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{{About|the municipality in India|its namesake district|Purnia district}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{original research|date=February 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Purnea
| settlement_type = [[Urban Agglomeration]]
| image_skyline = Purnea Skyline.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Purnia Skyline
| pushpin_map = India Bihar#India3
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Bihar, India##Location in India
| coordinates = {{coord|25.778|87.476|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of regions of India|Region]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Bihar Government Banner.png}}[[Bihar]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Purnia district|Purnia]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 14 February 1770
| named_for = Goddess Puran Devi or Sanskrit word ''Purn Aranya''
| government_type = [[Municipal Corporation (India)]]
| governing_body = Purnea Municipal Corporation
| leader_title1 = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name1 = Bibha Kumari
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 92
| area_urban_km2 = 60
| area_rank = [[List of cities in Bihar by population|2nd in Bihar]]
| area_footnotes =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 36
| population_total = 496,830 <ref name=pop />
| population_urban = 496,830
| population_rank = [[List of cities in Bihar by population|4th in Bihar]]
| population_demonym =
| demographics1_title1 = Spoken
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 854301,854302(Main City), 854303(South-West Suburbs & [[Purnia Airport]]), 854304(North-West Suburbs), 854305(Khuskibagh & [[Purnia Junction railway station|Purnia Railway station]]), 854326(Eastern Suburbs), 854330(Northern Suburbs & [[Kasba (Purnia)|Kasba]]) (Purnia)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pin Codes of Purnia, Bihar, India, Purnia Pincode Search |url=https://indiapincodes.net/Bihar/Purnia/ |website=indiapincodes.net |access-date=28 September 2022}}</ref>
| area_code = +91 6454
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = [[List of RTO districts in India#BR.E2.80.94Bihar|BR-11]]
| blank1_name_sec1 = Literacy
| blank1_info_sec1 = 74.09%
| website = {{URL|purnea.bih.nic.in}}
| footnotes =
| leader_title2 = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
| leader_name2 = [[Santosh Kumar (politician)|Santosh Kumar Kushwaha]]
| leader_title3 = MLA
| leader_name3 = Vijay khemka
| leader_title4 = [[District Magistrate]]
| leader_name4 = Mr. Suharsh Bhagat([[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]])
| demographics1_info1 = [[Maithili language|Maithili]], [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Angika]], [[Urdu]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Purnia (Lok Sabha constituency)|Purnia]]
| official_name = Purnea
}}

'''Purnia''' ({{audio|Purnea4wikipedia.ogg|pronunciation}})(also [[Romanization|romanized]] as '''Purnea''') is [[List of cities in Bihar by population|the fourth largest city of Bihar]] and emerging as the biggest 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 have abundance amount of resources for human settlements and economic activities.

Total geographical area of Purnia Urban Agglomeration is {{Convert|92|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|2}} which is next only to Patna. Population density of the city is 3058 persons per km sq. making it the [[List of cities in Bihar by population|4th largest city of Bihar by population]].<ref name="pop">{{cite web |title=Population of Cities in India 2021 - StatisticsTimes.com |url=https://statisticstimes.com/demographics/country/india-cities-population.php |website=statisticstimes.com}}</ref> It is nearly 315 km from [[Patna]], as well as 171 km from [[Siliguri]], 90 km from [[Bhagalpur]]. It is 640 km from [[Guwahati]] (Approx.) 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 Army]], [[Indian Air Force]], and three of five branches of India's [[Central Armed Police Forces]] – the [[Border Security Force]] (BSF), the [[Sashastra Seema Bal]] (SSB), and the [[Indo-Tibetan Border Police]] (ITBP) – 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".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Official Web site of Purnea Dist. Admn |url=http://purnea.bih.nic.in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015205130/http://www.purnea.bih.nic.in/ |archive-date=15 October 2018 |access-date=2012-07-13 |publisher=Purnea.bih.nic.in}}</ref> ''Purnia'' could also be an altered form of the old name ''Purania'', derived from the word ''purain'' or [[Lotus (plant)|Lotus]], which is said to have grown on the [[Koshi River|Kosi]] and [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]] rivers.

The city's name is also [[Romanization|romanized]] as Purnea.

