History of Sasaram

If Indian contemporary history has to be mentioned, then there is no way that it can be done without naming Sasaram. Sasaram is one of the enriched historical places of India that has often been ignored. The city is situated on the Bihar State. Even though it is not that much progressive and urbanized but efforts are being made now to make this city an important part of urbanized India. The exact origin of the Sasaram history cannot be defined but the presence of the place can be found even in the ancient books of Hindu Religion.


The glorious past of Sasaram has given it a respectful place in the Indian history. The presence and name of the city has been heard from the times when there was no history. The practice of truth begins from Sasaram where Raja Harish Chandra has ruled. However, it is most famous as the birth place of the Sher Shah Suri who became the Emperor of Delhi. From the prehistoric time to the independence Sasaram has witnessed crucial stages of Indian history.

Origin of the name

The history of Sasaram starts in prehistoric times. It is written in many books that there was king called Sahasrabahu or Sahashrajuna. Both the name stands for the same meaning thousand hands. According to the ancient books and manuscripts the King was killed by the mighty Parsuram. The original name of the city was Sahashrabahu Pore. However, later the name of Parsuram also joined in the name of the place. In recent times it is called as Sasaram. The addition of Sasa of ShashtraBahu and Ram of Parsuram made the name of the city Sasaram.

Ancient History of Sasaram

The area was under the Magadh Dynasty in the 6th and 7th century. The Ashokan Edicts found on the Chandan Sahid indicates the presence of township in the area . During this period the city got influenced by the Buddhist culture and Stupas can be found out in the nearby region.The legendary king of India, Raja Harish Chandra who was famous for his truthfulness and morals had his kingdom in Sasaram. The Rohtasgarh Fort was made by him on the name of his son, Rohitshwa. The king and his son both ruled from the fort. The Rohtashgarh Fort has served as the center of all kingdoms in future.

Medieval History of Sasaram

The Afghan lord Hasan Khan Suri came to Sasaram . He has been recognized as a good ruler in history. But the fame of Sasaram has been glorified by his son Sher Shah Suri. Sher Shah (1486 – 22 May 1545) was founder of Sur Dynasty. He defeated Mughal Emperor Humayun in Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kanauj or Billgram (1540). After defeating Humayun, Sher Shah became the emperor of Delhi. He was known for his administrative skills and good rule. The famous Grand Trunk Road between Kabul and Bengal was made by him. Many of his administrative formulas and the policies were followed by both Mughals and Britishers. He was killed in an accident in 1545. He left his son Islam Khan, and his grandson Adil Shah as the heir. Later the commander of his army Hemu took the charge of the kingdom. Mughals later regrouped and reclaimed Delhi from the Sur dynasty by defeating them in Second battle of Panipat fought in the year 1556. Sasaram has the Tomb of Sher Shah Suri which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also has the Tomb of Hasan Khan Suri. The Tomb of Sher Shah was made amidst an artificial lake and it is one of the most visited places of India. The Tomb has a unique style of architecture. It reflects the style of Indo –Afghan culture and also influenced by the Buddhist culture. After Akbar became the Emperor of India, he appointed Raja Man Singh as the Governor of Bengal and Bihar. He also made the Rohatshgarh Fort as the administrative focal point and the Governor’s place.

Modern History of Sasaram

Though small in size yet its glorious past never made it omit from the history of India. The Battle of Buxar and the defeat of Raja Chait Singh of Banaras resulted in the imposition of the rule of East India Company in Sasram. The place also serves as the ' Samadhi' of Shree Shree 1008 Shree Swami ' Parmeshwara Nand Ji Maharaj.' The Ashram is also known as the Adwait Ashram. Jainath Bhawan is another historical place which was built by Magistrate Babu Harihar Prasad Verma. The building was named after Zaminder Jainath Prasad who was also a lawyer. He was also famous for being the first lawyer to practice in English.

Post-Independence Sasaram

After India became independent from the British rule in 1947, Sasaram became a part of the Bihar State of India. It was initially a part of the Shahbad district in Bihar. However, due to administrative difficulties, Shahbad District was later split into two parts. Sasaram was made the district headquarter of the newly formed Rohtas District curving out from the Shahbad. The city and its nearby places is also famous for the two parallel bridges made over Son River. The Road Bridge was the longest river bridge of Asia made in 1965. The Railway Bridge is the second longest Railway Bridge of India.
Sasaram continues to be one of the key cities in India in terms of enriched history and also agriculture. All the ancient and historical monuments, mosques and the temples made in different reigns of history can still be witnessed in the city. It hosts many tourists every year for its marvelous historic attractions and culture. Followed by huge industrial investments, the city is slowly becoming one of the most popular cities in Bihar. The city has opened new employment opportunities for the youth in the State with several upcoming industrial projects.  The city of Sasaram is continuously contributing toward the upliftment of the economy of Bihar.