Tourism in Bihar
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Sonpur
Travel Guide
Sonepur Tours
Situated on the confluence of the river Gandak and Ganges, Sonepur, shaped
like three mighty rivers - the Ganga, Gandak, and Ghagra that demarcate this
district, demarcate a triangle. Sonepur is located in the Saran district in
the northern part of Bihar.
Set in panoramic surroundings, Sonepur is a small quiet town situated over
Asia's longest bridge, the Mahatma Gandhi Setu, which is a short distance
from Patna. It is famed for the unique 3 week long Sonepur fair, rightly
called the 'king of fairs' that is only one of its kind in the whole of
Asia, that it hosts in the period of October - November.
Sonpur Main Attraction: The Cattle Fair.
SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR: FACTS & FIGURES
Location: Sonepur, Bihar
Time of the year: Kartik Purnima/November every year
Duration: Fifteen days (approximately)
Cycle: Yearly
Situated: On the Convergence of Rivers Ganges and Gandak.
SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR: THE FAIR
A visual extravaganza awaits all at the Sonepur Fair, where multitudes
congregate on Kartik Purnima to offer obeisance to Harihar Nath and
participate inwhat is the biggest cattle fair in Asia. Festivities stretch
over a fortnight, giving visitors a feel of the pulse of Bihar.
According to the Indian Almanacalmanac, the full moon day of Kartik
Purnima,or Purnima of the month of Kartik, which usually falls in November,
is one of the most auspiciousof days. A number of big fairs are held at
important paces of pilgrimage. The Harihar Chhetra Mela near Sonepur is one
of the biggest fairs held in India and is also the biggest cattle fair
pilgrimage and the Harihar Kshetra Mela, as the Sonepur Fair is also known,
is one of the biggest.
SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR: HISTORY
Sonepur is located in the Saran district in the northern part of Bihar. This
district shaped like a triangle is demarcated by three mighty rivers - the
Ganga, Gandak, and Ghagra, demarcate this district, which is shaped like a
triangle. Sonepur stands on the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak.
The Sonepur Fair is of great antiquity and in olden times would attract
importance and in the olden times, it attracted traders from as far as
Central Asia. Like the origin of the Harihar Nath Temple, the reason for the
inception of the Sonepur Fair is lost in the labyrinth of time. The site of
the present fair was originally at Hajipur whileHajipur, and only the pujas
used to be offered atin the temple at Sonepur. During the reign of the
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the fair was shifted to Sonepur. During the period
of British rule,In the pre-independence era, the European indigo planters
used it as an occasion for social and sports gathering. The fair continues
for about fourteen days but the few days before, during and after the Kartik
Purnima draws the maximum crowds. The sleepy mango grove of the fair ground
turns into a wonderland, sure to overwhelm the sophisticated urban visitor
as well as the simple rural folk.
The temple of Harihar Nath is naturally the main objective of the visitors
to the fair after they have taken their ritual bath in the swirling waters
of the Gandak. The original temple is believed to have been built by Lord
Rama on his way to the court of King Janak to win Sita. The age and origin
of the present temple has puzzled scholars but it is supposed to be believed
that Raja Man Singh had it repaired. The builder of the present temple was
Raja Ram Narain, a prominent figure during the late Mughal period. The
Birlas recently conducted repairs and extension work in the temple.
SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR: SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS 
Visiting the temple of Harihar Nath is naturally the main objective of the
visitors to the fair after they have taken their ritual bath in the swirling
waters of the Gandak. As in many other famous places of worship, a number of
smaller temples of other deities surround the temple of Harihar Nath Mahadeo.
Once the pujasand the ablutions are over, the visitors abandon themselves to
the various attractions offered in and around the sprawling mela ground. The
village folk, particularly the women,as well as the others, are attracted to
the array of shops selling all sorts of garments, weapons and furniture,
toys, utensils, agricultural implements, jewelry and various handicrafts.
The fair becomes merchandise virtual explosion of colors, music, dances,
magic shows, cattle, merchants and handicrafts.
The area that attracts all, however, is the one wherethe elephants are lined
up for sale. The Sonepur Fair is the only one where such a large number of
elephants are sold. These are mainly purchased by different forest
departments and people involved with logging operations. Apart from
elephants, a large number of cattle, a wide variety of animals and horses
are also brought to the fair for sale. Legends are also bought and sold in
the fair.
The fair continues for about fourteen days but the few days before and after
the auspicious day of Kartik Purnima draw the maximum crowds. The sleepy
mango grove, where the fair is organized, turns into a wonderland, sure to
overwhelm the sophisticated urban visitor as well as the simple rural folk.
SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR: LEGENDS 
Like so many places of pilgrimage in India, Sonepur also has its legend. It
involves two kings both of who were turned into animals, a crocodile and an
elephant, by the curse of sages who were offended by them. Those days, this
area was supposed to have been girdled by hills with three towering peaks
and a lake in the center.
Once, while bathing in the lake with a party of women, a Gandharva chief
named Huhu made fun of Dewala Muni by playfully pulling his leg. The ire of
the sage took the form of a curse that turned Huhu into a crocodile. The
other accused person was Indradyumna, a king of the Pandyas, who was of a
very pious nature but had offended the powerful sage, Agastya. The king had
failed to notice the sage as he was in meditation when the sage visited him.
The curse of the enraged Agastya turned Indradyumna into an elephant that
took refuge in the woods surrounding the lake.
One day while the elephant came with a herd to the lake to bathe, the
gandharva-turned-crocodile caught his leg in its powerful jaws. Not to be
taken lightly, the king of elephants tried to pull the crocodile up on the
bank in an effort to crush him under his feet. A mighty battle ensued, which
was joined by other crocodiles and elephants. The contest went on for
thousands of years without any one being able to overpower the other. But
ultimately, the King Elephant weakened and prayed to the supreme god Vishnu
(Hari) to save him. His prayer was answered and Vishnu cut down the
crocodile with his chakra (disc). The touch of the chakra, however, released
Huhu from the curse and he went to heaven. Vishnu also released Indradyumna
from his curse by touching his forehead and took the king to His abode,
Vaikuntha.
SONEPUR CATTLE FAIR: ASIA'S LARGEST CATTLE FAIR:
The Sonepur Fair is held on Karthik Purnima (the full moon day) in the
month of November in Sonepur (Bihar), on the banks of river Ganga. It lasts
for a fortnight and the cattle are decorated for the occasion.
In the months of November/December Sonepur in Bihar becomes the site of the
Sonepur Livestock fair. It is Asia's largest cattle fair where anything can
be bought right from elephants to camels, buffaloes, goats and all sorts of
four-legged creatures.
The fair becomes a virtual explosion of colours, music, dances, magic shows,
cattle, merchants and handicrafts as people from all over the world
congregate to participate in this huge event. It has all the fun and hue of
a popular fair, which has religious connotations as well and is enjoyed with
a lot of jest and fanfare by all.
SHOPPING:
Apart from the elephants, camels and other livestock, visitors to this
fair can also buy garments, weapons and furniture, toys, utensils,
agricultural implements, jeweler and various handicrafts.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air: Patna airport is 25 kms from Sonepur.
Rail: Sonepur is 25 kms from Patna airport.
Road: Buses to Sonepur are available from Patna.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Climate: Moderate.
Main languages: Bhojpuri, Maithili, Hindi and English
Clothing: summer: Cotton And Tropical. Winter: Woollen
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