==History==
Purnia is part of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jha |first=Makhan |title=Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective |year=1997 |isbn=9788175330344 |pages=27–30}}</ref> Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by [[Indo-Aryan peoples]] who established the [[Mithila Kingdom]] (also called Kingdom of the Videhas).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Witzel |first=Michael |title=Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes |year=1989 |editor-last=Caillat |location=Paris |pages=13, 17 116–124, 141–143}}</ref> During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), 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 [[Janaka]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Witzel |first=Michael |title=Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes |publisher=Fondation Hugot |year=1989 |editor-last=Caillat |editor-first=C. |location=Paris |pages=141–143 |chapter=Tracing the Vedic dialects |author-link=Michael Witzel}}</ref> The Videha Kingdom was later incorporated into the [[Vajjika League]], which had its capital in the city of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], which is also in Mithila.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hemchandra |first=R. |title=Political History of Ancient India |publisher=University of Calcutta |year=1972 |location=Calcutta}}</ref>

In the 17th-century the rulers of Purnia were involved in wars with the [[History of Limbuwan|Kings of Limbuwan]].

At the beginning of British rule, many people from Europe came to Purnia and settled here. At that time, Purnia was a complete 'Purania', which means jungle. In the early days, Europeans settled around the [[Saura river]] in the middle of the city, which we now know as Rambagh area.

However, later all these Europeans started coming west from Saura river and started making their own 'Kothi'. The civil lines we see in different parts of the country were also in Purnia. The only difference was that in the civil lines of [[Lucknow]], [[Kanpur]] etc., British officers used to stay, while Gentlemen Farmers in Purnia.

Among the most active European zamindars in Purnia were Alexander John Forbes and Palmer. Alexander John Forbes bought the Sultanpur pargana from Mahajan Babu Pratap Singh of [[Murshidabad]] in 1859 AD and became a Zamindar. Forbes city (Forbesganj) in the Sultanpur pargana was named after him. But Forbes lived in the city of Purnia. He was interested in building the race course and all other kinds of clubs.

Today, in the city where we see the Girl's high school, Forbes Kothi was used to be there. The Kothi used to be full with European settlers in the past.

Alexander Forbes and his wife Diana died of malaria in 1890. Time changed and the Forbes family sold the Sultanpur estate to the country's business house J. K. Singhania, because at that time there was a lot of jute cultivation going here.

Like Forbes, another Englishman lived in Purnia for a long time, his name was Palmer. He bought the zamindari of a king here and settled here. Palmer's only daughter, Mrs. Downing, was his heir. Mrs. Downing had two heirs - her son C. Y. Downing and daughter Mrs. Hays.

Today, the grand residence of Hez Saheb is the main building of Purnia College. There are different stories about Palmer, but other than those stories, this Englishman is still in the memories of Purnia.

Actually there is a dyke in the city which protects the city from floods. There is one area in the frontier of the city - Baghmara. From here, there is an embankment parallel to the Saura river, which was built by Palmer. This dam has been known as the Palmer Dam named after him.

Indigo cultivation was first started in Purnia by an Englishman named John Kelly. Later many Europeans cultivated indigo here vigorously. The Shillingford-dynasty was the foremost among them who built 'Nilha Kothi' in the places like Nilganj, Mahendrapur, Bhavbada. The story of Shillingford is also very interesting. He was a hunter. Still when we go from Purnea towards Dhamdaha and towards Sarsi area, we get to hear the story of Neelha farmer.

These English Gentleman Farmers have contributed most to the story of becoming Purnia from Poorania. These people did a lot of work regarding the city's settlement. Purnia was very open, green and open area.

<ref>{{Cite web |title=शहरनामाः खेत पूर्णिया का जमींदार यूरोप के |url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/tale-of-a-city-purnea-the-land-of-purnea-and-landlords-were-from-europe-1-1156367.html |access-date=2020-07-18 |website=aajtak.intoday.in |language=hi}}</ref>

==Geography==

Purnia and its surrounding lands lie in the [[sub-montane]] alluvial tract of the [[Gangetic Plain]]. The city however lies on the banks of numerous tributaries of the [[Koshi River]]. Two major rivers traverse Purnia city with the [[Kari Kosi]] river on the western end and the [[Saura river]] on the eastern end. The main city is situated between these two rivers.

Purnia city has an area of {{convert|92|km2||abbr=}}.

==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.

