# East Champaran district

East Champaran or Purvi Champaran is an administrative district in the state of Bihar in India.The district headquarter is located at Motihari. Prior to 1971, there was a single Champaran District. On 1 December 1971, it was divided into East and West Champaran (Purvi and Paschimi Champaran). In early days the land of East Chamapran was ruled by different kingdoms as Videha, Sunga, Kanvas. It is also believed that Champaran used to be a major part of King Janak's empire. Mahatma Gandhi started his famous Satyagraha movement from here.

## About district

East Champaran District is functioning from 2 November 1972. The headquarter of the district is at Motihari. It is situated at 26° 16′ to 27° 1′ North latitude and 84° 30′ to 85° 16′ East longitudes. Nepal makes its northern boundary, Sitamarhi and Sheohar eastern while Mehsi, Muzaffarpur South and with part of Gopalganj and West Champaran bounds it in western side.
The district occupies an area of 3969 km$^2$ and has a population of 5,099,371 (as of 2011). East Champaran is a part of Tirhut Division. It was earlier part of the Red Corridor.
As of 2011, it is the second most populous district of Bihar (out of 38), after Patna.
East Champaran is the second most crowded district of Bihar. The district gets its name from the union of two words, champa and aranya. Champa alludes to scented blossom trees and Aranya alludes to the home or an encased spot. The name began back in when the district was encircled by a backwoods of magnolia (champa) trees.

## The Literary History of Champaran

Freedom Fighter and author Ramesh Chandra Jha was the first person who penned down the rich literary history of Champaran. His research based books including Champaran Ki Sahitya Sadhana (चम्पारन की साहित्य साधना) (1958), Champaran:Literature & Literary Writers (चम्पारन: साहित्य और साहित्यकार) (1967) and Apne Aur Sapne:A Literary Journey Of Champaran (अपने और सपने: चम्पारन की साहित्य यात्रा) (1988) meticulously document the rich literary heritage and history of Champaran, Bihar. These seminal books continue to serve as foundational reference points for researchers, scholars, Ph.D. students, and journalists alike. Jha's insightful exploration and preservation of Champaran's historical and literary legacy have solidified his place as a cornerstone in the field of literary research.

## Tourist Places
### Someshwar Nath Mandir, Areraj

Someshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir is a well established temple situated in Areraj. The significant divinity of the heavenly temple is of Lord Shiva. Explorers and pilgrims of Lord Shiva go to the holy place from India as well as from Nepal. The merriments on the event of an occasional reasonable known as Shrawani Mela, during July and August, are really pleasant. There are numerous different temples nearby around and thus just, Areraj is known as the holy place of East Champaran.

### Ashokan Pillar

Ashokan Pillar is situated in Lauria Nandangarh, or Lauriya Navandgarh which is a city or town around 14 km from Narkatiaganj and 28 km from Bettiah in West Champaran district of Bihar state in northern India. It is found near the banks of the Budhi Gandak River. Lauriya Nandangarh is a chronicled place which goes under West Champaran district of Bihar.

### Kesariya

Kesariya is arranged on the eastern banks of the River Gandak and views the enormous 104-feet-tall stupa, which is viewed as the tallest Buddhist stupa. In like manner, Kesariya orders conspicuous situations in East Champaran the travel industry just as history of Buddhism. The stupa was found in the year 1998.

### Raxaul

Raxaul is one of the most significant towns of the East Champaran district. By excellence of its topographical area, it is known as the Gateway to Nepal.

### Moti Jheel

Situated in the core of the Motihari city, Moti Jheel is the most excellent fascination of the city that isolates Motihari into two parts.

### NREGA Park

A lovely and beguiling spot to appreciate with loved ones.

### Champaran in Gallary

* Motihari Railway Station, 1906
* Henry Bazaar(1906), Motihari
* Birth palace of George Orwell, Motihari
* The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paying homage at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, at Motihari.
* Stone Pillar Gandhi Museum
* Lauriya Ashoka Pillar, Areraj

### Gandhi Memorial

Gandhi Memorial is situated in Chandrahiya town, On his visit to Champaran Gandji jee was stopped in this town. Chandrahiya is a town in Bihar's East Champaran district which is around 8 KM away from district headquarter Motihari.

### Champaran Satyagrah Park

The Champaran Satyagraha Shatabdi Park located at the district headquarter of East Champaran.The Park has been built by the Urban Development and Housing office. Neighborhood individuals appreciate the freshness of this park with family, relatives, friends on weekend and holidays.

### George Orwell Monument

The origin of perhaps the most commended scholars of the 20th century and the writer of a few acclaimed books, George Orwell.

### Sitakund

Found 16 Kms from Pipra Railway Station, Sitakund is acclaimed as where Goddess Sita took a heavenly plunge.

## Geography

The East Champaran district occupies an area of 3,968 square kilometres (1,532 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Vanuatu's Espiritu Santo. Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Baghmati are important rivers flowing through this region.

## Demographics

Religions in East Champaran district (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 80.14% | 80.14% |
| Islam | Islam | 19.42% | 19.42% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.44% | 0.44% |
According to the 2011 census East Champaran district has a population of 5,099,371, roughly equal to the United Arab Emirates or the US state of Colorado. This gives it a ranking of 21st in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,281 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,320/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 29.01%. East Champaran has a sex ratio of 901 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 55.79%. 7.87% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 12.74% and 0.24% of the population respectively.

### Languages

* Bhojpuri (82.67%)
* Urdu (7.33%)
* Hindi (7.06%)
* 'Other' Hindi (2.58%)
* Bengali (0.26%)
* Others (0.1%)
According to the 2011 census, 82.67% of the population spoke Bhojpuri, 7.33% Urdu and 7.06% Hindi as their first language. 2.58% of the population spoke 'Others' under Hindi.

## Administrative divisions

The East Champaran district is divided into 6 Tehsil (sub-division):
* Areraj
* Chakia
* Motihari
* Pakaridayal
* Raxaul
* Sikarahana

## Politics

| District | No. | Constituency | Name | Party | Alliance |
| East Champaran | 10 | Raxaul | Pramod Kumar Sinha | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 11 | Sugauli | Shashi Bhushan Singh | RJD | MGB |
| East Champaran | 12 | Narkatiya | Shamim Ahmad | RJD | MGB |
| East Champaran | 13 | Harsidhi | Krishnanandan Paswan | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 14 | Govindganj | Sunil Mani Tiwari | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 15 | Kesaria | Shalini Mishra | JD(U) | NDA |
| East Champaran | 16 | Kalyanpur | Manoj Kumar Yadav | RJD | MGB |
| East Champaran | 17 | Pipra | Shyambabu Prasad Yadav | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 18 | Madhuban | Rana Randhir Singh | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 19 | Motihari | Pramod Kumar | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 20 | Chiraia | Lal Babu Prasad Gupta | BJP | NDA |
| East Champaran | 21 | Dhaka | Pawan Jaiswal | BJP | NDA |