Vaishali district

{{Short description|City in Bihar, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Vaishali district | settlement_type = District of Bihar | total_type = Total | native_name = | image_skyline = Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum & Stupa.jpg | image_caption = Relic Stupa of Vaishali | image_map = Bihar district location map Vaishali.svg | map_caption = | coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = Hajipur | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Bihar Government Banner.png}} Bihar | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_type3 = Division | subdivision_name3 = Tirhut | established_title = Established | established_date = 10 December 1972 | seat_type = Headquarters | seat = Hajipur<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://vaishali.nic.in/about-district |title= District headquarter of Vaishali |access-date= 3 June 2021 |archive-date= 17 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210517113122/https://vaishali.nic.in/about-district/ |url-status= live }} vaishali.nic.in</ref> | parts_type = Tehsils | parts_style = para | p1 = | area_total_km2 = 2036 | area_rank = | elevation_m = 51 | population_as_of = 2011 | population_total = 3,495,021 | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = Demographics | demographics1_title1 = Literacy | demographics1_info1 = 66.60% | blank2_name_sec1 = HDI {{nobold|(2016)}} | blank2_info_sec1 = {{increase}} 0.407<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ssca.org.in/media/4_2016_HDI_t1hcMZm.pdf|title=Development of Human Development Index at District Level for EAG States|date=March 2016|access-date=31 May 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213519/https://www.ssca.org.in/media/4_2016_HDI_t1hcMZm.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> | demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio | demographics1_info2 = 1.895 ♂/♀ | leader_title = Educationist | leader_name = Shri Rajdeo Ray | leader_title1 = Lok Sabha constituencies | leader_name1 = Hajipur, Vaishali | leader_title2 = Vidhan Sabha constituencies | leader_name2 = Hajipur, Lalganj, Vaishali, Mahua, Raja Pakar, Raghopur, Mahnar, Patepur | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +05:30 | demographics_type2 = Language | demographics2_title1 = Official | demographics2_info1 = Hindi | demographics2_title2 = Additional official | demographics2_info2 = English | demographics2_title3 = Regional Languages | demographics2_info3 = Bajjika and Bhojpuri | registration_plate = | blank_name_sec1 = Major highways | blank_info_sec1 = NH 22, NH 31, NH 322 | blank_name_sec2 = | blank_info_sec2 = | postal_code_type = PIN | postal_code = 8441xx (Vaishali)<ref>[https://indiapincodes.net/Bihar/Vaishali/ Vaishali]</ref> | website = {{URL|https://vaishali.nic.in/|Official website}} | official_name = }} '''Vaishali district''' is a district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is a part of Tirhut division.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tirhut Division Muzaffarpur {{!}} An Official website of Tirhut Division Muzaffarpur {{!}} India |url=https://tirhutdivision.nic.in/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |language=en}}</ref> Vaishali is known for being the birthplace of Mahavira of the Jain religion. Hajipur, its largest city and district headquarters, is known for its banana forest. The district is connected via the NH-77 and NH-322 highways, Gandhi Setu and Jay Prakash Setu (JP Setu) Bridges over(Holy) Ganga River which connect the state capital Patna, the division headquarters Muzaffarpur, and the eastward district Samastipur.

==History==

===Ancient Vaishali=== {{main|Vaishali (ancient city)}} According to legend, Vaishali derives its name from King Vishala, a son of Ikshvaku who founded the city. Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant Licchavi republic and was closely associated with the early histories of both Buddhism and Jainism.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Vaishali |title=Vaisali -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia |access-date=2022-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414040537/https://www.britannica.com/place/Vaishali |archive-date=2022-04-14}}</ref> In that period, Vaishali was an ancient metropolis and the capital city of the republic of the Vajji confederation, which covered most of the Himalayan Gangetic region of present-day Bihar. Magadha rulers of the Shishunaga dynasty shifted their capital from Pataliputra to Vaishali.

===Post-Independence=== Vaishali became a district when it was split from Muzaffarpur in 1972.<ref name="Statoids">{{cite web | url = http://www.statoids.com/yin.html | title = Districts of India | access-date = 2011-10-11 | last = Law | first = Gwillim | date = 2011-09-25 | work = Statoids | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111017155710/http://www.statoids.com/yin.html | archive-date = 2011-10-17 }}</ref>

==Geography== The Vaishali district occupies an area of {{convert|2036|km2|sqmi}},<ref name="Reference Annual">{{cite book | editor = Dayawanti Srivastava | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | pages = 1118–1119 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref>