{{Weather box
|location = Purnia (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2009)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 29.3
| Feb record high C = 35.3
| Mar record high C = 40.6
| Apr record high C = 43.3
| May record high C = 43.9
| Jun record high C = 43.0
| Jul record high C = 38.9
| Aug record high C = 38.2
| Sep record high C = 37.4
| Oct record high C = 36.6
| Nov record high C = 34.8
| Dec record high C = 31.6
|year record high C = 43.9
| Jan high C = 23.2
| Feb high C = 27.0
| Mar high C = 32.2
| Apr high C = 35.2
| May high C = 34.9
| Jun high C = 34.4
| Jul high C = 32.9
| Aug high C = 33.2
| Sep high C = 32.9
| Oct high C = 32.3
| Nov high C = 29.9
| Dec high C = 25.8
|year high C = 31.2
| Jan low C = 8.7
| Feb low C = 11.3
| Mar low C = 15.7
| Apr low C = 20.2
| May low C = 23.1
| Jun low C = 25.0
| Jul low C = 25.4
| Aug low C = 25.6
| Sep low C = 24.7
| Oct low C = 21.0
| Nov low C = 14.9
| Dec low C = 10.1
|year low C = 18.8
| Jan record low C = 1.3
| Feb record low C = 1.7
| Mar record low C = 5.4
| Apr record low C = 10.4
| May record low C = 15.0
| Jun record low C = 17.8
| Jul record low C = 20.7
| Aug record low C = 19.6
| Sep record low C = 18.0
| Oct record low C = 10.0
| Nov record low C = 4.6
| Dec record low C = 2.1
|year record low C = 1.3
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 9.0
| Feb rain mm = 8.1
| Mar rain mm = 11.1
| Apr rain mm = 41.8
| May rain mm = 155.2
| Jun rain mm = 306.0
| Jul rain mm = 399.6
| Aug rain mm = 320.5
| Sep rain mm = 321.9
| Oct rain mm = 80.8
| Nov rain mm = 5.6
| Dec rain mm = 5.6
|year rain mm = 1665.2
| Jan rain days = 0.8
| Feb rain days = 1.0
| Mar rain days = 1.0
| Apr rain days = 2.7
| May rain days = 6.6
| Jun rain days = 10.8
| Jul rain days = 15.1
| Aug rain days = 13.1
| Sep rain days = 11.4
| Oct rain days = 3.5
| Nov rain days = 0.5
| Dec rain days = 0.6
|year rain days = 67.0
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 75
| Feb humidity = 62
| Mar humidity = 48
| Apr humidity = 50
| May humidity = 63
| Jun humidity = 74
| Jul humidity = 82
| Aug humidity = 82
| Sep humidity = 83
| Oct humidity = 80
| Nov humidity = 78
| Dec humidity = 79
|year humidity = 71
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name="IMDnormals">{{Cite web |date=January 2015 |title=Station: Purnea Climatological Table 1981–2010 |url=https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2020 |access-date=24 August 2020 |website=Climatological Normals 1981–2010 |publisher=India Meteorological Department |pages=631–632}}</ref><ref name="IMDextremes">{{Cite web |date=December 2016 |title=Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012) |url=https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2020 |access-date=24 August 2020 |publisher=India Meteorological Department |page=M37}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of cities in Bihar by population}}
As of the 2011 census, Purnia Municipal Corporation had a total population of 282,248, of which 148,077 were males and 134,171 were females.<ref name="MCorpPop">{{Cite book |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1009_PART_B_DCHB_PURNIA.pdf |title=District Census Handbook - Purnia |publisher=censusindia.gov.in |year=2014 |page=24 |access-date=9 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516151107/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1009_PART_B_DCHB_PURNIA.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> It had a sex ratio of 906 females to 1,000 males. The population below 6 years was 43,050. The literacy rate for the 6+ population was 73.02%, compared to the 74.04% national average.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities having population 1 lakh and above |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507135928/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-date=7 May 2012 |access-date=2012-04-16 |website=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011}}</ref> Purnia Urban Agglomeration, comprising Purnia Municipal Corporation and [[Kasba (Purnia)|Kasba]] (Nagar Panchayat),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constituents of urban Agglomerations Having Population 1 Lakh & above |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_4_PR_UAs_1Lakh_and_Above_Appendix.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306023808/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_4_PR_UAs_1Lakh_and_Above_Appendix.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2016 |access-date=2012-04-16 |website=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011}}</ref> had a population of 310,817 in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226074535/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_3_PR_UA_Citiees_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf%20 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=2012-04-16 |website=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011}}</ref>
{{bar box|width = 250px
|barwidth = 100px |cellpadding="0"
|align = left
|titlebar = #FCD116
|title=Religions in Purnia City (2011)
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|DarkOrange|75.19 }}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|23.26}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Blue|0.60}}
{{bar percent|[[Sikhism]]|Darkkhaki|0.12}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism]]|Pink|0.35}}
{{bar percent|Others|Black|0.52}}}}

