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Sasaram
Sasaram City Region (UA)
Location in Sasaram block
Sasaram Location in Bihar, India Show map of India Sasaram Sasaram (Bihar) Show map of Bihar
Coordinates: 24°57?N 84°02?E / 24.95°N 84.03°E / 24.95; 84.03Coordinates: 24°57?N 84°02?E / 24.95°N 84.03°E / 24.95; 84.03
Country	India
State	Bihar
Region	Shahabad
Division	Patna Division
District	Rohtas
Ward	40
Named for	Sahashram
Government
o Type	Municipal Corporation (Updated)
o Body	Sasaram Municipal Corporation
o Chairman	Kanchan Devi (BJP)
o District Magistrate(DM)	Pankaj Dixit (IAS)
o MP	Chhedi Paswan (BJP)
o Superintendent of Police(SP)	Satya Veer Singh (IPS)
Elevation	110 m (360 ft)
Population (2014)[1]
o Total	147,425 (UA) 358,283
o Rank	101st
Demonym(s)	Sasaramite
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	821115, 821113, 821114
Telephone code	06184
Vehicle registration	BR-24
Railway Station	Sasaram Junction Railway station

Sasaram sometimes also spelled as Sahasram, is a city in Bihar state of India. In ancient time it was a gateway of "Vihar" to visit Gaya, Rajgrih and Nalanda area and during prehistoric period Lord Buddha has passed through this way to be enlightened with verity & wisdom under Mahabodhi tree in Gaya.

Modern Sasaram city covers the largest sub-metropolitan area of Bihar. It has many famous religious and historical spots to visit such as Shershah tomb, Rohtasgarh fort, Indrapuri Dam, Shergarh fort, Sacred Tarachandi Shaktipith, Gupta Dham, Tutla Bhawani temple and the many, the entire area is surrounded by the most scenic mountain beauty of Kaimur range, and many exotic waterfalls about 200 exists near around city area as per Akbarnama in mountain range, most famous among them are Manjharkund,Dhuvan Kund, Sitakund and Tutla Bhavani waterfalls and rivers like Sone.

Sasaram city is located in the middle of its other sub-towns like Nokha & Kudra which has a large number of agriculture based industries and the city is also emerging as an educational hub.^[] It is situated in the middle of other industrial twin towns like Dehri-on-sone, Dalmianagar, Sonnagar, Amjhor, Nokha and Banjari.

The main posh places of the sub-metropolitan area are Raj Colony, Gauraxni, New Area, Tomb Area and Fazalganj commercial zones, Sahu Cinemax - Mall & Railway cricket stadium area. Several malls have been opened along with the best 3-4 star hotels with good medical facilities in the city and is a medical hub of old Shahabad District too.

Sasaram city Region is the administrative headquarters of Rohtas District, Bihar India. It became a district carved out from Shahabad District in 1972. This district headquarter is best known for having the highest literacy rate and highest agricultural & forest cover area of Bihar^[]. Sasaram is also the headquarters of a community development block of the same name, with a total population of 358,283 as of 2011, making it the most populous block in Rohtas district.^[2]

It is known for the production of cement, fertilizers, stone chips, and for the quarrying industry and also Sasaram district is popularly known as the "bowl of rice".

Major languages spoken in this region are Bhojpuri, Hindi, English and Urdu; religions include Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Jainism.

History

During the Vedic age, Sasaram was a part of the ancient Kashi kingdom. Sasaram name is originated from the Sahastrarama, meaning a thousand groves. Sasaram was once also named Shah Serai (meaning "Place of King") as it is the birthplace of the Afghan king Sher Shah Suri, who ruled over Delhi, much of northern India, what is now Pakistan, and eastern Afghanistan for five years, after defeating the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Many of Sher Shah Suri's governmental practices were adopted by the Mughals and the British Raj including taxation, administration, and the building of a paved road from Kabul to Bengal, also called the Grand Trunk Road.

