Purnia
Purnia is the fourth largest city of Bihar and is emerging as the largest economic hub in North Bihar. It serves as the administrative headquarters of both Purnia district and Purnia division in the Indian state of Bihar. It is well known for its favourable climate like Darjeeling and has an abundance of resources for human settlements and economic activities.
The total geographical area of Purnia Urban Agglomeration is which is next only to Patna. The population density of the city is 3058 persons per km sq. making it the 4th largest city of Bihar by population. It is nearly 315 km from Patna, as well as 171 km from Siliguri, 90 km from Bhagalpur. It is 640 km from Guwahati and 450 km from Kolkata, the capital of the adjacent state of West Bengal and the largest city in East India. Purnia district covers 3202.31 sq. km of the state of Bihar. The Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and three of five branches of India's Central Armed Police Forces – the Border Security Force, the Sashastra Seema Bal, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police – have bases around the district.
Etymology
Several possible origins for the name Purnia have been proposed. The name may originate from the Sanskrit word Purna–Aranya, which means "complete jungle". Purnia could also be an altered form of the old name Purania, derived from the word purain or Lotus, which is said to have grown on the Kosi and Mahananda rivers.The city's name is also romanized as Purnea.
History
Ancient History
Purnia is part of the Mithila region. Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by Indo-Aryan peoples who established the Mithila Kingdom. During the late Vedic period, Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called Janakas. The Videha Kingdom was later incorporated into the Vajjika League, which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila.The earliest inhabitants of Purnia were Angas and Pundras. In the epics, the Angas are grouped with the Bengal tribes and were the eastern most tribes known to the Aryans during the period of Atharva Samhita while the Pundras, although they had Aryan blood were regarded as degraded class of people in the Aitareya Brahmana, Mahabharata and Manu Samhita, because they neglected the performance of sacred rites. According to the legend of Mahabharata, Biratnagar which gave shelter to the five Pandava brothers during their one year incognito exile, is said to be located in Purnia.
Medieval history
During the ninth century, the Pala dynasty rose to power in the region formerly known as Pundra and Anga. A monolithic structure located near the Darara factory in the western part of the district is believed to date from this period.By the beginning of the thirteenth century, the southern portion of the district is said to have formed part of the kingdom of Lakshman Sen, whose capital was at Nadia. This region was subsequently conquered by Bakhtiyar Khilji during the early phase of Muslim expansion in eastern India.
In the early days of Mughal rule, Purnia functioned as a remote military frontier province of the Mughal Empire. A substantial portion of its revenue was expended on defending its borders against frequent incursions by tribal groups from the north and east. In the early seventeenth century, a faujdar was appointed with the title of Nawab, combining military command of the frontier forces with the fiscal responsibilities of a diwan, or superintendent of revenues. At this time, the northern frontier was marked by Jalalgarh, a fortified outpost located a few miles north of Purnia town.
In 1722, the office of faujdar was held by Saif Khan, regarded as the most prominent governor of Purnea. He significantly expanded the district’s boundaries, pushing the Nepalis frontier approximately 30 miles northward to its present position. He also annexed the Dharampur pargana, which at the time lay west of the Kosi River and was formerly part of the sarkar of Monghyr.
One of Saif Khan’s successors, Shaukat Jang, later declared war against Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. In 1757, Siraj-ud-Daulah—emboldened by his recent capture of Calcutta—marched toward Purnea and secured a decisive victory at Nawabganj.
The district came under British control in 1765, along with the rest of Bengal. However, it remained in a state of administrative disorder until 1770, when a British official was appointed with the title of Superintendent, marking the beginning of effective colonial administration.
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, two groups of mutineers entered Purnia. Owing to the prompt and decisive action of the Commissioner, George Yule, they were driven into Nepal before they could cause any serious disturbance.
