Nalanda district


Nalanda district is one of the thirty-eight districts of the state of Bihar in India. Bihar Sharif is the administrative headquarters of this district. Nalanda is locally also known as 'Kurmistan' due to dominance of Kurmi caste present in the region. The districts contains the ancient Nalanda University, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is situated 1200 km north of Betul.

History

Nalanda became a fully-fledged district when it was split from Patna in 1972.

Geography

Nalanda district occupies an area of, comparatively equivalent to Canada's Cornwall Island. The Phalgu, Mohane, Jirayan, and Kumbhari rivers flow through it. The district is a part of Patna Division. Majority of the land in the district is fertile land of Indo Gangetic plane. In the extreme South, there lies the hills of Rajgir. There is also one small hillock in the district headquarters of Bihar Sharif.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Nalanda district has a population of 2,877,653, roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica or the US state of Kansas. This gives it a ranking of 98th in India. The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.18%. Nalanda has a sex ratio of 921 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 66.41%.
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 93.59% of the population in the district spoke Hindi and 5.69% Urdu as their first language.

Economy

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, with the majority of the population engaged in agriculture. Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, potato, fruits and vegetables are main crops. A newly setup Ordnance Factory, one of the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories has been set up by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India to manufacture artillery shells at Nalanda. Then there is railway coach maintenance plant at Harnaut Block of Nalanda.
Tourism is well developed, with lakhs of people flocking at ruins of Nalanda University, Rajgir and Pawapuri. Rajgir was the first capital of Magadh Empire. Lord Buddha had spent years at this place. Surrounded by five hills, it has got scenic views. Pawapuri, the Nirwana place of Lord Mahavir, is holi place for the Jains. In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Nalanda one of the country's 250 most backward districts. It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme.

Divisions

Sub Divisions: 3 - Modern District of Nalanda with HQ Biharsharif was established on 9 November 1972. Earlier it was Biharsharif sub-division of Patna district. Bihar Sharif, Rajgir, Hilsa
Blocks: 20 - Giriyak, Rahui, Ajaypur Noorsarai, Harnaut, Chandi, Islampur, Rajgir, Asthawan, Sarmera, Hilsa, Biharsharif, Ekangarsarai, Bena, Nagarnausa, Karai Parsarai, Silao, Parwalpur, Katrisarai, Bind, Tharthari.

Flora and fauna

In 1978 Nalanda district became home to the Pant Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajgir which has an area of.

Status

Nalanda district is fast developing and the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University or UNESCO attracts tourists from all over world driving the local economy.

Notable Personalities from Nalanda District