===Languages===
[[Maithili language|Maithili]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ranjan |first=Manish |title=Bihar Samanya Gyan |isbn=9789386300850 |pages=111}}</ref> is native language and [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] are the other languages spoken by the people of Purnia. [[Surjapuri language|Surjapuri]] and [[Santali language|Santali]] dialects are also spoken in some parts of the city. English continues to be taught in the English Medium schools.

==Economy==

In recent years, Purnia is growing as epicenter for service, automobile and many more economic sectors. This results as fast changing in lifestyle and economy of city.
Primarily, Gulabbagh, Khuskibagh, [[Line Bazar]], Bhatta Bazar, Madhubani Bazar, City Industrial Estate and Maranga Outgrowth Centre are the prime locations for the economic activities.

===Gulabbagh & Khuskibagh===

Gulabbagh and Khuskibagh are situated at eastern outskirts of main city, and known for their famous agriculture market (in local language ''mandi''). Many merchants come from [[Nepal]] and [[West Bengal]] to purchase supplies of raw material and specially [[Maize]]. GulabBagh in Purnia houses a major grain storehouse and is Asia's largest [[maize]] trading center. This location as well as central and eastern Bihar supply the grain requirements of [[Bengal]], [[Nepal]], and the states of [[Northeast India]]. It is also an epic centre of highways in Purnia, as well {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}}, {{jct|NH|231|country=IND}}, {{jct|NH|131A|country=IND}} passes that provides excellent connectivity to all parts of [[India]]. Khuskibagh has fruit and vegetable market that is too close to {{stnlnk|Purnia Junction}} (station code: PRNA) that provides rail connectivity.

===Agriculture===

Purnia is supplied with agricultural products by its [[Purnia district|surrounding countryside]]. The [[alluvial soil]], irrigated by the [[Koshi River|Kosi]] and [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]] rivers, has been particularly suited to the [[paddy cultivation]] of [[rice]]. Other crops grown are [[potatoes]], [[wheat]], [[khesari]], [[chickpeas]], [[chili pepper]]s, [[maize]], [[Masoor dal|lentils]], [[Pigeon pea|arhar dal]], [[barley]], [[sugarcane]], [[tobacco]], [[Euryale ferox|makhana]], [[mung beans]], and [[jute]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agriculture in Purnia |url=http://www.purnea.co.in/home/agriculture.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230020346/http://purnea.co.in/home/agriculture.aspx |archive-date=30 December 2010 |access-date=13 February 2011}}</ref> The previous extensive growing of jute supported a former flourishing [[jute]] industry which has now declined. The cultivation of maize has however soared in recent years in the city's outskirts.

Purnia is a powerful poultry producer and has also been catering to the demands of the nearby regions of Nepal and [[West Bengal]] for many years. Purnia is also well known for its fisheries. Fishes are also transported to the nearby markets of West Bengal, especially those in the [[Siliguri]] Metropolitan Region, the nearest large urban centre.

==Education==
[[File:Law College,Purnea.jpg|thumb|BMT Law College, Purnea]]
Purnia has always been a centre of education in the north Bihar region. Zila School, founded in 1800 during the period of [[British Raj|British rule]], is Purnia's oldest school, and one of the city's largest. [[Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya]], Garhbanaili (14 km away from main city) is a prestigious school run by the government. Vidya Vihar Residential School, the leading Boarding School of Bihar has its campus at Parora on Purnea. India's leading school chain [[G D Goenka Public School]] has its third campus of Bihar in Purnea after Patna and Gaya. Purnia also has a [[Kendriya Vidyalaya]]. Other prominent schools are -
* Vidya Vihar Residential School
* Don Bosco public School
* S.R. DAV Public School
* Ursuline Convent English/Hindi Medium School
* Millia Convent English Medium School
* Purnia High School
* Indian Public School
* B.B.M. High School
* St. Peter Residential School
* Mount Zion Mission School
* Bright Career English School
* Bijendra Public School
* Saraswati Vidya Mandir
* Saraswati Shishu Mandir
* St. John's High School
* Greenfield Public School

