Maner Sharif
Maner also spelled Maner or Maner Sharif, is a satellite town in Patna Metropolitan Region, in the Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar. Maner Sharif lies 24 km west of Patna the capital of Bihar on National Highway 30 (India). It comes 8 km before Bihta while travelling from Patna to Ara-Buxar via NH30. The town has tombs of Sufi saints Makhdoom Yahya Maneri and Makhdoom Shah Daulat, known as "Bari Dargah" (the great shrine) and "Chhoti Dargah" (the small shrine). Maner is an important tourist areas and tourism centre . The city's name is  said to come from its status as a center of tourism. Haldi Chhapra in Maner is the Sangam (meeting point) where Sone river meets Ganga. From here it flows as Ganga towards Patna. Famous Bhojpuri actor Kunal Singh hails from Maner. Bollywood actor Ramayan Tiwari was born and brought up in Maner. History. Makhdoom Shah Daulat died in Maner Sharif in 1608 and Ibrahim Khan Kakar Governor of Bihar, built a mausoleum to him that was completed in 1616. The domed mausoleum's walls are adorned with intricate designs and its ceiling has passages from the Qur'an. Maner Sharif also  has a mosque constructed by Ibrahim Khan (governor of Bihar) in 1619.Maner Sharif was a regional centre of learning and is where the Sanskrit grammarian Pāṇini studied. Maner Ka Laddoo (Laddu). Maner is known for its variant of laddu known as Motichoor Laddu made with ghee and promoted by local vendors as being made using the sugar-sweet waters of the Sone river. Maner laddu featured in the Bollywood movie Khudgarz. Maner Sweets is the oldest and most famous sweet shop which makes authentic Maner ka Laddoo (Laddu). Aamir Khan visited this place while travelling via this route for movie  promotion. In addition of Maner's laddu and Dargah sharif, Maner also has Buddhist temple, Jain temple and significances of other religions, hence, it is the emblem of unity diversity. Demographics. India census, Maner had a population of 2,99,585, consisting of 53% male and 47% female citizens. Maner has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 61%, and female literacy is 42%. In Maner, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age. Politics. Srikant Nirala of RJD won the Maner seat (assembly constituency no. 192) defeating Sacchidanand Rai of  JD(U) in October 2005 and February 2005. Bhai Birendra of SAP defeated Srikant Nirala of RJD in 2000. Srikant Nirala representing Janata Dal defeated Bhai Birendra (Independent) in 1995. Srikant Nirala representing Congress defeated Suryadeo Tyagi of Janata Dal in 1990. Rajmati devi representing Congress defeated Suryadeo Tyagi representing LKD in 1985. Ram Nagina Singh (Independent) defeated Suryadeo Tyagi of Janata Party (SC) in 1980. Suryadeo Tyagi representing Janata Party defeated Ram Nagina Singh representing Congress in 1977. Currently, Bhai Birendra of RJD serving as the MLA of Maner constituency. Maner assembly constituency is part of Pataliputra (Lok Sabha constituency ). 187 Maner assembly constituency covers Maner community development block; and Aanandpur, Kateshar, Sikandarpur, Parev, Daulatpur Simri, Mushepur, Shri Rampur, Bihta, Dayalpur Daulatpur, Purshottampur Painathi, Bishunpura, Raghopur, Amhara, Kanchanpur Kharagpur, Sadisopur, Painal, Bela, Neora, Makhdoompur and Shri Chandpur gram panchayats of Bihta CD Block.