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East Champaran district

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East Champaran district
District of Bihar
Clockwise from top: Bhimalpur Forest, Kesariya Stupa, Lauriya Araraj pillar of Ashoka, George Orwell's birthplace, Motihari station in 1906
Coat of arms of East Champaran district
Coat of arms
Location of East Champaran district in Bihar
Location of East Champaran district in Bihar
Coordinates (Motihari): 26°39′00″N 84°55′30″E / 26.65000°N 84.92500°E / 26.65000; 84.92500
Country India
State Bihar
DivisionTirhut
HeadquartersMotihari
Urban local bodies (ULBs)9[1]
Government
 • District Magistrate (DM)Saurabh Suman Yadav (IAS)[2]
 • Superintendent of Police (SP)Swarn Prabhat (IPS)[3]
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesPurvi Champaran, Paschim Champaran, Sheohar
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesRaxaul, Sugauli, Narkatiya, Harsidhi, Govindganj, Kesaria, Kalyanpur, Pipra, Madhuban, Motihari, Chiraia, Dhaka
Area
 • Total
3,968 km2 (1,532 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
5,099,371
 • Density1,285/km2 (3,328/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy55.79 per cent (2011)
 • Sex ratio901
Language
 • OfficialHindi[4]
 • Additional officialUrdu[5]
 • RegionalBhojpuri
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
PIN
845401 (East Champaran)[6]
Vehicle registrationBR-05
Major highways
Average annual precipitation1241 mm
Websiteeastchamparan.nic.in

East Champaran district, or Purvi Champaran district is an administrative district in the Tirhut division of the state of Bihar in India. The district headquarter is located at Motihari. Prior to 1971, there was a single Champaran District. On 1 December 1971, it was divided into East and West Champaran (Purvi and Paschimi Champaran). In early days the land of East Chamapran was ruled by different kingdoms as Videha, Sunga, Kanvas. It is also believed that Champaran used to be a major part of King Janak's empire. Mahatma Gandhi started his famous Satyagraha movement from here.[citation needed][7]

About district

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East Champaran District is functioning from 2 November 1972. The headquarter of the district is at Motihari. It is situated at 26° 16′ to 27° 1′ North latitude and 84° 30′ to 85° 16′ East longitudes. Nepal makes its northern boundary, Sitamarhi and Sheohar eastern while Muzaffarpur South and with part of Gopalganj and West Champaran bounds it in western side.[8]

The district occupies an area of 3,969 km2 (1,532 sq mi) and has a population of 5,099,371 (as of 2011). East Champaran is a part of Tirhut Division.[9] It was earlier part of the Red Corridor.

As of 2011, it is the second most populous district of Bihar (out of 38), after Patna.[10]

East Champaran is the second most crowded district of Bihar. The district gets its name from the union of two words, champa and aranya. Champa alludes to scented blossom trees and Aranya alludes to the home or an encased spot. The name began back in when the district was encircled by a backwoods of magnolia (champa) trees.

Geography

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The East Champaran district occupies an area of 3,968 square kilometres (1,532 sq mi),[11] comparatively equivalent to Vanuatu's Espiritu Santo.[12] Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Baghmati are important rivers flowing through this region.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
19011,027,835—    
19111,095,530+0.64%
19211,114,162+0.17%
19311,231,756+1.01%
19411,376,352+1.12%
19511,443,961+0.48%
19611,681,089+1.53%
19711,956,084+1.53%
19812,425,501+2.17%
19913,043,061+2.29%
20013,939,773+2.62%
20115,099,371+2.61%
source:[13]
Religions in East Champaran district (2011)[14]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 80.14%
Islam
 
 19.42%
Other or not stated
 
 0.44%

According to the 2011 census East Champaran district has a population of 5,099,371,[10] roughly equal to the United Arab Emirates[15] or the US state of Colorado.[16] This gives it a ranking of 21st in India (out of a total of 640).[10] The district has a population density of 1,281 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,320/sq mi).[10] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 29.01%.[10] East Champaran has a sex ratio of 901 females for every 1000 males,[10] and a literacy rate of 55.79%. 7.87% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 12.74% and 0.24% of the population respectively.[10]

