All About the Geography of Bihar

Bihar is located in the eastern part of India. The state is bordered on the north by Nepal, on the west by Uttar Pradesh, on the south by Jharkhand, and on the east by West Bengal. 

The new Bhojpur district comprises three subdivisions – Ara Sadar, Jagdishpur, and Piro, with 14 development blocks totalling 2,37,526 hectares, with a total population of   104,099,452 (as of the last report in 2011). 

The entire strip of land between the river Ganga on the north and the main-line of the Eastern Railway on the south is exceptionally fertile. It receives silt deposits from the Ganges virtually every year. This region is regarded as Bihar’s top wheat-growing region.

Climate and Weather in Bihar

The climate in Bihar is somewhat extreme. The summer arrives in the middle of March, which is when the hot westerly wind begins blowing during the day. April and May are the hottest months of the year. In a typical year, the monsoon arrives in the third week of June and lasts until the end of September or the beginning of October, with intermissions. The winter begins in November and lasts until the beginning of March. The coldest month is January, with temperatures as low as 10°C. The state also sees infrequent thunderstorms from the middle of April until the first breakdown of the monsoon.

Rainfall

June brings rains, a drop in temperature, and a rise in humidity. During July and August, the state receives the most rain. In typical conditions, the average rainfall observed throughout these months is around 300 mm. From June through September, the region has easterly breezes, which bring rain. The direction of the winds changes in October, and westerly winds prevail until May. 

In October, there is some rain, but November and December are dry. In January and February, there are infrequent winter showers.

Agriculture

• Facilities for irrigation

Surface water is supplied by the rivers Sone and Ganges year-round. These can irrigate a large area of agricultural land. The Zamindars used to maintain “Ahars” and “Pynes” in particular portions of the region during the “Pre-Zamindari Abolition” days, which acted as both irrigation and drainage. Ordinary wells were once a reliable source of irrigation.

According to the District Statistical Report released by the District Administration in 2001, while the area irrigated by great Sone canals is 15,493 hectares, the area irrigated by middle Sone canals is 14,940 hectares, and the area irrigated by tiny canals is 18,379 hectares. Government Electronic Tube Wells irrigate 2,582 hectares of land, and Government electronic tube wells irrigate 2,099 hectares of land.

• Patterns of land use

Except for the minor hills, all irrigated and unirrigated regions in Bihar are used for agriculture. Even some of the huge ponds and “Jheels” that were once used for duck shooting have been de-watered and planted with “Boro crops.” The “Package Program,” as it is generally called, is also attempting intensive agriculture. 

In addition, the Block Development Authorities are attempting to expand agriculture and enhance productivity. The Sone Canal System has been rebuilt to bring in more area for farming. Horticulture is becoming more popular, and orchards are cropping up all over the state.

Industrialisation

Following the partition of the old Shahabad district into the new districts of Bhojpur and Rohtas, large-scale companies tended to gravitate toward Rohtas. Apart from certain agro-based businesses, several minor and cottage enterprises exist in the Bhojpur district. 

According to the District Statistical Report, 1085 small micro and cottage enterprises were registered with the District Industry Centre in Bhojpur between April 1992 and August 2000. The total capital invested in these industries is INR 869.19 lakhs, and 1858 people are engaged in them.

Physiographic Divisions

Bihar’s geological makeup includes newer and older rock formations dating from the Tertiary to Pre-Cambrian periods. The sediments deposited by rivers created the geographic plains of Bihar. The state is delimited by the Himalayan foothills, the Indo-Gangetic plains, the Vindhyan plateau, and the Gondwana Basin from a geographical standpoint. 

Bihar is classified into three physiographic units based on physical and structural factors:

• The Shivalik Ranges
• The Plains of Bihar
• Regions of the Southern Plateau

Conclusion 

Bihar is a completely landlocked state in the temperate zone’s subtropical area. The geography of Bihar is situated between West Bengal in the east and Uttar Pradesh in the west, giving it a climatic, economic, and cultural transitional position. Bihar is bordered on the north by Nepal and on the south by Jharkhand. The Ganges River, which flows across the geography of Bihar Plains from west to east, divides it into two unequal parts (North Bihar and South Bihar). Bihar’s terrain has an average elevation of 173 feet above sea level, and the total population of Bihar is around 104,099,452 as of the last report in 2011.