Gidhaur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
type = town
native_name = Patsanda
other_name = Gidhaur
state_name = Bihar
district = Jamui
latd = 24 |latm = 52 |lats = 0
longd= 86 |longm= 19 |longs= 0
area_total =
area_magnitude =
altitude =
population_total = 7453
population_as_of = 2001
population_total_cite = [http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Population_Finder/Population_Finder.aspx?Name=patsanda&Criteria=V Gidhaur/Patsanda Census Information] . Retrieved on 2008-06-30.]
population_density =
leader_title_1 =
leader_name_1 =
leader_title_2 =
leader_name_2 =
postal_code = 811304 [ [http://www.whereincity.com/india/pincode/bihar/jamui.htm Pin codes of Jamui district] . WhereInCity.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-30.]
footnotes =

Gidhaur (also known as Patsanda) is a small town in the Jamui District of Bihar in India. It is also the former the seat of a Princely State.

Geography

Situated on the banks of the Ulai river, (coord|24|52|0|N|86|19|0|E|type:city|display=inline) about 17 kilometers east from the district headquarters at Jamui, Gidhaur has a population of 7,453 out of which 4,013 are male and 3,440 female.

One of the 10 blocks falling under Jamui district, Gidhaur has own High School and a Post Office (PIN Code 811305). Gidhaur lies on the Delhi- Howrah main railway line and the important railway station of Jhajha lies about 16 kilometers away.

Brief history

Gidhaur was the seat of Chandela Rajput Kings. History records put it that there was a Chandela King in Gidhaur during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Center of beedi production

A number of Beedi manufacturing companies have been running Beedi manufacturing units in Gidhaur. Gidhaur is situated in an economically backward area of Bihar. As a result, a lot of people in the town and in adjoining areas, just like elsewhere in Jamui district are dependent on Beedi manufacturing units for their livelihood. The womenfolk in particular do the Beedi Rolling, which as Sanjay Swami has pointed out in his research is dangerous to their health.

Tourist attractions

Buildings from the British Raj period can still be seen in sound condition and one can note an amalgam of British and French influences in those buildings, including the Maharaja's palace situated by the main market in Gidhaur.

Bird sanctuaries

The Nagi and Nakti bird sanctuaries, which fall under the adjoining Jhajha block are famous for hosting migratory birds in the winter.

Minto Tower

Situated in the middle of the main market in Gidhaur, Minto tower was built by Maharaja Ravaneshwar Prasad Singh ‘Bahadur’of Gidhaur to commemorate the visit of Lord Minto, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India, who visited Gidhaur on February 10, 1906.

Durga Puja

Gidhaur is also famous for the annual Durga Puja held during the important Hindu Festival of Dussehra and it was started by the erstwhile kings who ruled Gidhaur. The Gidhaur version of Durga Puja features animal sacrifices on a big scale made on the ninth day of the Puja.

References

External links

* [http://jamui.bih.nic.in/d_sites.htm Bihar Government Information]
* [http://www.indian-wildlife.com/other-wildlife-sanctuaries.htm Bird Sanctuaries]
* [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/g/gidhaur.html Brief genealogy of the Gidhaur Maharajas]
* [https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no42643.htm Link to book containing information about Gidhaur Estate]