Sasaram

During the Vedic age, Sasaram was a part of the ancient Kashi kingdom. Sasaram's name derives from Sahastrarama, meaning "one thousand groves". Sasaram was once also named Shah Sarai (meaning "Place of the King"), as it is the birthplace of the Afghan king Sher Shah Suri, who ruled over Delhi, much of northern India, present-day Pakistan, and eastern Afghanistan for five years as the Sur Empire, after defeating the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Many of Sher Shah Suri's governmental practices were adopted by the Mughals and later the British Raj, including taxation, administration, and the building of a paved road from Kabul to Bengal, also called the Grand Trunk Road.

Sher Shah Suri's {{convert|122|ft|adj=on}} red sandstone tomb, built in the Indo-Afghan style, stands in the middle of an artificial lake in Sasaram. It borrows heavily from the Lodhi style, and was once covered in blue and yellow glazed tiles, indicating an Iranian influence. The massive free-standing dome also has an aesthetic aspect of the Buddhist stupa style of the Mauryan period. The tomb of Sher Shah's father, Hasan Khan Suri, is also at Sasaram, and stands in the middle of a green field at Sherganj, which is known as Sukha Rauza. About a kilometre to the north west of Sher Shah's tomb lies the incomplete and dilapidated tomb of his son and successor, Islam Shah Suri.{{cite web|last1=Sanatani|first1=Rohit Priyadarshi|title=The Tomb of Salim Shah Suri (Islam Shah): The glory that never was.|url=http://thespeakingarch.com/islam_shah_tomb/|website=The Speaking Arch|access-date=27 March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144031/http://thespeakingarch.com/islam_shah_tomb/|archive-date=2 April 2015}} Sasaram also has a Baulia, a pool used by the emperor's consorts for bathing.

The fort of Sher Shah Suri at Rohtasgarh is in Sasaram. This fort has a history dating back to the 7th century CE. It was built by Raja Harishchandra, known for his truthfulness in the name of his son Rohitashwa. It houses the Churasan temple, Ganesh temple, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-e-Aam, and various other structures dating back to different centuries. The fort also served as the headquarters of Raja Man Singh during his reign as the governor of Bihar and Bengal under the regime of Akbar. The Rohtas Fort in Bihar should not be confused with another fort of the same name, near Jhelum, Punjab, in present-day Pakistan. The Rohtas Fort in Sasaram was also built by Sher Shah Suri, during the period when Humayun was exiled from Hindustan.

There is a temple of Goddess Tarachandi, two miles to the south, and an inscription of Pratap Dhawal on the rock close to the temple of Chandi Devi.{{Cite web |last=Shilpa |date=7 December 2018 |title=Maa Tara Chandi Temple, Bihar |url=https://www.bharattemples.com/maa-tara-chandi-temple-bihar/ |access-date=28 November 2023 |website=Bharat Temples |language=en-US}} Hindus in large number assemble to worship the goddess. Dhua Kund, a notable waterfall, is located about {{cvt|15|km}} from the city.

Rohtas, south of Sasaram, is known to have been the residence of one Satyawadi Raja Harischandra, named for his son, Rohitashwa.

Sasaram is also famous for an inscription by Ashoka (one of the thirteen Minor Rock Edicts), situated in a small cave of Kaimur hill, near Chandan Shaheed.

The edict is located near the top of the terminal spur of the Kimur Range near Sasaram.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/v/019pho000001003u00476000.html|title=BLO|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029161630/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/v/019pho000001003u00476000.html|url-status=dead}} There is the Minor rock edict #1 only.India: An Archaeological History: Palaeolithic Beginnings to Early Historic ... by Dilip K. Chakrabarty [https://books.google.com/books?id=wPQtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT395 p.395] Ashoka famously mentions pre-existing stone pillars in the Edict: "...And where there are stone pillars here in my dominion, there also cause it to be engraved.".

{{Blockquote

|File:Sahasram_Edict_of_Ashoka.jpg No.1 only).]]

