Manihari is a town and a notified area in Katihar district in the Indian state of Bihar. Pincode of Manihari is 854113. Manihari is a town in Katihar district in the Indian state of Bihar. Manihari, the Kashi of Mithila, Seemanchal and the North-Eastern states - Situated on the banks of the national river Maa Ganga, Manihari town is the last town in India which is like Kashi for the Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims of the entire Mithila, Seemanchal and the North-Eastern states as well as China, Tibet, present-day Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar, from where once trains like the North East Queen Express used to run till Guwahati!  While referring to Maghi Purnima cum Ganga bath, the then Bengal surveyor Mr. Francis Buchanan writes in the Purnia District Gazette of 1810-11 that a crowd of about 4 lakh devotees had gathered at Manihari Ganga Ghat that year, which is a self-evident proof of the importance and historicity of Manihari Ganga Ghat, whereas Manihari Railway started in 1887 and there were no paved roads at that time. Where Gogabeel Community Bird Sanctuary cum Gokhur Lake is a famous tourist destination. In this National River Route 1, there is also a sanctuary for the national aquatic animal dolphin or son from Bhagalpur to Manihari. The travel route of the world famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim of the seventh century, Huen Tsang, also passed through Manihari Ganga Ghat to visit Kamrup.  Here Ardhanarishwar Gauri Shankar Temple, medieval Haj Ghar Shahi Mosque, Peer Pahad, Neelha Kothi, Santmat Satsang Kuti (the place where Maharshi Mehi Ji attained enlightenment) built in 1936, health centre built in 1900, police station 333, railway station built in 1887, Baldiabadi, witness to the battle of 1855-56 between Nawab Shaukat Jung of Purnia and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula of Bengal, Mowar royal family Mednipur, Mirzapur, Nawabganj, Railway Colony, Rajmahal hill rock situated in the river Ganga, etc. are the major places worth visiting. Historian and researcher at Delhi University, Dhiraj Kr Nirbhay says that Manihari has a history since ancient times. Whether seen from a spiritual or archaeological point of view, you will find Manihari special, even though it has been a victim of neglect by the government and leaders, otherwise even today people definitely come to Manihari Ganga Ghat for Ganga Snan, Maghi Purnima Mela, Chhath Mahaparva, the holiest month of Sawan or any cultural activity of entire Mithila, Seemanchal. Today Janaki Express train runs from Manihari, which connects the culture of Mithila to Manihari Ghat. From a geographical point of view, you can see the only mountain of entire Mithila and Kosi region in Manihari. Along with this, you can also see the part of Rajmahal hills near the British Kothi on the banks of river Ganga from January to June. This area of ​​loamy soil is also famous for its natural beauty. You can also see here the only church cum Bethel Mission School for Christians, which runs with the support of a Norwegian organization, and the walls of the old Dharamshala depicting the revolution of independence.

Namami Gange

Manihari is an ancient and historical city for religious, economic and natural tourism along with Indian culture. It is the nearest meeting point of three states like Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal as well as countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Tibet and Myanmar. It is connected to all these countries by river and sea route. Ganga Aarti is also performed here regularly. Excellent films like Teesri Kasam and Bandini have been related to Manihari Ganga Ghat.

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Manihari is located at 25°21′N 87°38′E / 25.35°N 87.63°E / 25.35; 87.63.^[5] It has an average elevation of 31 m (101 feet). This place is well known for the Manihari ghat, which connects it to Sakrigali Ghaat, which is situated on the southern bank of the River Ganges.

The town is located on the northern bank of the river Ganges where it meets the river Koshi, thus making the town prone to flooding every year. Manihari is a small border town between the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Sahebganj is the district town of Jharkhand which is 9 km from Manihari (nautical mile distance); there is regular ferry service. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flagged off the first passenger train on the newly converted Broad gauge (BG) section of Katihar-Manihari in Katihar division of North-East Frontier Railway (NFR) at Katihar station. There are few local trains which run between Manihari and Katihar.

The geography of Manihari is unique. The river Ganges (i.e. Ganga) flows eastward up to Manihari and takes a southward turn after Manihari. Thus, Manihari is known as the point of River Ganges's sharp bend leading its eastward water flow to turn to southward water flow.

Before the Farakka Barrage over the Ganges was constructed, people going to the Darjeeling Hills or North Bengal from Kolkata, used to travel by broad gauge train to Sakrigali Ghat and then cross the Ganges by steamer. On the other side of the river at Manihari Ghat, they used to take a metre gauge train to Siliguri.^[6] Once Farakka Barrage became operational in 1975 (the barrage has a broad gauge rail line on it), this route became redundant. There still is a ferry service linking Manihari Ghat with Sahebganj.

As of 2001 India census,^[7] Manihari had a population of 21,783. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Manihari has an average literacy rate of 44%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 52%, and female literacy is 35%. In Manihari, 19% of the population is under 6 years of age.

As of 2011 India census,^[8] Manihari had a population of 26,629.