Maner, Bihar

Maner, also known as Maner Sharif, is a historic town and a block in Patna district of Bihar, India. Situated approximately 24 km west of Patna on NH-922, it is renowned for its Mughal-era dargahs and as an important Sufi pilgrimage center.

Maner मनेर Maner Sharif
Town
The Bari Dargah (Tomb of Shah Daulat), a major Sufi shrine
Nickname:  The Land of Sufi Saints
Maner Location in Bihar, India
Coordinates: 25.65°N 84.88°E / 25.65; 84.88
Country	India
State	Bihar
District	Patna
Historical significance	8th–17th century CE
Government
• Body	Nagar panchayat
Area
• Total	12.5 km2 (4.8 sq mi)
Elevation	54 m (177 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	26,912
• Density	2,200/km2 (5,600/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Urdu, Magahi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Area code	0612
Vehicle registration	BR-01
Website	patna.nic.in

Etymology

The ancient name of Maner was Maniyar Mathan, meaning "musical city" in local tradition. The suffix "Sharif" (meaning noble) was added due to its association with Sufi saints.

History

A now-lost copper plate grant found at Maner, dated to 11 May 1124, indicates that Maner was the seat of a paṭṭalā (district) at that time. The grant records that the Gāhaḍavāla king Govindachandra donated two villages called Guṇāve and Paḍalī, both in the paṭṭalā of Maṇiari (i.e. Maner), to a brāhmaṇa named Gaṇeśvaraśarman. The villages of Guṇāve and Paḍalī were presumably located somewhere near Maner, but their exact locations are unknown.^[1]

Later, Maner gained prominence during the medieval period as a center of Sufism:

• 13th century: Became associated with Sufi saint Makhdoom Yahya Maneri
• 1608: Death of Makhdoom Shah Daulat, another prominent Sufi saint
• 1616: Construction of Bari Dargah (Great Shrine) by Ibrahim Khan Kakar, the Mughal governor of Bihar
• 1619: Construction of a mosque by Ibrahim Khan

The town flourished as a center of Islamic learning during the Mughal period.

Geography

Maner is located at 25.65°N 84.88°E / 25.65; 84.88 on the southern bank of the Ganges river. The Son River meets the Ganges at Haldi Chhapra near Maner.

Climate

Maner has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa) with:

• Hot summers (April–June)
• Monsoon rains (July–September)
• Mild winters (November–February)

Demographics

As of the 2011 census:

• Population: 26,912
• Gender ratio: 947 females per 1000 males
• Literacy rate: 71.12% (higher than state average)
• Major languages: Magahi (94.24%), Hindi (5.76%)

Administration

Maner is a community development block consisting of 38 villages. It is part of the Maner Assembly constituency and Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency.

Landmarks

Religious sites

• Bari Dargah: Tomb of Shah Daulat (1616), fine example of Mughal architecture
• Chhoti Dargah: Tomb of Makhdoom Yahya Maneri
• Haldi Chhapra: Confluence of Son and Ganges rivers
• Maner Jain Temple: Ancient Jain pilgrimage site

Other attractions

• Maner Fort: Ruins of an ancient fort
• British-era bridge over Son River

Culture

Festivals

• Urs: Annual festival at the dargahs attracting thousands
• Chhath Puja: Celebrated at Haldi Chhapra ghat

Cuisine

• Maner ka Laddu: Famous sweet made with ghee and chhana
• Traditional Bihari dishes: Litti chokha, Khaja, Thekua

Economy

Maner's economy is primarily based on:

• Agriculture (rice, wheat, maize)
• Small-scale industries
• Religious tourism

The town is famous for its sweet shops, particularly Maner Sweets established in 1935.

Transport

• Road: Connected via NH-922 to Patna and Arrah
• Rail: Nearest station is Danapur (20 km)
• Air: Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport (30 km)

Education

Notable educational institutions:

• Ram Nagina Singh Inter College (established 1948)
• Government Girls High School
• Maner College (affiliated to Patna University)

Notable people

• Kunal Singh - Bhojpuri actor
• Ramayan Tiwari - Bollywood actor