Siwan is famous for hero of the Mahabharata

Siwan is situated in the western part of North Bihar. It is bordered by Gopalganj District in the north and by the river Ghaghara in the south beyond which lies the Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. In the east of Siwan lies Saran District while Deoria District bounds it from the west. The global location of Siwan District is between 25° 53' to 26° 23' North latitudes and 84° 1' to 84° 47' East longitudes. Siwan covers an area of 2219 sq. km. Siwan, the district headquarters, is located on the eastern bank of river Daha. According to the 2001 census the population of the Siwan District is 27, 14,349. Siwan has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy is 55%.

Siwan derived its name from "Shiva Man", a Bandh Raja who ruled this area once upon a time and his successors reigned till Babar's advent.

The district forms a part of the alluvium of the broader Indo-Gangetic Plain. The district is navigated by few small rivers like Jharahi, Daha, Gandaki, Dhamati or Dhamahi, Siahi, Nikari and Sona. Along with the smaller ones Ghaghara is the perennial river which flows alongside the district's boundary. This region is marked by some typical geographical formations like 'Chaurs' and 'Draras'.

At present there are sixteen functional blocks in the district namely - Siwan, Mairwa, Darauli, Guthani, Hussainganj, Andar, Raghunathpur, Siswan, Barharia, Pachrukhi under Siwan subdivision and Maharajganj, Duraondha, Goreakothi, Basantpur, Bhagwanpur and Lakri Nabiganj under Maharajganj subdivision.

The place of the stalwart and robust 'Bhoj-puries', Siwan District is important as a tourist spot. Some believe Siwan to be the place where Lord Buddha died. Also known as Aliganj Sawan after the name of Ali Bux; Siwan has historical and mythological importance attached to it.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India.He was born in Zeradei, in the Siwan district.

Khuda Baksh was born in village Ukhai, 6 k.m. from Siwan district on 2nd August 1842 in his parental house. The ancestors of Khuda Baksha were in service of King Alamgir. They were doing the work of book keeping and writing records of the kingdom.

Maulana Mazharul Haque was born on 22 Dec. 1866 in village Brahmpur, Thana Maner of Patna district. He got lot of land donated to him by his relatives and settled in village Faridpur of district Siwan in 1900.

Historical Places

Amarpur : Amarpur is a village situated 3 Kms. West of Darauli. In this village ruins of mosque of red bricks on the bank of river Ghaghara are still available. This mosque was build during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan (1626-1658) under the supervision of the Naib Amar Singh but the work was left incomplete. The village derived its name from the builder of the mosque Amar Singh.

Faridpur : Faridpur situated just near Andar is the birthplace of Maulana Mazharul Haque who played an important role during the freedom movement. Sadaquat Ashram in Patna, originally belonged to him. He was a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity.

Darauli : A block headquarter now is said to be have been founded after the name of Dara Shikoh, the elder son of the Emperor Shahjahan. It's name was Daras Ali, which later on was changed into Darauli. There is reminiscence of Mughal period ruins where a big mela is held every year on the Kartik Purnima.

Don : A village in the Darauli block where there are remnants of a fort, which is said to be connected with the famous hero of the Mahabharat, Acharya Dronacharya the guru of both Kaurav’s and Pandav’s. Brahmin Dona built his stupa here.



Dona's stupa is a lesser-known but popular Buddhist pilgrimage site, despite its isolated location. The Buddhis traveller Hiuen Tsang mentions a visit to Don in his account of his travels in India. He describes the stupa as being in ruins. The account of Dona's distribution of Buddha's ashes and being given the vessel is a mentioned in the end of the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, which is described in Maurice Walsh's The Long Discourses. Presently Dona's stupa is a grassy hill and has a Hindu temple built over it, where a beautiful statue of Tara is worshipped as a Hindu goddess. This statue was carved in the 9th century. Tourists on a Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour are sure to appreciate the historic sight of the stupa at Don.
Don can be reached from Patna to Siwan via Chhapra. A day trip from Kusinagar via Gopalganj can also be arranged.

Hasanpura : It is a village in the Hussainganj block. It is said that Makhdum Sayyad Hasan Chisti, a saint who came from Arabia to India and settled here, found it. He founded a Khankhah too.

Lakri Dargah : It is the place of pilgrimage for the Mohammedans. The village is so called because it contains the tomb(Dargah) of a Mohammedan saint, Shah Arjan of Patria, in which there is some good woodwork. The story runs that the saint, attracted by the solitude of the place, performed a Chila here, i.e., gave himself up to religious contemplation for 40 days. He also set up a religious establishment, which was endowed by the Emperor Aurangzeb. The anniversary of the saint's death is celebrated the 11th of Rabi-us-sani every year which attracts a large crowd.

Maharajganj : A block headquarters now, it was also called Basnauli Gangar. It is the largest bazar in the district. This was the place where great hero of Indian Independence Movement, Shri Phulena Prasad centralised his activity and fought against the Britishers.

Mairwa Dham : A block headquarters now, there is a celebrated Brahma Asthan, locally known as Hari Baba ka Asthan, the shrine having been built over the relics of the saint. There is also a mound called Chananriyam Dih from an Ahirni woman who is now worshipped in a shed built in front of the Dak bungalow which occupies the top of the mound. The shrine is on the bank of the Jharhi River and fairs are held in Kartik and Chaitra months. There is also a leper home at Mairwa known as Kustha Sevasram whcih is doing useful work.

Mehandar : A village in Siswan Blcok, where there is a temple of Lord Shiva & Lord Vishwakarma which is visited by the people of the locality on the Shivaratri day & Vishwakarma Puja (17 Sept) Day. It is known for its temple and a pond scatted over an area of more than 52 bighas. It is said that one Nepal king built these and took his bath in the pond and got his leprosy cured.

Ziradei : It is a village in the Hussainganj Blcok. Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Indian Republic, belonged to this village.

Bhikhabandh : A village in Maharajganj Block, there is a big tree under the shade of which Bhaiya-Bahini temple is situated. The story runs that these brother and sister fought Mughal sepoys in the 14th century and died here in course of fighting.

Harpur : It is a village in the Pachrukhi block.This village is known by Mr. Gorakh Nath Prasad who established unity in this village by educating the people.

Colleges:

1.DAV College (under J.P. University), 2.Z A Islamia College 3.Daroga Rai College 4.VidyaBahwan(for women) Medical Colleges 5.Unani Medical College and Hospital 6. Dayanand Ayurvedic Medical College 7.Siwan Homeopathic Medical College Engineering College 8.Siwan Engineering and Technology Institute & many more.