambara Chowk is situated in Saraiya Block on the Muzaffarpur - Rewa road. It is believed to be the home village of Amrapali, the famous Nagarvadhu (courtesan) of Vaishali. Amrapali was known for her beauty.
- 2 Baba Garibnath Temple. Baba Garibnath Temple situated in the center of the Muzaffarpur town is undoubtedly one of the most famous "Lord Shiva" temples. Its history goes like this-There was a landlord in ancient times who owned the land where the present temple is. There was a huge Banyan tree in the premises of the temple which provided shade and relief to many people. Due to bad financial condition the landlord had to sell his house to another person. The new owner seemed not too interested in Banyan tree so he ordered it to be cut down to clean the premises. While cutting the tree a "Shivling" was found within it, which got partly damaged due to the swing of the axe, and red water started oozing out from the "Shivling"! The Landlord was quite disturbed after seeing this and was not able to sleep for the entire night. In the morning "Baba Garibnath" appeared in his dreams and said that he was Baba Garibnath-one who has great sympathy for poor. He ordered him to establish the "Shivling" at the same place and call one of his great Devotees "Shri Shivdhari Pathak" of Chapra district to regularly worship and take care of the temple. It was done exactly as told by "Baba" and since that day "Baba Garibnath Temple" is famous for granting the fulfilment of the wishes of its devotees. It is also called second "Baidhnath".
- Mata Banglamukhi Temple (Siddh Pith) (Near Hathi Chowk). This temple, which is almost 300 years old, attracts many Tantric Hindus, especially on Navratri.
- 3 Chaturbhuj Asthan Temple. This is a temple with an interesting back story. It is said that in 1303, in a village called Turki, a big idol of Lord Chaturbhuj was found. We are told that there was a saint who was a great worshipper of Shiva and was also responsible for establishing a "Shivling" at the present Muzaffarpur (which was a village at that time). Lord Chaturbhuj came in his dreams and asked him to place him near "Lord Shiva", as he was not comfortable at Turki. The saint brought the idol all the way from Turki to Muzaffarpur on foot. Lord Chaturbhuj was established beside Lord Shiva under a tree and since then his regular worship started. It is also retold that there was a man from Patna who was another great worshipper of Shiva. Shiva came in his dreams and asked him to build a temple for him, saying he would get lots of fame and that he would be blessed with a child. As a result, he had the beautiful Chaturbhuj Temple built.
- Hathilwa-Mathh. About 40 km from Muzaffarpur is the famous temple, Hathilwa-Mathh dedicated to Radha-Krishna. While the Badi Masjid at Company Bagh and the Gurudwara at Ramna are definitely worth a visit.
- Kali Mata Temple Of Sikandarpur. This great temple is an icon of faith, worship and belief on Ma. It is situated on the south coast of "Gandak" river. Possibly, it was made in the year of 1932 by Darbhanga Maharaj Kamlesh Singh. Devotees come in masses to worship Ma.
- Katra Garh. The place is situated nearly 35 km northeast of Muzaffarpur. Katra Garh was one of the states of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar. It was then named as Akbarpur. Several idols, ornaments, earthen pots and other articles of historical importance have been found here in course of excavations.
- Khudi Ram Bose Memorial. A memorial tablet has been raised in the memory of Khudi Ram Bose & Prafool Chaki who was executed at Muzaffarpur Jail in the year 1908 on the charge of throwing a bomb on Kingsford, the then British District & Sessions Judge of Muzaffarpur. The memorial tablet is situated opposite the present residence of the District and Sessions Judge, and the road where they threw the bomb was named as Prafool Chaki Marg. As a proof, a sign board is there just in front of the Red Cross building.
- Rajkhand. It is situated about 5 km from headquarters of the Aurai block on Aurai-Saidpur road. There is an old temple of Bhairav Nath. A big cattle fair is held here every year on the occasion of Shivaratri festival.
- 4 Ram Chandra Shahi Museum. Ram Chandra Shahi Museum at Muzaffarpur was established in the year 1979. It has got its own building in the campus of Jubba Sahni Park. The museum possesses a very good collection including artifacts and numerous art-objects of varied nature. The museum is famous for its rich collection of rare postage stamps.
- 5 Ramna's Tripur Sundari Temple (Devi Mandir). Ramna's Tripur Sundari Temple attracts millions of Devotees Due to its aesthetic beauty and richness. A wealthy man, Shri Umashankar Prasad built this Beautiful and magnificent temple on 28th June 1941. It is said that it is really surprising to see that a man made temple attracts such big gathering of Devotees. This temple is also famous by the name of "Devi Temple" and Ma's beautiful idol mesmerizes one and all.
- Shri Ram Temple. Shri Ram temple is one of the famous religious places. Situated at "Sahu Pokhar" in Muzaffarpur, its status was kept as one of the "Navratna" temples. It is said that it was made by artists from Rajasthan. Later Shri Shiv Prasad Sahu of Sahu family took over the order and care taking of the temple and still Sahu family is doing the same. Within the premises the biggest temple is of "Shri Ram and Mata Janaki". Beside that "Mahadev" temple is there whose Shivling is India's third largest Shivling. Devotees come in masses to offer their prayers in this sacred temple.
- Simri Mai Temple Of Police Line. Near Muzaffarpur Engineering College in Avaas Nagar there is a famous "Devi Peeth", it is called Simri Mai. It is said that here to please "Bhagwati" coconut is broken. History tells that long ago there was an old lady who used to live in a hut near this place. During night she used to medidate for long hours. She took "Samadhi" on the 17th day of Navratra here. From that day this place has got a status of "Lokpeeth" and is famous by the name of "Simri Mai".
