Arrah Arrah is a city and a municipal corporation in Bhojpur district in the state of Bihar , India . The village ' s name is also transliterated as Ara . It is the district headquarters of Bhojpur district , located near the confluence of the Ganges and Sone rivers , some 24 mi . from Danapur and 36 miles from Patna . History . Arrah is an ancient city with references in mythological stories and Greek geographical works . It has been a centre of attraction for Jainism with dozens of old temples and hermitages . It is known for the important battle ( Battle of Buxar ) in October , 1764 , when Mir Kasim , Nawab of Bengal with the support of the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and Shuja - ud - daulla , Nawab of Avadh was defeated by the East India Company Army whilst Henry Vansittart , was Governor General , the key event establishing the British colonialisation of India . During the Indian rebellion of 1857 , a small party of British officers and Indian soldiers was besieged in the " Little House at Arrah " , by a band of armed soldiers under the command of 80 year old Veer Kunwar Singh , the Zamindar of adjacent Jagdishpur . They withstood the siege for three weeks until relieved by other East India Company troops . Babu Kunwar Singh was the only successful freedom fighter of the rebellion of 1857 . The British failed to defeat him . Veer Kunwar Singh ( 1777 – 1858 ) , one of the leaders of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 belonged to a royal Kshatriya ( Rajput ) house of Jagdispur , currently a part of Bhojpur district , Bihar state , India . At the age of 80 years , during India ’ s First War of Independence ( 1857 ) , he actively led a select band of armed soldiers against the troops under the command of the East India Company , and also recorded victories in many battles . At a glance . The present Bhojpur ( Arrah ) came into existence in 1992 . Earlier this district was part of old Sahabad district . In the year 1972 Sahabad district was bifurcated in two parts namely Bhojpur and Rohtas . Buxar was a subdivision of old Bhojpur district . In 1992 , Buxar became a separate district and rest of Bhojpur district has now three sub - divisions - Ara Sadar , Jagdishpur and Piro . Ara town is the headquarters of the district and also its principal town . It is located at a Longitude of 83º - 45 ' to 84º - 45 ' East and the latitude is 25º - 10 ' to 25º - 40 ' North . Height from Sea The Bhojpur district is situated at height of 192 . 989 meters from Sea . Boundary North = Chapara and Ballia District of U . P . South = Rohtash District EAST = Patna , Jahanabad and Uarwal District West = Buxar District Area Bhojpur occupies a total of 2474 sq . kms . Main Rivers are Ganga and Sone Perinniel Rivers are Kumhari , Cher , Banas , Gangi . Total Cultivated Area ( 2001 - 2002 ) = ( All four seasons ) = 241926 Hect . Net Cultivated Area ( 2001 - 2002 ) = 177275 Hect . Net Irrigated Area ( 2001 - 2002 ) = 126830 Hect . Main Crops = Rice , Wheat , Macca , Gram . Blocks & Panchayat wise Village List Rainfall Normal = 913 . 4 mm Actual = 1160 . 6 mm Population - As Per 2001 Census Total population = 2233415 Male population = 1175333 Female population = 1058082 Sex Ratio There are approximately 900 female for 1000 male . Literacy Literacy Rate Total = 59 . 71 ( without 0 - 6 age group ) Male = 74 . 78 Female = 42 . 81 Literacy - as per Census 2001 1 . Total Literate = 10 , 90 , 868 ( total ) 8 , 97 , 094 ( urban ) 8 , 97 , 094 ( rural ) 2 . Male Literate = 7 , 22 , 112 ( total ) 1 , 16 , 768 ( urban ) 6 , 05 , 344 ( rural ) 3 . Female Literate = 3 , 68 , 756 77 , 006 ( urban ) 2 , 91 , 750 ( rural ) Administrative Units 1 . No . of Police District = 1 2 . No . of Sub - Divisions = 3 3 . No . of Blocks = 14 4 . No . of Circles = 14 5 . No . of Towns = 4 6 . No . of Panchayats = 228 7 . No . of Villages = 1244 a ) Residential = 1016 b ) Non - Residential = 228 8 . No . of Revenu Halkas = 122 9 . No . of Kheshra ( Plots ) = 2728599 10 . No . of Zila & Nagar Parisad = 1 11 . No . of Nagar Panchayet ( Notif . ) = 3 12 . No . of Police Stations = 28 13 . No . of Harijan / Railway Thana = 1 14 . No . of O . P . / T . O . P . = 7 15 . No . of Sadar Hospital = 1 10 . No . of Refferal Hospital = 2 16 . No . of govt . Dispenseries = 9 17 . No . of Addl . Primary Health Center = 28 18 . No . of Banks = 120 19 . No . of Main Post Office = 1 20 . No . of Sub Post Office = 44 21 . No . of Addl . Sub Post Office = 255 22 . No . of Tar Ghar = 35 23 . No . of Electrified villages = 494 24 . Length of Metal Road ( KM ) = 473 25 . No . Length of Non - Metal Road ( KM ) = 856 26 . Length of Railways ( KM ) = 38 Society and culture . Library : A . Jain Sidhant Bhawan : It has rich collection of books related to Jainism . Famous scholar of Indian Oriendtal Languages , late Prof . ( Dr . ) Nemi Chandra Shastri had contributed a lot to evolve this library into a research institute . He also edited research journal , which had an international recognition . Films : Bhojpuri films have a far and wide viewership . Several film personalities from this region have made rich contributions to cinema . Mr . Viswanth Shahabadi had made ' GANGA MAIYA TOHEN PIYARI CHADHAIBO ' in 1960 which is still today widely acclaimed . Mr . Janardan Singh of Ara made ' PIYA NIRMOHIA ' with Jai Tilak of Ara as Hero . Sri Ashok Chand Jain and Mr . Laxman Shahabadi have made the film ' GANGA KINARE MORA GAON ' in which the latter ' s songs had been appreciated a lot . Mr . Jai Mohan of Ara was the villain of this film . Similarly many more artist have worked in films from this region and have made Ara the Hollywood of Bhojpuri films . Musical Tradition : The musical tradition of the district has been rich since the past and is getting enriched in present times also . Mr . Laxman Shahabadi , Prof Ramnath Pathak and Sri Arvind Krishan of Ara have contributed towards Film songs and music . Ara resident Sarafat Ali has sung with Usha Mangeshkar and Dilraj Kauri for film ' GANGA KAI GAON MAI ' . Literature Bhojpur has a rich literary lineage . Munshi Sadasukh Lal , Sayed Ishautullah , Lallu lal and Sadal Mishra ara famous for their work in ' Khari Boli ' . From Bhartendu era Akhoury Yashodanad was as famous as editor and Sri Shivnandan Sahay for biography writings . Sri Jainendra Kishor Jain was well known novelist and dramatist . In Dwivedi era Mahamahopadhyay Pundit Sakal Narayan Sharma and Pundit Ramdahin Mishra were famous for prose writing . Acharya Shivpujan Sahay , great story writer , novelist and essayist , was from this area . In Chayavadi era Sri Kedarnath Mishra Prabhat , Sri Ramdayal Pandey , Collector Singh Keshari , Sri Nandkisor Tiwari and Sri Ramnath Pathak Pranaye , Prof . Sarvdeo Tiwary Rakesh were well known for their poetic skills . The list of personalities contributing towards a lot in literary field from this region is long . Sports Bhojpur District is progressing very fast in the field of sports . The District Sports Associations are actively promote games and sports . They are creating sporting environment for a large variety of games with the vitality , interest & involvement of the local people . The leadership provided by some leading name in field of sports and games had raised the position of Bhojpur in the state level and national level . There is a very beautiful stadium namely Veer Kunwar Sigh Stadium , at Ramna , Ara and an Indoor Stadium that has excellent Badmintan court and gymnasium . Personalities Late Babu Jagjivan Ram He served the country in many capacities eminently including the post of deputy Prime Minister of India . Late Sri Ram Subhag Singh Noted freedom fighter , who led the freedom movement to the common masses . He was sent to jail in 1943 where he was assaulted badly by the police . Late Sri Jagnnath Sahay Resident of Baghawa Gali of Ara was first person from this district who went to Japan in 1905 for technical education . He returned as Textile Engineer in 1908 . Late Sri Kashinath jee This Ara resident had established at Phulwarisharif the first Cloth Mill in the entire state . This Mill was inaugurated in 1936 by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru . Late Kavi Kailash The great freedom fighter and martyr Kavi Kailash of Ghoradei village had successfully unflung Tiranga dogging at Ara collectorate on 28th sept . 