Katihar

2021-06-30T10:12:48Z

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{{About|the municipal corporation in India|its namesake district|Katihar district}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Katihar
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = 
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Katihar Station.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = {{rws|Katihar Junction}}
| nickname =
| pushpin_map = India Bihar#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Bihar]]##Location in India
| coordinates = {{coord|25.53|N|87.58|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Bihar]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Katihar district|Katihar]]
| established_title =
| subdivision_type3 = [[Urban Agglomeration]]
| subdivision_name3 = Katihar
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Shivraj Paswan

| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal Corporation]]
| governing_body = Katihar Municipal Corporation
| unit_pref = graduate
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|title=Katihar City|url=https://www.cseindia.org/katihar-6891}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 33
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 20
| population_total = 240,565
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 =
| population_rank = 117
| population_demonym = Katiharians
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Main
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]], [[Urdu]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Surjapuri]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 854105
| registration_plate = BR-39
| Demonym = Katiharians
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Katihar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Katihar]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Katihar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Katihar]]
| website = {{URL|http://katihar.bih.nic.in/}}
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Katihar''' is a city situated in the eastern part of the state of [[Bihar]] in [[India]]. It is the regional headquarter of [[Katihar district]]. It is one of the larger cities of Bihar and is known all over East India for its highly strategic railway junction.

==History==
Katihar is a part of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]].<ref>https://m.timesofindia.com/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/bihar-assembly-elections-2020-bjp-eyes-winning-push-from-mithila/amp_articleshow/78314749.cms</ref> Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by [[Indo-Aryan peoples]] who established the [[Mithila Kingdom]] (also called Kingdom of the Videhas).<ref>[[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143</ref>

During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Kingdom of the Videhas became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Kingdom of the Videhas were called [[Janaka]]s.<ref>{{cite book |author=Witzel, M. |author-link=Michael Witzel |year=1989 |chapter=Tracing the Vedic dialects |title=Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes |location=Paris |editor1-last=Caillat |editor1-first=C. |pages=141–143 |publisher=Fondation Hugot}}</ref> The Mithila Kingdom was later incorporated into the [[Vajji]] confederacy, which had its capital in the city of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], which is also in Mithila.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hemchandra, R. |year=1972 |title=Political History of Ancient India |location=Calcutta |publisher=University of Calcutta}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Road===

Katihar is not so well connected through road network to the neighbouring cities of Bihar and other neighbouring states due to its interior location. An excellent Highway {{jct|NH|131A|country=IND}}, however, connects it to [[Purnia]], from where {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}}, {{jct|NH|231|country=IND}} and {{jct|NH|31|country=IND}} passes through or starts through.

===Air===
The nearest airport is located at [[Purnia Airport]] near [[Purnea]] (30 km), but it is a airforce station.
The nearest commercial airport is located at [[Bagdogra Airport]] (160 km) near [[Siliguri]] ([[West Bengal]]). However, recently the government has announced to open an air force base airport in Chunapur, Purnea to be allowed to use for commercial use. However, it is not operational yet.

==Education==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2014}}
{{Main|List of institutions of higher education in Bihar}}
[[File:Childrens Happy Home Katihar.jpg|thumb|]]
[[File:Katihar Ramakrishna Mission (front view) 2014-07-24 22-55.jpg|thumb|Katihar Ramakrishna Mission]]
Katihar has many education institutions. Some [[Central Board of Secondary Education|CBSE]] schools in city are:

* Katihar Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandir (estd. in 1951; the oldest surviving school of Katihar; it used to be under WBBSE; now affiliated with [[Central Board of Secondary Education|CBSE]])<ref>https://www.rkmkatihar.org/</ref>
* Scottish Public School<ref>http://scottishpublicschool.in/</ref>
* kendriya Vidyalaya<ref>http://kvkatihar.org.in/</ref>
* Hari Shankar Nayak High School
* International School of East India<ref>http://isei.in/</ref>
* Manipal public school<ref>http://www.icbse.com/schools/manipal-public-school/330526</ref>
* Netaji Vidyamandir
* AAM Children's Academy
* Children's happy home
* Katihar English School
* Don Bosco
* [[Ramakrishna Mission]] Sarda Vidyamandir
* Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Katihar<ref>https://nrj7017.github.io/jnvk/</ref>
* Colonels Academy<ref>https://colonelsacademy.in/</ref>
* SBP Vidya Vihar<ref>http://sbpvidyaviharkatihar.com/</ref>
* KidZee<ref>https://www.kidzee.com/bihar/katihar/best-play-school-katihar</ref>
* The Maheshwari Academy
* Katihar High School
* Zila School
* M.T.A Islamia +2 School
* Rajiv Shiksha Niketan
* Meadowland Montessori school