Sher Shah Suri's 122 feet (37 m) red sandstone tomb, built in the Indo-Afghan style stands in the middle of an artificial lake in Sasaram. It borrows heavily from the Lodhi style, and was once covered in blue and yellow glazed tiles indicating an Iranian influence. The massive free standing dome also has an aesthetic aspect of the Buddhist stupa style of the Mauryan period. The tomb of Sher Shah's father Hasan Khan Suri is also at Sasaram, and stands in the middle of a green field at Sherganj, which is known as Sukha Rauza. About a kilometer to the north west of Sher Shah's tomb lies the incomplete and dilapidated tomb of his son and successor, Islam Shah Suri.^[3] Sasaram also has a Baulia, a pool used by the emperor's consorts for bathing.

The fort of Sher Shah Suri at Rohtasgarh is in Sasaram. This fort has a history dating back to the 7th century AD. It was built by Raja Harishchandra, known for his truthfulness in the name of his son Rohitashwa. It houses the Churasan temple, Ganesh temple, diwan-e khas, diwan-e-aam, and various other structures dating back to different centuries. The fort also served as the headquarters of Raja Man Singh during his reign as the governor of Bihar and Bengal under the regime of Akbar. The Rohtaas fort in Bihar should not be confused with another fort of the same name, near Jhelum, Punjab, in what is now Pakistan. The Rohtaas fort in Sasaram was also built by Sher Shah Suri, during the period when Humayun was exiled from Hindustan.

There is a temple of Goddess Tarachandi, two miles to the south, and an inscription of Pratap Dhawal on the rock close to the temple of Chandi Devi. Hindus in large number assemble to worship the goddess. Dhuwan Kund, located about 36 km (22 mi). Gupta Dham is also a tourist destination and religious place, situated in the Chenari Block of this district. This place is a famous centre of Shiva-Aradhana. Hindus in large numbers assemble here to worship the Lord Shiva. The two waterfalls have enough capacity to generate 50-100 MW of electricity, if utilized properly.^[]

There are several monuments near Sasaram, the headquarter of Rohtas district, including Akbarpur, Deomarkandey, Rohtas Garh, Shergarh, TaraChandi, Dhuwan Kund, Gupta Dham, Bhaluni Dham, Historical Gurudwara and Tombs of Chandan Shaheed, Hasan Khan Sur, Sher Shah, Salim Sah and Alawal Khan.

Rohtas, south of Sasaram, is known to have been the residence of one Satyawadi Raja Harischandra, named for his son, Rohitashwa.

Samadhi of Shree Shree 1008 Shree Swami Parmeshwara Nand Ji Maharaj, also known as Adwait Ashram, Dakshin Kutia, situated in Parampuri (Raipur Chaur) 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Sasaram. Adwait Ashram has about 24 branches over the country in many states. The headquarters is in Sasaram, and is also known as Navlakha Ashram.

Babu Nishan Singh who was the general of Babu Kunwar Singh's army fighting against the British during the 1857 GADAR freedom struggle, came from Sasaram. Jainath Bhawan is a grand mansion built by a magistrate named Babu Harihar Prasad Verma, and his wife Uma Devi Verma, in 1945. The mansion is named for Babu Jainath Prasad, who was a Zamindar and the first lawyer to practice in English.^[vague] A secondary school founded by Uma Devi Verma, named Harihar Uma Madhyamik Vidyalaya, still runs at the Meyari Bazar, although it is now administered by the government.

Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka

Sasaram is also famous for an inscription by Ashoka (one of the thirteen Minor Rock Edicts), situated in a small cave of Kaimur hill, near Chandan Shaheed.

The edict is located near the top of the terminal spur of the Kimur Range near Sasaram.^[4] There is the Minor rock edict #1 only^[5] Ashoka famously mentions pre-existing stone pillars in the Edict: "...And where there are stone pillars here in my dominion, there also cause it to be engraved.". 24°56?29?N 84°02?18?E / 24.94138°N 84.03833°E / 24.94138; 84.03833

The Sasaram Edict (Minor Rock Edict No.1 only).