1. Devanampriya [speaks] thus.
2. .................. years since I am a lay-worshipper (upasaka).
3. But (I had) not been very zealous.
4. A year and somewhat more (has passed) since ............
5. And men in Jambudvipa, being during that time unmingled with the gods, have (now) been made (by me) mingled with the gods.
6. [For] this is the fruit [of zeal].
7. ...........cannot be reached by (persons of) high rank alone, (but) even a lowly (person) is able to attain even the great heaven if he is zealous.
8. Now, for the following purpose (has) this proclamation (been issued), (that) both the lowly and the exalted may be zealous, and (that) even (my) borderers may know (it), and (that this) zeal may be of long duration,
9. And this matter will (be made by me to) progress, and will (be made to) progress even considerably; it will (be made to) progress to one and a half, to at least one and a half.
10. And this proclamation (was issued by me) on tour.
11. Two hundred and fifty-six nights (had then been) spent on tour, — (in figures) 256.
12. And cause ye this matter to be engraved on rocks.
13. And where there are stone pillars here (in my dominions), there also cause (it) to be engraved.

|Sasaram Edict (Translated in Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch){{cite book |title=Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch |date=1925 |page=171 |url=https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n345/mode/2up |language=sa}}}}

File:Terminal_spur_of_the_Kimur_Range,_near_the_top_of_which_is_the_Sasaram_Asoka_Edict.jpg|The Edict is located on top of the terminal spur of the Kimur range.

File:Jambudiipasi.jpg|The name Jambudīpasi for "India" (Brahmi script) in the Sahasram Minor Rock Edict of Ashoka, circa 250 BCE.{{cite book |title=Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch |date=1925 |pages=169–171 |url=https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n345 |language=sa}}{{cite book |last1=Lahiri |first1=Nayanjot |title=Ashoka in Ancient India |date=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674057777 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 |language=en}}

File:Sahasram_rock_inscription.jpg|Transcription of the Edict.

File:Ashoka Brahmi numerals 256.jpg|The number "256" towards the end of the Edict.

File:Mausoleum of Sher Shah 5.jpg

File:Hasan Shah Tomb 4.jpg]]

File:Islam Khan Tomb, Sasaram.jpg]]

Sasaram is located at {{Coord|24.95|N|84.03|E|}} and occupies an area of about {{Convert|15|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/34/Sasaram.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311123338/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/34/Sasaram.html|url-status=dead|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Sasaram, India|archivedate=11 March 2008|website=www.fallingrain.com}} It has an average elevation of {{convert|110|m}}. Plateau region of Kaimur Range near Sasaram have average elevation of {{convert|210|m}}.

Sasaram is surrounded by hills from two sides, its climate is seasonable. The 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).{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=595661&cityname=Sasaram,+Bihar,+India&units=metric|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070401/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=595661&cityname=Sasaram%2C+Bihar%2C+India&units=metric|url-status=dead|title=Sasaram, India Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|archivedate=17 January 2018|website=Weatherbase}}

{{Weather box

|location = Sasaram, India

|width=auto

|single line = yes

|metric first = yes

|Jan high C = 23.8

|Feb high C = 26.7

|Mar high C = 32.7

|Apr high C = 38.0

|May high C = 40.9

|Jun high C = 38.5

|Jul high C = 33.2

|Aug high C = 32.0

|Sep high C = 32.4

|Oct high C = 31.8

|Nov high C = 28.1

|Dec high C = 24.1

|Jan low C = 8.8

|Feb low C = 11.1

|Mar low C = 15.8

|Apr low C = 21.2

|May low C = 25.5

|Jun low C = 27.0

|Jul low C = 25.3

|Aug low C = 24.8

|Sep low C = 23.9

|Oct low C = 20.0

|Nov low C = 13.3

|Dec low C = 8.9

|Jan rain mm = 19.2

|Feb rain mm = 21.2

|Mar rain mm = 14.3

|Apr rain mm = 7.6

|May rain mm = 12.2

|Jun rain mm = 120.9

|Jul rain mm = 297.5

|Aug rain mm = 326.2

|Sep rain mm = 181.5

|Oct rain mm = 50.9

|Nov rain mm = 10.2

|Dec rain mm = 3.6

|Jan rain days = 1.5

|Feb rain days = 1.8

|Mar rain days = 1.5

|Apr rain days = 1.0

|May rain days = 1.4

|Jun rain days = 5.9

|Jul rain days = 14.3

|Aug rain days = 14.3

|Sep rain days = 8.9

|Oct rain days = 2.8

|Nov rain days = 0.5

|Dec rain days = 0.8

|Jan mean C = 16.2

|Feb mean C = 18.9

|Mar mean C = 24.2

|Apr mean C = 29.6

|May mean C = 33.2

|Jun mean C = 32.8

|Jul mean C = 29.2

|Aug mean C = 28.4

|Sep mean C = 28.2

|Oct mean C = 25.9

|Nov mean C = 20.7

|Dec mean C = 16.5

|source 1 = Weatherbase

{{cite web

|url = http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=595661&cityname=Sasaram-Bihar-India

