History & Geography of old Saran district

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Chhapra ( commonly mis-spelt Chapra or Chupra ) is head-quarter of Saran Division, which consists three districts, Siwan, Gopalganj and Chhapra (called Saran ) . Chhapra , ( Latitude - 25.47° North and Longitude - 84.47° East ) located in low, fertile Gangetic plain, has relatively cool, dry winters and hot summers with 750 mm. to 1350 mm. of rain annually. It is 70 Km. away from Patna , capital of Bihar and situated near the confluence of rivers, the Ganges and Ghaghara .
Gopalganj was a Sub-Division of Old Saran District . It was made separate district on 2nd October,1973 . District Rural Development Authority was established in 1979-80.
Chhapra has great importance in history.Chhapra is also the place where according to mythology, when God Shiva carried the dead body of Goddess Parvati from the holy Yagnakund of Daksha Prajapati, the neck of Parvati's body fell and the holy Shaktipeeth Ambika Sthan was established.This place is known as Ambika Sthan near Aami and is one among the 6 Shaktipeeths, eastablisehd in India.
Rishi Vishwamitra crossed this holy land alongwith Ram,Laxman and brothers on way to Janakpur(Mithila) to marry Sita.As per Ramayana , Ram had released Ahilya from her stone-statue status which is called Ahilya Uddhar , near Revelganj situated in the bank of river Sarayu.
Maharishi Dadhichi, who belongs to this land, has donated his ASTHI (bones) to Indra Bhagwan. With these bones Gods made vajra to kill Asuras. Maharshi Goutam made an Ashram at Godhna, near Revelganj.
The First President of Independent Republic of India, Dr.Rajendra Prasad born at Ziradei , now situated in Siwan district , on 3rd Dec.,1884. He studied at Zila School,Chhapra and stood First in the Entrance Examination in Bengal Presidency.
Mahatma Gandhi came and spoke at Women's Meeting at Sonepur on 16th January, 1927 and on the same day he addressed Public Meetings in Chhapra and Siwan also.
Bhikhari Thakur , popularly known as Shakespear of Bhojpuri, was born on 18th Dec.,1887 at Kutubpur (Diyara) village in Saran District. He was awarded "Padmashree" by The Govt of India. His literary creation alongwith Dramas (Bidesiya, Beti Bechawa etc.) and songs are praised and used to play and sing even now-a-days.He died on 10th July,1971.

About Saran

History of the District:-
The historical background of the district as available in Ain-E-Akbari records Saran as one of the six Sarkars( Revenue Divisions) constituting the province of Bihar, At the time of grant of Diwani to the East India company in 1765, there were eight Sarkars including Saran and Champaran. These two were later combined to form a single unit named Saran. Saran(along The historical background of the district- as available in thewith Champaran) was included in the Patna Division when the Commissioner's Divisions were set up in 1829. It was separated from Champaran in 1866 when it (Champaran) was constituted into a separate district. Saran was made a part of Tirhut Division when latter was created in 1908. By this time there were three subdivisions in this district namely Saran, Siwan and Gopalganj. In 1972 each subdivision of the old Saran district became an independent district. The new Saran district after separation of Siwan and Gopalganj still has its headquarters at Chapra.
Various hypothesis have been put forward about the origin of the name SARAN. General Cunningham suggested that Saran was earlier known as SARAN or asylum which was a name given to a stupa (Pillar) built by emperor Ashoka. Another view holds that the name SARAN has been derived from SARANGA- ARANYA or the deer forest, the district being famous for its wide expanses of forest and deer in prehistoric times. The earliest authentic historical fact or record concerning this district may perhaps be related to 898 A.D which suggest that the village of Dighwara dubauli in Saran had supplied a copper plate issued in the reign of king Mahendra paldeva.ss
Geographic allocation:-
The district of Saran is situated between 25°36' and 26°13' North latitude and 84°24' and 85°15' East longitude in the southern post of the newly created Saran Division of North Bihar. The Ganges constitute the Southern boundary of the district beyond which lie the districts of Bhojpur and Patna. To the north of Saran lie districts of Siwan and Gopalganj. The Gandak forms the dividing line with vaishali and Muzaffarpur district in the east. To the west of Saran lies district of Siwan and the district of Balia in Uttar Pradesh, the Ghaghra constituting a natural boundary between Saran and Ballia.
The district is shaped like a triangle with its apex at the confluence of boundary of Gopalganj district and Gandak-Ganga river there are three rivers namely the Ganga, Ghaghra, Gandak which encircle the district from south north east and western side respectively. The district is entirely constituted of plains but there are quite a few depressions and marshes, which cause the formation of three broad natural divisions.
I. The alluvial plains along the big rivers which are subjected to periodic inundation and prone to floods.
II. The region of uplands away from the rivers and not subject to floods.
III. The diara areas in the beds of the great rivers.
Out of twenty blocks in the districts, Six blocks viz Sonepur, Dighwara, Revelganj, Chapra, Manjhi and Dariyapur are affected by floods regularly. There are six partially flood affected blocks Viz. Garkha, Parsa, Marhoura, Amnaur, Jalalpur, and Ekma. The remaining blocks are free from floods. The soil of the district is alluvial. No mineral of economic value is found in the district.