Sahibganj district General information

Sahebganj district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state, India, and Sahebganj is the administrative headquarters of this district.

History

The history of Sahibganj district is rich and interesting. It centers mainly around the history of Rajmahal,Teliagarhi Fort and Sahibganj Town itself. The history of Sahibganj district is inseparable from the history of its parent district of Santhal Pargana with its headquarters at Dumka and is inter-related with the histories of Godda, Dumka, Deoghar and Pakur districts.

    As a direct consequence of the Santhal Hul or Rebellion of 1854-55 led by Sido and Kanu brothers Santhal Pargana has been created as a separate district in 1855 by ceding portions of Bhagalpur (which is presently in Bihar) and Birbhum (which is presently in West Bengal) district. The entire Santhal Pargana along with portions of the present Hazaribagh, Munger,Jamui, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Saharsa, a part of Purnia and Bhagalpur, districts was termed as “Jungle Terai” by the English on assumption of Diwani in Sept. 1763 from Shah Alam II at Allahabad after the Allahabad Treaty.

Geographical Location

The district of Sahibganj lies approximately between 24042’ north and 25021’ north lattitude and between 87025’ and 87054’ east longitude. Sahibganj is the administrative headquarter of the district and situated on the bank of the river Ganges at 25015’ north lattitude and 87038’ east longitude . The geographical area of the district is 1599.00 sq. km.

It is bounded on north by the river Ganges and district of Katihar, on the south by the district Godda, on the east by Maldah and Murshidabad districts of the state of West Bengal, and on the west by Bhagalpur and Godda districts.

Location

Sahebganj is located at 25.25° N 87.65°E. It has an average elevation of 16 metres (52 feet). Sahebganj is a very small town, lost between the Rajmahal Hills and the Ganges, cut off from rest of the state due to bad roads and under developed road link. It is a town build on a strip of land running between the Ganga river (only place in Jharkhand to have the Ganges) and the green Rajmahal hills. The Government including the Railways is the biggest employer and there are no major industries in the district.

Tourist Place

Rajmahal

    Situated on the right bank of the river Ganges, Rajmahal is a small but historically important town. It was the seat of Government during the Mughal period when Raja Man Singh, general of Emperor Akbar made Rajmahal the capital of Bengal in 1592. Even today relics of the old and prosperous Rajmahal are visible in this one time capital of Bengal. The town has following important monuments.

i)    Singhi Dalan.
ii)    Akbari Masjid
iii)    Tomb of Maina-Bibi
iv)    Tomb of Miran.

Mangalhat

    Situated 10 K.m west of Rajmahal, it is the site of an important monument Jama Masjid which was built during the reign of Emperor Akbar. It can be made a tourist place .

Kanhaiyasthan

Situated on the bank of the river Ganges, is a village situated about 13 km. north-west of Rajmahal town and owes its name to the temple of Lord Krishna (Kanhaiya). It is believed that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu once stayed here on his way to Brindaban from Bengal and got the vision of Lord Krishna. Footstep of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is also preserved here.

Sahibganj

    It is situated on the southern bank of the Ganges in the north-eastern region of Rajmahal subdivision. Sahibganj is the sub-divisional headquarters since 1944 and presently it is the district headquarter as well. It has a municipality, which was constituted in 1883. The town has a well, constructed in 1915 known locally as “Bhagwa Kuan” which was constructed in memory of Edward VII. Residents still use the well for drinking water. In the eastern portion of the town, there located a hillock near residence of Sub- Divisional Magistrate is historically very important.

Teliagarhi

These are remains of an old fort known as Teliagarhi after its builder a Teli Zamindar, who later embraced Islam during the reign of Shahjahan. It is located near Karamtola station.

Shivgadi

This Shiva temple is located in the Barhait block 8 K.M north of Barhait and is inside the cave. Water from the mountain drips continuously on the Shivling. Devotees gather here in large numbers on Mahashivratri and whole of Shravan month .

Binduvasini Temple

Situated 2 K.M away from Barharwa railway station. Devotees gather in large number on Ram-Navami at this temple during the fair which lasts for 9 days.

Shukravasini Temple

    This is a place of worship of goddess situated at Mirzapur village in the Barharwa block.

Raksisthan

    Situated in Mandro block near the Karamtola railway station just west of the Teliagarhi fort. This temple is considered very pious by the tribals and non-tribals. The deity is very ancient. Sutherland has reported about it in his report in 1819.


Bhoganadih and Panchkathiya

    The village of Sido and Kanu, the legendary brothers who led the Santhal revolt in 1855, is very sacred for the tribals. There is also a memorial for the brothers in this village. Panchkathiya is a place where these brothers were hanged by the British.

Udhwa Bird Sanctuary

    The only bird sanctuary in the entire state of Jharkhand is situated near Udhwa; locally called Patauda Lake. Hundreds of migratory birds reach here every winter even from Europe and Siberia.

Moti Jharna

    It is near Maharajpur the natural beauty of it is very attractive which is a very good picnic spot. The stream found its source from the Rajmahal hills.

Maghi Mela

    Organized on every full moon of Magh month at Rajmahal, this mela has an important place in the tribal life. Tribals from all over the district gather here along with the family priest to perform the pooja, which lasts for three days.