Gandhi Circuit -
Motihari (East Champaran): Motihari was to
the first laboratory of Gandhian experiment in Satyagraha and probably
it will not be very incorrect to say that is has been the spring board
for India’s independence. Champaran district generated a wave of
enthusiasm and inspiration to the people who were thirsting for a
selfless and saintly leader. The technique followed by Gandhiji in
Champaran was what attained later on the name of Satyagraha.
Hazarimal Dharamshala, Bettiah (West Champaran): It is at Bettiah in
the Lal Bazar area. Gandhi and his companions used to camp here and it
was the epicenter of his “Satyagraha”. The State Govt. has declared this
building a protected monument. The Betia Raj Kuteherry and the
Dharmashala were Mahatama Gandhi stayed are well worth visit.
Bhitharwa Ashram (West Champaran): It is a village in the Bettiah
Sub-division under Gaunaha Block. This was one of the centre for social
work selected by Gandhiji, when he was in Champaran in 1917.At present there is a Khadi Centre working under direct
control of the Bihar Khadi Samiti. There is a Gandhi Ashram where
Mahatma Gandhi had stayed during the Indian freedom straggle.
Brindaba (West Champaran): It is a small village in the Betia
sub-division under Champatia Block. It has the Gram Seva Kendra, which
had been planned to work out the deals of the Gandhi Seva Sangh. The all
India Gandhi Seva Sangh held there annual conference at this village in
1937. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Rajendra Prasad attended it. Gandhiji
stayed here in 1939 and started an Ashram, which is still functioning.
Shri Rampur (West Champaran): Situated in the Gannaha Block of
Bhitiharwa Panchayat. Gandhiji had stayed here on 16th November, 1917.
Koeldih (West Champaran): Under Gaunaha Block in the Belwa
Panchayat. Gandhiji had visited this place on 16th November, 1917.
Amolwa (West Champaran): Under Gaunaha Block in the Majharia
Panchayat, where Gandhiji spent a night on the 27th April, 1917 with his
other companions.
Murli Bharhawa (West Champaran): It was the native place of
Pandit Raj Kumar Shukla who had been a close associates of Mahatma
Gandhi during the Champaran Satyagrah Movement. Pandit Shukla took a
lead role in bringing Mahatma Gandhi to Champaran.
Sariswa (West Champaran): This place is in Ratanmala Panchayat
under Majhaulia Block-Gandhiji and his companions had taken statement of
raiyats in a open yard in front of the temple.
Hardiya Kothi (West Champaran): It is under Bishunpur Panchyat of
the Nautan Block. It was house of Mr. G. P. Edward, a British Indigo
Planter. Remains of this building are in some what better condition in
comparison to other such old buildings.
Buddhist Circuit
Kesaria: This Stupa is in fact one
of the many memorable stupa remarkable event in the life of Buddha.
Kesaria has a lofty brick mound capped by a solid brick tower of
considerable size, which it self is the remain of a Buddhist Stupa. The
mound is a ruin with a diameter of 68 feet at its base and a total
height of 5½ ft. originally it was crowned by a pinnacle which must have
stood 80 or 90 ft above the ground. General Cunningham dated this
monument to AD 200 to 700, and held that it was built upon the ruins of
a much older and largerStupa.It is the highest Stupa
found in the country with a height of about 104” from the base.
Ramayana Circuit
Chanki Garh (West Champaran): Also known as Janaki Garh, this
village is situated about 9 kms East of Ram Nagar Railway Station. There
is a large mound in the eastern part of the village. It is a mass of
solid brickwork and is 90’ high. It was probably originally a Fort and
the remains of fortification can still be seen. The local tradition
asserts that it was a Fort of king Janak.
Valmiki Nagar (West Champaran): This is a village on the Indo
Nepal border 42 kms North-West of Bagaha to which it is connected by a
metalled road. A barrage has been constructed here on the Gandak river
for the purpose of irrigation. Besides an old Shiva temple constructed
by the Bettiah Raj, there are also ancient temple of Nara Devi and Gauri
Shankar at Valmiki Nagar.
There is a Valmiki Ashram, which is said to be the place where Maharshi
Valmiki was living. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti every year a fair
is held on the bank of River Gandak.
(Courtesy: http://bstdc.bih.nic.in Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation)
Other important tourist places-
Someshwar Shiv
Madir, Areraj
Areraj is a holy city of North
Bihar which is 28 Km. south West from Motihari linked with pucca
road. The famous Someshwar Nath Mahadev Temple is age old which
attracts lakhs of pilgrims from other districts as well as
Nepal on the occasion of Shrawani Mela (During July-August).
Areraj a village has developed up to town and now it is
the Headquarter of Areraj Subdivision.
Ashokan pillar, Areraj
This Lofty stone column erected by priyadarshee Lord
Ashok in 249 BC in village Lauriya under Areraj subdivision
is situated on left side of Areraj – Bettiah road. The pillar,
known as “Stambh dharma lekh”, which bears in well preserved and
well cut letters six of his edicts, is a single block of
polished sand stone, 36 ½ feet in height above the ground with a
base diameter of 41.8 inches and a diameter at the top of 37.6
inches. The weight of this portion only is very nearly 34 tons,
but as these must be several feet of the shaft sunk in the
earth. The actual weight of the whole block must be about 40
tons. This pillar has no Capital. According to report that
pillar was crowned with a statue of an animal but it was
transferred to Kolkota museum.
Pride of Champaran in Motihari
The
foundation stone of this Gandhi memorial pillar was laid on june 10, 1972 by
the then Governor, Mr. D.K.Barooch and if was dedicated to the nation by Mr.
Vidyakar Kavi, a gandhian, on 18 April 1978. This memorial pillar has been
designed by the famous artist of Santiniketan Mr. Nand lal Bose to commemorate
the memory of Champaran Satyagah of Mahatma Gandhi who first raised voice
against the atrocities of the British Indigo planters against poor peasants of
Champaran. The 48 fect long Chunar stone pillar stands exactly on the
place where Mahatma Gandhi was produced before the court of the then S.D.M.,
Motihari in violation of orders under section 144 Cr. P. C. as far back
as April 18, 1917. Mahatma Gandhi first Satyagrah was experimented on this soil
of Motihari in Champaran and so Champaran has been starting point of India’s
independence movement launched by Gandhi ji.
( Courtesy: http://eastchamparan.bih.nic.in/touristplaces.htm)