- Vaishno Devi Temple, Kalambagh Chowk: Near Kalambagh Chowk, Vaishno Devi Temple is famous for the Vaishno Devi sculpture that is a replica of Vaishno Devi, Jammu. The temple has numerous loyal devotees. During Navratra and other special Hindu festivals, the temple offers various activities like Ratjagran (whole night music and prayer). The offering of this temple is specially famous among locals. The famous Halwa, Chana prasad (pudding and black peas offerings) made in pure Ghee attracts hundreds of devotees and locals to participate in the temple's activities.
Buy
[edit]- Andi gola. Ration in retail and whole sale.
- Jawahar Chowk, lal road. Hardware and machinery.
- Kalyani Chawk. grocery, cloth, tailor, etc.
- Motijheel. clothes, crockery in retail.
- Saraiya Ganj. Complete miscellaneous products.
- Suta Patti. Clothes in bulk.
One of the major attractions of Muzaffarpur is the Lahthi (Lakh ki Churiyan/Bangles)
Eat
[edit]Do eat the jalebi, malpua, and lassi from the roadside shop at Santoshi Mata Mandir near railway station, one of its kind.
Taas and chura (a meat dish) near Laxmi Chowk.
Sweets like Rasmadhuri and many more delicious from Maharaja Sweets and Bharat Jalpan near Saraiyaganj and Vaishali Sweets near Chatta Chowk are also famous for dishes like rasgulla, rasmadhuri and chat.
Sleep
[edit]- Hotel Alight, Sariyaganj, ☏ +91 621-2245353, +91 9431471087 (mobile). Non A/c Room, ₹300/200/100, A/c, DB.-6, ₹700-900, A/C, ₹500
- Hotel Astha, Emalichatti, ☏ +91 621- 2210690. 6 Non A/c ₹300, 6 Sl. ₹200, 4 A/c. DB., ₹700, Sl ₹550
- Hotel Bihar, Emalichatti, ☏ +91 621-2213371. Non A/c DB.-11, ₹150-170, Sl Bd-7, ₹75-100
- Hotel Chandralok, Kalambagh Rd, Nayatola, ☏ +91 621-2243911-2266311. Total Room-20, Sl. ₹200-₹300, A/c DB. ₹550-₹650.
- Hotel Classic Executive, Akharaghat Rd (near Krishna Cinema). Semi-luxury hotel
- Hotel Embasy International, Bhagwanpur Chowk. 16 Non A/c DB. ₹200-₹350, 5A/c DB. ₹650
- 1 Hotel Kautilya, Emalichatti, ☏ +91 621-2223957. 5 DB., ₹214, 2,Sl Bd ₹103, 2 A/c DB., ₹535
- 2 Hotel Lichchavi Vihar, ☏ +91 621-2228512. 5 A/c Room, ₹700, 5 Non A/c ₹300.
- Hotel Midway, N.H. 28, Bhagwanpur, ☏ +91 621-2255694. 10 DB. Non A/c ₹200-₹250, Sl Bd ₹100,5 Air cool,₹300
- New Ambar Hotel, Emalichatti, ☏ +91 621- 2211149. 7 DB. Non A/c ₹200, 8 Sl Bd. ₹100
- Hotel Puja, Motijhil, ☏ +91 621-2242797. Non A/c ₹126-₹270, A/c DB.-₹750, Sl-₹375
- Hotel Rama, Emalichatti, ☏ +91 621-2210900. 15 Db. Non A/c. ₹200-₹250, 16 Sl Bd. Non A/c ₹125-₹150, 6 DB.A/c. ₹600, Sl. Bd. ₹400
- Hotel Ranjeet, Motijhil, ☏ +91 621-245751. Non A/c-₹150-₹300/₹80-₹200/A/c DB.Room- ₹1000/700/₹600/₹500, Sl ₹425
- Hotel Sanskar (Near Govt. Bus Stand), ☏ +91 621-2210589. Db. Non A/c ₹400, Sl Bd. ₹200, 9A/c,Db ₹750
- Hotel Satkar, Jawahar Lal Rd,, ☏ +91 621-2245340. 5 Non A/c, DB. ₹95-₹150, 2 Db,A/c ₹650, 5 Air cool, ₹250
- Hotel Swapanalok, Kalayani Chowk, ☏ +91 9304176447. Non A/c, DB.- ₹150, 2 DB. A/c. ₹450,Air cool, ₹250
- Hotel Swarga, N.H. 28, Bhagwanpur, ☏ +91 9835453457. 7 DB. Non A/c ₹200-₹300,3 DB.A/c. ₹600-800
- Hotel Tripati, Emalichatti, ☏ +91 9939871515. 5 DB., ₹300, ₹7Sl, Bd. ₹150
- Hotel UK, Sariyaganj, ☏ +91 621-3080099. 10,DB.A/c+3 Sl.Bd Ale, ₹850/₹650/₹550
Connect
[edit]Muzaffarpur Tourist Information Center, BSTDC Hotel Lichchavi Vihar, Phone: 0621-2228512.
Go next
[edit]You may also take a day’s excursion to Rajgir and Vaishali to see the historic places of Buddhist significance. Nalanda is also close by where the remnants of the Nalanda University, stupas, monasteries and temples are worth exploring. The artifacts that have been excavated are on exhibit in the Nalanda museum. Other nearby destinations are Sonepur, Digha, Patna, Bihar-Sharif, Pawapuri, Munghyer and Rajgir.