History of Champaran
East Champaran is a part of Tirhut Division. The headquarter of Purbi Champaran district is at Motihari. Presently Purbi Champaran consists of 6 Sub-divisions and 27 Blocks. Nepal makes its northern boundary, Sitamadhi and Sheohar eastern while Muzaffarpur South and with part of Gopalganj bounds it in western side. The name Champaran owes its origin to Champa-aranya or Champkatanys. Champa or Champaka means Magnolia and aranya mess forest. Hence, Champaranya means Forest of Magnolia (CHAMPA) trees. It is popularly believed that the nomenclature here was made while the vest forest part was inhabited by solitary ascetics. It is needless to say that has Purbi means Eastern Side. From epic time till today, the history of Champaran has been glorious and important. MAGNOLIA FLOWER It is mentioned in the Purana that the devotee Dhruv, son of King Uttanapada,here had done terrible penance for attaining knowledge at the place called Tapovan. On the one hand, the land of Champaran is sacred due