1. Devanampriya [speaks] thus.
2. .................. years since I am a lay-worshipper (upasaka).
3. But (I had) not been very zealous.
4. A year and somewhat more (has passed) since ............
5. And men in Jambudvipa, being during that time unmingled with the gods, have (now) been made (by me) mingled with the gods.
6. [For] this is the fruit [of zeal].
7. ...........cannot be reached by (persons of) high rank alone, (but) even a lowly (person) is able to attain even the great heaven if he is zealous.
8. Now, for the following purpose (has) this proclamation (been issued), (that) both the lowly and the exalted may be zealous, and (that) even (my) borderers may know (it), and (that this) zeal may be of long duration,
9. And this matter will (be made by me to) progress, and will (be made to) progress even considerably; it will (be made to) progress to one and a half, to at least one and a half.
10. And this proclamation (was issued by me) on tour.
11. Two hundred and fifty-six nights (had then been) spent on tour, -- (in figures) 256.
12. And cause ye this matter to be engraved on rocks.
13. And where there are stone pillars here (in my dominions), there also cause (it) to be engraved.

-- Sasaram Edict (Translated in Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch)^[6]

• 

  The Edict is located on top of the terminal spur of the Kimur range.

• 

  The name Jambud?pasi for "India" (Brahmi script) in the Sahasram Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka, circa 250 BCE.^[7][8]

• 

  Transcription of the Edict.

• 

  The number "256" towards the end of the Edict.

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri

Coordinates: 24°56?N 84°01?E / 24.933°N 84.017°E / 24.933; 84.017

Mausoleum of Sher Shah

Mausoleum of Hasan Shah

This site is included in UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Tentative list.^[9]

Tomb of Sher Shah, built in the middle of the town, is one of the noblest specimens of Pathan architecture in India, is an imposing structure of stone, standing in the middle of a fine tank, and was built towards the middle of sixteenth century. Its height from the floor to the apex of the dome is 101 feet (31 m) and its total height above the water is over 150 feet (46 m) feet. The octagon forming the tomb has an interior diameter of 75 feet (23 m) feet and an exterior diameter of 104 feet (32 m) feet. The tomb is the second highest in India which attracts tourists. The tomb of Shershah Suri at Sasaram is an imposing structure of stone standing in the middle of a fine tank and rising from a large stone terrace. This terrace rests obliquely on a platform with a flight of steps leading to the water's edge. The upper terrace is enclosed by a battlemented parapet wall with octagonal domed chambers at four corners, two small projecting pillared balconies on each of its four sides and pierced with a doorway in the east forms the only approach to the tomb. In the middle of the upper terrace stands the building of the mausoleum on a low octagonal plinth. The building consists of a very large octagonal chamber surrounded by a wide verandah on al the four sides. Internally, the verandah is covered by a series of 24 small domes, each supported on four arches but as the roof is a pillared cupola adorned by panels of white glazed tiles now much discoloured. The tomb chamber has three lofty arches on each of the eight sides. They rise 22 feet (6.7 m) higher than the verandah roof and support the magnificent and lofty dome which is one of the largest domes in India. Surrounding the main dome are eight pillared cupolas on the corners of the octagon of the chamber walls. The interior of the tomb is sufficiently well ventilated and lighted through large windows on the top portion of the walls fitted with stone jalis in varying patterns. The jambs and spandrils of the arch of the mihrab on the western wall were once profusely adorned with verses from the Quran and inscriptions, with glazed tiles of various colours arranged in geometrical patterns and with floral carvings in stone enclosed in enamel borders. Much of this decoration has vanished already. Traces of similar decoration in enamel or glazed tile works are also to be scen on the interior of the dome, the walls and the cupolas on the outside. In a small arched recess above the mihrab on the outside wall is an inscription in two lines recording the completion of the tomb by his son and successor Salim or Islam Shah, some three months after the death of Sher Shah who died in A.H. 952 (A.D.1545). It is second largest dome of India.

