History
Bihar-sharif served as the capital of the Pala dynasty 10th century ce and contains a 5th-century-ce Gupta pillar and several mosques and Muslim tombs, the best-known being the tomb of Malik Ibrahim Baya atop Pir Pahadi Hill. Nearby lie the remains of Odantapuri, a great vihara, or college of Buddhist learning, from which the name Bihar was derived. In 1869 the city was constituted a municipality. It is now a road and rail hub, as well as an agricultural trade centre. It has several colleges affiliated with Magadh University at Bodh Gaya. Nalanda, a Buddhist monastic centre, lies southwest of Bihar-sharif.
Bihar-sharif was once the capital of the Muslim Governors of Bihar between 13th and 16th centuries when the city was an active cultural center and an important seat of Muslim thought and learning. Turkish and Pashtun invaders often used abandoned viharas as military cantonments.The word Bihar may have come from the large number of viharas thus employed in the area that later became Bihar. Originally Bihar was name of the town, which was headquarter of the Muslim invaders in the Magadha region in the medieval period. Later on the headquarter was shifted from Bihar to Patana current Patna by Sher Shah Suri and the whole Magadha region was called Bihar. Almost 80 % of the Muslim population of Bihar Sharif and surrounding areas have a good degree of Turkish and Afghan blood in their veins , especially so among the middle and upper classes , but also among the lower classes.
Geography
It is 80 km from capital of Bihar, Patna. It is 13 km from the ruins at Nalanda. Well connected with Patna via train and buses.
It is small town located on the top of a craggy rock. The old center of the town has examples of medieval Islamic architecture, such as the Bukhari Mosque. Thousand of pilgrims of all religions visit the tombs of Makhdum Shah Sharif-ud-din, a Muslim saint of 14th century, and the saintly Syed Ibrahim Malik Biya. also spelled Biharsharif , also called Bihar city, central Bihar state, northeastern India, east of the Paimar River, a tributary of the Ganges. It served as the capital of the Pala dynasty 10th century AD and contains a 5th-century-AD Gupta pillar and several Muslim mosques and tombs. Nearby lie the remains of Odantapuri q.v., a great vihara, or college of Buddhist learning, from which the name Bihar was derived.
Economy
Agriculture is the prime activity. Ideal place for agriculture-based industry. Now it is also developing as a big cloth market and shoes production. Famous as mini Surat among businessmen.