Major Cities and Towns of Bihar, India

Bihar (pop. ~130M) has 38 districts and numerous urban centers. Key cities by population and importance:

Tier 1: Major Cities (>300K)

• Patna (capital) — 2.5M metro; ancient Pataliputra
• Gaya — 500K; Bodh Gaya (Buddhist pilgrimage)
• Bhagalpur — 400K; silk, Vikramshila ruins
• Muzaffarpur — 400K; litchi, commerce
• Darbhanga — 380K; Mithila culture, aviation hub
• Purnia — 350K; NE gateway

Tier 2: Regional Hubs (100–300K)

• Arrah (Bhojpur HQ), Begusarai, Buxar, Chhapra (Saran HQ), Katihar, Saharsa, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Siwan, Hajipur (Vaishali HQ), Bettiah, Motihari (E. Champaran HQ), Madhubani, Kishanganj, Jamui, Nawada, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Sasaram (Rohtas HQ), Bihar Sharif (Nalanda HQ), Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura, Araria, Supaul, Madhepura, Khagaria, Banka, Sheohar, Shivhar

Notable Smaller Towns

• Rajgir — Ancient capital, hot springs, Buddhist sites
• Nalanda — University ruins (UNESCO)
• Vaishali — First republic, Jain/Buddhist
• Sasaram — Sher Shah Suri tomb
• Dehri-on-Sone — Industrial, Sone river

Urbanization

Only ~12% urban (vs. 35% national). Patna dominates; growth corridors along NH-31, NH-27, East-West freight corridor. Smart City Mission: Patna, Muzaffarpur, Biharsharif, Bhagalpur.