Baba Harihar Nath Temple

Getting there

• By train

  Sonpur Junction railway station is in Saran, Bihar.

• By road

  Sonepur is easily reached by road and by rail.

Why devotees come here

Baba Harihar Nath Temple stands in Sonepur, Saran district, Bihar, and is dedicated to Shree Hariharnath. The town sits where the Ganges and Gandak rivers meet, and it is internationally famous for the large fair held on Kartik Purnima.

Legend says Vishnu rescued the elephant Gaj from the crocodile Grah on this spot. Hindus regard Sonepur as a holy site because the Ganges and Gandak rivers meet here. The town is also known for its large fair on Kartik Purnima. Sonepur lies about 25 km from Patna, the capital of Bihar. It is also the headquarters of Sonepur Anchal.

The temple is believed to have been first built by Rama, on his way to the court of King Janak to win Sita. Under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the venue of the fair moved from Hajipur to Sonpur. The fair is held over November and December.

Pilgrims bathe in the Ganga when the mela begins on Kartik Purnima. On that full-moon day a very large crowd gathers. The mela goes on for more than a fortnight.

Festivals

• Kartik Poornima, November and DecemberSonepur Cattle Fair

  Internationally famous for its large fair, held on the full-moon day.

• Kartik PurnimaKartik Purnima mela

  Ganga bathing starts on the day, and the mela lasts more than a fortnight.

Tips for your visit

• Expect very large crowds on Kartik Purnima, the full-moon day, so plan your visit with that in mind.
• During the fair, the state tourism body BSTDC runs ferries from Patna to Sonpur.
• The mela starts on Kartik Purnima and lasts more than a fortnight, so it is not a one-day event.
• The Sonepur Cattle Fair is held over November and December, with Kartik Purnima as its full-moon day.

Questions people ask