The tomb of Hasan Khan Sur, father of Sher Shah is also located in the town. This tomb is also known as Sukha Roza.

Geography

Sasaram is located at 24°57?N 84°02?E / 24.95°N 84.03°E / 24.95; 84.03.^[10] It has an average elevation of 200 metres (660 ft).

Climate

As Sasaram is surrounded by hills from two sides, its climate is seasonable. The climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification sub-type for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).^[11]

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Sasaram had a population of 247,408 but in urban agglomeration. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sasaram has an average literacy rate of 80.26%, higher than the national average of 74%; male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 75%. In Sasaram, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.^[13]

Sasaram is the 16th most populous city in bihar.

Governance

The eKiosk (Sahaj Vasudha Kendra, Jamuhar)

SAHAJ Vasudha Kendra, the first "Common Service Centre", or "eKiosk", in Rohtas District was inaugurated in Jamuhar village on 15 August 2008. The centre is currently planning to start a block information Centre, e-district plan, and Sawan Sasaram.

Lok Sabha constituency

Sasaram (Lok Sabha constituency) is one of the 40 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Bihar state in eastern India.

Vidhan Sabha constituency

Sasaram (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is one of 243 legislative assembly of Bihar. It is comes under Sasaram lok sabha constituency.^[14]

Economy

The closure of the industries of the Dalmia Group at Dalmianagar resulted in widespread unemployment. Sasaram's economy is mainly driven by agriculture and related industries like rice polishing. The canal irrigation system is also very prominent in this area. Because of the fertile land around the town it is a local trading center for food grains, agricultural products, and agricultural equipment. The region is known as Dhan Ka Katora, meaning "a bowl of food grains". The rice grown near Sasaram is sold in the markets of Kolkata and New Delhi. The only significant industry is rock quarrying.

Transportation

Road

Sasaram is well connected both by road and railways. The NH 19 (old number: NH 2; Grand Trunk Road) passes through the city. The main mode of local transportation are buses operated by both private operators and the state government. The private buses are more frequent and connected to most of the local bazaars. NH 19 connects Delhi in the north-west via Varanasi, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Kanpur and Kolkata in East via Gaya, Dhanbad.

There are also many AC buses available for Sasaram to New Delhi, Patna, Bokaro,Ranchi, Tata.

Railway

Sasaram has a big size railway junction. The station belongs to A+ class category with 8 to 9 platforms. The station has to be developed as the world-class & world heritage which is located at the centre of the city on the Grand Trunk Road. Sasaram's other stations are Shivsagar, kumahu, Nokha, Karwandiya, Pahleja and Dehri on Sone.

Sasaram station is 101 Kilometers away from Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhaya station (less than 1.5 hours) and about 120 km (75 mi), or two hours journey from Varanasi, and 101 km (63 mi) from Gaya station. Gaya station is 20 km (12 mi) away Bodh Gaya, the most sacred place in Buddhism. Trains run from Sasaram to Kolkata, Ara, Ranchi, Patna, New Delhi, and Bikramganj, Bombay.

The trains which stop in Sasaram include Ajmer seldah, Kalka Mail, Purushottam Express, Mahabodhi Express, Ranchi Garib Rath, Kolkata Mail, Jodhpur Howrah Express, Chambal Express, Shipra Express, Chennai Egmore Express, Nandan Kanan Express, Neelanchal Express and Poorva Express, Jallianwalabagh Express, Durigana Express, Garbha Express, Dikshabhoomi Express and New Delhi- Bhagalpur Express

A direct weekly AC train had been started from Sasaram to Anand Vihar Terminal in July 2011 (22409/22410 - Sasaram - Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express). However, now this AC train runs between Gaya and Anand Vihar Terminal, still stopping at Sasaram Junction.

