The district of Saran falls under the state of Bihar, India. Covering an area of
2,641 sq. kms, Saran has a total population of 25, 72,980. Its headquarters is located
at Saran. It is also known as Chapra.
Agriculture is the main stay and paddy, wheat and sugar cane are the major crops
grown there. The sugar factories in the region contribute the most to the industrial
scenario of Saran.
The Places having Tourist attraction are Aami, Sonepur, Dhorh Ashram, Goutam Asthan,
Silhauri, and Chirand.
History
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.
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