Languages

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Languages in East Champaran district (2011)[17]
  1. Bhojpuri (82.7%)
  2. Urdu (7.33%)
  3. Hindi (7.06%)
  4. 'Other' Hindi (2.58%)
  5. Bengali (0.26%)
  6. Others (0.10%)

According to the 2011 census, 82.67% of the population spoke Bhojpuri, 7.33% Urdu and 7.06% Hindi as their first language. 2.58% of the population spoke 'Others' under Hindi. Bhojpuri is the local language in the district.[17][18]

Urban development

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The rapidly developing urban centres of East Champaran district include Raxaul, Mehsi and Motihari, which serves as the district headquarters. These towns have emerged as important centres of trade, transport, education, municipal administration, and regional connectivity in northern Bihar.[19][20]

Motihari is centrally located among these urban centres and functions as the administrative headquarters of the district.[21]

Mehsi is an important industrial and commercial town in East Champaran district, Bihar. The Government of Bihar identifies the Mehsi Shell Button Cluster as one of the district's existing manufacturing clusters. Mehsi is nationally known for its pearl button industry, described by the Government of Bihar as the only industry of its kind in India. Owing to its strategic location near the Muzaffarpur district boundary and its road and rail connectivity, Mehsi functions as an important commercial and service centre for the surrounding areas of East Champaran and adjoining parts of Muzaffarpur district. The town serves nearby settlements such as Madhuban, Chakia, Tetaria, Salemppur, Minapur, Sahebganj, Motipur, Barji, And Parsouninath through its markets, transport links and commercial activities.[22] [23]

Politics

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District No. Constituency Name Party Alliance Remarks
East Champaran 10 Raxaul Pramod Kumar Sinha BJP NDA
11 Sugauli Rajesh Kumar LJP(RV)
12 Narkatiya Vishal Kumar JD(U)
13 Harsidhi (SC) Krishnanandan Paswan BJP
14 Govindganj Raju Tiwari LJP(RV)
15 Kesaria Shalini Mishra JD(U)
16 Kalyanpur Sachindra Prasad Singh BJP
17 Pipra Shyambabu Prasad Yadav
18 Madhuban Rana Randhir Singh
19 Motihari Pramod Kumar Minister
20 Chiraia Lal Babu Prasad Gupta
21 Dhaka Faisal Rahman RJD MGB

Literature

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Ramesh Chandra Jha was the first person to record the literary history of Champaran. His notable works include Champaran Ki Sahitya Sadhana (चम्पारन की साहित्य साधना) (1958), Champaran: Literature & Literary Writers (चम्पारन: साहित्य और साहित्यकार) (1967) and Apne Aur Sapne:A Literary Journey Of Champaran (अपने और सपने: चम्पारन की साहित्य यात्रा) (1988).[24]

Notable places

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Bhimalpur Forest

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Bhimalpur Forest near Mehsi

Bhimalpur Forest is an emerging eco-tourism and biodiversity site located in Bhimalpur village in Mehsi, a town in the East Champaran district of Bihar, India.[25] The forest area lies near the Burhi Gandak River and has gained attention for its greenery, afforestation programmes, and proposed biodiversity park development.[26]

Gandak Biodiversity Park area in Bhimalpur

The forest has been developed through plantation and environmental conservation initiatives supported by the Government of Bihar and local administrative authorities. Large-scale plantation drives were conducted in the area under afforestation campaigns, including the “Didi Ki Paudhshala” initiative, which contributed to increasing green cover and ecological restoration in the region.[27][28]

Burhi Gandak River near Bhimalpur Forest

Bhimalpur Forest is known for its natural scenery, riverine environment, and biodiversity. Wildlife reported from the surrounding region includes nilgai, peafowl, jackals, and several species of migratory birds.[29] The area is being developed as an eco-tourism destination with proposals for boating facilities, walking tracks, medicinal plant zones, nature trails, and visitor infrastructure.[30]