|publisher = weatherbase

|title = Sasaram, India — Monthly Weather Averages Summary

|access-date = 16 January 2018

|url-status = live

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070456/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=595661&cityname=Sasaram-Bihar-India

|archive-date = 17 January 2018

}}

|date=July 2013

}}

According to the 2011 census, Sasaram had a population of 351,408 but in urban agglomeration. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sasaram has an average literacy rate of 80.26%, higher than the national average of 74%; male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 75%. In Sasaram, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/178-sasaram.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405015041/http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/178-sasaram.html|url-status=dead|title=Sasaram City Population 2023 | Literacy and Hindu Muslim Population|archivedate=5 April 2016|website=www.census2011.co.in}}{{Verify source|date=December 2023}}

{{bar box

|title=Religions Sasaram City (2020

)

|titlebar=#Fcd116

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hinduism|orange|72.97}}

{{bar percent|Islam|green|25.58}}

{{bar percent|Sikhism|darkkhaki|1.25}}

{{bar percent|Christianity|blue|0.10}}

{{bar percent|Jainism|yellow|0.02}}

{{bar percent|Buddhism|grey|0.01}}

{{bar percent|Not Stated|black|0.25}}

|caption=Distribution of religions

}}

Sasaram is the 8th most populous city in Bihar.

{{See also|List of cities in Bihar}}

File:vasudha2.gif

SAHAJ Vasudha Kendra, the first "Common Service Centre", or "eKiosk", in Rohtas District was inaugurated in Jamuhar village on 15 August 2008. The centre is currently planning to start a block information Centre, e-district plan, and Sawan Sasaram.

Sasaram is one of the 40 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Bihar. Manoj Kumar (Sasaram politician) serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Sasaram in the Lok Sabha.{{Cite web | title=Election Commission of India | url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S0434.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604113426/https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S0434.htm | access-date=2025-01-17 | archive-date=2024-06-04}}

Sasaram is one of 243 constituencies of the Legislative Assembly of Bihar. It comes under Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency.{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.in/bihar/parliamentary-constituencies/sasaram.html |title=Sasaram (Bihar) Lok Sabha Election Results 2019, 2014, 2009 -Sasaram Parliamentary Constituency, Winning MP and Party Name |access-date=31 December 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051814/http://www.elections.in/bihar/parliamentary-constituencies/sasaram.html |archive-date=31 December 2017 }}

The closure of the industries of the Dalmia Group at Dalmianagar resulted in widespread unemployment. Sasaram's economy is mainly driven by agriculture and related industries like rice polishing. The canal irrigation system is also very prominent in this area. Because of the fertile land around the town, it is a local trading center for food grains, agricultural products, and agricultural equipment, the region is known as Dhan Ka Katora, meaning "a bowl of food grains". The rice grown near Sasaram is sold in the markets of Kolkata and New Delhi. The only significant industry is rock quarrying.

File:Railway Station Sasaram.jpg]]

Sasaram Junction station, a major railway station, serves Sasaram. Sasaram's other stations are Shivsagar, Kumahu, Nokha, Karwandiya, Pahleja and Dehri on Sone.

Sasaram station is {{Convert|101|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhaya station (less than 1.5 hours) and about {{cvt|120|km}}, or two hours journey from Varanasi, and {{cvt|101|km}} from Gaya station. Gaya station is {{cvt|20|km}} away from Bodh Gaya, the most sacred place in Buddhism. Trains run from Sasaram to Kolkata, Arrah, Ranchi, Patna, New Delhi, and Bikramganj.

The trains which stop in Sasaram include Ajmer Seldah, Kalka Mail, Purushottam Express, Mahabodhi Express, Ranchi Garib Rath, Kolkata Mail, Jodhpur Howrah Express, Chambal Express, Shipra Express, Chennai Egmore Express, Nandan Kanan Express, Neelanchal Express and Poorva Express, Jallianwalabagh Express, Durigana Express, Garbha Express, Dikshabhoomi Express and New Delhi-Bhagalpur Express, etc.

