Chhapra

Chhapra grew in importance as a river-based market in the 18th century, when the Dutch, along with the French, Portuguese, and English, established saltpeter refineries in the area. The town was officially recognised as a municipality in 1864. ==Geography==

Chhapra is located in Saran district in the Indian state of Bihar. The city lies at about 25.78°N latitude and 84.72°E longitude, with an average elevation of around 36 metres (118 ft) above sea level. It is situated near the confluence of the Ganges and Ghaghara rivers. Patna, the capital of Bihar, is located about 70 km east of Chhapra. The region is part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and has fertile alluvial soil, which makes the surrounding land suitable for agriculture. Major crops grown in the area include sugarcane, maize, and paddy. ==Climate==

According to the 2011 Census of India, Chhapra had a population of 202,352, comprising 106,501 males and 95,851 females. The city had a sex ratio of 900 females per 1,000 males. Children aged 0–6 years numbered 29,100. The literacy rate of Chhapra was 78.47%, with male literacy at 84.16% and female literacy at 72.14%. Religion Hinduism is the majority religion in Chhapra, followed by about 81.45% of the population. Islam is the second-largest religion with around 18.11% of the population. Other religions include Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism in smaller proportions. ==Transport==

Chhapra is connected to other cities in Bihar and nearby states by rail and road. The main railway station is Chhapra Junction railway station, which links the city to Patna, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Delhi, and Kolkata. • Roads connect Chhapra to neighbouring districts and cities like Patna, Siwan, Gopalganj, and Muzaffarpur. Local transport includes buses, auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, and taxis. • The city has the Under Construction Double Decker Flyover, built to reduce traffic congestion. It has two levels, which help vehicles move faster along busy roads. • The nearest airport is Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, about 70 km away. A new greenfield airport at Sonpur is also planned, which will improve air travel for Chhapra and the surrounding areas once it is completed. ==Notable people==

File:Swami Adbhutananda.jpg|Adbhutananda File:Akhilendra Mishra.jpg|Akhilendra Mishra File:Bhikhari Thakur.jpg|Bhikhari Thakur File:Anand milind 20988 hnsmhard Igjnldia howcroed.jpg|Anand–Milind File:Jayaprakash Narayan (cropped2).jpg|Jayaprakash Narayan File:Khan Bahadur Moulvi Khuda Bakhsh.png|Khuda Bakhsh File:Ramchandra Manjhi.jpg|Ramchandra Manjhi File:Rajiv Pratap Rudy PIB (cropped).jpg|Rajiv Pratap Rudy • Adbhutananda, Hindu monk, disciple of Ramakrishna • Akhilendra Mishra, Bollywood actor • Anand–Milind, music director • Bhikhari Thakur, Bhojpuri language poet and singer • Brajkishore Prasad, national activist • Chitragupta (composer), music director • Daroga Prasad Rai, 10th Chief Minister of Bihar • Jayaprakash Narayan, Indian independence activist • Khuda Bakhsh 1842–1908, Indian lawyer, judge, historian and founder of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library, Patna • Mahendar Misir, Bhojpuri poet • Raghuveer Narayan, Bhojpuri poet • Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Skill Development and Entrepreneurship • Ramchandra Manjhi, Bhojpuri folk dancer • Surur Hoda, Socialist leader and Order of British Empire (OBE) recipient ==See also==