Welcome to Saharsa

Saharsa derives its name from the Sanskrit word “Saharsha” (सहर्ष), meaning “with joy” or “full of happiness”. Other traditions trace the name to “Sahasradhara” (land of a thousand streams) or to a Buddhist monastery called Saharba Vihar. The Koshi river, however, is named after the sage Kaushik, and the region was the homeland of the celebrated scholar Pandit Mandan Mishra, known for his philosophical debate with Adi Shankaracharya at Mahishi in present-day Saharsa district.

Saharsa was created as a separate district on 1 April 1954, having previously been part of Bhagalpur Division. On 2 October 1972, it became the headquarters of the newly formed Koshi Division, comprising Saharsa, Purnia and Katihar districts. Two new districts — Madhepura and Supaul — were later carved out of Saharsa on 30 April 1981 and 1991 respectively. The district now consists of two subdivisions, Saharsa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiarpur, with 10 development blocks.