Introduction

body

Bihar, in its present physical form, comprises parts of  various historical regions that were  central to trade networks and pilgrimage routes which continue to remain important. It was a region brimming with people and their cultural practices. The role of Bihar in the  economy of the bygone era and the consolidation of the religious traditions of multiple religions piqued the interest of various travellers who made visits to the region, usually as part of their riverine journey. Travellers in the form of pilgrims, students, observers, traders, and several others from various parts of the globe, frequented the monasteries, the ghats, the cities and much more, across the ages. While pilgrims and students of Buddhism thronged the various cities of Bihar in the ancient period, it was mainly travellers from the European world, Persia and the Middle East who came to Bihar as part of their  globetrotting pursuits . From the 18th century onwards we encounter numerous accounts (some lost or inaccessible)  by foreign travellers who were on mercantile expeditions along the Ganges. Officials of the East India Company frequented India for cartographic surveys, collection of census statistics, among other activities. Researchers and surveyors studying the lifestyle and  mannerisms  of the  Indians, Christian missionaries and even travel writers thronged the geography in order to acquaint their brethren with the stories of the foreign land. As readers, the anecdotes narrated by them stir our imagination and help us map the changes and continuities . Here,  we shall take a peek into the life and times of the people in Bihar through the gaze of the travellers.