Darbhanga

Darbhanga (pronounced [/d̪əɾ.bʱəŋ.ɡɑː/]), is one of the largest cities and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Bihar in India, and is considered an important city in North Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of the Darbhanga district and the Darbhanga division. Darbhanga is also referred to as the gateway to Bengal, because it is held that the name Darbhanga has been derived from Dwār Banga or Dari – Banga, meaning the 'door of Bengal'. Darbhanga was the seat of the erstwhile Khandwala zamidaar dynasty under the Mughals and British India. It is considered an important medical centre of North Bihar as it is the location of the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, and the second AIIMS of Bihar i.e. AIIMS Darbhanga is to be constructed here. Darbhanga is the second city in the state of Bihar, where Software Technology Park of India (STPI) has been established. Similarly by the end of year 2029, it is expected that the city will be equipped with modern infrastructure of metro railway services called as Darbhanga Metro having 18.8 kilometres long metro line with 18 metro stations on it. On 29 October 2025, the union home minister Amit Shah announced to build a grand Mithila Cultural Museum in the city to preserve the cultural heritage of the Mithila region. Darbhanga is one of the oldest cities in India. Musical, folk art, and literary traditions in Maithili, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Hindi have been passed down through generations in Darbhanga and constitute the city's strong cultural background. It is popularly known as the "Cultural Capital of Bihar" and the "Heart of Mithila", a significant district in the Mithila region of India.