Afforestation area in Bhimalpur

The forest is situated approximately 7 kilometres from Mehsi town and is considered one of the notable natural attractions of the Mehsi region. Local media reports have described the site as Bihar’s first proposed biodiversity park in a forest area near the Gandak basin.[31]

Forest landscape in Bhimalpur

Someshwar Nath Mandir, Areraj

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Someshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir is a well established temple situated in Areraj. The significant divinity of the heavenly temple is of Lord Shiva. Explorers and pilgrims of Lord Shiva go to the holy place from India as well as from Nepal. The merriments on the event of an occasional reasonable known as Shrawani Mela, during July and August. There are numerous different temples nearby around and thus just Areraj is known as the holy place of East Champaran.

Ashokan Pillar

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Ashoka Pillar

Ashokan Pillar is situated in Lauria Nandangarh, or Lauriya Navandgarh which is a city or town around 14 km from Narkatiaganj and 28 km from Bettiah in West Champaran district of Bihar state in northern India. It is found near the banks of the Budhi Gandak River. Lauriya Nandangarh is a chronicled place which goes under West Champaran district of Bihar.

Kesariya

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Kesariya Baudha Stupa

Kesariya is arranged on the eastern banks of the River Gandak and views the enormous 104-feet-tall stupa, which is viewed as the tallest Buddhist stupa. In like manner, Kesariya orders conspicuous situations in East Champaran the travel industry just as history of Buddhism. The stupa was found in the year 1998.

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Stone pillar at the Gandhi Museum

References

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  1. ↑ "Urban Local Bodies". East Champaran District, Government of Bihar. National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Collector & District Magistrate - East Champaran". East Champaran District Administration. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "Superintendent of Police - East Champaran". East Champaran District Administration. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "The Bihar Official Language Act, 1950" (PDF). Cabinet Secretariat Department, Government of Bihar. 1950. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Benedikter, Thomas (2009). Language Policy and Linguistic Minorities in India: An Appraisal of the Linguistic Rights of Minorities in India. Münster: LIT Verlag. p. 89. ISBN 978-3-643-10231-7. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. ↑ East Champaran
  7. ↑ Bihar and Orissa District Gazetteers: Champaran. Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa. 1938. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "चंपारण का ऐतिहासिक शहर मेहसी, मुगल काल में था परगना". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Tirhut Division". tirhut-muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "District Census Handbook: East Champaran" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  11. ↑ Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) (2010). "States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. pp. 1118–1119. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  12. ↑ "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Archived from the original on 3 January 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Espiritu Santo 3,956km2
  13. ↑ "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar" (PDF). census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  14. ↑ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  15. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. United Arab Emirates 5,148,664
  16. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Colorado 5,029,196
  17. 1 2 "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  18. ↑ Experts, Arihant (19 November 2019). Know Your State Bihar. Arihant Publications India limited. ISBN 978-93-131-9975-5.
  19. ↑ "Sub-division & Block". East Champaran District Administration. Government of Bihar. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Geography of Motihari". Bihar Online. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "East Champaran District at a Glance". Apna Motihari. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Mehsi Button Industry". East Champaran District. Government of Bihar. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Potential Industry". East Champaran District. Government of Bihar. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Apne Aur Sapne : Online PDF book at Archive.org
  25. ↑ "Mehsi Town". Census of India. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "Man-made forest takes shape of tourist site in East Champaran". The Times of India. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  27. ↑ "Man-made forest takes shape of tourist site in East Champaran". The Times of India. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  28. ↑ "Bihar afforestation and plantation initiatives". Government of Bihar. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "Man-made forest takes shape of tourist site in East Champaran". The Times of India. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "Biodiversity park Bhimalpur jungle will become the first tourist destination of North Bihar". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  31. ↑ "Biodiversity park Bhimalpur jungle will become the first tourist destination of North Bihar". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 7 May 2026.
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