There are colleges for higher studies concentrating [[engineering education|engineering]], [[law]], [[arts]], and [[home science]]. Having recognition from the state government and various other government [[University|universities]] such as [[Aryabhatta Knowledge University]], [[Bihar Agriculture University]] and [[Purnea University]], these colleges include:
* Purnia College
* B.M.T. Law College
* [[Vidya Vihar Institute of Technology]]
* Millia Group of Colleges (managed by Millia Education Trust)
* [[Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College|Bhola Paswan Shastri Agriculture College]]
* Purnia Mahila College
* Millia Institute of Technology
* Millia Polytechnic Rambagh
* Government Polytechnic of Purnea
* Purnia College of Engineering
* Simanchal Institute of Medical Science, Kasba (OPD functional from Jan 2018)
* Government Medical College and Hospital, Sadar Hospital Purnea
* Shershah Institute of Medical Sciences
* Medical College and Hospital by Millia Educational Trust

3D animation and multimedia institute:

* Animation School (Madhubani Bazar)

The [[Indian Red Cross Society]] has the largest blood bank in the state after Patna, with a capacity of 1,000 units. The [[Bihar government]] recently inaugurated one of the three megastock warehouses for drugs/medicines at [[Kasba (Purnia)|Kasba]], which aims to serve the 13 districts of North Bihar.

The [[Indira Gandhi Stadium, Purnia|Indira Gandhi Stadium]] houses the [[Sports Authority of India]] sports hostel for athletes. The DSA and Zila School grounds are the city's outdoor stadiums.

The region has been blessed with [[Purnea University]] (9th University of Bihar). The university is the only in Purnea Commissionerate. It includes colleges of Purnea, Katihar, Araria and Kishanganj.

==Transportation==

===Air===
[[File:Four Indian Air Force MI-17 V5 Medium Lift Helicopter on standby at Air Force Station Purnea (in Bihar) as part of flood relief operations being undertaken in Bihar on August 04, 2014.jpg|thumb|Helicopter at Air Force Station Purnea]]

[[Purnea Airport]], also known as Chunapur Airport (Airforce Station), is located within the cantonment area but is restricted to army usage only. Proposals for the airport to operate scheduled flights are being widely discussed at the level of the state government.

The nearest commercial airport, [[Bagdogra Airport]], is about 150 km away at [[Bagdogra]] in [[Darjeeling district]]. And [[Darbhanga Airport]] is around 231 km from Purnia. [[Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport]] (Patna Airport) is located in Patna, capital of Bihar, at a distance of 310 km from Purnia.

===Rail===

[[File:Purnea Jn front.jpg|thumb|Purnea Junction Main Entrance]]
Purnia is served by two railway stations separated by 5 km, {{stnlnk|Purnia Junction}} (station code: PRNA) and {{stnlnk|Purnia Court}} (station code: PRNC). Purnia Junction is closer to the residents of Khuskibagh, Gulabbagh, and Eastern Purnia, while Purnia Court is in the western part of the city and caters to the residents of Madhubani, Janta Chowk, and Central and Western Purnia.
Purnia Junction is situated on [[Barauni–Katihar section|Barauni–Katihar, Saharsa and Purnia sections]] of the [[Northeast Frontier Railway]] (NFR) and [[East Central Railway zone]] that connects Purnia to {{stnlnk|Katihar Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Jogbani}}, {{stnlnk|Saharsa Junction}} and {{stnlnk|Barauni Junction}}. There are daily and weekly trains to {{stnlnk|Kolkata}}, {{stnlnk|Delhi Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Patna Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Ranchi Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Muzaffarpur Junction}}, [[Bapudham Motihari railway station|Motihari]], {{stnlnk|Lucknow Charbagh}}, {{stnlnk|Kanpur Central}}, {{stnlnk|Gorakhpur Junction}}, {{stnlnk|Gaya Junction}}, and other nearby cities.