A direct weekly AC train had been started from Sasaram to Anand Vihar Terminal in July 2011 (22409/22410 - Sasaram - Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express). However, now this AC train runs between Gaya and Anand Vihar Terminal, still stopping at Sasaram Junction.

Suara Airfield, a small and old airport in Sasaram, is currently non-operational. The closest major airports are in Gaya, Bihar (98 kilometers away), Patna, Bihar (157 kilometers away), and Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (120 kilometers away)

Sasaram is the sixth most literate city in Bihar, with Rohtas being the most literate district in Bihar.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sawansasaram.ml/ |title=SAWAN SASARAM |access-date=30 April 2017 |archive-date=8 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708021812/http://sawansasaram.ml/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Census |first=India |date=16 August 2022 |title=literacy rate in Bihar (2022), including the literacy rate of all districts in Bihar. |url=https://www.indiacensus.net/states/bihar/literacy |access-date=16 August 2022 |website=IndiaCensus.net}}

There are four government colleges, although many students prefer to go to more developed cities for quality education, such as Bangalore, New Delhi, Pune, Patna, Varanasi and Puducherry, for higher education. A new engineering college has been set up in the region.

This place is also known for preparation of competitive exams at Sasaram Railway junction.{{Cite web | url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/bihar/station-students-get-a-platform/cid/1380982 | title=Station students get a platform}} According to earlier natives of this city, there was not proper electrification of city around 2007 to 2008, which hampered the studies of students seeking for competitive exams. Indian Railways had a 24-hour power supply at Sasaram junction, leading a small group of students to study there at night under electric lights.

• Gopal Narayan Singh University,{{Cite web|url=https://gnsu.org/|title=Welcome to GNS University, Sasaram, Bihar|website=gnsu.org}}
• Veer Kunwar Singh University

• Narayan Medical College and Hospital{{cite web |url=http://narayanmedicalcollege.org |title=Welcome to Narayan Medical College & Hospital! |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726110150/http://narayanmedicalcollege.org/ |archive-date=26 July 2011}}
• Mahatma Phule Medical College and Hospital, Muradabad, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/sasaram/news/mahatma-phule-medical-college-and-hospital-is-continuously-engaged-in-public-service-091032-4315911.html | title=जनमानस की सेवा में निरंतर लगा हुआ है महात्मा फुले मेडिकल कॉलेज एवं हॉस्पिटल| date=11 April 2019}}
• Sher Shah Suri Medical Hospital & Training college, Sasaram

• Shershah Engineering College

• Shanti Prasad Jain College, Sasaram [a facilitation branch of Veer Kunwar Singh University, Arrah]{{Cite web|url=https://www.spjainsasaram.co.in|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517223736/https://www.spjainsasaram.co.in/|url-status=dead |title=S P Jain College, Sasaram|archivedate=May 17, 2018|website=www.spjainsasaram.co.in}}{{cite web |url=http://vksu.ac.in/new/ |title=Veer Kunwar Singh University – वीर कुँवर सिंह विश्वविद्यालय, आरा बिहार – 802301 |date=31 March 2018 |access-date=17 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054420/http://vksu.ac.in/new/ |archive-date=18 May 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/varsity-branch-boon-for-pupils-229995 |title=Varsity branch boon for pupils |access-date=23 May 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605082939/https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/varsity-branch-boon-for-pupils-229995 |archive-date=5 June 2018 }}
• Shri Shankar College, Sasaram{{Cite web|url=https://sscollegesasaram.org/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325210330/http://sscollegesasaram.org/|url-status=dead|title=sscollegesasaram.org|date=19 October 2023|archivedate=25 March 2018}}
• Sher Shah College, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=https://shershahcollege.co.in/ | title=Sher Shah College, Sasaram – [ A constituent unit of Veer Kunwar Singh University, Ara, Bihar ]}}
• Rohtas Mahila College, Sasaram{{Cite web |url=http://www.rmcsasaram.org/index.action |title=Brief Introduction |access-date=8 November 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108151748/http://www.rmcsasaram.org/index.action |url-status=dead }}