Airport

Sasaram has also a small and old airport called Suara Airport. A new airport is proposed to be established in near future.^{[when?][15][16]}

Education

Sasaram is the sixth most literate city in Bihar, with Rohtas being the most literate district in Bihar.^[17]

There are four government colleges, although many students prefer to go to more developed cities for quality education, such as Bangalore, New Delhi, Pune, Patna, Varanasi and Puducherry, for higher education. A new engineering college has been set up in the region.

This is Place is also known for preparation of competitive exams at Sasaram Railway junction.^[18] According to earlier natives of this city, there was not proper electrification of city around 2007 - 2008 which hampered the studies of students seeking for competitive exams. Indian Railways had 24 hours power supply at Sasaram junction. This led a small group of students to study there at night under electric lights.

Universities

• Gopal Narayan Singh University,^{[19][20][circular reference]}
• Babu Jagjivan Ram Central University (Under construction)
• Shershah College Open University
• Sasaram Agricultural University (Proposed)

Medical colleges

• Narayan Medical College and Hospital^[21]
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Sasaram [Proposed]^[22]
• Mahatma Phule Medical College and Hospital, Muradabad, Sasaram^[23]
• Sher Shah Suri Medical Hospital & Training college, Sasaram

Engineering colleges

• Shershah College of Engineering,^{[24][25][circular reference]}

Government colleges

• Shanti Prasad Jain College, Sasaram [a facilitation branch of Veer Kunwar Singh University, Arrah ],^[26][27][28]
• Shri Shankar College, Sasaram^[29]
• Sher Shah College, Sasaram^[30]
• Rohtas Mahila College, Sasaram^[31]

Other colleges

• Hari Narain Singh Institute of Teachers Education (HNSITE)^[32]
• Sri Shankar Rajkiya Inter College^[33]
• Government Polytechnic, Dehri, Sasaram
• Jagannath Mishra Law College, Sasaram

Major schools

• M. P. High School, Adda Road, Sasaram
• Rama Rani Jain Girls High School, Choukhandi Road, Sasaram
• Bal Vikas Vidyalaya, Tomb Road, Sasaram^[34]
• Bal Bharti Public School, Sasaram^[35]
• D.A.V. Public school, Admapur, Sasaram^[36]
• St. Paul's School, Sasaram^[37]
• St. Xavier's School, Jagdev Nagar, Nooran Ganj, Sasaram^[38]
• G.S. Residential School, Malwar Road, Sasaram^[39]
• St. Jeelani's Public School, Shahjuma, Sasaram^[40]
• Pragya Niketan Public School, Falzalganj, Sasaram ^[41]

Villages

Besides the city of Sasaram itself, there are 171 villages in Sasaram block, of which 144 are inhabited and 27 are uninhabited. The total rural population of Sasaram block is 210,875, in 34,336 households.^[2]

Notable people

• Sher Shah Suri: Emperor of India, conquered Mughal Empire defeating 2nd Mughal emperor Humayun.
• Babu Jagjivan Ram: former Deputy Prime Minister of India^{[42][circular reference]}
• Meira Kumar: former Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India^{[43][circular reference]}
• Vijay Kumar: Renowned biologist
• Rameshwar Singh Kashyap, Bhojpuri playwright and author.
• Ritesh Pandey, Bhojpuri actor and singer
• Sumitr : Last Suryavanshi king of Ayodhya (Oudh/ Awadh) of lineage of Kusha took shelter after rise of Nanda Empire whose descendant Kachwaha Rajput shifted around Dhundhar (Jaipur) around 10th century and took the power from Badgujar.
• Kavi Kumar Azad: famous for his role in TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as Dr. Hansraj Hathi
• Babu Nishan Singh: freedom fighter and general of Kunwar Singh's army in revolt of 1857. (born in the village 'Baddi'; 15 km (9.3 mi) away from Sasaram
• Chhedi Paswan, member of parliament
• Jyoti Prakash Nirala: recipient of Ashok Chakra posthumously in 2018

See also

• Shergarh Fort

References

External links

• Sasaram travel guide from Wikivoyage