===Road===
[[File:NH-231 Purnea.jpg|thumb|Newly Constructed {{jct|NH|231|country=IND}} across Purnea]]

National Highways namely {{jct|NH|31|country=IND}}, {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}}, {{jct|NH|231|country=IND}}, {{jct|NH|131A|country=IND}} make Purnia accessible to the people from nearby cities & states while [[state highways]] connect the other neighbouring cities and villages to the main city area. The newly constructed {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}} directly connects Purnia to some important towns and cities of [[North Bihar]] namely [[Darbhanga]] & [[Muzaffarpur]]. It takes nearly 5 hours to reach [[Muzaffarpur]] through this [[Limited-access road|Expressway]]. This expressway which also traverses through the newly built Kosi Mahasetu bridge ends at [[Muzaffarpur]] to continue further for Patna. It has turned out to be an alternate route for Patna & has helped in decongesting the ever busy and traffic-prone NH31.

{{jct|NH|31|country=IND}} traverse the main city and terminate Gulab bagh at {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}} in the east and [[Patna]] to the west via [[Mokama]], [[Khagaria]] & [[Begusarai]].

The east–west corridor connecting [[Silchar]], [[Assam]] to [[Gujarat]] passes through Purnia in the form of {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}}. It is a modern four-lane highway constructed by [[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI). State Highways 60, 62, 65, 77 & 90 also pass through Purnia.

{{jct|NH|31|country=IND}} and {{jct|NH|27|country=IND}} are four-lane expressways and are a strength to the intercity transportation services.

==Notable Events==
Phanishwar Nath Renu's popular story "Maare Gaye Gulfam" which was adapted into a film ''[[Teesri Kasam]]'' (The Third Vow), by [[Basu Bhattacharya]] (produced by the poet-lyricist [[Shailendra (lyricist)|Shailendra]]) in 1966 was shot in Purnia, in which old Purnea is pictured, especially 'the Gulabbag Mela'.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Purnia held the record for making and displaying the world's longest [[tricolour (flag)|tricolour]] flag, with the length measured at 7,100 metres (7.1 km) before it was broken on 12 August 2019 by [[Raipur]], [[Chhattisgarh|Chattisgadh]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=7km-long tricolour to be hoisted in Purnia on Aug 20 - Times of India |website=[[The Times of India]] |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/7km-long-tricolour-to-be-hoisted-in-Purnia-on-Aug-20/articleshow/53728480.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823214626/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/7km-long-tricolour-to-be-hoisted-in-Purnia-on-Aug-20/articleshow/53728480.cms |archive-date=23 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-20 |title=World Largest Flag Purnea Bihar |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVtrfxpU-6Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208220642/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVtrfxpU-6Y |archive-date=8 February 2017 |access-date=2016-08-23 |website=1st News 24x7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Human Chain" Unfurls 15-Km-Long Tricolour In Chattisgarh, Enters Record |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/human-chain-unfurls-15-km-long-tricolour-in-chattisgarh-enters-champions-book-of-world-records-2083720 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204154534/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/human-chain-unfurls-15-km-long-tricolour-in-chattisgarh-enters-champions-book-of-world-records-2083720 |archive-date=4 December 2019 |access-date=2019-12-04 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Raja Bahadur Kirtyanand Sinha]] (1880-1938), patron and known for charitable works
*[[Syed Abdus Samad (footballer)]] (1895-1964), footballer
* [[Satinath Bhaduri]] (1906–1965), novelist and politician
* [[Phanishwar Nath 'Renu']] (1921–1977), novelist
* [[Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay]] (1899–1979), playwright and poet
* [[Bhola Paswan Shastri]], three-time Chief Minister of Bihar
* Alo Roy, noted Bengali poet, story writer and cultural organiser.
* [[Sushant Singh Rajput]], actor
* [[Gurmeet Choudhary]], actor
* [[Ajit Sarkar]], politician
* [[Sweta Singh]], News Editor
* [[Manish Vatsalya]], Film Director

==See also==
* [[Chunapur]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Chakrabarti D.K. (1996b). From Purnea to Champaran: The distribution of sites in the north Bihar plains. South Asian Studies, 12: pp. 147–158
{{Purnia Division}}
{{Dalkhola topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Purnia| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Purnia district]]

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