==Economy== In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Vaishali one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).<ref name=brgf/> It is one of the 38 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj|date=8 September 2009|title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme|publisher=National Institute of Rural Development|url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf|access-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{historical populations|11=1901|12=7,37,793|13=1911|14=7,61,720|15=1921|16=7,37,475|17=1931|18=7,87,287|19=1941|20=8,68,565|21=1951|22=9,42,472|23=1961|24=11,33,086|25=1971|26=13,48,990|27=1981|28=16,62,527|29=1991|30=21,46,065|31=2001|32=27,18,421|33=2011|34=34,95,021|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{cite web |title=Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43343/download/47022/10%20A-2%20Bihar.pdf |website=census.gov.in|publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref>|align=center}}

{{bar box |title=Religions in Vaishali district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11366/download/14479/DDW10C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref> |titlebar=#Fcd116 |left1=Religion |right1=Percent |float=left |bars= {{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|90.20}} {{bar percent|Islam|green|9.56}} {{bar percent|Other or not Stated|black|0.24}} }}

According to the 2011 census Vaishali district has a population of 3,495,021,<ref name=districtcensus>{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Vaishali |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/322/download/938/DH_2011_1018_PART_A_DCHB_VAISHALI.pdf |website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of Panama<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Panama 3,460,462 July 2011 est. | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927165947/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-date = 27 September 2011 }}</ref> or the US state of Connecticut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=2010 Resident Population Data|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=2011-09-30|quote=Connecticut 3,574,097|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|archive-date=2013-10-19}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 86th in India (out of a total of 640).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert|1717|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 28.58%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Vaishali has a sex ratio of 892 females for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a literacy rate of 66.60%. 6.67% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 21.12% and 0.07% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus/>

=== Languages === {{Pie chart |caption = Languages of Vaishali district (2011)<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10196/download/13308/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1000.XLSX|website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref> |label1 = 'Other' Hindi |value1 = 69.88 |color1 = hotpink |label2 = Hindi |value2 = 25.10 |color2 = orange |label3 = Urdu |value3 = 4.80 |color3 = green |label4 = Others |value4 = 0.22 |color4 = grey }}

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 95.09% of the population in the district spoke Hindi and 4.80% Urdu as their first language. 69.88% of the population recorded their language as 'Other' under Hindi, while Hindi itself was only reported by 25.10%. The language of the region is Bajjika, while Bhojpuri is spoken in the extreme western parts of the district.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10196/download/13308/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1000.XLSX|website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=IAS |first=Dr Birendra Prasad |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=VFFREAAAQBAJ&pg=PA155&dq=Vaishali+Bhojpuri&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihnuL64teUAxWPxjgGHeO7AWAQ6AF6BAgQEAM#v=onepage&q=Vaishali%20Bhojpuri&f=false |title=Bpsc General Studies Preliminary Examination Guide 2022: BPSC GENERAL STUDIES PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION GUIDE 2022: Your Path to Success by Dr. Birendra Prasad, IAS |date=2021-11-29 |publisher=Prabhat Prakashan |isbn=978-93-5488-021-6 |language=en}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna== In 1997, the district became home to the Barela Salim Ali Zubba Saheni Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of {{convert|2|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name=parks>{{cite web|author=Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment|title=Protected areas: Bihar|url=http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|access-date=25 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163836/http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> ==Administration== [[File:Leaders of Bihar inaugurating Budhha Samyak Darshan Museum and Stupa.jpg|thumb|Leaders of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, Samrat Chaudhary, Jayant Raj Kushwaha, Umesh Singh Kushwaha, Siddharth Patel and others inaugurating Budhha Samyak Darshan Museum and Memorial Stupa in Vaishali.]] The Vaishali district (headquartered at Hajipur) is headed by an IAS officer of the rank of District Magistrate (DM).

The district has got 1422 inhabited villages under 290 Gram Panchayats and 30 territorial police stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vaishalipolice.bihar.gov.in/policeStation |title=List of police stations in Vaishali District, India |work=Bihar Police |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref>

===Tehsils=== Vaishali district comprises three tehsils or Sub-divisions, each headed by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM): #Hajipur #Mahnar #Mahua

===Blocks=== These Tehsils are further divided into 16 Blocks, each headed by a Block Development Officer (BDO) {{div col|colwidth=25em}} #Bhagwanpur #Bidupur #Chehra Kalan #Desari #Goraul #Hajipur #Jandaha #Lalganj #Mahnar #Mahua #Patedhi Belsar #Patepur #Raghopur #Rajapakar #Sahdei Buzurg #Vaishali {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://vaishali.nic.in/ Vaishali district, Official website] * [http://gov.bih.nic.in/profile/districts/vaishali.htm Vaishali district] at Govt. of Bihar, website. * [http://tirhut-muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in Official Website of Tirhut Division]

{{Vaishali district topics }} {{Geographic location |Centre = Vaishali district |North = Muzaffarpur district |Northeast = |East = Samastipur district |Southeast = |South = Patna district |Southwest = |West = Saran district |Northwest = }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaishali District}} Category:Vaishali district Category:Tirhut division Category:Districts of Bihar Category:States and territories established in 1972 Category:1972 establishments in Bihar