1942 . He was later killed by Baluchi police near collectorate pond . Late Sri V . P . Singh He was the first Chief Justice of Supreme court of India . Late Sri Ambika Saran Singh He was a noted freedom fighter and later served as State Minister of Bihar . Late Bindeshwari Dubey Former Chief Minister of Bihar had also served as central minister of India . Late Ramanad Tiwari He was Home Minister of Bihar . Late Sri Ram Subhag Singh Noted political leader who became Rail Minister of India . Late A . P . Sharma Noted political leader who became Rail minister of India . Late Tapeshwar Singh He was the founder of Co - operative Movements in Bihar . Late Padmashree Bharat Mishra He was noted scholar of Political Science and Literature . Sri L . M . Rai Famous economist and writer of several books . " Late Prof . ( Dr . ) Nemi Chandra Shastree " Famous scholar of Indian Oriental Languages and Indian Astrology , who authored more than four dozen books and about a couple of thousand research papers . Sri Bashisth Narayan Singh Noted Mathematician and scholar of world fame . Sri N . Pandey Retired Judge of Patna High Court and Lokaykat of Bihar Sri Banshidhar Ray Former Deputy Chief Labor Commissioner ( Up Mukhya Shramaukat ) of India . Sri Kameshwar Prasad Singh Known Social Activist and senior leader of BJP . Important places and sites . Sun Temple at Dev : The Dev village of Tarari block has statue of the SUN GOD besides several other deities . These statues are said to be of 14 th century or even before . Veer Kunwar Singh Kila , Jagdishpur The great warrior of 1857 belonged to Jagdishpur . His fort is still there to reminds us of the great son of the soil who fought for the freedom till his last . Maharaja College , Ara The present Maharaja college premises is an important historical site . There is an entry point of a tunnel that is believed to be connected with the Jagdishpur fort of Kunwar Singh . Shahi Masjid : This five Gumbad mosque , the second of its kind in India was constructed by Shahjahan in 1623 AD . This is situated near Aranya Devi temple . Karbala , Mosque of Maulabagh : This mosque was built around 1817 with Aurangjeb ' s assistance . It is situated at Maula Bagh muhalla at Ara . Aranya Devi Temple This is famous temple of Aranya Devi ( Forest Goddess ) . She is said to be the deity goddess of Ara town . Here one statue is of ADI SAKTI and the second is established by the PANDAVAs . The temple is very old and draws many devotees every day . It is situated at the top of stone boulders . Chaturvuj Narayan Mandir This very ancient statue of Laxmi - Narayan is situated at Chaturvuj village of Piro block . Bhavani Mandir Chaturvuj Baraon - 13th century statue . Jagdamba Mandir Here is an ancient statue of Goddess Jagdamba at Mukundpur village of Charpokhari block . Parswanath Mandir It is a century old Jain Temple located at Masadh Village . Mahamaya Mandir This temple is at Ekwari village of Sahar block . This was made during Mughal period . Mahathin Mai Mandir This is located at Bihiya , draws lots of women devotees . Jain Sidhant Bhawan It has a such library which contains unique collection of materials related to Jainism . Paihari Jee Ka Ashram It is an ashram at Dhrampur village at Sahar block . Lakar Sah Ki Mazar It is situated at Sahpur , it a famous " mazar " of a local muslim saint . Kurwa Shiv There are some ancient statues related to Banasur . It is situated in Shahpur - Billoti Road . Venkatesh Mandir This temple situated at Perhap village has a statue of Southern architectural style . Shahi Jama Masjid This mosque built by Shersah is located at Garhani Bazzar . Renovation work is in progress here . Aranya Devi Aranya Devi Mandir has been located in Ara Town . The Town ' s name Ara has been based on this Deity . Jain Bala Bishram : Jain Bala Bishram is one of the famous site of the town and a girls school also . Jal Mandir : Jal mandir is one of the finest madir to visit . Gaytri Mata : Gayatri Mandir is situated on the main Ara - Bihiya road . It is just near to Ara collectorate . One can visit this place on foot within 10 minutes from Ramana Maidan . Gangi Nadi : It is a very good site to visit . Bahri Mahadev It is a very good place Demographics . As of 2001 India census , Arrah had a population of 203 , 395 . Males constitute 54 % of the population and females 46 % . Arrah has an average literacy rate of 67 % , higher than the national average of 59 . 5 % ; with 60 % of the males and 40 % of females literate . As per 2011 census , Arrah Municipal Corporation had a total population of 261 , 099 , out of which 139 , 319 were males and 121 , 780 were females . It had a sex ratio of 874 . The population below 5 years was 34 , 419 . The literacy rate of the 7 + population was 83 . 41 per cent . Climate . Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year . The Köppen Climate Classification sub - type for this climate is " Cfa " ( Humid Subtropical Climate ) . Languages . The languages spoken are Bhojpuri , Hindi and Urdu .