Which Are the Three Largest Districts of Bihar by Area?

Bihar is one of the important states in India, which is divided into 38 districts. These district has different size in areas, in population, geographical and natural features.

But do you know which are the three largest districts of Bihar by area? These are West Champaran, Gaya, and the East Champaran.

West Champaran covers 5,228 sq km, while Gaya covers 4,976 sq km. East Champaran has an area of 3,968 sq km.

So, let’s explore about these three districts in detail, and facts.

Three Largest Districts of Bihar by Area

1. West Champaran: Largest District of Bihar

West Champaran is the largest district of Bihar which covers the area about 5228 square km. It was carved out from the Old Champaran in 1972 as a re-organisation of the district in Bihar.

The headquarter of the West Champaran is at Bettiah. This district is located in the north-western part of Bihar which shares its international boundary with Nepal & Uttar Pradesh.

Land Boundary

• North: Hilly region of Nepal

• South: Gopalganj & part of Purbi Champaran District

• East: Purbi champaran District

• West: Padrauna  & Deoria District of Uttar Pradesh

Key Facts About West Champaran

• Area: 5,228 sq km

• District Headquarters: Bettiah

• Location: North-western Bihar

• International Border: Nepal

• Number of Sub-divisions: 3

• Number of Blocks/Circles: 18 

The district is also known for its forests and the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, which is located in the district.

2. Gaya: Second Largest District of Bihar

Gaya is the second-largest district of Bihar by area which covers about 4976 square km. Gaya was passed to Britishers in 1764 during the Battle of Buxar, and till 1864 it was a part of the the district of Behar and Ramgarh.

On 3rd October, 1865, it was given status of an independent district comprising with Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada as its Sub-Divisions.

It is located in southern Bihar, and it has 24 blocks and its district headquarters is Gaya.

Land Boundary

• North: Bounded by Jehanabad District and Arwal District.

• South: Shares an interstate border with Jharkhand State (specifically the Chatra, Hazaribagh, and Koderma districts).

• East: Bounded by Nawada District and Nalanda District.

• West: Bounded by Aurangabad District.

Key Facts About Gaya

• Area: 4,976 sq km

• District Headquarters: Gaya

• Location: Southern Bihar

• Blocks: 24

• Villages: 2,886 

Gaya is also an important geographical and historical region of Bihar. The Phalgu River flows through the area.

3. East Champaran: Third Largest District of Bihar

East Champaran, which is also called Purbi Champaran is the third largest district of Bihar by area. It is located at N 26º 15’ 10” and 27º 01’ 30” and E 84º 30’ and 84º 17’ 50” which covers an area of 3968 square km.

On 1st December 1971, Champaran district was split into two district, in which one is East Champaran, and the another one is West Champaran, which is the largest district in Bihar by areas

The district headquarters is Motihari.

Land Boundary

• North: Bounded by Nepal (International border)

• South: Muzaffarpur, part of Gopalganj

• East: Sitamarhi and Sheohr 

• West: West Champaran and part of Gopalganj district.

Key Facts About East Champaran

• Area: 3,968 sq km

• District Headquarters: Motihari

• Location: Northern Bihar

• Sub-divisions: 6

• Blocks: 27

• Villages: 1,344

East Champaran is located close to the Nepal border and is an important district of north Bihar.

West Champaran vs Gaya vs East Champaran

Why Is West Champaran the Largest District?

The size of a district depends on the geographical area included within its administrative boundary. West Champaran covers 5,228 sq km, which is more than the area of any other Bihar district according to the district administration's current information. 

Gaya follows it with 4,976 sq km, while East Champaran covers 3,968 sq km.

Did You Know?

West Champaran is not only the largest district of Bihar by area, but it is also the district where Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve is located.

Conclusion

The three largest districts of Bihar by area are:

1. West Champaran – 5,228 sq km

2. Gaya – 4,976 sq km

3. East Champaran – 3,968 sq km

These districts are spread across different parts of Bihar and have their own geographical features. Learning about their size and location is useful for understanding the geography of Bihar.