Mithila

Mithila (मिथिला Mithilā), also called Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal, is the northern region of Bihar, India.

• 25.4286.131 Begusarai (बेगूसराय Begūsarāy) —
• 25.2587.0166672 Bhagalpur (भागलपुर Bhāgalpur) — known for Vikramshila
• 26.15699985.8995073 Darbhanga (दरभंगा Darbhangā) — cultural capital of Bihar
• 25.6885.224 Hajipur (हाजीपुर Hājīpur) — twin city of Patna
• 26.58333386.155 Jainagar (जयनगर Jaynagar) —
• 25.53333387.5833336 Katihar (कटिहार Kaṭihār) —
• 26.3786.087 Madhubani (मधुबनी Madhubanī) — the arts capital of Mithila, famous for culturally exporting the vivid Madhubani style of painting
• 25.38186.4658 Munger (मुंगेर) —
• 26.1285.3833339 Muzaffarpur (मुज़फ़्फ़रपुर) — famous for its lychee garden
• 26.395886.160810 Rajnagar (राजनगर Rājnagar) — famous for the ruins of the Navlakha Palace (one of the famous palaces of the Maharaja of Darbhanga), which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1934.
• 26.685.4811 Sitamarhi (सीतामढ़ी Sītāmaṛhī) — the birthplace of Mata Sita (wife of Lord Rama)
• 25.8886.612 Saharsa (सहरसा Saharsā) —

• Ratupar — a very remote village and home of the legendary teacher Shri Thakur Singh Das, a renowned freedom fighter and social worker. Still, there is no continuous supply of electricity or piped water and the water is taken from hand pumps or ponds. Farming is a major source of livelihood. The majority of the shops are located in Araria Chowk. Kharowa, Bistol and Nawani are the nearby villages to this chowk. Nawani is the ancestral village of Shri Shobhakant Das. Nawani is also the paternal village of Shri Prakash Kumar Das alias Lallan.
• 25.98659485.1255921 Vaishali — archaeological and Buddhist pilgrimage site

Mithila is bounded by the Himalayas in the north, the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges and the Rajmahal Hills in the south and the Gandak River in the west.

Mithila was once called 'Videha' (विदेह) in ancient times. Originally a monarchy, Videha later evolved into a republic (gaṇasangha) and then a part of the Vajjika League. After Ajatashatru's conquest of Vajjika in 484 BCE, it became a part of the Magadha Kingdom and eventually the Maurya Empire.

In the Middle Ages, Mithila was ruled by multiple indigenous dynasties, starting from the Karnats of Mithila to the Oiniwars and then the Khandwalas. The Khandwalas changed their capital to Darbhanga and became known as the Darbhanga Raj.

Although most people of Mithila understand Hindi, which is the lingua franca of Bihar, the mother tongue of the region is Maithili (मैथिली Maithilī), which is more closely related to Bhojpuri and Bengali than Standard Hindi. It is also the basis of Brajabuli, a literary language used by Vidyapati and his peers to write Vaishnava Padavalis (hymns dedicated to Krishna). Angika, a dialect of Maithili, is spoken in Bhagalpur and Munger areas.

Maachh (fish), makhana (Prickly water lily) and paan (betel leaf) are part of the identity of Mithila. Fish is the most popular food in Mithila, used as a main dish on any occasion. Chuda, dahi (yogurt) and chini (sugar) are also important components of the cuisine. Paan is an important refreshment item on every occasion.