Government colleges:

* D.S. College, Katihar<ref>http://www.dspgcollege.org/</ref>
* K.B Jha College, Katihar<ref>http://www.kbjhacollegekatihar.com/</ref>
* Govt. Polytechnic, Katihar<ref>http://www.govtpolykatihar.in/</ref>
* Katihar College Of Engineering, Katihar
* Sita Ram Chamaria College<ref>http://www.srcdcollege.com/</ref>
* M J M Mahila College<ref>https://mjmmahilacollege.com/</ref>

Other important institutes:
*[[Purnia University]]
* Katihar Medical College & Hospital, Katihar<ref>http://kmckatihar.org/</ref>
* Maharshi Menhi Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Katihar<ref>http://www.mmhmch.org/</ref>
* [[Suryadeo Law College]], Katihar<ref>http://suryadeolawcollege.com/</ref>
* A.M.Ashari Educational & Welfare Trust, Katihar

===Katihar Medical College===
[[Katihar Medical College and Hospital]] (KMCH) is a private medical college located in Katihar City suburbs and is recognized by the [[Medical Council of India]] (MCI),<ref>{{cite web|title=Katihar Medical College|url=http://www.kmckatihar.org/ |publisher=[[Katihar Medical College]] |access-date=25 April 2017}}</ref> one of the few medical schools in the [[Seemanchal]] region. It was established in 1987 and has been instrumental in providing medical care to the local people. The institute offers courses in MBBS and MD in different fields including biochemistry, pharmacology, microbiology, general medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology.

==Demographics==

As per the 2011 census, Katihar Urban Agglomeration had a population of 240,565.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title = Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above |work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 |access-date = 2012-04-16 }}</ref> Katihar Urban Agglomeration includes Katihar (municipal corporation plus outgrowth) and Katihar Railway Colony (outgrowth).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_4_PR_UAs_1Lakh_and_Above_Appendix.pdf | title = Constituents of urban Agglomerations Having Population 1 Lakh & above |work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011|access-date = 2012-04-16 }}</ref> Katihar Municipal Corporation had a total population of 225,982, out of which 119,142 were males and 106,840 were females. It had a sex ratio of 897. The population below 5 years was 31,036. The literacy rate of the 7+ population was 79.87 per cent.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf | title = Cities having population 1 lakh and above |work= Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 |access-date = 2012-04-16}}</ref> Katihar is at 193th rank in terms of its population among the [[List of most populous cities in India|top 200 cities of India]] as per the 2011 census.

[[Hindi]], [[Urdu]], [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Angika]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and Surjapuri are the main languages spoken in Katihar.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

== Durga Puja and Kali Puja ==
[[File:Beautiful Durga puja pandal at Katihar.jpg|thumb|]]

{{unreferenced section|date=March 2017}}
The city of Katihar hosts one of the most extravagant [[Durga Puja]] and [[Kali Puja]] celebrations in entire Bihar. Many pandals come to the city during these periods. Artisans from [[Kolkata]] are called for statue work of goddess Durga and allies.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.jagran.com/bihar/katihar-navaratra-14812792.html | title = Durga Puja Celebration in Katihar |work= Dainik Jagaran }}</ref>

Katihar already has a significant [[Bengalis|Bengali]] population and this adds to the celebrations. There are lotteries and various competitions held all over the city by the Pandal hosting societies during this festive season of Katihar.

==Media==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2017}}
Most people read ''[[Hindustan (newspaper)|Hindustan]]'', ''[[Dainik Jagran]]'', ''Dainik Bhaskar'', and ''The Telegraph''. Bengali newspapers are also available for Bengali readers. KBC News broadcasts the local news on television. People tune into [[All India Radio]] for national news.

==Climate==
[[File:Katihar weather.jpg|thumb|]]

The climate of Katihar is nearly moderate with widespread rainfall during the [[monsoon]]s sometimes bringing flood to the adjoining rural areas of the [[Katihar District]].

==See also==
* [[List of cities in Bihar]]
* [[Kolasi]]
* [[Korha (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Korha]]
* [[Tingachhia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Katihar}}
* [http://www.katihar.bih.nic.in katihar.bih.nic.in]
*[https://archive.is/20140806075344/http://districtcourts.nic.in/ecourts/Patna/Katihar/Katihar.php District Court, Katihar]

{{Purnia Division}}

[[Category:Katihar| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Katihar district]]
[[Category:Municipal corporations in Bihar]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Bihar]]

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Katihar