Muzaffarpur () also spelled as Mozufferpore, is a city located in Muzaffarpur district on the banks of Burhi Gandak river in the Tirhut division of the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of the Tirhut division, the Muzaffarpur district. It is the fourth most populous city in Bihar.
Muzaffarpur is known for Shahi litchis and is known as the Lychee Kingdom. Shahi lychee is the fourth product from Bihar to get the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, after jardalu mango, katarni rice and Magahi paan (betel leaf). The city is situated on the banks of the perennial Budhi Gandak River, which flows from the Someshwar Hills of the Himalayas.
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Etymology
The current city was established in 1875 during the British Raj for administrative convenience, by dividing the Tirhut district and was named after an aumil, Muzaffar Khan; thus the city came to be known as Muzaffarpur.
History
The city was founded in 18th century during British Raj period and was constituted a municipality in 1864. A major road and rail hub, it is a trade centre on the route between Patna (south) and Nepal (north). Lychee, sweet corn, mango, vegetables, rice and sugar milling alongside cutlery manufacturing are the chief industries.
In 1972, the Sitamarhi and Vaishali districts were split off from Muzaffarpur.
Geography
Muzaffarpur is located at 26°07′N 85°24′E. The city lies in a highly active seismic zone of India. In the disastrous earthquake on 15 January 1934, much of the town suffered severe damage and many people died. It has an average elevation of 47 meters (154 feet). This saucer shaped, low-centered town lies on the great Indo-Gangetic plains of Bihar, over Himalayan silt and sand brought by the glacier-fed and rain-fed meandering rivers of the Himalayas.
Demographics
As of the 2011 India census, Muzaffarpur had a population of 393,724. Males constituted 52.96% (208,509) of the population and females 47.04% (185,215). Muzaffarpur had a literacy rate of 85.16%. Male literacy was 88.83%, and female literacy was 81.05%.
As per 2011 census data, there are total 275,233 Hindus whereas 74,680 Muslims and 1,352 Christians along with other small minorities.
Transport
Climate
Muzaffarpur has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa) under the Köppen climate classification. The summer, between April and June, is extremely hot and humid (28–40 °C, 90% max). and winter is pleasantly cool, around 6–20 °C. Rainfall in Muzaffarpur City is comparatively less compared to other parts of Bihar.
Muzaffarpur has been ranked 32nd best "National Clean Air City" under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India.