European Settlement in Purnia during Early British Rule
In the early phase of British rule, several Europeans arrived in Purnia and settled there permanently. At that time, Purnia was truly Purainiya—a region dominated by dense forests. In the initial years, European settlers established themselves around the Saura River, located in the central part of the town, an area that is today known as Rambagh.Over time, Europeans gradually moved westward from the Saura River and began constructing large residential estates, known as kothis. Similar to the Civil Lines found in cities such as Lucknow and Kanpur, Purnia also developed a comparable area. However, while Civil Lines in other cities were primarily inhabited by British administrative officers, Purnia’s Civil Lines were largely home to European “gentleman farmers.”
Among the most influential European zamindars in Purnia were Alexander John Forbes and Palmer.
In 1859, Alexander John Forbes purchased the Sultanpur Pargana from Murshidabad-based moneylender Babu Pratap Singh, thereby becoming a zamindar. The town of Forbesganj was established in Sultanpur Pargana and named after him. Despite owning Sultanpur, Forbes resided in Purnia town, where he was quite popular. He showed a keen interest in social and recreational activities and played a role in establishing racecourses and clubs. The site where the Girls’ High School stands today once housed Forbes’ residence. In its time, this kothi was a hub of European social life.
Another European who lived in Purnia for an extended period was Palmer. He purchased a local royal estate and settled in the region. Today, the grand residence of the Hays family serves as the main building of Purnia College.
Opposite Forbes’ residence once stood the house of a prominent indigo planter. It is believed that the racecourse in Purnia was developed by this planter, William Terry. Terry is remembered controversially and is often described as oppressive in local memory.
Indigo cultivation in Purnia was first introduced by an Englishman named John Kelly. Subsequently, several Europeans expanded indigo farming in the region. The Shillingford family was among the most prominent, establishing indigo factories in areas such as Neelganj, Mahendrapur, and Bhavbada.
These European gentleman farmers played a significant role in transforming Purainiya into modern Purnia. They contributed extensively to urban planning and settlement. The town was characterized by open spaces, abundant greenery, and the influence of the Saura and Kosi rivers, along with their numerous tributaries flowing around the city. European settlers constructed elegant residences both within the town and in surrounding areas. In 1882, Loreto Convent of Darjeeling established a residential school in Purnia specifically for the children of these European gentleman farmers.
Tourism
Purnea is home to several significant religious sites attracting devotees from across the region.- Purandevi Mandir – Dedicated to Maa Puran Devi, believed to be one of the Sidh Peethas, drawing large crowds during Durga Puja, situated at Purnea City.
- City Kali Bari – A revered Kali temple, situated on the bank of Saura river. Established by the Bengali community, this temple follows traditional Bengali customs and rituals.
- Mata Sthan – A well-known pilgrimage site dedicated to Goddess Shakti, situated at Adampur.
- Panchmukhi Mandir – A temple devoted to Lord Hanuman, known for its five-faced idol at Forbesganj More.
- Aastha Mandir – A modern temple serving as a center for religious and community gatherings, devoted to Krishna.
- Prahalad Sthambh – Associated with the Narasimha-Prahlad legend, symbolizing devotion and righteousness. It is situated at Banmankhi.
- Kamakhya Mandir – Inspired by Assam’s Kamakhya Temple, known for Tantric rituals, situated at Majra.
- Dhima Shiv Temple – A sacred Shiva temple, particularly significant during Mahashivaratri, is situated in Banmankhi.
Geography
Purnia city has an area of.
Climate
Purnia is known for its favourable climate; it has earned the name "Mini Darjeeling" for this reason. Purnia has a largely humid climate, with the highest level of rainfall in Bihar state and humidity rising to above 70%. A cold season, from November to February, is followed by a hot season from March to June. The monsoon season begins in early June and lasts until September; 82% of its total annual rainfall falls during the monsoon season.January, the coldest month, has a mean daily minimum temperature of 5 to 10 °C and a mean daily maximum of 20 to 25 °C. Wind is typically light in the non-monsoon seasons but during the monsoon, storms and depressions originating in the Bay of Bengal cause heavy rain and strong winds.