Nawada

Nawada is a town and a municipality in Bihar, India. It is also the Headquarters of the Nawada district. It is situated on both sides of the Khuri River at 24º 53’ N and 85º 33’ E. The name evolved from Nau-abad, meaning the new town. In 1845, it was established as a Subdivision of Gaya district. On 26 January 1973, Nawada was formed as a separate district from Gaya district. It is a part of Magadh Division.

==History== Nawada is a part of the ancient Magadh Empire located in south Bihar. The origin of the name Nawada is from Persian Nau-abad, which means "New Town" which was earlier known as ‘The Eliot Market (Bazaar)’. Before its acquisition by the East India Company, Nawada was ruled by the nearly independent Rajas of Hisua who ruled over the Muslim Mayi (clan). After its acquisition, Nawada was in great disorder until 1845, when it became the headquarters of the newly created subdivision. The elements of disorder resurfaced again during the Mutiny of 1857, when Nawada was over run by marauding parties. The local offices were destroyed, but government records were saved by the native officials who hid them in a cave on a neighboring hill. These are the only available public records dating back to an era before 1857 in the district. Two miles to the north, there is a Jain temple standing in the middle of a large water tank to the west of the public road, but the city itself contains no important building and has little historical interest. The city contains one of the two Satyagraha ashrams in the country established by Gandhi ji. It was also the birthplace and workplace of Indrabhuti Gautama, the chief disciple of Lord Mahavir in Jainism. The modern town is only 40 kilometers from Nalanda University, the oldest university in the world.