• Hari Narain Singh Institute of Teachers Education (HNSITE){{Cite web|url=https://hnsite.org/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325043831/http://hnsite.org/|url-status=dead|title=Hnsite – Hnsite.net No.1 Portal Provide basic study materials For Class 5th to 12th|archivedate=25 March 2018}}
• Sri Shankar Rajkiya Inter College{{Cite web|url=https://biharstory.in/2012/02/veer-kunwar-singh-university-vksu.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605082939/https://biharstory.in/2012/02/veer-kunwar-singh-university-vksu.html|url-status=dead|title=Veer Kunwar Singh University (VKSU)|archivedate=5 June 2018}}
• Government Polytechnic, Dehri, Sasaram
• Jagannath Mishra Law College, Sasaram

• PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sasaram{{Cite web |title=पीएम श्री केन्द्रीय विद्यालय सासाराम {{!}} भारत |url=https://sasaram.kvs.ac.in/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |language=hi-IN}}
• St. Michael's Academy School, Chandravanshi Nagar, Fazalganj, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=http://www.stma.in/ |title = St.Michael's Academy Sasaram}}
• M. P. High School, Adda Road, Sasaram
• Rama Rani Jain Girls High School, Choukhandi Road, Sasaram
• Bal Vikas Vidyalaya, Tomb Road, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=http://bvvsasaram.in/m_school.aspx |title = Bal Vikas Vidyalaya}}
• Bal Bharti Public School, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=https://directory.edugorilla.com/school/bal-bharti-public-school-sasaram-rohtas-fee-structure-syllabus-address-admission-form-contact-number/ | title=Bal Bharti Public School - Sasaram, Rohtas - Reviews, Fee Structure, Admission Form, Address, Contact, Rating - Directory}}
• D.A.V. Public school, Admapur, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=http://davsasaram.com/ |title = Dav Public School}}
• St. Paul's School, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=http://www.stpaulsschool.co.in/ |title = St Paul's School Sasaram}}
• St. Xavier's School, Jagdev Nagar, Nooran Ganj, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=https://schools.org.in/rohtas/10320129103/st-xavier's-school.html |title = St. Xavier's School - Ward No-34, District Rohtas (Bihar)}}
• G.S. Residential School, Malwar Road, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=http://gsrschool.com/index.html | title=G.S Residential School | access-date=8 November 2019 | archive-date=11 May 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511024127/http://gsrschool.com/index.html | url-status=dead }}
• St. Jeelani's Public School, Shahjuma, Sasaram{{Cite web | url=https://schools.org.in/rohtas/10320127302/saint-jeelani-s-school.html | title=Saint Jeelani S School - Ward No-16, District Rohtas (Bihar)}}
• Pragya Niketan Public School, Falzalganj, Sasaram{{Cite web |url=http://www.pnpschool.edu.in/ |title=Pragya Niketan Public School Sasaram |access-date=26 September 2020 |archive-date=26 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126060241/http://www.pnpschool.edu.in/ |url-status=dead }}
• Buddha Mission School, Nooranganj, Bauliya Road, Sasaram Rohtas Bihar
• ABR Foundation School, Baijla More, Sasaram{{Cite web |title=ABR FOUNDATION SCHOOL – Sasaram (Rohtas) Bihar |url=https://www.abrfoundationschool.org/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |language=en-US}}

Besides the city of Sasaram itself, there are 171 villages in Sasaram block, of which 144 are inhabited and 27 are uninhabited. As of 2011, the total rural population of Sasaram block is 210,875, in 34,336 households.

• Sher Shah Suri, Emperor of India, conquered the Mughal Empire, defeating 2nd Mughal emperor Humayun.
• Chhedi Paswan, former Member of Parliament, ex-MLA
• Sanjay Nirupam,Ex-Member of Parliament Mumbai North, Ex-Member of Parliament,Rajya Sabha
• Murari Prasad Gautam, Ex-Minister in Eighth Nitish ministry
• Vijay Kumar, Renowned biologist
• Akash Deep, Indian cricketer, a squad member of Royal Challengers Bangalore in Indian Premier League.
• Ritesh Pandey, Bhojpuri actor and singer
• Kavi Kumar Azad, famous for his role in TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah as Dr. Hansraj Hathi
• Jyoti Prakash Nirala, recipient of Ashok Chakra posthumously in 2018

• Shergarh Fort

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sasaram}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Rohtas district}}

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Category:Cities and towns in Rohtas district