Madhepura district

Madhepura district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Madhepura town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Madhepura district is a part of Kosi division.

History
Madhepura district is part of the Kosi—Seemanchal subregion of Mithila region of Bihar and the people here speak the Maithili language.

Madhepura was a part of Maurya Empire, this fact is asserted by the Mauryan pillar at Uda-kishunganj.

During British Raj, the district of Madhepura was dominated by the Yadav Zamindars of Murho Estate, who were the biggest landlords of the district.

Madhepura district as it stands now was carved out of Saharsa district and got the status of revenue district on 9 May 1981. Prior to that, Madhepura was a sub-division under Bhagalpur district with effect from 3 September 1845. It was on 1 April 1954 that Saharsa district was carved out with three subdivision Saharsa, Madhepura and Supaul of Bhagalpur district. The munsif court was established in 1865 at Madhepura, earlier it was in Kishanganj. Sub Judge Court was established here in 1944.

Geography
Madhepura district occupies an area of 1788 km2, comparatively equivalent to Russia's Bolshoy Shantar Island. Madhepura district is surrounded by Araria and Supaul district in the north, Khagaria and Bhagalpur district in the south, Purnia district in the east and Saharsa district in the West. It is situated in the Plains of River Koshi and located in the Northeastern part of Bihar at latitude between 25°. 34 to 26°.07' and longitude between 86° .19' to 87°.07'.

The district has 2 sub-divisions - Madhepura and Uda Kishunganj, 13 blocks, 13 police stations, 170 panchayats and 434 revenue villages. The total population of Madhepura, as per census of the year 2001 is 15,24,596 of which 7,96,272 are male and 7,29,324 are female. Literacy rate is 36.9% as against the national rate of 64.8% and state rate of 47%. The density of population is 859 per km2.

Climate
The maximum temperature of this district ranges from 35 to 45 C and the minimum temperature varies from 7 to 9 C. The average rainfall in this district is 1300 mm.

Politics

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Economy
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Madhepura one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

An electric locomotive factory has been set up at Madhepura by the Indian Railways in a joint venture with Alstom SA of France. The factory has the distinction of manufacturing the most powerful railway engine in India, the WAG-12.

Sub-divisions
Madhepura district comprises the following Sub-Divisions:
 * Madhepura
 * Udakishunganj

Blocks

 * Madhepura
 * Ghelardh
 * Singheshwar
 * Gamhariya
 * Shankarpur
 * Kumarkhand
 * Murliganj
 * Gwalpara
 * Bihariganj
 * Udakishunganj
 * Puraini
 * Alamnagar
 * Chousa

Demographics
According to the 2011 census Madhepura district has a population of 2,001,762, roughly equal to the nation of Slovenia. This gives it a ranking of 232nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1116 PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 30.65%. Madhepura has a sex ratio of 914 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 53.78%. 4.42% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 17.30% and 0.63% of the population respectively.

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 38.43% of the population spoke Maithili, 37.15% Hindi and 5.71% Urdu as their first language. 18.04% were classified as speaking a language under 'Other' Hindi in the census. Around 25% of total population of the district are of Yadav caste.

Religious place
Madhepura is also in the limelight for Singheshwar Temple that the Istha Linga of Lord Shiva established in it. The Barah Purana also refers to Singheshwar as Shringeshwar. Mahakavi Vidyapati also refers to it in his literature in the 14th century. The Valmiki Ramayana gives due reference of Rishi Shringa (Rishyasringa) Ashram. Lord Shiva has been imagined to be residing on the bank of his favourite and affectionate river Kosi in the epic Kumar Shambhavam written by Mahakavi Kalidas. As per another belief, Lord Vishnu himself established this linga. The present temple was erected by Kushan dynasty. In early survey, the temple is recorded in the name of one Bhanu Das. They say that a night's stay at Singheswar gives the fruit of the gift of thousand cows.
 * Singeshwar temple
 * Dakini Sthan, Alamnagar Block

Nayanagar Bhagwati Sthan, Nayanagar, Gwalpara Block

Baba Vishu Raut, Lowalagan. Chousa Kali mandir, Ramnagar [kumarkhand block]

Government institutions and courts
Governmental institutions in Madhepura include:
 * Municipal Corporation
 * Collectorate
 * Office of the Divisional Commissioner
 * District Court, Madhepura
 * Urban Improvement Trust (UIT)

Health services
Healthcare is provided by a combination of public and private-sector hospitals.
 * Sadar Hospital, Madhepura
 * Madhipura Christian Hospital.

Education
834 Govt. schools are imparting education in the district. Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University is situated at the district headquarter, Madhepura and adding glory to the educational atmosphere of this district.

List of educational institutes
(Website)
 * B.N.Mandal University Mahepura
 * P.Sc.College,
 * Commerce College,
 * Madhepura College,
 * C.M.Sc College,
 * R.P.M. College
 * Jawahar Navodaya vidyalaya,
 * Shiv Nandan Prasad Mandal High School
 * Rash Bihari High School
 * Kiran Public School, Holy Cross, Holy angels, (Website)
 * B R Oxford Residential Public School, Murliganj Madhepura (Website)
 * SAMIDHA GROUP
 * Madhepura Public School
 * K.P.College Murligang
 * B.L.High School Murligang
 * Parasmani High School Babu Babhni
 * Govt. High School Amari Murliganj Madhepura
 * M.M. High School Kumarkhand
 * Project kanya High school Kumarkhand
 * Durgapur, bhddhi, Manguwar
 * Ved Vyas Inter College Amleshwar Nagar Madhepura
 * Ved Vyas Degree College Amleshwar Nagar Madhepura
 * St Williams Residential School, Karpuri Chowk, Madhepura
 * Holy Cross Girls School, Shastri Nagar Madhepura
 * South Point Public School, Main Road Madhepura
 * Holy Cross School, N. H. 107 Chakla Chowk Madhepura
 * Maya Vidya Niketan, Naya Nagar, Madanpur, Madhepura
 * DeiGratia International School,Tuniyahi Uttarwari, Madhepura, Bihar.

Transport
Madhepura is connected with road ways and railways.
 * See the Block-wise transport Map here.

Roadways
The district is connected with neighbouring districts and with nearby cities outside the state. National highway No.107 and National Highway No.106 passes through the district.

Daily buses carry passengers inter-state as well as within the city.

Railways
The district is linked with broad gauge Rail of North Eastern Railway. It is connected to Patna, Bihar. The Town is a halt for around 4 trains.

Airways
Nearest Airport is at 116.8 km in Darbhanga via SH-56 and supaul.

Media
The Radio Stations are following:

Newspapers

 * YTR NEWS
 * Dainik Jagran
 * Dainik Bhaskar
 * Hindustan
 * Madhepura Times
 * Prabhat Khabar

Festivals
Eid, bakraeid,Shivratri is the most celebrated festival of Madhepura. Common Indian Festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Durga Puja, Vijayadashami, Saraswati puja and Moharram are celebrated with great pomp and show in the city.

Notable person

 * Rash Bihari Lal Mandal, Zamindar of Murho Estate.
 * Kamleshwari Prasad Yadav, politician
 * B.P. Mandal, 7th Chief Minister of Bihar and chairman of the Second Backward Classes Commission (popularly known as the Mandal Commission).